4 ms·
> If I give a company $100M in tax breaks to come to my city, and they end up paying $50M in tax (instead of $150M), the outcome was financially positive as the
by grecy 8y ago
> If I give a company $100M in tax breaks to come to my city, and they end up paying $50M in tax (instead of $150M), the outcome was financially positive as the alternative was that they don’t come and my tax revenue is $0.
And now you're in a race to the bottom with every other city in the USA.
You're lowing the standard of living for every normal person (less tax revenue to spend on schools, roads, etc.) and you're increasing the standard of living for big companies (more profit)
Rather than doing that, NO city should offer any tax breaks, and that company will come to some city and pay $150M in taxes, thus improving society overall in the USA.
It's amazing how often you guys work against your own interests, degrading your own society in the name of increasing private profits.
- refurb 8y agoIt should be a “race to the bottom”, it’s what normal people call “competition”. Cities that can provide the necessary services to their citizens for less money “win”. That’s how it should be and how it works today.
- grecy 8y agoIt's competition when it's between two companies. It shouldn't be a competition when it's about providing basic services to a community of people. > Cities that can provide the necessary services to their citizens for less money “win”. I think you would find the vast majority of citizens in OECD countries would not say America is providing necessary services to it's citizens. Though your explanation certainly explains why so many government services are so terrible in America compared to OECD countries. Thanks.
- refurb 8y agoWhy are basic services so special they should use competition to drive efficiency? It’s well known that Singapore has a very high functioning govt with plenty of social services for its citizens and very low tax rates. I say good on them and if a company tells another country they are moving there then that country should take that as a hint to get their shit together. And as for OECD countries not being satisfied with the US govt services who cares? The only opinion that matters is US citizens. Should Sweden care if the US complains about their system?
- grecy 8y ago> Why are basic services so special they should use competition to drive efficiency? Because America has proven what happens when you let competition dictate - the quality of services goes to crap. Look at your public schooling, healthcare, roads and rail. They are seriously below standard. > And as for OECD countries not being satisfied with the US govt services who cares? The only opinion that matters is US citizens I once read a report that said "If Americans knew what Europeans get for their tax money Americans would riot in the streets". I don't think you can ask US citizens, because they have no idea what the rest of the world is doing. It's not in their culture to look or compare themselves to other countries. > Should Sweden care if the US complains about their system? I've lived and worked in Australia, Canada, USA. My sister lives in the UK. In my experience, it's extremely common for Australia/Canada/UK to compare itself to other countries, and point out where Australia/Canada/UK is lacking. As one example it made massive headlines across Australia when it came out that school kids in Kazakhstan had higher Maths results than Australian kids. So in answer, yes, other developed countries do care and notice and use that comparison to improve their own country.