Great American Tax Cheats Broadcast Program on Tax Cheats

A couple of weeks ago, I saw the first previews for CNBC's program on "American Tax Cheats." http://www.cnbc.com/id/42192642/?__source=vty|taxcheat|&par=vty

CNBC, or the "stock channel" as my ex-wife used to call it- is owned by Comcast (51%) and GE (49%). For the record, GE once again paid nothing in taxes on the 5 billion they made last year and in fact- obtained a tax credit for a few billion more. http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110325/ts_yblog_thelookout/g-e-paid-no-taxes-on-5-1-billion-in-profits

Comcast as it turns out- paid 2.4 billion in taxes on gross revenues of 38 billion for 2010. That's a pretty nice bracket. I'll take the 8% tax bracket anytime. http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/IncomeStatement.jsp?tkr=CMCSA

That's how crony capitalism works in America. Corporate America has convinced our Kleptocracy to pass IRS rules and regulations that allow corporations to escape paying taxes. Corporations use cheap foreign labor and raw goods and then hold foreign earnings- currently beyond 1 trillion- offshore to avoid paying taxes. That's how the elite work.

So what could be better than watching a show about tax cheats put on by two of the greatest corporate tax cheats in America? 

Here's the big finish. I used to get worked up at TV programs like that. I am a retired cop. I am supposed to not not like tax cheats and criminals. But then you have to ask, just who are the criminals? Just because corporate America can write 6 figure campaign contribution checks to politicians- should corporations be allowed to buy sympathetic politicians, laws, and regulations? And because they can and do- does that make their "legal" cheating any more morally correct than some guy without bribe money or access- a guy who cheats not because he wants to- but because he has to?

I don't think so. We are talking about semantics. Our government threw it's powerless individuals and citizens out with the bathwater long ago. Individuals are easy to target, prosecute, vilify, and label. And you can damn sure bet you'll get a bunch of sympathetic and honest taxpayers that are pissed about having to pay their share while their neighbors cheat. So why don't those honest taxpayers get pissed at Congress for letting GE skate on 1 billion dollars in taxes last year? Because our Kleptocratic Government and Corporate America have all of the power. They are untouchable and a typical US taxpayer can't even relate to those monstrosities and their armies of accountants and lawyers in any kind of meaningful way. But Americans can get pissed at folks like Wesley Snipes, movie star. That bastard doesn't pay. He deserves to go to prison. The government has to make an example out of people like Snipes or pretty soon- everyone will quit paying taxes and head for the exits.

They are using you. They are distracting you with cases like Snipes' while billions of dollars escape out the corporate back door and find their way into campaign contributions.

Truth is, I could care less whether some poor working stiff cheats or not. They are just trying to make ends meet. Am I supposed to get all lathered up because the working class in this country are forced to barter, trade labor, and pay cash to avoid the government bite? Am I supposed to be pissed at my roofer friend who works for cash because he can't hire employees anymore, pay small business taxes, or buy compulsory workman's comp insurance?

Sorry. I know who the enemy is. It's not your neighbors and it's not Wesley Snipes. It's not even Tim Geithner. It's a giant Kleptocracy that has raped the working class for the sake of it's elite cronies and campaign check writers. It's Corporate America who sends TV programs out through mass media about small time tax cheats so that it can focus anger on individuals rather than risk self examination about how they were able to bribe a system of morally corrupt law makers. It's about Too Big To Fail Banks who are allowed to literally steal trillions of dollars and transfer the losses to taxpayers.

Trillions stolen. And you have the balls to call individual Americans tax cheats? That's some really rich shit.

Comments

T.L. Davis said…
Well said and a sentiment I am warming up to as I wade through the bs that I have witnessed in the past few years.
Brian said…
Thanks TL. It's hard to tell the good guys from the bad ones...

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