After the Charlie Foxtrot that Brazil is going to be, I think just providing basic sanitation, clean water, and a reasonable crime rate would be plenty to offer...
Hey, at least you get to look forward to the fact that when you leave the Apple Store, with a closet full of khakis and blue shirts, you'll already have the wardrobe needed to work at Best Buy!
Best? Not even close. I don't know how much you've been to China (if ever), but as someone who lived there for 6 years and still spends 40% of my year there, I can tell you that Hon Hai is FAR from the best. And I've been at the Longhua and Zhengzhou facilities. They still have 25% annual turnover, wages BARELY (like 10%) exceed minimum wage rates for each city, and overall bonuses are a pittance - and are composed mainly of overtime pay.
You want a good factory with low turnover, look at a place like Tianle, or V-Tech, or GGEC, or any thousands of smaller businesses where annual turnover is less than 10%, wages are 2-3 times that of minimum wage - and employees are very happy. Hon Hai is far, far from the best place to work. It's nowhere near the worst, but at best it's a solid "B-" employer. And that's based upon the easiest number to track - employee turnover. How many people leave and go work elsewhere, every year.
I think you need to talk about all Federal taxes together. Income tax, capital gains tax, social security, tariffs... They all have an impact on the GDP growth of the country. And if Hauser's law continues to hold (over the long term - on a decade or more basis - it's been quite accurate) then the best way to increase revenues is to increase GDP growth.
The OECD has a report that deals with taxation and GDP growth, and their conclusion is that lowering high marginal tax rates (and our corporate tax rate is the highest in the world) helps grow the GDP considerably. That would mean an increase in total Federal revenues - and we've seen that manifest and confirmed by President Obama for at least capital gains taxes.
President Reagan dramatically slashed the top tax rates and many have said we paid a steep price for it. However, looking at the actual Federal receipts as a percent of GDP (where we would see if the cuts stimulated the economy enough to offset revenue) we see that the average Federal take was higher for the 1980s than any decade since WWII. President Clinton kept the tax rates pretty low, and we see that the Federal receipts continued to increase.
I would argue that we try for a flatter, simpler, lower tax rate but with fewer deductions. Many point to the 1950s/1960s as our "golden years" when the top statutory rate was 90%! But at the same time, the Federal Government, per capita and adjusted for inflation, was taking in HALF what it does today. Those top statutory tax rates were fantasies because of the deductions allowed. The actual, effective tax rates people paid in the 1950s and 1960s was half what they pay today.
Personally, I'd cut it down to a single personal income tax rate: 15%. And it's a flat rate, paid by everyone on every penny of earned income. No deductions, not adjustments, not exclusions. EVERYONE pays. The current average tax rate for all earners is 13%; this 15% actually represents a tax increase for everyone, on average. And I would completely eliminate the corporate tax rate - set it to zero for all US domiciled and based companies. The catch: to qualify as US domiciled and based, at least 75% of all worldwide corporate profits must be repatriated to the US, and at least 51% of all executives at the VP level and higher - as well as 51% of all board members - must reside within the US for at least 183 days a year (meaning they are subject to US taxation). That would not only bring back the trillions held overseas (for investment in the US) it would make the US the world's greatest tax haven. And there would be a flood of upper-income earners (those execs) who would necessarily pay 15% of their income to the Federal Government.
I would also raise our tariffs and simplify - a flat 5% on all goods imported. Historically our tariffs have been a lot higher - dropping below 5% only after 1975. Simplifying the tariffs, and leveling them across all industries (they vary all over the place now) would make doing business easier, and it may drive out some industries in the US. However it would also greatly expand many industries, such as high tech. Right now China has a 4% export tariff on high tech goods, and the US has a ~1% import tax on those same goods. Raising the tariff on electronics, and combining it with the tax advantages of being based in the US (no taxation) would definitely give many companies a reason to relocate their assembly factories to the US. Google built the Moto X in the US for about the same labor cost as an iPhone in China. Costs stay about the same, tariffs are lower (hence selling price becomes more competitive) and profits taxation is gone (zero corporate income tax) and there is a VERY compelling argument to move manufacturing back domestically.
It's not evation, and it's not fraud - it's completely legal, explicitly stated in the tax code. Hey, you don't like it - it's not the corporations. It's your Government. They're playing by the rules. I assume you take every deduction you can for you own personal income tax? Do you consider that evasion and fraud?
So we (shareholders, people with 401Ks and IRAs and mutual funds) benefitted by $15 million per laid off employee - which is probably a good multiple of that employee's lifetime economic output. How is that bad?
What jurisdiction around the world has a zero percent corporate income tax? The reality is every dollar held overseas has already had corporate income taxes paid. It just happens those rates are considerably lower than the US (the US is at 39.6%; the OECD average is around 25%).
They actually do pay their fucking taxes like everyone else. They are completely legal with regards to taxes paid in the US - which are paid on gross profits made in the US. However, current US tax law does not tax foreign profits that are left overseas.
