Quote from: 501 on December 06, 2013, 10:39:22 PM

Quote from: Topazan on December 06, 2013, 10:01:24 PM

I think everything that needs to be said has already been said about the OP's question. I just wanted to comment concerning Starbucks and tax.

We shouldn't be celebrating crony capitalism. Regulations and taxes that are selectively enforced against smaller competitors to the mega-corps are not better than regulations and taxes that apply to everyone.

Looking at it from their point of view, when the government slaps them with a 60% tax rate can you really blame them for trying to worm their way out of it? Taxes are at the point where they're just ridiculous, and everyone tries to cheat on them as a result.

circular logic - taxes are that bad because of the companies that worm their way out.

its like saying "people stealing shit at stores is OK because things are too expensive (due to people stealing shit at stores)"
Yes, you can blame the price markups from wholesale to retail... but you can equally blame the theft driving the prices up.

When the company blames the thefts, the people can blame the companys markups for the initial thefts. That doesn't mean there aren't thieves.