The Moral Case for Tax Havens

[MsBixy]

SHUT UP, WE DON'T BUY YOUR BULLSH**

[thefredsays]

totally rocking it, what a intellectual depraved argument for tax havens that middle class and working class people can't have. Thats why income tax rates on the rich is meaningless without laws requiring them to report their offshore bank accounts.

No wonder tax havens help the rich along with criminals avoid or evade taxes. No wonder the middle class and working class bear the tax burden in this country.

[MrBigEnchilada]

lol i dont get why income disparity would be the result of good actions, I consider the wealth gap to be a problem, not progress. Anyone care to explain how a large income gap would be beneficial to standards of living? it doesn't?

[britoca]

interesting video, but i'd like to see a an economic solution for the diminishing natural assets on our planet brought on by constant economic growth and natural habitat destruction. The two seem to be opposing forces and with no apparent solution.

Are we bound to ever grow more and more and be left without living oceans, forests, fauna, or are we going to learn to voluntarily factor in economic sacrifice somehow and balance out the scheme?

[SuperGuitarman69]

Taxation as a whole is theft plain and simple. A constitutional amendment for a flat tax would fix all problems. All people in all status taxed the same amount. Every time I hear the Presidential debate Biden vs. Palin. I can remember him saying fair, it's what is fair. What a lying sack of shit Biden is. There is nothing fair about it. It's like a mugger saying ok he has more so I'm going to steal 70% of his money and only steal 30% of his money. Would you think the mugger was a good guy?

[dssnear]

"2:10" I guess the Swiss Banks were not a haven for stolen Nazi loot ?

[TheDunbelievable]

8:00 was your best point, nice video

[MirageScience]

taxes are unjust, there wouldn't be tax havens without taxes PERIOD

[joe4606]

@MirageScience without taxes the economy and society don't work dumbass. Holy fuck dude they figured that out 1000 years ago and you just refuse to believe. PERIOD

[MirageScience]

@joe4606 Somalia PERIOD

[superman066]

People under persecution aye... what about those corrupt tyrannical leaders, where do you think their money is stashed?

Tax havens cheat everybody, they're a cheap way for govmts with few spending obligations to run an economy. They basically take money from govmts that pay for stuff like peoples education, health, welfare and security so that (usually wealthy) people can keep what otherwise they would be liable to pay. Moral case my arse, if you love tax havens go live in one!

[seaplaneguy1]

Wow, common sense. Maybe this guy needs to run for office....some sanity in Congress maybe.

This is why ALL US federal transfer payments should be banned so that States can compete on taxes.

Income taxes are upside down, where fed rates are 39% and State rates are 5-10%. Fed should be max 5% and States should be 39%, if they want all the nonsense social programs.

[Tiberiusduck]

What a slime ball !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[altha2008]

now they can go after accounts in sweden

cook islands and panama are the best places

dick cheney moved his company to dubi

serars in panama now

fed x in panama now

[Surhotchaperchlorome]

Re - Zimbabwe and Argentina: If their dollars collapse, it doesn't matter WHERE you put the money. It will still be worthless via inflation.

The best thing they could do is to exchange their money for gold or Euros and keep it offshore. That's the way to do it.

[ntn1987]

Great vid, that shall chop those pollies up

[purplemafia]

Fantastic video... puts this issue in perspective. Competition is good for governments, just look at the disaster that Western governments have allowed to happen in their own backyards.

[schlimmdas]

I wonder, are the tax havens paying for the bailout of Wallstreet? I don't think so, eh?

[Scoforever]

They didn't cause it.

[schlimmdas]

Never said that.

Still, the financial system, whose members profit immensely from tax havens, are being bailed out by tax money from their so-called high-tax home countries. The same countries whose taxes they gladly avoided in the good times.

It would be a refreshing change if these same guys remember where that money came from once they make profits again, and they start paying taxes in countries that basically saved their collective asses.

[Scoforever]

We should not be bailing them out. Anyway they help the high tax countries by dodging taxes.