Who says they keep it in the EU, or even in banks? There are other investment vehicles in other countries where you can get 6% or more and still be extremely liquid.
I wonder if it's more complicated than the F-117 stealth attack aircraft that is inherently unstable at any speed in all three axes. Meaning without constant computer controlled input correction every 10 milliseconds or so, it would literally fall from the sky.
Agreed. I like my business class seat from LAX to HKG for $5700. As comfortable as first class (a bit smaller pod, but the seating/sleeping area is the same size) but saves nearly $10,000 as compared to a first class seat.
There is no non-stop flight from Australia to London. They all stop in Singapore or Dubai or other places in-between. The longest non-stop flights today are about 17 hours. Although the bi-monthly trip I make from LAX to HKG is 15 hours, and it's plenty long as-is...
Oxygen from the air for combustion? Huygens did it back in 1680 in his first internal combustion engine. Oxygen from the air is a pretty well known way to power an internal combustion engine at this time.
With less oxygen than the atmosphere. Normal air is ~21% O2, and 0.04% CO2. Submarines routinely operate - without any health issues - with O2 levels at 15% and CO2 levels at 2.5%. Turns out that most places you go to have significantly higher CO2 levels than the normal atmosphere. And it doesn't seem to have negative impacts.
People walk about China with masks on because of PARTICULATES, not CO2. Source: me living there for most of a decade and traveling their regularly (including just getting back from a month over in China). Burn all that oil, and CO2 might increase to 700 PPM - which is about 1/10th the allowable limit for submariners (who regularly function for months on end above 7000 PPM).
The US alone has over 1.5 TRILLION barrels of proven reserves that are recoverable at roughly $40/barrel. That's over 2 centuries at today's consumption rates. We're not going to run out, or even start running out, of oil for a VERY long time unless it's for purely political reasons.
I tend to use Solidworks a fair amount. Altium as well. Kind of hard to run either of those on Linux, and TTBOMK there isn't a single Linux option even close to the power of Solidworks or Altium.
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After the Charlie Foxtrot that Brazil is going to be, I think just providing basic sanitation, clean water, and a reasonable crime rate would be plenty to offer...
I sir, would be at your store DAILY! It's the rhinestone encrusted accordian that did it for me...
Hey, at least you get to look forward to the fact that when you leave the Apple Store, with a closet full of khakis and blue shirts, you'll already have the wardrobe needed to work at Best Buy!
Best? Not even close. I don't know how much you've been to China (if ever), but as someone who lived there for 6 years and still spends 40% of my year there, I can tell you that Hon Hai is FAR from the best. And I've been at the Longhua and Zhengzhou facilities. They still have 25% annual turnover, wages BARELY (like 10%) exceed minimum wage rates for each city, and overall bonuses are a pittance - and are composed mainly of overtime pay.
You want a good factory with low turnover, look at a place like Tianle, or V-Tech, or GGEC, or any thousands of smaller businesses where annual turnover is less than 10%, wages are 2-3 times that of minimum wage - and employees are very happy. Hon Hai is far, far from the best place to work. It's nowhere near the worst, but at best it's a solid "B-" employer. And that's based upon the easiest number to track - employee turnover. How many people leave and go work elsewhere, every year.
I think you need to talk about all Federal taxes together. Income tax, capital gains tax, social security, tariffs... They all have an impact on the GDP growth of the country. And if Hauser's law continues to hold (over the long term - on a decade or more basis - it's been quite accurate) then the best way to increase revenues is to increase GDP growth.
The OECD has a report that deals with taxation and GDP growth, and their conclusion is that lowering high marginal tax rates (and our corporate tax rate is the highest in the world) helps grow the GDP considerably. That would mean an increase in total Federal revenues - and we've seen that manifest and confirmed by President Obama for at least capital gains taxes.
President Reagan dramatically slashed the top tax rates and many have said we paid a steep price for it. However, looking at the actual Federal receipts as a percent of GDP (where we would see if the cuts stimulated the economy enough to offset revenue) we see that the average Federal take was higher for the 1980s than any decade since WWII. President Clinton kept the tax rates pretty low, and we see that the Federal receipts continued to increase.
I would argue that we try for a flatter, simpler, lower tax rate but with fewer deductions. Many point to the 1950s/1960s as our "golden years" when the top statutory rate was 90%! But at the same time, the Federal Government, per capita and adjusted for inflation, was taking in HALF what it does today. Those top statutory tax rates were fantasies because of the deductions allowed. The actual, effective tax rates people paid in the 1950s and 1960s was half what they pay today.
