Had to laugh at this....

[David Johnson]

Apparently, George Osborne was "shocked, shocked" to find out the level of tax avoidance carried out by millionaires.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012 ... sfeed=true

You wonder where millionaire Osborne, son of a very wealthy businessman has been all these years.

As for me, I was "shocked, shocked" to find out last week that the Titanic sank on its first voyage with huge loss of life.

And thanks to Brian Cox and David Attenborough for telling me, respectively, that the moon isn't made of green cheese and that pigs don't fly!!

[Sam Slater]

I'm shocked that you was shocked at him being so shocked!

[planeterotica]

We are all in this together..

[David Johnson]

First of all, Mr Slater I trust that you are well, happy and contented. As you no doubt are aware I carry on spouting on this forum, a mixture of crap leavened with a tiny modicum of commonsense. Many might disagree with the latter.

Not so much shocked as amused. As someone pointed out, for George Osborne to be "shocked, shocked" at millionaires' tax avoidance was a bit like Claude Rains who played Captain Renault in Casablanca being "shocked, shocked" that gambling was taking place in this establishment as he shovelled a stack of gambling chips into his pockets.

[jimslip]

On News 24, the head of economics at some university said, he was, "Shocked" at Osborne's, "Shock." He then went on to describe the number of accountants and CEO's who are languishing in US prisons, for indulging in, "Aggressive tax avoidence" and how in the UK, the authorities in effect, "Turn a blind eye" to these practices.

The USA being a proper and unashamed Capitalist system, know how easily this system can be abused, so this is why they stamp on cunts taking the piss. Over here the politicians don't understand "Capitalism" and live in constant terror of controlling or legislating, because they think if they do, all our capitalists will, "Leave the country and go to Dubai."

It would seem the IRS does not seem to share this fear when locking up their cheating scum!

[David Johnson]

"He then went on to describe the number of accountants and CEO's who are languishing in US prisons, for indulging in, "Aggressive tax avoidence" and how in the UK, the authorities in effect, "Turn a blind eye" to these practices."

That may well be true, but the US tax system is very much weighted in favour of the rich anyway. The multi-millionaire Mitt Romney who looks likely to be the Republican candidate standing against Obama, apparently paid 15% on his huge income in the last financial year, quite legally.

A number of extremely wealthy Americans such as Warren Buffett for example, have written to Obama stating that they feel the tax system needs changing and that they are paying far too little in tax.

[jimslip]

"A number of extremely wealthy Americans such as Warren Buffett for example, have written to Obama stating that they feel the tax system needs changing and that they are paying far too little in tax."

I bet he's popular at his golf club!

[Dave Wells]

Yeah right he was shocked. What a load of bollocks !

[Sam Slater]

I was just playing with words, David. And I'm fine. Thanks for asking.

[David Johnson]

"I bet he's popular at his golf club!"

Well, when you have an estimated wealth of $44 billion, then you can buy the entire golf club if you feel like it and level it.

The so-called "Sage of Omaha" has had an extraordinary record on his investments over the decades and has pledged to give away 99% of his wealth to good causes, mainly through the Gates Foundation, before he dies.

I take my hat off to him, "Sir, you are a true gent".