'Bono Pay Up': art group plans tax protest at Glastonbury

orourkeda

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0606/1224298469269.html

U2 Facing protest at glastonbury

Biggins

He will just fly out by chopper after he sings, he won't be bothered.

Red Hand

The resident U2/Bono haters are going to have an orgasm on this thread.

orourkeda

Biggins wrote: »

He will just fly out by chopper after he sings, he won't be bothered.

Indeed. Which makes the protest all the more futile.

Show Time

I would pay more attention to what the little short arse has to say if he was willing to pay some tax here.

TheIrishGrover

They plan on holding up a large illuminated sign? Well if they do it infront of me we'll see how easily a large illuminated sign fits up an ar5e. What a GREAT way of protesting: Paying 300 euro for tickets/flights etc to go to a concert and the only people you'll affect are the other festival goers who probably had to scrape their money together in order to go in these difficult times. W@nkers, take it somewhere else!

flutered

Show Time wrote: »

I would pay more attention to what the little short arse has to say if he was willing to pay some tax here.

he wants us to feed the world, how much of is own cash has he put up, i mean the cash like ours that tax has been paid on.

flutered

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

They plan on holding up a large illuminated sign? Well if they do it infront of me we'll see how easily a large illuminated sign fits up an ar5e. What a GREAT way of protesting: Paying 300 euro for tickets/flights etc to go to a concert and the only people you'll affect are the other festival goers who probably had to scrape their money together in order to go in these difficult times. W@nkers, take it somewhere else!

offering to use violence are we, another big tough internet user.

eth0_

I think it's a great idea. Most people are completely unaware of Bono et al's massive hypocrisy, bleating on about poverty in third-world countries, imploring people to donate to charity - have they ever heard the phrase "charity begins at home"?

Have they seen the appalling conditions Irish school children have to endure, learning in freezing/leaking/rat-infested portakabins because the government won't give their school any money to build a proper bricks-and-mortar building? What have U2 ever done to help the poor and vulnerable in their own country?

They gleefully and purposefully avoid tax in Ireland since the government changed the rules about artists not having to pay any income tax a few years ago. So, it's fine for you little people to pay income and business tax, but not Mr. Hewson and his colleagues.

Glastonbury has an enormous worldwide audience and I think it's hilarious that U2 will be publicly shamed in front of so many people.

orourkeda

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

They plan on holding up a large illuminated sign? Well if they do it infront of me we'll see how easily a large illuminated sign fits up an ar5e. What a GREAT way of protesting: Paying 300 euro for tickets/flights etc to go to a concert and the only people you'll affect are the other festival goers who probably had to scrape their money together in order to go in these difficult times. W@nkers, take it somewhere else!

You're paying €300 to watch bono?

Badgermonkey

Methinks a lecture in tax dodging from artists is a bit rich.

Let's ship out tax dodging corporations such as Intel, Google, PayPal, Microsoft, Boston Scientific, Pfizer, Wyeth etc.

ancapailldorcha

Maybe he's overcompensating for something with all the charity work, namely the fact that his band are sh!t.

orourkeda

Badgermonkey wrote: »

Methinks a lecture in tax dodging from artists is a bit rich.

Let's ship out tax dodging corporations such as Intel, Google, PayPal, Microsoft, Boston Scientific, Pfizer, Wyeth etc.

When was the last time you heard one of these companies preaching to you about third world debt?

Ireland needs these companies, for the time being at least

TheIrishGrover

flutered wrote: »

offering to use violence are we, another big tough internet user.

You're right, I should rephrase that. But how would you feel in that situation? I've recently been made unemployed but had purchased my ticket before the job went. I've managed to get enough to get over to the concert. If that were you and some "artistic" anonymous-wannabes started doing that infront of you how would you feel? I enjoy listening to U2's music. I'm not a fan of Bono's excessive drum-beating and I do find their tax avoidance distasteful however U2 did not cost me my job. U2 did not put us into the situation the world and, especially, Ireland are in. I want to go over and for a couple of days try not to think about the sh1tty situation I and many others are in. I do NOT want my, and 80,000 others enjoyment being interrupted by people with their own agenda. There are many MANY other ways of making your points these days and upsetting concert goers is NOT the way to do it

orourkeda

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

You're right, I should rephrase that. But how would you feel in that situation? I've recently been made unemployed but had purchased my ticket before the job went. I've managed to get enough to get over to the concert. If that were you and some "artistic" anonymous-wannabes started doing that infront of you how would you feel? I enjoy listening to U2's music. I'm not a fan of Bono's excessive drum-beating and I do find their tax avoidance distasteful however U2 did not cost me my job. U2 did not put us into the situation the world and, especially, Ireland are in. I want to go over and for a couple of days try not to think about the sh1tty situation I and many others are in. I do NOT want my, and 80,000 others enjoyment being interrupted by people with their own agenda. There are many MANY other ways of making your points these days and upsetting concert goers is NOT the way to do it

Who said U2 put us in the situation we find ourselves in now? While their protest may be an inconvenience to you and others and thats understandable surely you can see the opposing viewpoint

OctavarIan

eth0_ wrote: »

I think it's a great idea. Most people are completely unaware of Bono et al's massive hypocrisy, bleating on about poverty in third-world countries, imploring people to donate to charity - have they ever heard the phrase "charity begins at home"?

Have they seen the appalling conditions Irish school children have to endure, learning in freezing/leaking/rat-infested portakabins because the government won't give their school any money to build a proper bricks-and-mortar building? What have U2 ever done to help the poor and vulnerable in their own country?

