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RE: The ICIJ's 13.4 Million File Paradise Papers, Overshadowed by Another Mass Shooting in Texas
Fantastic commentary on all of the above, however, I don't agree that the gun control issue isn't winnable. There was a quote going around that stated that after Sandy Hook - America lost it's way. But at one point, slavery was entrenched in this society and abroad. At one point we will wake up, perhaps when enough progressives and women take office - which is coming as well.
As for the leaks, well - while I don't agree with it, these are legal ways of moving your money around. We must close the tax loopholes. Again, my point about having enough people with the will to change things: Progressives and Women.
Technically you are correct it's not 'illegal' per say as they are moving their assets to locations that have feeble tax regulations. This is the main defense for these thieves.
We must remember that they are avoiding the tax regulations of the countries where they reside and where they do business. They're making their money/profits in one country and then by setting up a shell company (a company on paper that does no business in the tax haven country) paying little or no taxes on their earnings where they do business.
Due to tax loop holes that allow this kind of thing, it may not be technically illegal but it is highly unethical and deceptive. The vast majority of citizens pay their taxes and do not have the luxury to offshore their assets.
Our tax dollars go towards infrastructure, med-care (in various forms), social programs, the national budgets of our respected countries, and so on, but those who make the most and should contribute a fair amount are able hide their assets and avoid contributing to the very societies which provide their businesses with opportunities for success.
Just look at former UK Prime Minister David Cameron who publicly claimed his government was clamping down on tax loopholes and offshoring and low and behold the Panama Papers revealed his family had been offshoring assets for years.
These leaks only prove that there are different laws for the wealthy and the rest of us.
Actually, these laws are available to everyone. It's just that the wealthy have more money to store away than the rest of the people. And let me be clear, I agree with everything you are saying which is why I said we have to close those tax loopholes. It was one of the main things Bernie Sanders ran on and why I supported him. I don't agree with it, but I do understand it. You make money, you want to hold onto it as much as possible. There becomes a point though where greed takes over and these papers are the proof of exactly this methodology. As more Progressives win in the US, hopefully this will begin to shift the tide.