Obama is Driving Business Out of America - Instablogs
Obama is Driving Business Out of America
Steve Swint , Baltimore: Mar 12 2009
Made Popular Mar 13 2009
United States :

Obama is Driving Business Out of America

President Obama’s biggest push in this down economic climate appears to be punishing the “evil”, “greedy” corporations who caused this mess (a claim that is dubious at best). He wants to be the next FDR, a champion of the little-man, a champion of those who are poor. That is well and good, it is extremely important that we as a society take care of those less-fortunate than I. But increasing the tax burden on corporations and the wealthy, while claiming to cut taxes for those don’t actually pay taxes is not the way to do it. Among the most basic principles of fiscal economics is that raising taxes stifles business growth, at least in a competitive world - which we reside in. If one pushes and pushes, they will eventually push business out. Thus, losing jobs in America.

In today’s economic climate this is the last thing we need. We need to create jobs, not lose them. But Barack, in continuing to support disasterous policy after disasterous policy, is starting to further lose them. His refusal to cut the corporate tax rate to be more competitive with other countries may now be driving some industries out of the country:

A wave of energy companies has in the last few months announced plans to move to Switzerland — mainly for its appeal as a low-tax corporate domicile that looks relatively likely to stay out of reach of Barack Obama’s tax-seeking administration...

Over the past six months companies including offshore drilling contractors Noble Corp and Transocean, energy-focused engineering group Foster Wheeler and oilfield services company Weatherfield International have all announced plans to shift domicile to Switzerland.

“Switzerland has a stable and developed tax regime and a network of tax treaties with most countries where we operate,” Transocean Chief Executive Bob Long said in a statement in October, when it announced its move. “As a result, the redomestication will improve our ability to maintain a competitive worldwide effective corporate tax rate.”

“One trend that we see is that particularly Bermuda-based companies are now moving to Switzerland,” said Martin Frey, a partner at law company Baker & McKenzie. “That may only partly be obviously for tax reasons, but also for security reasons and the fact that the Obama administration may go after them.”

There is a reason that various states and foreign governments lower their corporate tax structure: to lure business. This is no secret, yet President Obama seems so bent on “punishing” corporations (most of which are ethical, productive, and valuable to our culture and society) that he completely disregards the economic consequences and, thus, the long-term health of our country; not to mention the long-term negative impact to the people in our country that he says he is most concerned about.

Also Published at Dry Fly Politics

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1 Stars
Rudolf irokoproductions.com
New York, United States
Ok, Steve. Page me when the real big ones leave. I doubt if they can find the safe haven they are looking for in Swiss. Now that the Swiss must open their secret banking system, maybe this energy companies will soon seek another country to run to.
1 Stars
Steve Swint dryflypolitics.com
Baltimore, United States
It’s just the start. Certainly the major ones aren’t leaving (unless it gets really bad, they are too entrenched), but that doesn’t make it better. Small business and medium international corporations are more numerous and arguably just as important to our economy.
0 Stars
Adam
Los Angeles, United States
The problem with Obama's "plans" are they take something from someone who has and gives it to someone who hasn't earned it.

We've got a president who has proved that about 70% of the nation are idiots, and thus, who will put up with this new Marxist administration.
1 Stars
Ken
Ottawa, Canada
Reforming the tax code to simply make it fair would result in a substantial increase of tax revenue, especially from large dishonest corporations.
1 Stars
Steve Swint dryflypolitics.com
Baltimore, United States
Ah ”large dishonest corporations”. That is a pretty broad and sweeping generalizatoin that is wholly inaccurate and unfair. By the way, reforming the tax code to make it fair would require the gov to substantially lower taxes on the rich and raise them on the poor. What is ”fair” is everyone paying the same amount, like 20%. Thus the poor in the country who pay no income tax whatsoever would have their taxes raised 20% and the riches would have it lowered by at least 20%. I am sure that is not what you had in mind when you said ”fair”.
1 Stars
Roy
Cincinnati, United States
Raising taxes on business might be one of the most intentionally stupid ideas that he has ever suggested. Maybe they want to raise consumer prices, or force more layoffs, so they can take advantage of a crisis. And, the people of nuance never understand static and dynamic scoring.
1 Stars
Steve Swint dryflypolitics.com
Baltimore, United States
Amen!
1 Stars
Chaka
Miami, United States
This plan is a disaster waiting to happen, and not well thought out.
Raising taxes on those that provide jobs is a job killer. The wealthy will find new ways to reduce taxes and hide their income.
1 Stars
Steve Swint dryflypolitics.com
Baltimore, United States
Amen again!
1 Stars
Jamie
Vancouver, Canada
Raising corporate taxes during a severe recession sounds like a great way to kill a recovery fast; throws a wrench into the country’s wealth generating engine. It is also counter intuitive to raise personal income taxes — even on the “wealthy” — as these people now have less money to spend and less to “stimulate” the economy.
1 Stars
Steve Swint dryflypolitics.com
Baltimore, United States
Amen again and again! Man you guys are on a roll!

I am thrilled that not everyone is economically ignorant. If you want to move to the U.S., we would love to have you.
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
By raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy (who aren’t so wealthy anymore, thanks Bernie Madoff et al) he is effectively going to kill the arts. As a working actress for a very long time, this frightens me terribly. I can’t even count the amount of professional theatres that have shut down in the past year, because of the economy etc.

All very scary.
1 Stars
Steve Swint dryflypolitics.com
Baltimore, United States
It’s amazing how many different industries that are easily overlooked that have been terribly affected by this downturn.

Best of luck to you.
1 Stars
Anaeline T
NYC, United States
Steve, may you, please, be so kind to explain a stupid woman,who is whom for?

America for the internationally-acting thieves or businesses for America?
1 Stars
Anaeline T
NYC, United States
”Multinational corporations” - if you would prefer such an expression instead simple ”businesses” hereby.
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