I've been talking about corporation tax, especially in a US context of late. Here's one reason why:
The US right wing response to this avoidance is abolish the tax. You really could not make it up.
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Since the advent of the Tea Party movement, and the growing exposure and profile of Fox News, I think it’s become obvious that the American right can just about make anything up, Richard. And increasingly since 2010 we’ve seen the Tories adopt pretty much the same approach (unsurprising of course, given the mechanisms that exist for the exchange of ideas and personnel between the UK and US political machines).
The basis is always the same regardless of the policy domain. Come up with a proposal that advances the neoliberal project as far as it’s possible to push it. Then retrofit “evidence” (eg. doctored/dodgy statistics, a report from a right wing think tank, etc) that supposedly supports the claimed effectiveness and legitimacy of the proposal. Then produce a series of soundbite statements that make it appear that the proposal is inherently sensible and achievable – and will (allegedly) save money – just as Duncan Smith has always done with his benefit reforms. And then rely on the majority of the media (who just happen to be uncritical and accommodating) to promote the proposal far and wide for you, and chivvy them long at various strategic points so that it remains in the news for as long as required. And finally, make sure that any spokesperson who appears on TV or radio to argue the case is the biggest blagger you can lay your hands on – an Osborne or Gove, or Johnson, of course.
I could add a few more ingredients (such as getting a sympathetic, but apparently “impartial” business person or organisation, to endorse the proposal), but that’s about it.
Incidentally, while on the subject of the US, and given a few of your recent blogs, I thought this quote of relevance:
‘Suppose you go to Washington and try to get at your government. You will always find that while you are politely listened to, the men really consulted are the men with the biggest stake – the bankers, the big manufacturers, the big masters of commerce… The government of the United States is the foster child of special interests. It is not allowed to have a will of its own. It is told at every move: “Don’t do that; you will interfere with our prosperity.”‘
Woodrow Wilson, ‘The New Freedom’ (US President, 1913-1921)
He saw this as a negative for US democracy. But in the UK nowadays that’s the model of government what Cameron and co (and Blair before that) see as ideal.
Hold the pickles, hold the health care, hold the lettuce. Special orders don’t upset us….