I find it a bit strange that these issues arouse such strong feelings of patriotism in some posters - to take the example of Apple, weren't they keeping billion

I find it a bit strange that these issues arouse such strong feelings of patriotism in some posters - to take the example of Apple, weren't they keeping billions of dollars offshore to avoid US taxes, and isn't that a thoroughly unpatriotic act? You could argue US consumers also benefit from many of these rulings. Also if I were to indulge in a little whataboutism I would point out that many accuse the US of far worse in exploiting vulnerable debtor countries through the World Bank and IMF; the idea of the poor, defencelessness US megacorp at the mercy of the villanous EU is risible.