Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MannyGoldstein

MannyGoldstein's Journal
MannyGoldstein's Journal
July 16, 2014

Obama Administration Seeks End to Tax Inversion Deals

Source: NY Times

The Obama administration has urged congressional leaders to take swift
action to halt the rush of United States companies moving abroad.

In letters sent to four lawmakers, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew
said the administration supported a quick fix that would halt the trend of
so-called inversions, in which United States companies buy a smaller
competitor and reincorporate overseas to save money on taxes.

Speaking at the CNBC Delivering Alpha conference on Wednesday,
Mr. Lew called for legislation that would include a package of business
reforms, one of which would bring tax levels of companies in the 20
percent range.

“The best way to deal with this is through comprehensive business tax
reform and we have a plan out there that would accomplish multiple
goals,” he said, citing business tax reforms and providing resources for
infrastructure investments.


Read more: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/16/obama-administration-seeks-end-to-inversion-deals

July 16, 2014

Why banks won't be held accountable under Obama/Holder

I posted the following as a response to an OP a few weeks ago, but it keeps haunting me as I read about the latest wet kiss to Citigroup. Here's what I wrote:

"I spoke with someone high up in DOJ a few weeks ago. An old buddy of mine. We were ingesting adult beverages.

The problem with going after banks, he explained, is that only the people at the top know the bad stuff that's happening - the lower folks only know their jobs, not how their jobs contribute to the big-picture scamming. But if they go after the people at the top, it will hurt the bank and many of the innocent lower folks might lose their jobs. The DOJ is very mindful of how awful it was when Enron was prosecuted. So no serious prosecutions will happen, on purpose.

(Yes, this is really what passes for rational thought at the DOJ.)"


So that's what's going on, I think. Apparently, prosecuting Enron was a huge mistake. So absent an epic sea change, the bankers get to savage us until at least 1/20/2017. What happens after that is for us to decide over the next 2 or so years.

July 12, 2014

How can a person who fights for the TPP be considered a friend of the 99%?

I just don't get it.

Elizabeth Warren has it right, it's an awful assault that the oligarchs are trying to keep secret so we can't fight back.

"In other words, if people knew what was going on, they would stop it. This argument is exactly backwards. If transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement, then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States."

- Elizabeth Warren

It's a sickness. The rich and powerful have stolen enough from us, they don't need new laws to steal even more.

July 12, 2014

Appreciation Thread for REPUBLICANS

Sometimes I do dumb things, like posting this.

(Ok, I often do dumb things, you're right.)

When I do these things, I feel bad about myself, depressed by my stupidity.

Then I think about Republicans, and I feel better about myself: "Lord, I'm not that ignorant after all."

Thanks Republicans! I appreciate your helping me out. But if you stopped, that would be even better, OK?

July 11, 2014

How @#$%ing Stupid Are We?

I'm so goddamned mad at the TPP garbage that I've gotten the idea to write a pamphlet or book about all the ridiculous stuff going on, titled:

How @#$%ing Stupid Are We?
It's *your* fault America's this screwed up, and only *you* can fix it.

It would be a compilation of all of the provably dysfunctional nonsense that voters have let happen to America, that are just power-screwing us every day, things like "free" trade, outrageously expensive and crappy health care, insane military spending, absurd wars, upside-down tax policies, and so forth.

Just stupid, stupid stuff that we do to ourselves, for which their are easy fixes that are proven to work whenever they've been tried.

We won World War II in two theaters and put people on the Moon, now we can't even tie our shoelaces without severing a finger.

Talk me down - I'm sure it's a dumb idea and I'm just mad right now. I'll probably reconsider in about 5 minutes, grrr.

July 10, 2014

"We'd love for you little people to have rights, but..."

"We'd really love for the little people to have rights, but we just can't swing it."

"Sorry!!!"

"But once it's law... we can work together to make it better! Yes, we can!"

It was uplifting to read that the bipartisan TPP will give the developing world a break: The US and other developed countries have backed off their demand that sanctions be immediately imposed on countries that violate worker protections. Instead, there'll be... discussions.

U.S. compromises on labor rights in latest round of TPP negotiation.

Discussions! LOL! "Say, about those children locked in factories for a week at a time... no worries, that class of people were bred for that sort of thing. Could you pass the Grey Poupon? Thanks ever so much."

So microwage countries will be able to drive labor costs even lower, and grab more American jobs. And the rich all over the world make even more money, and everyone else gets @#$%ed even worse.

Yay!

Anyone else sick of this sick abuse of the 99%? Would it be unfair to call this effort sociopathy?

I'm of a mind to get off my fat ass and do something to help stop this awful abuse-in-the-works.

July 10, 2014

If King George III had a brigade of flying monkeys, would he have put down

the rebellion by the American colonists?

What if the colonists had boomerangs?

July 9, 2014

I worship Greenwald?

Oh, brother.

July 9, 2014

Iraq War Resolution: the most important vote in the past 3 decades?

Most important vote in Congress, that is.

If not, what do you think was more important?

July 8, 2014

The 99% have been getting crushed for the past 30 years

I'm utterly flummoxed as to why we'd pin our hopes on those who've led us in a losing battle during that time - or even worse, have led the enemy's attacks on occasion.

It makes no sense, sorry.

Profile Information

Name: Manny Goldstein
Gender: Male
Hometown: Greater Boston
Home country: USA
Current location: Remulak, as far as I can tell
Member since: Tue Aug 30, 2005, 09:44 AM
Number of posts: 34,589
Latest Discussions»MannyGoldstein's Journal