[Sondre7]

Excellent points. I really wish I'd seen this before in a student debate on tax havens we had last autumn. This was an exceptionally well argued video, I am all for tax havens now !

Hey, it even sounds great... tax havens... :)

[70road]

Hmm I wonder where The Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation gets it's funding? Corporations and the wealthy think that they don't have to live by the same rules as the rest of us.

[peaceispatriotic7]

Thanks jberrie! Anyone who does not want to pay taxes in our wonderful country should move the fuck OUT of our country. Our beautiful roads and parks and alot of things are paid for by taxes. That includes our security. So, bring down these crooks and prosecute to the full extent!

[ThuggLyfe]

They WILL. You keep advocating punishing the companies that provide your jobs in this country through taxation and excessive regulation, and theyll leave and take their jobs with them. Consenting to ridiculous taxation is NOT patriotic. Also, roads, parks and "a lot of things" can easily be provided without the need for government bureaucrats.

[peaceispatriotic7]

I think we should have a flat tax or only tax on products we buy and do away with the IRS in the sense that we file every year. Do you think our banks are overly "regulated"? Also, how would you structure the building and maintenance of our infrasture? I agree with a lot that you say, but now that we are in a near depression, things are different. I am open and won't attack your opinion. Our companies have been moving offshore anyway, so I need to understand where you are coming from.

[ThuggLyfe]

agreed on the riddance of IRS whole heartedly. I believe infrastructure should be privatized so that it becomes competitive. With a government monopoly, it becomes inefficient and takes years to make anything happen. Ever notice how long road construction takes? Thats gvt for you. If we could "vote" with our tolls by choosing the least congested and highest quality roads, there would be an incentive for poor roads to be fixed quickly to draw drivers back to their roads.

[peaceispatriotic7]

I work in construction and I tend to disagree with you. It takes years for the approval process on plans, (which I think it should for safety reasons), and the bidding and planning process is painfully slow. During NORMAL times government should stay out of business. I do like your toll road approach! I am 50 years old and have NEVER seen it so bad in my field. Oh, I live in S.California and it is NOT the illegals that has us in trouble. That is the biggest farce in our media right now. Con't.

[peaceispatriotic7]

My last job was for one of the largest school builders in Southern California. I personally think it is good that the Federal government is stepping in right now, I never could believe I would ever say that. Our wonderful Republican Governer has us in the shitter right now. There are other reasons, but 80% of our problems here in Cal is because of our great ole Arnold. Con't

[gamesmaster35]

No you don't peace.What has happened only serves to vindicate what we belived from the get go.You have a bunch of spoiled rich people who have lived high on the hog for far too long who don't value the people that have made them great.They want to reap the benefits of living in this country while avoiding the responsibility.If you make more you pay more.. It only makes sense.While he raises some valid points about other countries those things don't apply to the US.

[peaceispatriotic7]

Oh, and for the stimulus and how every Republican Senator voted against it. I don't think that their states or what districts they hold in that state should get a bloody nickel. That pisses me off no end. Mark Sandford is the only Republican that had the balls to put his money where is mouth is. Gotta give that guy credit.

[irishimp2]

Hey idiot! Most of those beautiful parks you tout were created by those wealthy individuals you rail against! Ever heard of Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, etc. etc.? I'll lay odds that you pay 15 percent, if that, in taxes. "Our Country"! Who the hell do you think you are? You've never built a damn road or park in your miserable life! You only use the parks that others built and would bitch the loudest if you were asked to pay a fee for the use!

[Taxfools]

One of you idiots asked what "unearned income" was. Dumb ass.

Thats the term used by accounts and IRS you idiot. I didn't fuching make it up .

It includes capital gains, dividends, ect. I love unearned income -- I live off it. I didn't earn any of my money, I got lucky.

My point dufus is tax all income alike -- earned or not, inherited or not, worked hard for, or won in lottery. Just tax it the same way.

