It's an interesting question.
And one that answers itself --depending on where you stand.
Oh -- before I get too far -- this is in reference to an article recently published by CNBC.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/wealthy-stash-21-trillion-pirate-160830668.html
As I was saying...
The thrust of the article is to report some "research" by a left leaning think tank in the US (the so called "Tax Justice Network USA"), accusing many private banks around the world of colluding with the rich to hide their wealth from the US government.
The article calls the banks helping these people - PIRATES.
Which is VERY interesting.
Yes. You could just dismiss this as cheap name calling, (which it is).
Or you might assume the author thought 'pirate' sounded similar to 'private' and it was a nice pun. Again, a pretty cheap one. One that doesn't show much intellectual horsepower.
But when you really think about it...
If you analyze what he's really saying it's nothing short of shocking...and stupid.
But I'm also curious: Does this writer even realise what he's said?
But don't just take it from me. You decide....
Here's what I mean:
A pirate is basically a mugger on the seas. Someone who comes up to your boat or ship. He puts a gun to your head and says give me the valuable goods on this ship -- OR ELSE.
--Right?
He didn't work for the goods. He didn't take the risks involved in producing, selling, transporting or delivering the goods. But he wants them just the same. To spend on booze, whores and fine living.
What about Taxes?
Even the most left leaning person will admit:
If you don't satisfy the tax collecting authority in your country --- if you don't pay the amounts THEY determine you should...
People carrying guns WILL come to your home or business.
Governments collect taxes at the end of a barrel of a gun.
Back to the rich and their money.
It's happening around the world. Tax rates are rising -- especially for the rich. They make great political scapegoats.
But answer this. If your government suddenly decided that you should give them 75% of your wealth ---as they recently have in France --- would you just stand by?
Or would you be looking for ways to keep that money?
Money you worked hard for. For years. Risking everything. Working nights, weekends and holidays.
When the people collecting welfare were enjoying their free time and government benefits, you had your nose to the grindstone.
And if you could find a way to hide the money -- to keep what you had so rightfully earned with your blood, sweat, tears and premature gray hairs? Would you?
Now imagine you got help from a bank in PROTECTING your wealth. Help keeping your money out of the grasping, rapacious hands of wasteful government....
************************
SIDEBAR:
Government: A black hole.
Even if government COULD get their hands on all that wealth. Do we image for one moment that would solve the problem? How long would it be before government would be back AGAIN looking for even more money.
An intelligent investor knows how to make money grow. How to multiply money.
Government is expert at the opposite. Making money diminish. Turning dollar into pennies.
Making policies that make doing business harder, costlier and riskier. Enforcement of laws (which costs money) that actually make businesses less efficient. Less profitable. Able to pay less tax!
END of SIDEBAR
***************************
Would you consider yourself or the bank helping you A PIRATE?
See how dishonest this is? How twisted? How unbelievably stupid?
To put this into perspective, this is like a mugger running a protection racket coming to your business or home. He demands the majority of all your money.
But he soon realises you don't have ANY cash on hand. Nothing.
Not only that, you've just moved out. So you have nothing he can take or destroy.
Your business or home is empty except for a simple wooden stool you sit on.
Would you give him your new address?
The mugger then goes outside and starts screaming that YOU ROBBED HIM of the money he deserved.
That YOU ARE A PIRATE!
That's rich.
So rich, I doubt the person who wrote that gave it a second thought because he isn't showing any more intelligence or honesty than most governments.
Piracy and Taxes
Isn't government the one that puts a gun to your head and demands a certain percentage of your wealth in order to keep your life and freedom?
And governments believe they have a RIGHT to as much of your wealth as they arbitrarily decide.
Of course, governments can believe anything they want. And they DO make the rules. They can say: "Because you live and work inside the borders of the land I control, I'm going to take 75% of your money for myself."
Sure. They can do whatever they want. They have the guns.
But
Seriously. Let's at least be honest
Who is the PIRATE?
Who is raping and pillaging at will?
Who takes what they want because they have a bigger gun?
Not because they earned it. Not because they worked for it. But because they say it is theirs. And because they have the guns to force you and me into submission.
You see -- the whole argument this guy is putting forth rests on the idea that YOUR money is not your own. That --- if the government so decides --- they can take everything you have. And if you use the laws they wrote to try to protect yourself, if you dare to outsmart them (as these rich people apparently have...
YOU ARE A PIRATE.
In short this author --- and many people out there --- believe that what is yours REALLY BELONGS TO THE GOVERNMENT.
That you are a stupid, senseless cow to be milked and slaughtered at will. An asset of the state. A serf.
That your sole purpose in existing is to produce EVER MORE taxes for a government.... so it can continue to make laws that give it ever more power over every aspect of your life, impede commerce and eventually make everyone poor.
