Today we can be happy that our responsibility as Federal taxpayers is either caught up for another year, or at least we have been granted an extension. I am always amazed at the lack of information that some of my largest employers seem to have about what they paid me last year. I must be wrong, but I thought that an important part of building a viable corporate entity was bookkeeping. What I am realizing more and more is that money is really less important to a corporation that that they utilize as much time as possible in doing whatever it is that the laws mandate. If they can wait through another weekend before it becomes possible for me to cash a check, or turn in my tax returns, they seem to be happiest. I'm not sure how it all works, but I know how much they owe me by the time I'm headed home from work. It seems that they can barely remember that I ever worked for them, until the govie says, hey, you have to send out tax documents. Whatever the case, it says the same thing to me, usually in bold, underlined and screaming font styles Bullshit!
The news occasionally offers the briefest mention of corporate inequality. GE paid no tax last year, or something equally illogical. When they cover it as news, they always seem to keep the context to themselves. What really gets left out however, is the types and nature of support for industry that the government (taxpayers) give to...
The truly odd part about corporate welfare is that the reasons for it remain mostly nebulous. For instance, Wisconsin recently enacted a corporate subsidy for businesses that locate in our state that supposedly "create jobs". No matter the wages, as long as they are in line with federally set minimums, corporations who locate in our state can be granted a period of no property tax, for the first year after breaking ground on new facilities and 100,000 tax credit per job "created". The first recipient of these favors was a company from Illinois, who was willing to fire all of their existing employees and offer to rehire those who crossed the border with them to the greener pastures of Wisconsin at entry level wages. So, how many jobs did that create? None, but for the tax man's part, "we" Wisconsin's citizens are supposed to feel like winners.
Let's see, across the border, in Illinois, we now have increased unemployment and dislocation of those who formerly had some level of security. Here in Wisconsin, we have created artificial demand for more development. I forget the actual job numbers that were supposed to be at stake, let's say it is 100 jobs just to make the math easier. 100 X 100,000, yeah, that's a million dollars, so the million that would have otherwise been taxes and entered into the state budget to provide building inspectors, waste removal, infrastructure improvements, oversight, etc. that all goes away. What we are left with is a company that will run off to whatever state offers them a sweeter deal than that! I am reminded of the woman who marries a man who she stole from a previous wife. when she had been the "other woman" the guy probably told her whatever drivel it took to get in her pants. Now, she's the one with his ring on her finger and she is sure that he will remain true to her forever. Are you insane? There is less loyalty in most corporations than any philanderer ever had. The real money to be made is in getting desperate saps to give you the milk without having to buy the cow.
It seems to me that the rise of the reactionary conservative agenda has been fostered by fundamentalist religious dogma and that the Calvinist beliefs that underlie most bigotry and hatred that these folks espouse have resulted in mind control of the worst sort. There are huge numbers of people who work in the cash only black market, or who barter and trade services to avoid taxation. As much as I would like to join them, and start to enjoy a bit or tax freedom, I also know that it is unfair to the majority when a small group step outside the system that is supposed to help us all. That is why corporate welfare is so upsetting. The folks who are supposed to be helping to build our country, growing the economy in the process are becoming more and more savvy in collecting the checks from good old Uncle Sam. We are now caught in the gravitational pull of a capitalistic black hole. We have deemed several industries as "too big to fail" and hell or high water, they will be bailed out. In spite of ethical violations, legal improprieties and long-term bad judgment, they will be saved, no matter the cost to taxpayers. In fact, if they defile the air, water, soil, or create public health problems in their wake, we'll forget about that too, just to make sure that operating within our borders is a pleasant experience for them. This black hole extends far beyond the board rooms and back rooms of politics and government. It is patently obvious in the news, entertainment and can be seen in our proclivity with such diversions as war, political rhetoric and sports. These folks who have been sucking at the teat of government are the elephant in the room that people keep telling us is holding up the roof, when in fact it is becoming so bloated as to be threatening to blow out the floor!
People, this tax day, if you owed, rest assured that a good portion of your money will be spent making a rich person's life a little easier. If you got a return, be thankful because your poverty has been recognized and you never should have been loaning those bastards your money anyway. Corporations, or more accurately, corporate stewards, if your company paid taxes, thank you for being part of the American Dream, you are appreciated. If your company paid no tax, got tax breaks that made an otherwise losing proposition pay off, or were outright gifted money from the government, shame on you! As hard as most people work for their money, we should all be able to expect that both corporate leaders and government officials would respect the labor of our citizens enough to not steal from the poor to give to the rich. This Tax Day, take some time and give some serious thought to getting what you want out of the system that you support. The time has come to reclaim our democracy, to make it work for the vast majority of people rather than the few at the top. the freedoms that we enjoy are being eroded by government and industry. don't stand for more of the same. We voted for change, now it is time to take the necessary steps to show our leaders what we meant!
