The International Herald Tribune published an article on Bono's tax activities yesterday. A certain Richard Murphy is quoted in the report (although I have no recall of speaking to the IHT - I think it all came from this blog).
What is interesting is what U2 say about their affairs:
"Our business is a very complex business. Of course we're trying to be tax-efficient. Who doesn't want to be tax-efficient?"
I'd like U2 to answer these questions. Do you want to:
- stop capital flight from Africa?
- prevent achievement of the Millennium Development Goals?
- undermine democracy?
- deny healthcare, education and opportunity to people around the world?
- encourage lawlessness by promoting the abuse of regulation?
- be seen to be pariahs from a country that is already itself a tax haven?
These are the consequences of 'tax efficiency'. If you want these things, carry on as you are. If not, pay your taxes now. It's not U2's words that count, it's their actions. Concern is a verb. Walk the talk or what you say is just a load of self promoting rubbish Bono. The choice is yours.
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Ah, like so many of the rich ‘star’ types, they want to look whiter than white on the outside, while in reality they want to pay the minimum of tax, anyway they can legally. And if this results in any of your six questions being stomped all over, then what they hell, as long as no one notices!
Kettle, Pot and Black are words that spring to mind.
Maybe, if the rich and famous spent less time preaching and saying how good they are, and instead let their actions speak, then maybe more people would listen?
The Irish Labour party’s finance spokeswoman, Joan Burton, said this week: “Having listened to Bono on the necessity for the Irish government to give more money to Ireland Aid … I am surprised that U2 are not prepared to contribute to the exchequer on a fair basis along with the bulk of Irish taxpayers.”