Comments on: Microsoft Warns Of Tax Law Consequences

[McHineguy]

Where Google's motto is "Do no Harm"
Microsoft's motto is "kill the competition with all means possible and ship that product even though it's more buggy than the swamps of the Amazon".
Posted by veils-2009 at 12:45 PM : Jun 5, 2009

And this is influenced by taxes? How?

[McHineguy]

Actually businesses are treated as individuals - legally.
Why should they get treated any different or why should we cover the arses of business.

If they do not want to pay the tax here then make them pay it on their product coming back into the US...
Posted by ioweign at 12:33 PM : Jun 5, 2009

Actually, businesses, on average, pay MUCH higher taxes than individuals because businesses, on average, earn MUCH more than individuals and that puts them in higher tax brackets. Since 1913 the US has used this graduated income tax to shift the cost of government from "the middle class" to businesses and certain rich individuals. I dont think we are "covering the arses" of business at all. In fact, this article is about the US goverment deciding to tax companies for profit they make in other countries. Steve Balmer has warned that many businesses will just decide to move the entire operation where taxes are more favorable.

You can always let them move away and then, as you say, tax the product when it is shipped back here. Only question I have then is "who in America will be buying it?" Especially when most of the high paying jobs have gone to other countries where they build those expensive products.

[veils-2009]

Microsoft says almost half of its employees work offshore. This doesn't count the tens of thousands of contractors working off shore. Microsoft has a history of circumventing the law, fair wages and making reliable, decent software and video game boxes (x-box 360 is a good example).

Where Google's motto is "Do no Harm"
Microsoft's motto is "kill the competition with all means possible and ship that product even though it's more buggy than the swamps of the Amazon".

[McHineguy]

...
All I am saying is that we can't keep sending all of our jobs out of this country just to prop up the short term profits of some corporation so that their stock will perform well. Something has to give, not sure what the answer is, but sending jobs out of this country is not the answer.
Maybe we have to go back to smaller companies that have a conscience and actually care about their employees. Companies that aren?t beholden to the stock holders that only care about short term profits..
Posted by ObamaYoMama at 12:23 PM : Jun 5, 2009

You are right, we cannot keep sending jobs out of the country. But that is exactly what we do when we demand benefits from our government and then raise taxes on corporations to pay for those benefits. As you say, somethings gotta give. This didnt all start with NAFTA. It started when the Federal government began making EPA laws, raising Medicare taxes, and forcing hiring practices. Corporations WILL survive and prosper. We can be part of that and have the largest economy in the world, or we can choose something closer to what Europe and Russia have. THAT is what the debate is all about.

[habu99-2009]

So the past 8 years of do-nothing government and Jabbering Junior's worship of the holy marketplace where business can never do wrong shouldn't have put us in the position we find ourselves in today. When Bush looked the other way, American corporations rushed to ship as many jobs overseas as possible. It wasn't about existing laws and regulations because there was NO enforcement of existing laws, yet they did it anyway. Now the government is trying to close the loophole where corporations pay zero taxes on foreign profits based in tax havens like the Cayman Islands and corporate types are whining that they may have to ship jobs overseas because of that. So they shift jobs offshore when the political climate is in their favor, and they do it when the political climate is not in their favor. And this benefits the large majority of Americans who are neither executives at these corporations nor own stock in them how exactly?

[Chris_Butler]

Microsoft, IBM, Intel and the likes availed of subsidies, tax breaks and nick knacks for over a decade in Ireland, which have turned out to be illegal.

Successive Irish Governments have been stealing from the Irish People (Social Welfare Recipients and Workers) to fund these corporations and nobody is getting protection law.

If Microsoft set up their head quarters in Ireland and their is a change in systems in Ireland the executives could face even bigger tax bill than they realise and jail time.

[ioweign]

I ignored this the first time you posted it and I plan to again. Except to say it is out of place, this article is about the effects of higher taxes and the likely consequences as government assumes an anti-business position. But from your post, it is obvious your mind has been closed for at least 9 years so it doesnt much matter.

As for Obama doing a "heck of a job" as you say, I will turn your parties words right back to you: "Hey, its only been four months". I will also remind you that a "heck of a job" includes incuring more debt than Bush did in two years. Guess if debt is what you want, Obama IS outperforming every president we have ever had, including Carter. Heck, he's even fun to listen to.
Posted by McHineguy at 12:15 PM : Jun 5, 2009

Actually businesses are treated as individuals - legally.
Why should they get treated any different or why should we cover the arses of business.

If they do not want to pay the tax here then make them pay it on their product coming back into the US...

[boatdocster]

Ballmer is such a WHINER!!!

[ioweign]

You know, the street goes both ways. There are several viable alternatives to Microsoft. Let them move out of the country, I will no longer use their products.
Posted by SugrDaddy at 11:35 AM : Jun 5, 2009

Yeah, right. And what operating system are you using as you post this bravado?
Posted by McHineguy at 12:19 PM : Jun 5, 2009


Google Android

[ObamaYoMama]

Someone should start a web site called the corporate wall of shame for all of the corporations that have sent jobs off shore. We should all know which corporations send the majority of their workforce off shore. I think we would all be surprised.
I work in IT and support Microsoft products as well as many other vendors. I can't recall the last time I opened a support case with any vendor and got a person who's first language was English. I'm not saying this to be racist in any way, I have no problem with people making a good living in any country. All I am saying is that we can't keep sending all of our jobs out of this country just to prop up the short term profits of some corporation so that their stock will perform well. Something has to give, not sure what the answer is, but sending jobs out of this country is not the answer.
Maybe we have to go back to smaller companies that have a conscience and actually care about their employees. Companies that aren?t beholden to the stock holders that only care about short term profits..

[McHineguy]

You know, the street goes both ways. There are several viable alternatives to Microsoft. Let them move out of the country, I will no longer use their products.
Posted by SugrDaddy at 11:35 AM : Jun 5, 2009

Yeah, right. And what operating system are you using as you post this bravado?