Good points! For people to condemn Corporations for taking a lawful way out of paying taxes when THEY do the same things is hypocritical.
Since our mindset and societal decisions are perhaps too often based on financial considerations, it is imperative to create laws or opportunities, whenever possible, that reward the moral AND the financial side of the equation. We don't strive for enough of that in our society.
Recycling is a great example of that. It's benefits are obvious to the environment and it creates jobs too. It even can hold down production costs. Utilizing the whole tree in a forest for lumber, beauty bark, chipboard, etc. instead of leaving a 6 foot stump like they used to do. Better yet, planting trees after you cut them to help both the environment, aestetic appeal, and earlier production. Whenever we can create a WIN-WIN-WIN situation that satisfies all sides, that is the ideal.
Most ofen someone has to WIN and someone LOSE (i.e. someone is a winner and someone a LOSER). In the Markets, it's sell or buy before the next guy. Making the Olympic team is a major achievement, but coming in 4th is a disgrace if you were supposed to medal.
To ask Corporations or individuals to do the patriotic thing, when loopholes exist that allow more profits, is unfortunately going to fall on deaf ears, unless we are in a major conflict like a World War. It's simply naive in a capitalistic society. So the thing to do is remove the loophole and then police it properly. The blame falls more on Congress for knowing about the loophole and doing nothing about it. Or should we say the people, for not demanding that their elected officials fix the problem! Too many of us whine, but do nothing to make our voice heard to the people that we elect to carry out our collective will. |
