Of course, the company will let you have that money back as long as you accept an equivalent sum in a proprietary currency that can only be spent at the company store...
This isn't really as crazy as it sounds at first. Many places offer some sort of kickback to corporations to locate there. Any kickback is, by definition, in the form of tax dollars, since it's being given by the government, and that's the only money they have to play with.
Now, I'll admit that governments shouldn't be paying companies money to do business there, but it's a little simplistic to act like this is the first time it's ever happened.
I can't find a single news article that discusses the claims made in this video, and Mr. Johnson hasn't documented them, either. Anybody else? I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm just trying not to pass the spam along if it's not true.
@11 -- there was a Slog post about an amendment to a bill about abortion here the other day that if passed would "prohibit discussing abortion on the Internet" or something equally asinine. I asked for some clarification and after getting none, did some research found that the text of the amendment had nothing to do with that (it was some stupid shit about not paying for RU-486). The Slog has a habit of mindlessly re-posting sensationalized and/or fictitious stories without doing any fact checking (or just hoping readers will believe what they say without checking it out for themselves).
@9 turning into? we already are everything that people are worried we are 'turning into'. no one was looking the past 30 years... and it happened. democracy is dead. the dollar is king. if at any point american society has a choice between doing something that benefits society at large & doing something that allows sometimes just one person to make a buck... we always choose the buck. that's america.
@13 didn't see it, but there actually is a bill out there that would define personhood as being at the moment of conception & therefore would cause using any form of hormonal birth control that allows fertilization to happen to be defined as murder. amazingly, that shit is real.
Anti-choice Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) just filed an anti-choice amendment to a bill related to agriculture, transportation, housing, and other programs. The DeMint amendment could bar discussion of abortion over the Internet and through videoconferencing, even if a womanβs health is at risk and if this kind of communication with her doctor is her best option to receive care.
Under this amendment, women would need a separate, segregated Internet just for talking about abortion care with their doctors.
They're basically giving them a tax break. taxpayers aren't paying anything into any coffers. The company is getting a break on taxes they would otherwise have to pay on payroll and getting to keep that money.
It's not a crazy idea and it happens all over the world as an incentive for companies to stay/relocate.
@22, 23 - Yes, it's a tax break for companies. Companies which have already been granted so many tax breaks that they don't actually *pay* any taxes, so another flow of tax money has been plugged directly into their coffers.
(Hint: if you don't pay taxes, you can't be given a break from them. This is a payoff, plain and simple)
Also, the meals at Occupy Seattle (AFAIK) are provided by Food Not Bombs, which has a LIMITED BUDGET because they are all self-funded and don't have corporate sponsors.
@16, I saw that article too but I have been unable to find the text of the amendment. My inclination is to believe that Jim DeMint is just sleazy enough to try to pass an amendment that does that and just stupid enough to think it's constitutional but I haven't found any text of any amendment stating what the article says.
Oh wait, that's right: it's your beloved government that does this, Goldy. Elected officials are allowing this to happen.
Now, I'll admit that governments shouldn't be paying companies money to do business there, but it's a little simplistic to act like this is the first time it's ever happened.
My god...what are we turning into?
Try this:
http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johns…
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/10/…
You're a troll, right?
Get lost.
Time to drive participating corporate trucks into Lake Michigan, Tea Party style.
So when's that gonna happen?
They're basically giving them a tax break. taxpayers aren't paying anything into any coffers. The company is getting a break on taxes they would otherwise have to pay on payroll and getting to keep that money.
It's not a crazy idea and it happens all over the world as an incentive for companies to stay/relocate.
90% of people are financially illiterate.
(Hint: if you don't pay taxes, you can't be given a break from them. This is a payoff, plain and simple)
As I read the article, the company pays it's payroll taxes normally (this is good, it prevents scams), then they get it back.
Hint: You are absolutely hated by the corporatists, but keep clinging to that dream!
What the fuck do you expect?