Oh the woes of those poor, hunted billionares...

[Vladimir]

By the way, if you defend the freedom of the rich to go and live wherever they want, then why not that od the poor africans and mexicans to do the same thing?

Oh, the historical fallacy of this statement.

It's poor Africans that populated the world several times (and millennia) over. Poor Mexicans frequently travel with little restrictions to the US.

Are you saying that you think only rich people can move?

[Husar]

Oh, the historical fallacy of this statement.

It's poor Africans that populated the world several times (and millennia) over. Poor Mexicans frequently travel with little restrictions to the US.

Are you saying that you think only rich people can move?

No I'm not, you do make me wonder though why you have a fence and border patrols on your border to mexico and why you send mexicans who try to come over back. And why I always hear people should fix their own countries. This guy should stay and fix his own country, he's just a wuss who is running away and no country should accept him.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Monaco is looking good right now...

[Aemilius Paulus]

Whereas a "poor mexican" is actually going to be a drain on the economy, what with being illegal and all--assuming you're talking about the illegal variety.

I do dearly hope you are not saying that because of the supposed "one more immigrant=one less job for native". And I am not speaking of "Mexicans take jobs that Yanks won't". Sometimes they do, sometimes they do not. That is not the point however.

What I wish to point out is the so-called "lump of labour fallacy", one that the Economist will bash in its every issue.

[Aemilius Paulus]

If you'd read my post in it's entirety, instead of just quoting a small peice of it, you'd see I was referring to Illegals and actually embrace the idea of LEGAL immigration.

Nah, I read the post, and thought over, you have my word. I do not disagree with people online without reading about their position carefully. Nor did I assume you did not agree with legal immigration. Watch it, you seem to be touchy about being regarded as a xenophobe IMHO...


But anyway, you have a point on taxes, but the illegal immigrants do have to contribute to Social Security, which they get none of. But then those medical bills of course, that you mentioned... So it evens it out. That said, to say that "they take our jobs" is not accurate, and I bet a dollar for doughnut you had that in mind in your previous post. As for "shady employers" that is capitalism. Works better than anything else so far, but still with its flaws. Those blokes want higher margins, and so would you and me if we were in their position.

Although I would hardly call it a flaw. Those immigrants work for dimes and nickels, enabling the employers to lower their prices to undercut competition, to which the competition responds in like, creating much lower consumer prices. Not so bad, eh?

[Fragony]

It's about decency imho. You can be anything in any system. Capitalism could never exist without it, but thankfully most people happen to be decent people. That's it's succes.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Those illegal immigrants work for dimes and nickels.

Sorry, I should have put that there to clarify my point, but yes, I meant to say illegal. It is just that I sort of got tired putting "illegal" in all those instances, instead letting the reader assume that.

Heh, I just noticed you are from Texas. Hehe, that explains everything perfectly about your behaviour.

[HoreTore]

since all countries in the civilized world--the US included, accepts legal immigrants and treats them fairly--and at the same time these countries have always had restrictions on how many we will accept, and we always take the better qualified first. Nothing new here.

Actually, we don't. It's been illegal to migrate to Norway for the last decades...

[Louis VI the Fat]

Ah well. It's the same everywhere in the West. The poor receive money. The rich receive or forge themselves endless benefits. And the middle clas is squeezed out to the last penny.

Norwegians invest an enormous amount of their earnings into public goods like roads, infrastructure, eduction, health, law and order. Into all those prerequisites for running a succesful billion kroner retail industry. If the guy thinks himself above paying his fair share, then nationalise his industry and sell it to those who will contribute their share to society.

'Nuff of this pandering to the whims of billionaires and multinationals. Countries serve the people, and businesses serve the people. Not the other way round.

It's been illegal to migrate to Norway for the last decades...

Now don't be silly.

[HoreTore]

Ah well. It's the same everywhere in the West. The poor receive money. The rich receive or forge themselves endless benefits. And the middle clas is squeezed out to the last penny.

Norwegians invest an enormous amount of their earnings into public goods like roads, infrastructure, eduction, health, law and order. Into all those prerequisites for running a succesful billion kroner retail industry. If the guy thinks himself above paying his fair share, then nationalise his industry and sell it to those who will contribute their share to society.

'Nuff of this pandering to the whims of billionaires and multinationals. Countries serve the people, and businesses serve the people. Not the other way round.

My paranoid mind is beginning to think that it's no coincidence that this happens a few months before the election.... He has donated millions to the opposition these last years... If it is a political statement, it kinda blew up in his face though, as every other rich guy I've seen interviewed has called him an idiot, and then there's this thing about that shipping tycoon moving back...

Now don't be silly.

Silly? But 'tis true, my friend.

We accepted immigration in the 70's, when the pakistani's came to bump our working force. In the 80's, we closed our borders. The only people we accept now, are those we are bound to accept by international treaties, ie. a certain amount of refugees and asylum seekers.

Oh, and spouses.

Capital gains tax is for profits made off business. And no living off investments, stocks, bonds, etc. is not neccassarily construed as income, sometimes, but not always.

Oh and i have found your english to be fine

I'm not able to respond to that unfortunately, I don't know the exact technical terms in english... In norwegian, we have a term called "aksjeutbytte" which is the term for the money you gain from "living off investments, stocks, bonds, etc".... I thought that translated as "capital gains tax".... In any event, it's still an income, and should still be taxed.

[Husar]

Whereas a "poor mexican" is actually going to be a drain on the economy, what with being illegal and all--assuming you're talking about the illegal variety.

The poor Mexican wouldn't be a drain on the economy if the rich guy used his money to create a job for him.

[Aemilius Paulus]

The poor Mexican wouldn't be a drain on the economy if the rich guy used his money to create a job for him.

Heh, how touching. Why the sarcasm? Aside from the fact that it would be a utopia.

[Husar]

Heh, how touching. Why the sarcasm? Aside from the fact that it would be a utopia.

I'm not the one who said rich people use their money to create jobs for the poor, it's not my utopia.
I'm the guy who says tax the rich and give it to the poor in the form of welfare but make sure that jobs pay more than welfare(which should be some kind of minimum living standard). I wouldn't even mind a universal tax no matter the income but then someone who can afford his own bureaucrat should not be able to evade half or more of it.
Does democracy mean now that we all better do what our rich overlords want or we're all screwed?
I want my egalite and fraternite back, please.

[LittleGrizzly]

That's why we need the world government Vladimir, one tax for the rich and they cannot run away from it.

Yep, no more tax havens to hide in, you pay your fair due...

Anyway im sure Norway will continue just fine whether or not Mr Scrooge's taxes are contributing.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Yep, no more tax havens to hide in, you pay your fair due...

Define fair. The trouble with that is why I'd prefer a flat percentage tax or one as close to flat as possible.