Category: government

how Google (and myself) avoid taxes

On By Rick McIn economics, ethics, governmentLeave a comment

I’m in Bermuda right now … hiding my vast wealth. 😀

According to the latest available figures, 63 percent of all the profits made outside of the United States by American multinationals are now reported in six low- or zero-tax countries: the Netherlands, Bermuda, Luxembourg, Ireland, Singapore and Switzerland. …

The NY Times has a comparatively simple article with graphics explaining how the stupidly rich hide their money … legally.

How Corporations and the Wealthy Avoid Taxes  (and How to Stop Them)

How do we know?

Much was revealed from the Swiss Leaks (2015), the Panama Papers (2016) and the Paradise Papers (2017).

Only one entity was sued after the Panama Papers.

 

Google, Facebook, Amazon and Twitter should be regulated

On By Rick McIn Apple, Facebook, Google, government, product complaints, things getting worseLeave a comment

Great article.

Al Franken:

Last week’s hearings demonstrated that these companies may not be up to the challenge that they’ve created for themselves. In some instances, it seems that they’ve failed to take commonsense precautions to prevent the spread of propaganda, misinformation, and hate speech. …

… we can’t trust the companies to get it right …

… as has become alarmingly clear in recent months, these companies have unprecedented power to guide Americans’ access to information and potentially shape the future of journalism. It should go without saying that such power comes with great responsibility. …

ProPublica recently revealed that up until two months ago, Facebook allowed advertisers using the company’s self-service ad-buying platform to target more than 2,000 people who expressed interest in the topic of quote “Jew hater” and other antisemitic themes. …

As it stands now, Google and Facebook control 75% of all internet news traffic referrals …

Currently, Amazon controls over 83% of e-book sales, nearly 90% of online print sales, and almost 99% of digital audio sales.

Amazon has since used its unprecedented monopsony power to force publishers to agree to contract terms and conditions that the publishers say have stalled price competition …

… how do we ensure transparency and accountability from them going forward?

We must not let big tech threaten our security, freedoms and democracy

National Archives, Washington DC

On By Rick McIn ethics, government, travelLeave a comment

The National Archives Building, known informally as Archives I, is the original headquarters of the National Archives and Records Administration. …

It holds the original copies of the three main formative documents of the United States and its government: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It also hosts an original version of the 1297 Magna Carta …

Magna Carta (also Magna Charta; “(the) Great Charter”), is a charter agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215 …

Magna Carta

The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. …

Since the Constitution came into force in 1789, it has been amended 27 times …

The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments …

… specific guarantees of personal freedoms and rights, clear limitations on the government’s power in judicial and other proceedings, and explicit declarations that all powers not specifically delegated to Congress by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people. …

The young, white slaveholders and others who put the American documents together did a surprisingly good job.

On the other hand the Constitution needs additional amendments. In very few ways does the USA lead the world when it comes to human rights.

Jefferson Memorial, Washington DC

On By Rick McIn government, travelLeave a comment

Quiet and off the beaten track, I quite enjoyed visiting Jefferson.

The Jefferson Memorial … dedicated to Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), one of the most important of the American Founding Fathers as the main drafter and writer of the Declaration of Independence, …

Construction of the building began in 1939 and was completed in 1943. The bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947.

Trump revoked Gun Checks for people with mental illness

On By Rick McIn ethics, firearms, governmentLeave a comment

Since it’s a white guy, Trump dismisses it as a ‘mental health’ issue, instead of calling for extreme vetting of … war vets.

So why did he sign bill H.J. Res 40 in February?

It kept about 75,000 people with mental illnesses or deemed unfit to handle their own financial affairs purchasing firearms without background checks.

War Memorials Washington DC

On By Rick McIn ethics, government, human rights, travelLeave a comment

The World War II Memorial … was dedicated by President George W. Bush on May 29, 2004. …

As of 2009, more than 4.4 million people visit the memorial each year. …

The memorial consists of 56 granite pillars, each 17 feet (5.2 m) tall, arranged in a semicircle around a plaza …

It’s well done. A worthy memorial for those who died fighting Hitler and the Japanese. Though I’m anti-war myself I can’t deny WW II was necessary.

___

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial … consists of three separate parts: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, completed first and the best-known part of the memorial; the Three Servicemen Memorial, and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. …

The Memorial Wall is made up of two 246-foot-9-inch (75.21 m) long gabbro walls, etched with the names of the servicemen being honoured …

As many do, I found is stark, simple and evocative. All the names a sharp rebuke to those in politics and the military who stupidly decided to have the USA fight in Vietnam. Sadly Trump and his military henchmen are not likely to have learned the lessons of Vietnam nor Iraq.

