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Microsoft To Get $100M Annual Tax Cut and Amnesty
reifman writes "Despite a $2.8 billion deficit, Washington State's House Bill 3176 would provide Microsoft with an effective $100 million tax cut annually and possible amnesty on its $1.27 billion Nevada tax maneuverings. Under current law, all of Microsoft's worldwide licensing revenues of approximately $20.7 billion annually are taxable at .484 percent. Under the new law, only the portion of software licenses sold to Washington state customers would be taxable. Ironically, after slashing Microsoft's tax burden, HB3176 directs the Department of Revenue to crack down on 'abusive tax transactions' like those in Nevada — except for a loophole that may provide Microsoft amnesty on its twelve year practice. The bill's lead sponsor is Ross Hunter of Medina, home to Bill Gates and a number of current and former Microsoft billionaires and multi-millionaires, and other areas around Microsoft's corporate campus."
"if you're not paying for the government you vote for, do you deserve to influence it's direction?"
What a good idea, in fact you could set it up so the more tax you pay the more of a vote you have.
The rich deserve to rule us after all!
our middle class is dying because our government has neglected necessary social structures that don't build themselves outside of government control or encouragement.
Our middle class is dying because our government, measured as a percentage of GNP, has gone from 3% (1776 to 1920) to nearly 40% today. The middle class is being crushed by the amount of taxes they have to pay to support the government the poor have voted into place. Either they make it, and move up to the rich, or are crushed and fall into the poor.
The idea that the "poor" lobby has any power whatsoever is laughable.
The idea that a 50% voting block that votes as a block (More for me!) has no power is laughable.
You Robin Hood scenario is as baseless as the existence of a vast class of "welfare queens".
Strange that you would pick "welfare queens" because it IS the woman's vote that has turned our government from "We'll let you take care of yourself" to "We'll force you to take care of everyone!"
http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/WashTimesWomensSuff112707.html <---- the US example.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/x737rhv91438554j/ <----Swizerland (women's suffrage in 1971).
Want to increase your take-home pay by 35%? Repeal the 19th Amendment.