That doesnt mean FLAT - progressive is fine. Just all the same.

[peaceispatriotic7]

Right on! Agree with your tax opinion.

[azrael8585]

Remember the protests in Seattle a few years ago? They were leftists. Remember the masks, destruction, intimidation and chaos?

Most news outlets excused it, saying these radical leftists had serious grievances? But when people on the right decide to protest they have a fit, they denigrate, humiliate and scorn them.

Guess where they learned this from...Obama mentor and idol Saul Alinsky. The lefts aproach to honest debate is to shout down the opposition.

[kev3d]

True, leftists love diversity, except diversity of opinion.

[azrael8585]

and taxes heaped upon taxes, they do love.

sounded a bit like Yoda...lol.

[jberrie]

Ignorance is apparently bliss. The question is not whether low taxes are good but whether the wealthy people are law-breakers who hide taxable income from their government.

[oliridon]

You got it reverse. If that money is hidden in another contry, it never was taxable income in the first place. The government has no right to say that the tax-heaven money is theirs.

[jwberrie]

That is complete bullshit. . It is against the law to hide income.

[jwberrie]

Besides, I don't reply to illiterate people who can't spell.

[Philldapill85]

You did. Twice. and what's with the two youtube names?

[Taxfools]

The guy in the video is scum sucking pig.

He wants NO -- NO tax on unearned income -- credit swaps, leverage buy outs, naked shorts -- all the shit that ruined our economy.

But he wants ALL the taxes to be paid by work -- wages, self employed, small business.

He calls that FLAT . Its not flat dumb ass -- its a rip off.

This pecker head would shit if there were a real flat tax -- and he had to pay taxes on his shit just the exacty way workers do, ordinary income does.

[Philldapill85]

Unearned income? wtf is that? Are you saying that these people don't deserve that money? Are you saying that it should be forcefully taken from them, and given to someone else?

What ruined our economy is lazy assholes that don't contribute and only leech. Call them what you want, but THAT is what ruined our economy.

And dude.... Rich people pay a FAR higher PERCENTAGE in taxes than "workers" or as you'd like to call them, the prolitereate. I'm sure he'd LOVE to pay taxes like the workers.

[scarleteye42]

@Philldapill85 That's only true in theory. Except studies have shown recently that the people who pay the least percentage of taxes per income are the rich! The middle class actually foots a bigger chunk of their income, by percent, than the rich do. Oh sure they pay a lot in gross dollars, but it's a smaller percentage of their capitalization than the rest of the country is paying.

[RecceMan90]

@scarleteye42 You are talking about Venture Capitalists (ie Bill Gates, George Soros, Trump, Buffet, etc) they are only taxed at 15%, same rate as Finland does (that's why all the money is moving there and our economy is getting worse)! The same group of people always advocate that the "Rich" pay more Income Tax.....knowing they are exempt giving the Venture Capitalist tax listing! Essentially they want Doctors, Lawyers and Small Business to pay more but not the truly "RICH".

[joe4606]

@Philldapill85 Fuck off douche. The laffer curve proves tax evasion on a massive scale and those rich fucks should go to jail so I can have their jobs. If you want to numbers REPLY. I promise you'll lose or at best admit the rich HAVE to be taxed huge. Keep the word 'lazy' out of your fucking mouth. And you should THANK the welfare system...it keeps a bullet out of your mouth and gives you time to make this econoy work for everyone.

[sikmiXXX]

@Philldapill85 there is no moral case for a tax haven if you live in a civilized country that isnt going to burst through the door and rob you, none, zero, is nothing, some men are lazy, some are determined, some are stupid, some are cleaver, but no man is born equal, only are they equal in the eyes of God, I earn 80k plus and i am proud to pay my taxes, to allow people in disadvantaged areas like the one i came from more of the opportunities afforded to a person born into a rich famly for ex...

[sikmiXXX]

the irony is that most rich people in this world call themselves Christians, yet get mardy when you try to impose a rational tax system to help less well of people, ide like to see how much of the money they earn goes to Africa............

