In my last blog I mentioned some of the issues those wanting to close tax havens must take into account if this intent is to turn into reality. I mentioned that the last attempt to do so was at least in part stopped in its tracks by action from American right wing think tanks, who are intensely secretive about their sources of funding but who are almost certainly in the pockets of offshore governments and banks.
Some are already fighting back. Bob Bauman of the Sovereign Society had this to say this morning - having tilted against TJN yesterday:
A few days ago the representatives from 18 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) met in Paris and announced their plan to draw up yet another phony "black list" of international tax havens.
These far Leftists finally came out and admitted their true intent -- the list will cite "those countries unwilling to cooperate with international investigators looking for companies and individuals who avoid paying taxes on their incomes by depositing their money in offshore bank accounts."
Forget past pious OECD claims of "unfair tax competition" -- it's always been about collecting high taxes.
Note the language: the OECD is 'far left': it is the organisation of the largest capitalist supporting governments in the world.
Note the last point, that their offence is that the aim of this objective is to collect tax. But let's be clear, what they're actually defending here is tax not paid as a result of criminal activity. This time we have to be blunt: the Right wing is acting as advocate for criminal activity; nothing more or less.
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Richard,
what they’re actually defending here is tax not paid as a result of criminal activity
Are these “crimes” of the legal or social variety?
Desperate words from people seeing the rug potentially being pulled from beneath their feet! Having said that it’s nothing new –
I remember reading something equally ludicrous being directed towards Lucy Komisar last year… Labelling her a left wing nutter or something equally ridiculous.
Interesting times we live in I’m sure you will agree Richard, I’ve been following your blog for over a year now, since researching a dissertation on tax haven abuse last year. It got me very angry and became quite passionate but also defeatist regardng the prospects of change on the subject.
It must be an interesting time for yourself right now – on the one hand there’s been a catastrophic banking collapse with its inevitably terrible consequences – on the other you have been proven right in much of what you have been arguing for a long time – it has always been on the cards. In addition it is interesting to note increasing support (or at least an increase in supportive rhetoric) against secrecy jurisdictions and abuse of offshore.
I must admit I got a bit carried away with the possibilities of things changing for the better about a week ago. But as the days and weeks go by I become increasingly sceptical!
Still, keep up the good work!
Legal
Look at what Dan Mitchell said on French TV this week where he said he fully understood German and French citizens paying their taxes by using tax havens. He said the same of US citizens in front of a big audience when standing beside me in Miami in April – knowing that US citizens have a duty to pay tax on their worldwide income
These guys defend legal crime
Richard