Well, since nobody else posted it... Why are the Brits still even there? I mean, it's not my fight but this could be a whole lot simpler... http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1230/495208-northern-ireland-haass-talks/
Was this a tongue-in-cheek OP? The Ulstermen/Orangemen of Northern Ireland don't trust the mainly Catholic population of the rest of Ireland at all and they still have great difficulty getting along with their Catholic co-workers (all a bunch of terrorist sympathizers, you know). The Northern Irish have made great strides since the Accords were signed but there is more than enough evidence to suggest that they are not ready either for independence OR poltically joining the rest of Ireland.
Hmmm! If Ireland was to find oil off its shore, the situation would change and mighty quickly. It's all economics you know, and Britain with its favorable trade agreements with Northern Ireland, made certain they wouldn't want to unite with a poorer South.
I am not sure Ireland has the ability to maintain itself as a first world nation without the UK. I would like to see Irish independence in my lifetime, but I don't know that they are anywhere close to ready for it.
I fully concur with your sentiments, cause I know the sun wasn't shining on that particular day! Regards Highlander - - - Updated - - - There is oil in Southern Ireland. And some very dubious planning decision being made at present. Regards Highlander
Being a born and bred Ulsterman, anytime some American asks "why are the Brits there?", my blood boils. Even as a "colonial Protestant, my family history can easily be traced back 500 years within Ulster, the same can't be said for most Americans and their family histories in America. Learn some history, we can all benefit from it!
What a load of Tom tit! There is a divide, correct, instigated by the British crown. Why else is the Labour Party not allowed to stand for election in Northern Ireland. Simple to ensure the vote isn't divided and control rests with the protestant Orangemen. But either way, through the Catholic Church the pressure was put on the opposite direction, simple divide and conquer. The accords, the Mitchell agreement was the minimum the catholic people would accept. That was the spinningdale agreement offered in1971 and was thrown out by William Whitelaw, lying to the British parliament. There can be no progress until the crown stops sponsoring the continual downward spiral of antagonism between the two sides. Regards Highlander
They do just fine. The Celtic tiger would still be on its way if their banks werent do rabidly invested in. America. Same with Iceland.
You might notice Iceland is clear of debt. Iceland is prosecuting the bankers not hiding in the UK or USA. Three years. Sorted, pity we haven't the ability to do what king John did to the bankers in his era, they were castrated! Regards Highlander
With the Budget 2014 cutbacks and tax increases anticipated effects, I am not as optimistic as you that they are ready to make their own way. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/budget-blows-kick-in-for-young-and-old-253957.html
Why do tax increases hurt? You need to pay your just dues, why should anyone be allowed to exempt themselves from there liabilities to society? It's an attitude of mind, it's brain washing people to repeat your mantra that's really scary! Tax increases hurt! Because of the banking and economic policies followed by the elite, were all in austerity, there is still the same money, only there are restrictions placed on the money supply. At corporations don't pay tax. Why not, are they better than you? Have the more rights than you? Have the more power in there vote than you? I thought every vote counted as one! But the answer is yes they have more rights than you because you've given them up! Regards Highlander
No point taxing corporations. They can only hire people, pay them, or expand or shore up the business. Why would you tax them when you could just tax the people who pay it anyway? Makes you feel like a cool leftist to attack corporations whose products you are using to do so? Corporations don't vote. Only the people they employ. They employ people, not robots. Corporate "rights" are just economic freedom. It is the people who ultimately pay those taxes anyway. Where does the corp get the money from? There is no austerity in Europe. You are spending plenty of the people's money.
Just think about what you said, no point in taxing corporations, why? There money comes from you and me! The profits are to all intents and purposes, unpaid wages, why should they abdicate there civic duties? Can you! You have no need to go cap in hand to anyone. Corporations own the political system, and you forward the argument that they should have this right, corporation are seen in law as a human entity, it can lie it has rights...... Why not they have the same rights as you, or me! Again, this is education and acceptance of financial dictatorship. You have no economic freedoms, you have overheads to pay, again, why should they be allowed to abdicate there responsibilities to the state, and through the estate, civil society. Without rules, checks and balances, you end up with the dictatorship you now enjoy. Regards Highlander
Yes. It does. Civic duties? Lol... You want them to pay for more welfare they want to expand and create jobs. Use a ? Mark when you ask a question. Corporations are made up of people. Which corporation forces you to buy from them? What dictator has no power to force anyone to do anything they for want to do. not if you got your way. What debt do they have to society? Would you rather have more jobs or more welfare cash to spend? You can always tax the people paid by the corporation. People would be free. Rules checks and balances are supposed to be on government power. Not to keep the people in check. No. Dictatorship is rules and laws that tell you what to do. Not the freedom to do what you want. You have your massive regulatory state. Why aren't you happy yet? Is the need to control other on the left a bottomless pit that will never be fulfilled? What # of the economy should the ruling class take for themselves by force and what % should be left to the producers? Cheers comrade.
I believe that the UK allows people to defer substantial taxation by incorporating themselves, something the US does not allow.
That seems dumb if the holdings aren't used for business purposes it should be imputed to them as income.
I don't recall all the details about it. It was something I read about musicians, actors, rich folks and the like using some sort of self-incorporation wealth shield in the UK so that they might officially only make as much as the tax-free shield ($30K or pounds, I forget which) and the rest of their income gets paid into their self-incorporation entity.
Well that is strange for most people but actors and musicians are businesses really just like lawyers and doctors. I can see it in that case. In either event, we should remove business taxes, impute income held for non business purposes and tax all income the same no matter how it is earned. That is the only fair and reasonable system.
I think it is available to anyone though. So if I went to work for Microsoft in the UK, I could do so as Smevins, Inc. and pay myself as an employee of Semvins Inc. enough to where I would be tax free or thereabouts and then Smevins, Inc. would purchase and own things like my furniture.. In the US one cannot do that without hefty penalties if one is in a service type job as it is viewed by the IRS as evading FICA withholdings.
