Tax avoidance at the expense of the masses

[Merry]

Very interesting article. I think that, deep down, we all know this goes on, yet we rarely hear much about it in the media. Certainly not in this much detail anyway.

I wonder if Governments will ever do anything about it? Personally I doubt it, because many of the offenders have the ear of those in power, but we can always hope.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/ ... _bill.html

[Captain Awesome]

I like this part:

Evading taxes in the southern Mediterranean is a national sport played by everyone from tycoons to shopkeepers, one reason Greece fell into the economic abyss in the first place.

I don't know why they make it sound like it's a Greek thing to do, but it does describe realities there fairly accurate.

[SurplusElect]

It's interesting that economically conservative and supply side economic supporters routinely invoke a socialist agenda as the cause of Greece's problems, but as my family is from the Mediterranean I can attest to this sentiment.

Nobody pays their taxes over there, but yet you never hear it framed that way.

My father recently reminded me of an old saying. "I'll take my 40% before they take their 40%", roughly put.

[grammafreddy]

Well, the French government recently imposed a 75% income tax on anyone who earned over a million bucks a year, didn't they? The result of that silliness is that many of the rich folks moved their wealth out of France. If the government wanted to take 3/4 of your income, would you leave it there? I sure as hell would not.

In Greece, a huge percentage of the population was on the government payroll - income, benefits and pensions. It was not sustainable. There weren't enough people working in the private sector to pay for it and the country went deeply into debt. Very deeply.

[Captain Awesome]

Nobody pays their taxes over there, but yet you never hear it framed that way.

Well, people usually focus on things that matters to them, to some it's socialism and its perceived downsides. Yes, Greece is a very socialized country, and yes every tries to get out of paying taxes, govt is a huge black hole for funding with its enormous staff and inefficient programs, and at the end of the day it's simply broke. Why? Well, pick a reason, you'll probably hit one.

To me though I find it humorous how the story talks about big bad corporations trying to avoid taxes while the whole country will do anything not to pay them. It's true over here in Canada too.

[SurplusElect]

It was unsustainable because nobody pays their taxes, GF.

I guess the story plays more on corporations because as it's usually put on the forums the top end pays the most amount of taxes by volume.

So while everyone lower to middle income "on the street" is doing under-the-table deals, their tax contribution is minor even if they were paying their share. The largest share of taxes is paid by the top end (rightfully so, because they own everything). If they avoid taxes, like the article explains - huge holes - let alone the lower-middle class "petty cash" tax base or lack there of.

[Captain Awesome]

The largest share of taxes is paid by the top end (rightfully so, because they own everything). If they avoid taxes, like the article explains - huge holes - let alone the lower-middle class "petty cash" tax base or lack there of.

True, but it doesn't stop it from being ironic. People who complain about dang corporations or high income folks not paying taxes (legally, by the way through tax avoidance) are the first to wink at ya and give you cash to avoid paying sales taxes.

[Glacier]

True, but it doesn't stop it from being ironic. People who complain about dang corporations or high income folks not paying taxes (legally, by the way through tax avoidance) are the first to wink at ya and give you cash to avoid paying sales taxes.

That's because a lot of socialists believe in socialism, not because they want to share their wealth, but rather because they want everyone else to share their wealth with them.

[Captain Awesome]

Nicely put, Glacier.

[SurplusElect]

That's because a lot of socialists believe in socialism, not because they want to share their wealth, but rather because they want everyone else to share their wealth with them.

That's what you feel socialists "think like".