Do you believe that?
And one that answers itself --depending on where you stand.
Oh -- before I get too far -- this is in reference to an article recently published by CNBC.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/wealthy-stash-21-trillion-pirate-160830668.html
As I was saying...
The thrust of the article is to report some "research" by a left leaning think tank in the US (the so called "Tax Justice Network USA"), accusing many private banks around the world of colluding with the rich to hide their wealth from the US government.
The article calls the banks helping these people - PIRATES.
Which is VERY interesting.
Yes. You could just dismiss this as cheap name calling, (which it is).
Or you might assume the author thought 'pirate' sounded similar to 'private' and it was a nice pun. Again, a pretty cheap one. One that doesn't show much intellectual horsepower.
But when you really think about it...
If you analyze what he's really saying it's nothing short of shocking...and stupid.
But I'm also curious: Does this writer even realise what he's said?
But don't just take it from me. You decide....
Here's what I mean:
A pirate is basically a mugger on the seas. Someone who comes up to your boat or ship. He puts a gun to your head and says give me the valuable goods on this ship -- OR ELSE.
--Right?
He didn't work for the goods. He didn't take the risks involved in producing, selling, transporting or delivering the goods. But he wants them just the same. To spend on booze, whores and fine living.
What about Taxes?
Even the most left leaning person will admit:
If you don't satisfy the tax collecting authority in your country --- if you don't pay the amounts THEY determine you should...
People carrying guns WILL come to your home or business.
Governments collect taxes at the end of a barrel of a gun.
Back to the rich and their money.
It's happening around the world. Tax rates are rising -- especially for the rich. They make great political scapegoats.
But answer this. If your government suddenly decided that you should give them 75% of your wealth ---as they recently have in France --- would you just stand by?
Or would you be looking for ways to keep that money?
Money you worked hard for. For years. Risking everything. Working nights, weekends and holidays.
When the people collecting welfare were enjoying their free time and government benefits, you had your nose to the grindstone.
And if you could find a way to hide the money -- to keep what you had so rightfully earned with your blood, sweat, tears and premature gray hairs? Would you?
Now imagine you got help from a bank in PROTECTING your wealth. Help keeping your money out of the grasping, rapacious hands of wasteful government....
************************
SIDEBAR:
Government: A black hole.
Even if government COULD get their hands on all that wealth. Do we image for one moment that would solve the problem? How long would it be before government would be back AGAIN looking for even more money.
An intelligent investor knows how to make money grow. How to multiply money.
Government is expert at the opposite. Making money diminish. Turning dollar into pennies.
Making policies that make doing business harder, costlier and riskier. Enforcement of laws (which costs money) that actually make businesses less efficient. Less profitable. Able to pay less tax!
END of SIDEBAR
***************************
Would you consider yourself or the bank helping you A PIRATE?
See how dishonest this is? How twisted? How unbelievably stupid?
To put this into perspective, this is like a mugger running a protection racket coming to your business or home. He demands the majority of all your money.
But he soon realises you don't have ANY cash on hand. Nothing.
Not only that, you've just moved out. So you have nothing he can take or destroy.
Your business or home is empty except for a simple wooden stool you sit on.
Would you give him your new address?
The mugger then goes outside and starts screaming that YOU ROBBED HIM of the money he deserved.
That YOU ARE A PIRATE!
That's rich.
So rich, I doubt the person who wrote that gave it a second thought because he isn't showing any more intelligence or honesty than most governments.
Piracy and Taxes
Isn't government the one that puts a gun to your head and demands a certain percentage of your wealth in order to keep your life and freedom?
And governments believe they have a RIGHT to as much of your wealth as they arbitrarily decide.
Of course, governments can believe anything they want. And they DO make the rules. They can say: "Because you live and work inside the borders of the land I control, I'm going to take 75% of your money for myself."
Sure. They can do whatever they want. They have the guns.
But
Seriously. Let's at least be honest
Who is the PIRATE?
Who is raping and pillaging at will?
Who takes what they want because they have a bigger gun?
Not because they earned it. Not because they worked for it. But because they say it is theirs. And because they have the guns to force you and me into submission.
You see -- the whole argument this guy is putting forth rests on the idea that YOUR money is not your own. That --- if the government so decides --- they can take everything you have. And if you use the laws they wrote to try to protect yourself, if you dare to outsmart them (as these rich people apparently have...
YOU ARE A PIRATE.
In short this author --- and many people out there --- believe that what is yours REALLY BELONGS TO THE GOVERNMENT.
That you are a stupid, senseless cow to be milked and slaughtered at will. An asset of the state. A serf.
That your sole purpose in existing is to produce EVER MORE taxes for a government.... so it can continue to make laws that give it ever more power over every aspect of your life, impede commerce and eventually make everyone poor.
Do you believe that?