Get involved, stay involved. Lead, follow or get out of the way!
The news occasionally offers the briefest mention of corporate inequality. GE paid no tax last year, or something equally illogical. When they cover it as news, they always seem to keep the context to themselves. What really gets left out however, is the types and nature of support for industry that the government (taxpayers) give to...
The truly odd part about corporate welfare is that the reasons for it remain mostly nebulous. For instance, Wisconsin recently enacted a corporate subsidy for businesses that locate in our state that supposedly "create jobs". No matter the wages, as long as they are in line with federally set minimums, corporations who locate in our state can be granted a period of no property tax, for the first year after breaking ground on new facilities and 100,000 tax credit per job "created". The first recipient of these favors was a company from Illinois, who was willing to fire all of their existing employees and offer to rehire those who crossed the border with them to the greener pastures of Wisconsin at entry level wages. So, how many jobs did that create? None, but for the tax man's part, "we" Wisconsin's citizens are supposed to feel like winners.
Let's see, across the border, in Illinois, we now have increased unemployment and dislocation of those who formerly had some level of security. Here in Wisconsin, we have created artificial demand for more development. I forget the actual job numbers that were supposed to be at stake, let's say it is 100 jobs just to make the math easier. 100 X 100,000, yeah, that's a million dollars, so the million that would have otherwise been taxes and entered into the state budget to provide building inspectors, waste removal, infrastructure improvements, oversight, etc. that all goes away. What we are left with is a company that will run off to whatever state offers them a sweeter deal than that! I am reminded of the woman who marries a man who she stole from a previous wife. when she had been the "other woman" the guy probably told her whatever drivel it took to get in her pants. Now, she's the one with his ring on her finger and she is sure that he will remain true to her forever. Are you insane? There is less loyalty in most corporations than any philanderer ever had. The real money to be made is in getting desperate saps to give you the milk without having to buy the cow.
It seems to me that the rise of the reactionary conservative agenda has been fostered by fundamentalist religious dogma and that the Calvinist beliefs that underlie most bigotry and hatred that these folks espouse have resulted in mind control of the worst sort. There are huge numbers of people who work in the cash only black market, or who barter and trade services to avoid taxation. As much as I would like to join them, and start to enjoy a bit or tax freedom, I also know that it is unfair to the majority when a small group step outside the system that is supposed to help us all. That is why corporate welfare is so upsetting. The folks who are supposed to be helping to build our country, growing the economy in the process are becoming more and more savvy in collecting the checks from good old Uncle Sam. We are now caught in the gravitational pull of a capitalistic black hole. We have deemed several industries as "too big to fail" and hell or high water, they will be bailed out. In spite of ethical violations, legal improprieties and long-term bad judgment, they will be saved, no matter the cost to taxpayers. In fact, if they defile the air, water, soil, or create public health problems in their wake, we'll forget about that too, just to make sure that operating within our borders is a pleasant experience for them. This black hole extends far beyond the board rooms and back rooms of politics and government. It is patently obvious in the news, entertainment and can be seen in our proclivity with such diversions as war, political rhetoric and sports. These folks who have been sucking at the teat of government are the elephant in the room that people keep telling us is holding up the roof, when in fact it is becoming so bloated as to be threatening to blow out the floor!
People, this tax day, if you owed, rest assured that a good portion of your money will be spent making a rich person's life a little easier. If you got a return, be thankful because your poverty has been recognized and you never should have been loaning those bastards your money anyway. Corporations, or more accurately, corporate stewards, if your company paid taxes, thank you for being part of the American Dream, you are appreciated. If your company paid no tax, got tax breaks that made an otherwise losing proposition pay off, or were outright gifted money from the government, shame on you! As hard as most people work for their money, we should all be able to expect that both corporate leaders and government officials would respect the labor of our citizens enough to not steal from the poor to give to the rich. This Tax Day, take some time and give some serious thought to getting what you want out of the system that you support. The time has come to reclaim our democracy, to make it work for the vast majority of people rather than the few at the top. the freedoms that we enjoy are being eroded by government and industry. don't stand for more of the same. We voted for change, now it is time to take the necessary steps to show our leaders what we meant!
Get involved, stay involved. Lead, follow or get out of the way!
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