5 ms·

These articles always focus on poor countries, but shouldn't we treat such places as Switzerland as corrupt, given that the money always seems to end up there o

These articles always focus on poor countries, but shouldn't we treat such places as Switzerland as corrupt, given that the money always seems to end up there or it is used as a stepping stone so that mineral wealth can be siphoned off cheaply (and thus pay less taxes)?

kenneth 7y ago
Before blaming Switzerland, perhaps best to take a look at places such as the U.S. and Delaware, which gets even more of the world's shady business.
- bpodgursky 7y ago
  Because it isn't true? Delaware doesn't charge state corporate income tax and has a specialized business court system. It does nothing to shelter you from international taxation.
  - newguy1234 7y ago
    The only reason people believe this non-sense is because of how we are going into another election cycle and pundits like to stoke people's ignorance of international finance/taxation. If you repeat a lie enough, it becomes reality and then you can use that new reality to push your agenda through with the support of the ignorant masses.
    - chillwaves 7y ago
      For someone railing against "ignorance," your comment is certainly lacking in knowledge. Some useful information would be helpful.
  - kgwgk 7y ago
    Deleware, like most states, doesn’t require companies to identify the beneficial owners. But that may change: https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-passes-bill-to-expose-owners-of-shell-companies-11571785516 https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-passes-bill-to-expose-own...
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
ur-whale 7y ago
People who watched too many James Bond movies in the 70's love to blame Switzerland for money laundering. The fact is Switzerland has very much cleaned up their act in the last 10 years, and the worse offender when it comes to cleaning and hiding ill-gotten gains these days are actually the US and Canada.
- forinti 7y ago
  And The City with all its tentacles in sunny islands.
PeterisP 7y ago
Leadership is corrupt when it acts against the interests of their people to benefit their personal interests. Swiss government is accountable to their people, not to foreigners - if they choose to act in a manner that benefits the swiss (not because it somehow directly enriches these Swiss leaders personally) at the expense of some other people exploited by their corrupt dictator, then that's not a corrupt action but a prudent decision for the benefit of their country, possibly even a duty if their people support that.

kenneth 7y ago

Before blaming Switzerland, perhaps best to take a look at places such as the U.S. and Delaware, which gets even more of the world's shady business.

bpodgursky 7y ago
Because it isn't true? Delaware doesn't charge state corporate income tax and has a specialized business court system. It does nothing to shelter you from international taxation.
- newguy1234 7y ago
  The only reason people believe this non-sense is because of how we are going into another election cycle and pundits like to stoke people's ignorance of international finance/taxation. If you repeat a lie enough, it becomes reality and then you can use that new reality to push your agenda through with the support of the ignorant masses.
  - chillwaves 7y ago
    For someone railing against "ignorance," your comment is certainly lacking in knowledge. Some useful information would be helpful.
- kgwgk 7y ago
  Deleware, like most states, doesn’t require companies to identify the beneficial owners. But that may change: https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-passes-bill-to-expose-owners-of-shell-companies-11571785516 https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-passes-bill-to-expose-own...
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

ur-whale 7y ago

People who watched too many James Bond movies in the 70's love to blame Switzerland for money laundering. The fact is Switzerland has very much cleaned up their act in the last 10 years, and the worse offender when it comes to cleaning and hiding ill-gotten gains these days are actually the US and Canada.

forinti 7y ago
And The City with all its tentacles in sunny islands.

PeterisP 7y ago

Leadership is corrupt when it acts against the interests of their people to benefit their personal interests. Swiss government is accountable to their people, not to foreigners - if they choose to act in a manner that benefits the swiss (not because it somehow directly enriches these Swiss leaders personally) at the expense of some other people exploited by their corrupt dictator, then that's not a corrupt action but a prudent decision for the benefit of their country, possibly even a duty if their people support that.