Personally, I'd cut it down to a single personal income tax rate: 15%. And it's a flat rate, paid by everyone on every penny of earned income. No deductions, not adjustments, not exclusions. EVERYONE pays. The current average tax rate for all earners is 13%; this 15% actually represents a tax increase for everyone, on average. And I would completely eliminate the corporate tax rate - set it to zero for all US domiciled and based companies. The catch: to qualify as US domiciled and based, at least 75% of all worldwide corporate profits must be repatriated to the US, and at least 51% of all executives at the VP level and higher - as well as 51% of all board members - must reside within the US for at least 183 days a year (meaning they are subject to US taxation). That would not only bring back the trillions held overseas (for investment in the US) it would make the US the world's greatest tax haven. And there would be a flood of upper-income earners (those execs) who would necessarily pay 15% of their income to the Federal Government.
I would also raise our tariffs and simplify - a flat 5% on all goods imported. Historically our tariffs have been a lot higher - dropping below 5% only after 1975. Simplifying the tariffs, and leveling them across all industries (they vary all over the place now) would make doing business easier, and it may drive out some industries in the US. However it would also greatly expand many industries, such as high tech. Right now China has a 4% export tariff on high tech goods, and the US has a ~1% import tax on those same goods. Raising the tariff on electronics, and combining it with the tax advantages of being based in the US (no taxation) would definitely give many companies a reason to relocate their assembly factories to the US. Google built the Moto X in the US for about the same labor cost as an iPhone in China. Costs stay about the same, tariffs are lower (hence selling price becomes more competitive) and profits taxation is gone (zero corporate income tax) and there is a VERY compelling argument to move manufacturing back domestically.
Anyw
It's not evation, and it's not fraud - it's completely legal, explicitly stated in the tax code. Hey, you don't like it - it's not the corporations. It's your Government. They're playing by the rules. I assume you take every deduction you can for you own personal income tax? Do you consider that evasion and fraud?
It seems it's 12.5% at its lowest. That's less than 1/3rd that of the US, but it's not zero...
There is no corporate income tax in the Cayman Islands. But multinationals end up paying around 13% of their Cayman registered profits in taxes. Not quite zero. It's low at 13%, but not zero.
Even President Obama admitted that cutting the capital gains tax rate would increase total revenue to the Federal Government.
So we (shareholders, people with 401Ks and IRAs and mutual funds) benefitted by $15 million per laid off employee - which is probably a good multiple of that employee's lifetime economic output. How is that bad?
What jurisdiction around the world has a zero percent corporate income tax? The reality is every dollar held overseas has already had corporate income taxes paid. It just happens those rates are considerably lower than the US (the US is at 39.6%; the OECD average is around 25%).
They actually do pay their fucking taxes like everyone else. They are completely legal with regards to taxes paid in the US - which are paid on gross profits made in the US. However, current US tax law does not tax foreign profits that are left overseas.
Who says they keep it in the EU, or even in banks? There are other investment vehicles in other countries where you can get 6% or more and still be extremely liquid.
I wonder if it's more complicated than the F-117 stealth attack aircraft that is inherently unstable at any speed in all three axes. Meaning without constant computer controlled input correction every 10 milliseconds or so, it would literally fall from the sky.
Agreed. I like my business class seat from LAX to HKG for $5700. As comfortable as first class (a bit smaller pod, but the seating/sleeping area is the same size) but saves nearly $10,000 as compared to a first class seat.
There is no non-stop flight from Australia to London. They all stop in Singapore or Dubai or other places in-between. The longest non-stop flights today are about 17 hours. Although the bi-monthly trip I make from LAX to HKG is 15 hours, and it's plenty long as-is...
Oxygen from the air for combustion? Huygens did it back in 1680 in his first internal combustion engine. Oxygen from the air is a pretty well known way to power an internal combustion engine at this time.
With less oxygen than the atmosphere. Normal air is ~21% O2, and 0.04% CO2. Submarines routinely operate - without any health issues - with O2 levels at 15% and CO2 levels at 2.5%. Turns out that most places you go to have significantly higher CO2 levels than the normal atmosphere. And it doesn't seem to have negative impacts.
People walk about China with masks on because of PARTICULATES, not CO2. Source: me living there for most of a decade and traveling their regularly (including just getting back from a month over in China). Burn all that oil, and CO2 might increase to 700 PPM - which is about 1/10th the allowable limit for submariners (who regularly function for months on end above 7000 PPM).
No, this is just the Green River formation in Colorado/Wyoming and Utah. ANWR and the other reserves push the 200 years to nearly 300...
The US alone has over 1.5 TRILLION barrels of proven reserves that are recoverable at roughly $40/barrel. That's over 2 centuries at today's consumption rates. We're not going to run out, or even start running out, of oil for a VERY long time unless it's for purely political reasons.
They run fans. Really BIG fans. To generate more power for each other!
Is there a good 3D parametric CAD package a la Solidworks or Creo that is available on Linux?
I tend to use Solidworks a fair amount. Altium as well. Kind of hard to run either of those on Linux, and TTBOMK there isn't a single Linux option even close to the power of Solidworks or Altium.
In Soviet Russia, the antenna sits on operator!