Common Dreams: America's Corporate Benedict Arnolds

[Raster]

by Scott Klinger

'That's un-American' is the cry heard whenever the unwritten code of American values is breached, Compassion, fairness and equal opportunity are hallmarks, and although you might not be able to recite chapter and verse of the code, you know when it is broken.
On this the 204th anniversary of the death of Benedict Arnold, one of America's most famous traitors, it's time to consider whether some of America's largest corporations that pay little or no federal taxes, have indeed become traitors.

Large corporations are in full retreat from paying their fair share of taxes. In 2003, corporations paid just 7% of the cost of the US government, according to a study by Citizens for Tax Justice.

It wasn't always this way. At the end of the Second World War, a time when paying taxes was viewed as a patriotic duty, corporations paid half the cost of the federal government. Even as recently as the 1970s, corporate taxes accounted for 20% of federal treasury receipts.

This dramatic change has shifted the cost of paying for government to smaller businesses and individual taxpayers, while at the same time boosting corporate profits and their executive's pay.

<snip, more, good read>

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0614-25.htm

[indepat]

1. Well Ronnie Raygun believed corporations should pay no income taxes, only

people should pay taxes, if my recall is right. Ronnie's dream of no corporate income taxes is near a reality as the fiscal integrity to the Federal government has been sacrificed by Ronnie, Bush I and W so large corporations and the most affluent aren't burdened by shouldering a fair share of the tax burden.

[Raster]

2. ronnie raygun was an asshole. Plain and simple. He was owned

lock, stock and barrel by corporate interests. And to boot, just an actor playing a role, admittedly a VERY GOOD ACTOR playing the role he was groomed for years to play. That said...

Corporations are leeches on the American body. Corporations receive government handouts and considerations to numerous to mention. Corporations have been granted a kind of immortal personhood. All of the bennies, none of the bummers. Take wal-mart, please. There is no better example of a bad corporate citizen.

[Fovea]

3. Corporate Welfare

is a big bowl of gravy for the fat cats.
This country is already back in the gilded age.

I forsee a very dark and violent time approaching, and a lot of those who game the system today, will pay for it dearly tomorrow.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. High corporate taxes actually *encourage* job growth and innovation

because expenses for hiring new employees, building plants, buying equipment and supplies, and conducting product research come out of pre-tax income.

High corporate taxes reduce dividends to the shareholders, but everyone else benefits, both the employees who get hired and the general public, who enjoy the amenities that taxes pay for, such as schools, parks, and transportation.

[indepat]

5. And the Repukes are rapidly fixing those problems

[HughBeaumont]

7. But keeping the peasantry unemployed, frightened and busy

is much better for profit$. Unfortunately for those who know better, it also keeps the ever-promising-the-Horatio-Alger-myth Repukes in office . . . year . . . after year . . . after year . . .

[Kmarx]

6. This is part of the American way. Why are you surprised?

Under Bush the corporations will pay no taxes before he leaves office. Remember, Bush is a 'compassionate Conservative', that is, a Conservative who feels so sorry for the rich that he just can't do enough for them!!!!!!!!