[outshined]

You, Sir, are scum.

[Surhotchaperchlorome]

The sad thing is that according to freedom house, the two top scoring nations in terms of economic freedom, Hong Kong and Singapore (source: economic freedom index), are in the group of partially free nations.

That's sad.

We need nations that are free economically, politically and socially.

[popworld7]

Groups such as Freedom House have no problems with any country as long as the rich can rape, pillage and plunder and not have any regulations on them in doing it. They are about one thing only - accumulating as much wealth as possible without restriction.

[Surhotchaperchlorome]

What evidence do you have for this claim?

I was merely expressing my annoyance towards counties that are economically free, but not socially and politically free.

[FarceTax]

The guy in the video is a con artist.

Already, right now, ordinary income -- work -- is taxed 300% higher than anything else.

But this lying sack of shit wants ordinary income to pay ALL the taxes -- he wants NO taxes on his bullshit financial tricks.

Then he hopes you are stupid enough to think thats a "flat tax".

Flat my ass. Flat as Dolly Parton 44DDD boobs. Flat as Dog the Bounty Hunter's wife. Flat as Pikes Peak.

Don't believe a word this con artist says.

[odalrich]

There is NO moral case for tax havens. They are a source of inmorality and many of the crooked politicians shown on the video have the money they have stolen in the same havens as their supposed victims.

[MarkDouglasC]

This is the moronn that was telling you we should have a flat tax same for everyone. EXCEPT for people who pay him -- they should pay little or not taxes.

[mrfrymcflubbs]

Wars don't cost money...wow. Brilliant!

[zzzbbb123456]

Yes Sweden is a small well educated country.

I say it again, if you want 2 wars you have to pay for it with taxes. You can´t loan for it as you are doing now, you need to balance the books.

[zzzbbb123456]

How much do you wanna bet, that when the US economy can´t borrow anymore from the Chinese and your economy crashes and you are forced to pay back the loans, your taxrates will topp 79%. And for the commie comments, Thanks.

Balance the Books.

[Durandal211]

The economy may crash zzzbbb, and the Chinese may wise up to the absurdity of lending us more money, but you're wrong on one account: we're not gonna pay those loans back. We'll either default entirely or just print money and give China then worthless paper to cover the debt, either way they're not getting their money back. It's not right but it's what'll happen, mark my words...

[zzzbbb123456]

Ha ha you should print "Fuck you China" on the dollars you give to the chines.

[peppythepanda]

Our highest tax bracket was at 90% during Eisenhower's 1950's golden age. It has never been that high under a Democrat.

[dtothediesel]

Roosevelt rose it to that level. Kennedy proceeded to slash the rate.

[zzzbbb123456]

This is the most stupid thing I heard. This is just Rich people that tries to fool poor people. But you still want all the war, and you borrow for that.

US Debt is 10 trillion dollars, US borrows 3.34 billion a day to stay aflot. All the cost of Irak war is borrowd. Good Job america.

[ADONISindeed]

Why is tax competition stupid?

What could you possibly have against that?

I agree that the fiscal deficit is a problem, but I would rather see it solved by a cut in gov. spending, than by rising tax rates or revenues.

[zzzbbb123456]

You are waging 2 wars right now. and Iran on its way. So cutting Gov isn´t really gona happen is it.

You need to balance the FedBudget.

[ADONISindeed]

I dont support the wars, and they certainly do bloat the federal deficit, but I dont see how tax competition would hurt the situation.

[BlueMageWithSoulEdge]

Hmm...that's tax haven. I've heard plenty of times but I never grasped the concept till now. Thanks I feel smarter. I leveled up! Why should we-U.S.-be on the black list. Didn't the U.N. kick us out of seating in 2004. I haven't read or heard talk of welcoming us back in.

[whoo689]

Oh.  I thought when he used the term "tax haven", you were referring to places where the rich can avoid paying taxes like the Cayman Islands in offshore accounts, or Swiss bank accounts.