___

After those two the Korean War Veterans Memorial is surprising.

Within the walled triangle are 19 stainless steel statues … each larger than life-size, between 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) and 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) tall; each weighs nearly 1,000 pounds (500 kg). …

  • Dead — United States: 54,246,[9] United Nations: 628,833[10]
  • Wounded — United States: 103,284, United Nations: 1,064,453.
  • Captured — United States: 7,140, United Nations: 92,970.
  • Missing — United States: 8,177,[11][12] United Nations: 470,267.

Despite the huge casualty list you don’t hear much about the Korean War any longer.

 

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington

On By Rick McIn education, ethics, government, human rights, IslamLeave a comment

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) is the United States‘ official memorial to the Holocaust.

Adjacent to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the USHMM provides for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history. It is dedicated to helping leaders and citizens of the world confront hatred, prevent genocide, promote human dignity, and strengthen democracy. …

Since its dedication on April 22, 1993, the Museum has had nearly 40 million visitors, including more than 10 million school children, 99 heads of state, and more than 3,500 foreign officials from over 211 countries. …

On entry you are given a booklet ID card of a Jew killed in the holocaust.

I got Thomas Elek executed by Nazi firing squad on Feb 21, 1944 at the age of 20.

It’s a sobering experience to focus on just one individual of the millions murdered.

My visited reminded me of a prominent, intelligent, influential, articulate Jewish American who’s stridently right wing. Strongly anti-Muslim. Against immigration.

When I pointed out that his statements were exactly what many have said about the Jews over the past few hundred years … he told me his Islamophobia was completely different.

Tell that to these American neo-Nazis.

Chanting ‘Jews will not replace us’

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

German Protestant pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

inspired by Lincoln

On By Rick McIn Art and beauty, ethics, government, human rights, travelLeave a comment

No President, not even Washington, inspires Americans more than honest Abe.

There are well over 15,000 books written about him.

Ford Theater bookstore

I visited the Lincoln Memorial twice. It’s very popular at dusk.

His statue could not be more impressive.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Gettysburg Address

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention were hosting an Out of the Darkness Walk here when I visited.

In 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his “I have a dream…” speech here.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal’.

Lincoln’s work is far from finished. He needs inspire many more for many generations to come.

Has the USA already peaked?

On By Rick McIn economics, government, human rights, things getting worse, travelLeave a comment

Some argue that the USA peaked in the 1990s.

Under Trump it certainly seems that the States now have far less world authority and moral influence. Americans consider their politicians corrupt and ineffective.

The Republican / Democrat split solidified by gerrymandering would seem to make gridlock inevitable.

But having toured Washington DC the past 3 days, I’m not so sure the USA is on permanent decline.

My favourite attraction on the mall was the Washington Monument.

Very inspiring.

It’s the world’s tallest stone structure and the world’s tallest obelisk.

George Washington is inspiring too:

If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.

My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.

Like the USA, the Washington Monument has problems. $2-3 million is needed to modernize the elevator.

Has the USA peaked? For some reason I think the best is yet to come.

The nation will have to rally around one leader and Party. A fiscally conservative Democrat. Or moderate Republican.

Dinosaurs like Jeff Sessions will need to go extinct for the nation to move forward. Trump is the worst American leader of all time. By far. The sooner his regime ends, the better.

barely made it to Washington D.C.

On By Rick McIn government, product complaints, travelLeave a comment

I flew Air Canada 7608 from Toronto. My ticket was purchased on United because exactly the same seat cost less on United.

It’s a Code Share UA 8552S.

I booked on United online. Check the cryptic name on my ticket.

That’s the only email I got from United with my name on it. Air Canada sent me nothing.

Somehow — and I’m quite sure it was in the antiquated United Airlines computer system — my last name was still MCCHARLESRICH when I arrived at the airport.

It was flagged quickly by Air Canada. They don’t care about first or middle names, but the last name must be the same as is on the passport.

Air Canada check-in sent me to the United counter. But the United counter isn’t allowed to change last names on tickets. They sent me to a courtesy phone.

After 4 talks with United and 2 with Air Canada my boarding pass STILL said MCCHARLESRICH.

A flustered Air Canada senior staffer finally sent me off with it anyway quite sure I’d be stopped at U.S. customs.

That man was a pro. He looked over my paperwork carefully. And sent me on my way.

Have a good flight.

No doubt he’d seen United F-up that way before. Running some characters of the first name on to the last. It was obvious to any thinking person that there was no deception.

#respect for U.S. customs.

Lesson learned?

Do NOT fly @United. They suck.

related – 15 REASONS WHY FLYING UNITED AIRLINES SUCKS