4 ms·

"""Why do we punish theft anyway?""" This usually boils down to: do not do onto others, what you wish not done to you. In this case: what if Apple suddenly got

"""Why do we punish theft anyway?""" This usually boils down to: do not do onto others, what you wish not done to you. In this case: what if Apple suddenly got a competitor who pays negative taxes ? (Since we can't go lower then 0% in this example) How would Apple feel ?

blub 10y ago
We punish it because it's damaging to individuals and the social fabric that binds them. The money that Apple is sitting on could have been used for many positive things for the citizens of Ireland. Their government and Apple robbed them of that money for 6000 jobs, the taxes they produce and probably some administrative income. Corporations are not above society. They exist thanks to individuals and infrastructure built with taxes. I think the idea is to have a level playing field, where everyone pays x%. There could be rebates for some categories of companies, but not for ONE company which is rich anyway.
- icebraining 10y ago
  The money that Apple is sitting on could have been used for many positive things for the citizens of Ireland. Their government and Apple robbed them of that money for 6000 jobs, the taxes they produce and probably some administrative income. Nonsense. The reason Apple and those other companies are in Ireland in the first place is because of those deals. That's why the EU is trying to shut it down - the EU is the cartel charging high prices (taxes), and Ireland is the member undercutting them. I don't think there's anything wrong with what the EU is doing, assuming they have the authority under the treaties, but painting this as a government against its people is just wrong.
  - Infinitesimus 10y ago
    But Apple isn't paying the 12.5% Ireland tax rate; they paid 0.005% in the past year - thanks to an assumed deal between Apple and the government. The issue here isn't Ireland being at 12.5% which they are free to use - it is the special treatment Apple and I assume other large corporations are getting which is being viewed as unfair
icebraining 10y ago
I'm sure Apple doesn't like when other compete with them either; does that mean they should avoiding competing?

blub 10y ago

We punish it because it's damaging to individuals and the social fabric that binds them. The money that Apple is sitting on could have been used for many positive things for the citizens of Ireland. Their government and Apple robbed them of that money for 6000 jobs, the taxes they produce and probably some administrative income. Corporations are not above society. They exist thanks to individuals and infrastructure built with taxes. I think the idea is to have a level playing field, where everyone pays x%. There could be rebates for some categories of companies, but not for ONE company which is rich anyway.

icebraining 10y ago
The money that Apple is sitting on could have been used for many positive things for the citizens of Ireland. Their government and Apple robbed them of that money for 6000 jobs, the taxes they produce and probably some administrative income. Nonsense. The reason Apple and those other companies are in Ireland in the first place is because of those deals. That's why the EU is trying to shut it down - the EU is the cartel charging high prices (taxes), and Ireland is the member undercutting them. I don't think there's anything wrong with what the EU is doing, assuming they have the authority under the treaties, but painting this as a government against its people is just wrong.
- Infinitesimus 10y ago
  But Apple isn't paying the 12.5% Ireland tax rate; they paid 0.005% in the past year - thanks to an assumed deal between Apple and the government. The issue here isn't Ireland being at 12.5% which they are free to use - it is the special treatment Apple and I assume other large corporations are getting which is being viewed as unfair

icebraining 10y ago

I'm sure Apple doesn't like when other compete with them either; does that mean they should avoiding competing?