De-lurking
Hello All
As a longtime lurker (partly because I couldn't recover my login password, take note Admins), I thought I should do the honourable thing.
A couple of things spurred me on recently. On Friday I was listening to Radio 5 Live, and the subject of tax avoidance came up with, of all people Bono, and he said a couple of interesting things. They've moved their business overseas to avoid heavier taxes in Ireland, and now they're having to deal with slings and arrows calling them non-patriots. But here's his view
So I started to think a bit more about that. I am a business. I work hard. I pay thousands for training and equipment. I have worked many nights to 3 or 4 in the morning while the Hectors of this world are tucked up ready to resume their 9 - 5s (or call in for a sickie). I stand on my own two feet, if I don't meet the standard, I'm on the street. I have nothing to hide and I hold my head high. I have paid a professional company to ensure that I can maximise my profits, legally and legitimately and openly. I AM NOT A TAX AVOIDER - THAT'S YOUR LABEL NOT MINE, I AM A LEGITIMATE BUSINESSMAN. Funny how all those billionaires in Belgravia who pay less tax than me are businessmen and I'm some kind of rodent. I have a right to maximise my profits. I think for too long I've kept my head down, a little ashamed of tax planning, but I'm not anymore.
The next thing is Sir Fred. I have to agree, failure should not be rewarded. The money I have, Ive earned, not given to me in the future. That said, where does this Government get off talking about 'the court of popular opinion'? What level of arrogance is that? Popular opinion is a plaything of the Government. It's swayed by spin and lies, it is whatever you want it to be. Its a way of covering up that you screwed up, and now you want to show us all how angry you are with this bad man for taking all that money (that your deregulation gave him, and you approved). He is in short, a mere distraction. You cleared the pension, now who's responsible? Stand up please. Unfortunately, the 'court of popular opinion' seems to have more influence these days than the court of law. And that really is the the road to tyranny. What next? Siezing the farmlands? Its for the very reason that people like the Government talk about the "court of popular opinion" that it is essential that we have a Court of Law.
The subject of taking the campaign to the media was discussed. I have to admit, it is a tricky one. But, I would love to force the Government down the road of trying to bring a retrospective law to claw back that pension and force the issue out into the public domain. There's plenty of big and badder enemies and for that matter, friends, of the state who would not want such a thing contemplated. They're sitting quietly on their hands at the moment, no-one has come for them yet. What about a well placed question on Question Time. "Retrospective tax legislation has been used to close down and bankrupt up to 4000 small businesses using a legal tax planning strategy, does the panel support applying the same strategy to Sir Fred and other businesses that the Government finds foul of popular opinion, but wants to avoid failure in the courts" (look at all those windfall tax calls for BP etc).
What about section 660? The language for that one was interesting. They're not going to pursue it at this stage, or words to that effect. Going to make that retrospective too? Get them later once things have picked up?
We have a list of MPs (well done DR, inspirational and superb) who say they will support us. We also have a list of weak-kneed MPs who don't want to get their hands dirty, and who by default support retrospective legislation. They should be held to account. I'd love to see this forced into the open, so everyone can see how they can be affected, and see how their MPs, their representatives, those holders of the vote begging bowl every three or four years, didnt have the guts to standup and even say a word of protest.
I've had enough. This is wrong. The Law is not your plaything. If it is wrong fix it, but what arrogance you have to reinterpret established law, when you don't have the guts to defend it in court. Court of popular opinion? Retrospective tax legislation? Is this what has happened to our country? It's not me that should feel ashamed Hector, its you, you and your political masters. And I hope that someday you will lie awake at night worrying about what's going to happen to your home, your family, your career as I have on many nights over the past four years. Of course, at least you can call in sick. After all, I'll still be working to four in the morning to pay your wages.
<admin note>Note taken, but if you had used the CONTACT FORM we would have looked into this for you...</admin note>
Hello All
As a longtime lurker (partly because I couldn't recover my login password, take note Admins), I thought I should do the honourable thing.
