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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: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 26 2016, @07:33PM
Well, sir, while I find your position commendable and your steadfastness for it... a bit odd, I need you to go back and review the reason why men institute governments among themselves and why those governments have the authority to fund themselves through taxation.
Sorry. Taxation is not theft, at least given any workable definition of theft. Perhaps that's the problem here. Your definition of theft is unworkable.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 26 2016, @07:35PM
Well, one other thing that might be the problem here. Hate to reply to myself. You've decided that we should all agree to this ideal that is completely impractical. You're one of those people who constantly whine because the ideal is unattainable in any practical sense. You're letting perfect be the enemy of good.
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Tuesday April 26 2016, @08:05PM
You've decided that we should all agree to this ideal that is completely impractical.
That is what I see you doing, as well.
I need you to go back and review the reason why men institute governments among themselves and why those governments have the authority to fund themselves through taxation.
You need me to what? That is a weird way of speaking. I don't work for you or have any association with you, so what you might want to do is ask me to do something rather than simply telling me to do it.
In discussions like this I frequently bring up what the Declaration of Independence says, which I think addresses your concern, and is exactly the reason I believe the way I do: "all men ... are endowed ... with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness"
The phrase "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" rules out taxation as we know it. It is certainly fair to create an institution that serves to secure rights [youtube.com]. And it is certainly fair for those who consent to this institution to ask for dues from the members to cover expenses, just like any other institution. But what is not fair is to extract payment from those who do not consent. The institution doesn't gain rights that don't belong to those who created it, such as the right to take money from one's neighbor.
And I and many, many other people feel that the current form of government is absolutely destructive of the end (securing rights), and we want the right to alter or abolish and institute new government (new rights-protecting institutions) that seem most likely to us to effect our safety and happiness. We don't seek to take away your right to keep your existing government if you wish; we simply seek the right to not have powers exercised against us that we did not consent to. The present form of government is the biggest rights violator ever.
And no, the answer to that is not for us to be forced to abandon our property and possessions and go live somewhere else. There is no reason that we should not be allowed to create competing institutions so long as we and those institutions don't violate anyone else's rights to life, liberty, or property. Your institution, your government, is routinely violating people's rights to life, liberty, and property, both here and around the globe. I'd like to see that curtailed by everybody's right to not support it being respected.
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings