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El Reg reports
Steve Wozniak has spoken out against Apple's tax affairs, saying all companies ought to pay 50 per cent in taxes.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live he said: "I don't like the idea that Apple might be unfair--not paying taxes the way I do as a person.
"I do a lot of work, I do a lot of travel and I pay over 50 per cent of anything I make in taxes and I believe that's part of life and you should do it."
Asked if Apple should pay that amount, he replied: "Every company in the world should."
According to Woz, money was never a factor when he started the biz with Steve Jobs 40 years ago. He added: "Steve Jobs started Apple Computers for money, that was his big thing and that was extremely important and critical and good."
Europe is currently scrutinising Ireland's tax arrangements with Apple over an alleged sweetheart deal with the company. Some have speculated the probe could lead to Apple paying $8bn in back taxes, even though the case is against the Irish government.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday April 26 2016, @05:07AM
Apple, which posts something like 15+ billion dollars of profit per quarter, if taxed at 50%, could carry the entire NASA budget, with a few billion left over. This is not nothing. This is a lot of cash, and right now it's being wasted on brainwashing, a.k.a. marketing outreach, a.k.a. consumer education, which includes lobbying and outright bribes all around the world.
Beats what NASA would burn it on. Because at least, Apple is doing something very productive with that money.
Also, we are waiting for a coherent argument why corporations, which are by far the most successful and powerful commercial actors, shouldn't pay taxes from their profits, when you and I pay for the privilege of getting a paycheck.
Because they do vast more for society than either of us ever will.
but in reality the US government is actually quite consistent about putting money into projects for public good, while corporations waste everything they make on fighting competition and unraveling the democracy (US petroleum producers are still subsidized, despite being in the most lucrative market in human history).
Like spy on everyone on the planet? You need a better class of fairy tale.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by urza9814 on Tuesday April 26 2016, @10:42PM
I agree 100% -- developing new science and pushing the frontiers of human exploration can't even BEGIN to compete with making a flashy TV spot!
Yup, my Google Phone and Windows 10 Telemetry Updates would NEVER spy on me!
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday April 27 2016, @02:08AM
I agree 100% -- developing new science and pushing the frontiers of human exploration can't even BEGIN to compete with making a flashy TV spot!
So just how many tens of billions of dollars do you think Apple spends on flashy TV spots? NASA burns twenty billion a year for all that feelgood you're getting.
Yup, my Google Phone and Windows 10 Telemetry Updates would NEVER spy on me!
Notice how we went from Apple and NSA spying to completely different companies and minor league nosiness. But I'm sure it's all the same if you blind yourself enough.