A couple of things spurred me on recently. On Friday I was listening to Radio 5 Live, and the subject of tax avoidance came up with, of all people Bono, and he said a couple of interesting things. They've moved their business overseas to avoid heavier taxes in Ireland, and now they're having to deal with slings and arrows calling them non-patriots. But here's his view
- We are a business
- No point being great at music and rubbish at finance
- They have a right as a business to maximise their profits
- The Irish Government is happy to construct their tax regime to attract overseas money - i.e. it cuts both ways
So I started to think a bit more about that. I am a business. I work hard. I pay thousands for training and equipment. I have worked many nights to 3 or 4 in the morning while the Hectors of this world are tucked up ready to resume their 9 - 5s (or call in for a sickie). I stand on my own two feet, if I don't meet the standard, I'm on the street. I have nothing to hide and I hold my head high. I have paid a professional company to ensure that I can maximise my profits, legally and legitimately and openly. I AM NOT A TAX AVOIDER - THAT'S YOUR LABEL NOT MINE, I AM A LEGITIMATE BUSINESSMAN. Funny how all those billionaires in Belgravia who pay less tax than me are businessmen and I'm some kind of rodent. I have a right to maximise my profits. I think for too long I've kept my head down, a little ashamed of tax planning, but I'm not anymore.
The next thing is Sir Fred. I have to agree, failure should not be rewarded. The money I have, Ive earned, not given to me in the future. That said, where does this Government get off talking about 'the court of popular opinion'? What level of arrogance is that? Popular opinion is a plaything of the Government. It's swayed by spin and lies, it is whatever you want it to be. Its a way of covering up that you screwed up, and now you want to show us all how angry you are with this bad man for taking all that money (that your deregulation gave him, and you approved). He is in short, a mere distraction. You cleared the pension, now who's responsible? Stand up please. Unfortunately, the 'court of popular opinion' seems to have more influence these days than the court of law. And that really is the the road to tyranny. What next? Siezing the farmlands? Its for the very reason that people like the Government talk about the "court of popular opinion" that it is essential that we have a Court of Law.
The subject of taking the campaign to the media was discussed. I have to admit, it is a tricky one. But, I would love to force the Government down the road of trying to bring a retrospective law to claw back that pension and force the issue out into the public domain. There's plenty of big and badder enemies and for that matter, friends, of the state who would not want such a thing contemplated. They're sitting quietly on their hands at the moment, no-one has come for them yet. What about a well placed question on Question Time. "Retrospective tax legislation has been used to close down and bankrupt up to 4000 small businesses using a legal tax planning strategy, does the panel support applying the same strategy to Sir Fred and other businesses that the Government finds foul of popular opinion, but wants to avoid failure in the courts" (look at all those windfall tax calls for BP etc).
What about section 660? The language for that one was interesting. They're not going to pursue it at this stage, or words to that effect. Going to make that retrospective too? Get them later once things have picked up?
We have a list of MPs (well done DR, inspirational and superb) who say they will support us. We also have a list of weak-kneed MPs who don't want to get their hands dirty, and who by default support retrospective legislation. They should be held to account. I'd love to see this forced into the open, so everyone can see how they can be affected, and see how their MPs, their representatives, those holders of the vote begging bowl every three or four years, didnt have the guts to standup and even say a word of protest.
I've had enough. This is wrong. The Law is not your plaything. If it is wrong fix it, but what arrogance you have to reinterpret established law, when you don't have the guts to defend it in court. Court of popular opinion? Retrospective tax legislation? Is this what has happened to our country? It's not me that should feel ashamed Hector, its you, you and your political masters. And I hope that someday you will lie awake at night worrying about what's going to happen to your home, your family, your career as I have on many nights over the past four years. Of course, at least you can call in sick. After all, I'll still be working to four in the morning to pay your wages.
<admin note>Note taken, but if you had used the CONTACT FORM we would have looked into this for you...</admin note>
many thanks for de-lurking.
not a lover 
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