While so many Bahamians are falling in love with Senator Barack Obama and his run for the presidency of the United States, a friend sent a link to this this wake up call.
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): Offshore tax shelters cost the US Treasury more than $100 billion a year and a senior lawmaker said he wants to curb them through legislation he is offering along with Senator Barack Obama. [More…]
So many times we fall for a candidates personality rather than his/her policies. I would caution on the giddyness over Obama.
What do you think?
Rick…I listened to both Clinton and Obama tonight and I can’t help but agreeing with you. Obama is a typical “beauty of politics” candidate….but he is saying what Americans want to hear…who cares what we want to hear….when I hear him saying that he is planning to woo industry and labour back to the mainland in order to preserve American hegemony (even though I see China becoming the next hegemonic power), one has to wonder what’s in the bag for you and especially me (Jamaica). All around the Caribbean people have voted for “change” but based on what Obama (and Clinton) are saying….we will be regressing…don’t you think?
I agree with you entirely Jamaican Girl.
Thanks.
I think Obama is not going to last, even a blind man could see through him !
Obama is making promises to do things to secure the health of his country (whether he can pull it off or not is another story). Why should he put the well being of the Caribbean tax shelters ahead of his own countries well being, especially when it’s $100B worth of well-being.
Thanks for stopping by CaribDaily.
Obama and his cohorts seem to be laying the blame for tax avoidance on our countries when it is the excessive tax burdens in the US that force Americans to seek shelter for their hard earned money.
Bridges and roads need to get built somehow. No matter how low the tax burden people will still use tax shelters.
Bridges and roads are one thing. Waste of taxpayer money is another.
Please take a few minutes to watch the two videos posted here http://www.weblogbahamas.com/blog_bahamas/2008/02/can-the-bahamas.html
and here http://www.weblogbahamas.com/blog_bahamas/2008/02/can-the-baham-1.html
You might change your opinion about tax rates and tax avoidance.
Taxation is a form of theft and when that theft is deemed to be excessive by the taxpayer, they defend themselves by not paying.
They use tax shelters, mattresses etc.
DP…I wasn’t thinking that Obama should put Caribbean economies ahead of his own…in fact what I meant was that I was amazed to see the many in Jamaica who are jumping up and down and saying “Yeah!! Go Obama!!”…and everything he says is going to help sink us deeper (if he becomes the next President AND can make good on his promises). I am just surprised that so many people either don’t understand what he’s saying, or are so caught up with the novelty. Our Caribbean governments have made us promises, none of which will ever materialise if Obama wins…..but we all jumping up..like we have a vote!!
why now the concern for american policies…./bahamians in general do not like american values and try to distance yourself from black americans….oh my bad you only have concern if it benifits your banking and resorts. ONLY bahamian interest unless it affects you…your so WISHY WASHY
Thanks Black American Woman.
We have been concerned about American policy for many, many years, because, as the old saying goes, when you catch a cold we catch pneumonia.
We are highly dependent on the US so bad policy there always impacts us.
And by the way, the US wants us dependent on them. We are too close to have it any other way. That’s why we have so many DEA agents, Marines, US Customs and Immigration agents etc living here to fulfil US government functions.
Maybe it is only you that are now interested for some reason?