Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

1. 

   Mikester, 14 Dec 2005 @ 4:00pm

   
   

   No Subject Given

   While I agree with your sentiments Mike, Mr. Bush preaches that it's practically criminal for US companies to give what should be American jobs to any other country.

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

2. 

   dot, 14 Dec 2005 @ 4:35pm

   
   

   No Subject Given

   " is there anything really wrong with this?"
   
   Nothing wrong with the richest corporations in america dodging taxes as long as that same tax dodge is available to everyone else. Oh, but wait, only the super rich can take advantage of this, so um yeah, there is something wrong with this.
   
   Or do you think every company can setup shop in ireland while doing business (mostly) in america?

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

3. 

   Mark, 14 Dec 2005 @ 4:39pm

   
   

   corporate tax havens

   "Still, is there anything really wrong with this?"
   
   Let's see -- is there anything wrong with a company separating its assets from its operations so as to avoid paying taxes that help finance the state and federal services and resources that are vital to its employees and its corporate operations?
   
   Yes, yes there is.

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

4. 

   Dave, 14 Dec 2005 @ 5:12pm

   
   

   Re: corporate tax havens

   This is just a new global business model. We simply need to adapt to the changes and offer a more business friendly climate.

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

5. 

   Anonymous Cow, 14 Dec 2005 @ 5:37pm

   
   

   No Subject Given

   How is this any different from small businesses incorporating in states like Delaware rather than in the state that they operate in?

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

6. 

   Rob, 14 Dec 2005 @ 5:54pm

   
   

   No Subject Given

   If a corporation is sending money to the most friendly nations they have to be sure the money is fed back through their business. It may be cheaper in the short term, but is Ireland [business friendly nation] capable of giving back all the money they've given to them? At least if the taxes were paid in the US there is a better chance the money would stay in the "circle".

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

7. 

   Anonymous, 14 Dec 2005 @ 5:55pm

   
   

   ireland for taxes

   probably depends on how they do it, if its european income being taxed in europe (albeit, in the cheapest place in europe, ala choosing the best state in the US), then I don't see anything wrong with it.

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

8. 

   Sv, 15 Dec 2005 @ 12:37am

   
   

   Pseudo Patriots

   Stop being pseudo patriots and listen to reason. Irelan seems to be doing just OK with the lower taxes so why should great US demand over 30% corporate taxes?
   
   It's just ability to choose your provider, it's not illegal. If you ISP sucks and charges you a lot, you'll move to another ISP. In a global economy, the country where you check your profits are just another choice to make.
   
   US will have to compete with the rest of the world if it wants the business to check their income there. So sooner or later things will even out.

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

9. 

   Tim, 15 Dec 2005 @ 2:19am

   
   

   Speak english!

   What kind of gibberish is "Pay Less Taxes"?
   
   Do you mean "pay-less taxes", or "pay less tax", or "pay fewer taxes"?

   [ link to this | view in thread ]

10. 

    Howard, 15 Dec 2005 @ 8:15am

    
    

    The *real* problem is...

    The Irish taxes are not too low. The US taxes are too high. If you are in business, you are going to choose the mode of business that minimizes expenses and maximizes profit. If you are in the internet domination business, then it makes sense to operate in a country that doesn't have insane tax rates -- especially if your business model allows you to move quickly, as Google's does. The rest of Europe has been complaining for years about the "unfair" low rate of Irish taxes, but Ireland is more productive and more prosperous than the rest of Europe -- and there is a definite causal relationship there.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

11. 

    David Mackintosh, 15 Dec 2005 @ 9:17am

    
    

    Re: Speak english!

    Well if you are going to point fingers about gibberish...
    
    What is a "pay-less" tax -- a tax you don't pay? And "pay fewer taxes" is irrelevant -- the number of separate assessments do not necessarilly lead to a higher total assessment; I think what you want to say is "pay a lower amount of total tax".

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

12. 

    Scruffy Dan, 18 Dec 2005 @ 4:14am

    
    

    race to the bottom

    In a global economy, business goes to the most business friendly regions
    
    While I agree with this statement, this does seem to imply a race to the bottom for any regulations dealing with business. is this what we want?
    

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

13. 

    dove, 26 Jan 2006 @ 3:07am

    
    

    Re: race to the bottom

    "race to the bottom", you must be irish! or maybe it's just a coincendence that this is the buzz phrase in Irish politics at the moment, especially regarding labour relations.
    btw, i am irish and currently working very close to google HQ.
    having researched our foreign direct investment policy before, the low taxes are a huge attraction to many american corporates. however, it would be naive to assume this is the only reason as there are other EU countries offering similarily low incentives. other selling points are that we have a reasonable standard of education, speak your language passably, work hard and irish culture is easy for yanks to get into to.
    a good chunk of the american corporates need to be near the EU market for the simple reason of time difference and access to the people who speak the myriad of european languages. check out the jobs on http://www.google.ie/jobs/ for those languages!
    now, i wonder if anyone could list the ways america makes use of it's strategic power to benefit from globalisation in an unfair manner;)
    no sour grapes but just pointing out that ireland is merely boxing clever while america is used to being the heavyweight champion of the world

    [ link to this | view in thread ]