[bio44]

Including chavez in that group was a bit of a stretch.

[bio44]

also. the swiss banks stole the money from the families of the murdered jews.

[MarkDouglasC]

Nonsense. Total nonsense. The tax on capital in USA is already far lower than tax on labor. One big reason our economy was based more and more on bullship -- we punished work (earned income) and rewarded bullship (credit swaps, naked shorts, leverage buy outs.

Just tax all income TYPES the same. Quit punishing work, earned income. Let the free market work. Cato Institute exists to fool people that unearned income should be taxed more than unearned.

[jhammer74]

Cato institute supports its argument with evidence. The idea that our economy is based on bullship because of differring taxes between labor and capital gains is ridiculous... unless you can find some evidence for what you say. Can you?

[deadatom2]

more like a cato cailin institute of being a leach

[caligvla71]

I want to work for you guys!

[nilsca]

F.U.D.

[deadatom]

If you don't like you're country, don't just stop paying taxes... GTFO ok? Don't be a GODDAMN PARASITE and skip out on paying you're fair share you GODDAMN LEACH.. Get the hell out and move to the kaymens where there government will provide for you're needs (protecting you're wallet and worshiping Mammon) or pay up. Its only fair. Hell if you have enough assets to set up a tax haven you have enough to MOVE don't cha think? Greed is not a virtue and you have no case you stupid clown

[DrSammyD]

Just because a government says that 50% of my income is fair to tax, does not make it fair to tax. So instead I'll put my money elsewhere and pay taxes to them. And If they say that 100% of my income is fair tax because I'm a Jew, then I'm going to put my money somewhere else as well.

[Joey1776]

I think you mean THEIR

I think you mean YOUR

Boy it seems like those taxes are really educating people in THEIR own language.

If you want to talk fair, how is it fair that you pay a higher percentage of taxes the more money you make. How is it fair that most government programs hand out checks to lower income people who share virtually none of the tax burden. I know you think you know what your talking about but you don't, go read a book and try to express yourself without sounding stupid

[deadatom2]

Its such a burden to be rich! I guess being rich will lead you to the poor house... ur a dumb shithead .. go fuck urself asshole.. GET A BRAIN MORAN! After saying all of that, I still sound smarter then you do when you try to justify INSANITY! Now please go pray to youre god.. MAMMON

[jhammer74]

If you believe that income disparity CAUSES economic harm, then I invite you to find evidence. The countries with the highest income disparities are also the countries with the best standards of living... for every economic quintile. Would you overtax a group even if it hurt the people.

The rich invest in capital. A portion of that capital return is paid to workers in higher wages. It causes increases in the standard of living.

Your envy is poorly masked by your ignorance, troll.

[deadatom2]

shut up cock sucker.. if you believe in killing the middle class is what makes a great economy you can move to a bannana republic you stupid bitch. since thats what you advocate.. KILLING THE MIDDLE CLASS! you stupid fuck go fuck urself in the eye socket u fuck..

[hara001]

deadatom2, why don't you take time to share your traumatizing experience with all of us. I refuse do believe someone can be as batshit insane and such a utterly fool. Therefore I say you were traumatized.

[Bren565]

@jhammer74

good points also make sure to note that eventually, the free market distributes capital, and it is almost impossible to hoard it. aka ' the specie flow'... its what destroyed mercantalism ;)

[ttannyhill]

No they are not. Cite your evidence for us all.

The countries with the greatest economic disparity are countries none of us would want to live in

You are correct about the rich investing in capital. Unfortunately they invest in capital in communist ant third world countries. Why, be cause slave labor is cheap. There in an increase in the standard of living of other countries

[17Spartacus76]

WTF? Mammon? You bigoted asshole, stop acting like a little punk and grow a brain.

[pasatio]

This is VERY GOOD!!!

[KohnanTB]

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! Keep these coming!

[yadranko]

Great stuff, learned so much from these 2 videos. Thanks!