That's an example of relative poverty, not true poverty.

orourkeda

OctavarIan wrote: »

That's an example of relative poverty, not true poverty.

But it's happening a lot closer to their home

Sonnenblumen

Show Time wrote: »

I would pay more attention to what the little short arse has to say if he was willing to pay some tax here.

He probably pays a lot more tax here than you do, how's that for starters?

Turtyturd

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

I enjoy listening to U2's music. I'm not a fan of Bono's excessive drum-beating

You do realise peope are talking about the singer?

orourkeda

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

He probably pays a lot more tax here than you do, how's that for starters?

So what? He earns more money

Matthew23

i like u2 the band and bono especialy the song beatiful day! i love happy songs

Turtyturd

OctavarIan wrote: »

That's an example of relative poverty, not true poverty.

It's also an example of something that is a lot more fixable

Badgermonkey

orourkeda wrote: »

When was the last time you heard one of these companies preaching to you about third world debt?

Ireland needs these companies, for the time being at least

You can accuse U2 of hypocrisy but the principle should be applied universally, especially so given the combined tax avoidance of the multinationals mentioned is measured in multi-billion dollar sums.

To say Ireland needs these companies somewhat undermines the argument. If one believes tax avoidance impacts on the ability to sufficiently fund foreign aid, then call for such loopholes to be removed.

The resultant exodus of multinationals would of course leave Ireland unable to fund its aid programmes, health, welfare, education etc..

So a little like our current quandary but ad infinitum.

Ghandee

I couldn't give a shiny $hite!

mstan

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

Maybe he's overcompensating for something with all the charity work, namely the fact that his band are sh!t.

I bet you love the X-Factor

orourkeda

Badgermonkey wrote: »

You can accuse U2 of hypocrisy but the principle should be applied universally, especially so given the combined tax avoidance of the multinationals mentioned is measured in multi-billion dollar sums.

To say Ireland needs these companies somewhat undermines the argument. If one believes tax avoidance impacts on the ability to sufficiently fund foreign aid, then call for such loopholes to be removed.

The resultant exodus of multinationals would of course leave Ireland unable to fund its aid programmes, health, welfare, education etc..

So a little like our current quandary but ad infinitum.

Thats the difficulty. I don't think anyone can argue that tax avoidance is wrong. In fact its legal. It's the hypocrisy of their position that gets on peoples nerves.

If I were in Bonos position I'd make the same decision, but then turning around and telling the rest of us how to spend our tax money is Hypocritical.

the groutch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2OQxma_1ps

annascott

I must be missing something here. It is in the best interest of any business to pay as little tax as possible. Isn't that why successful business people pay large amounts to 'good' accountants? I do not like Bono, but in this case - as long as he isn't doing anything illegal - shouldn't he/the band be left alone?

orourkeda

annascott wrote: »

I must be missing something here. It is in the best interest of any business to pay as little tax as possible. Isn't that why successful business people pay large amounts to 'good' accountants? I do not like Bono, but in this case - as long as he isn't doing anything illegal - shouldn't he/the band be left alone?

It's a prudent business decision to pay as little tax as possible.

You cant then turn around and tell other people what to do with their tax money.

Badgermonkey

orourkeda wrote: »

Thats the difficulty. I don't think anyone can argue that tax avoidance is wrong. In fact its legal. It's the hypocrisy of their position that gets on peoples nerves.

If I were in Bonos position I'd make the same decision, but then turning around and telling the rest of us how to spend our tax money is Hypocritical.

There's a presupposition that the man has not personally contributed to the causes he espouses.

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on that one but obviously there's an element of faith involved.

orourkeda

Badgermonkey wrote: »

There's a presupposition that the man has not personally contributed to the causes he espouses.

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on that one but obviously there's an element of faith involved.

Maybe he did. But thats not the issue here.

Barna77

Like he could care. As long as he cashes in

Jeremiah 16:1 wrote: »

The resident U2/Bono haters are going to have an orgasm on this thread.

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh

yyeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh


*breaths heavily and gets a smoke

Logical Fallacy

Any protest around U2 should really involve the fact that the music is ****ing ****e.

hatrickpatrick

I have a hard time feeling in any way upset about U2's tax arrangements.

Look at the amount of money U2 give to charities which actually help people in poor countries. Paying tax in Ireland is dead money - it's just paying into a slush fund for bondholders who can't accept that sometimes when you gamble, you lose.

Paying tax in this country is a complete waste with the IMF here. Until we stop putting investors above ordinary people, it will remain that way.

ejmaztec

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I have a hard time feeling in any way upset about U2's tax arrangements.

Look at the amount of money U2 give to charities which actually help people in poor countries. Paying tax in Ireland is dead money - it's just paying into a slush fund for bondholders who can't accept that sometimes when you gamble, you lose.

Paying tax in this country is a complete waste with the IMF here. Until we stop putting investors above ordinary people, it will remain that way.

I would if I knew what it was.:P

hatrickpatrick

We know it's a lot, I'm not trying to focus on the charity stuff though, but on the fact that every single cent we pay to our government these days is going to repay debts of private companies which should have been allowed to crumble.

Every cent we pay in tax is going to corrupt gamblers and is an utter waste of money.

Show Time

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

He probably pays a lot more tax here than you do, how's that for starters?

His bank balance has a lot more zeros at the end of it then mine just for starters. And as an Irish tax payer the last twenty odd years i have more then earned the right to be annoyed at the overrated gimp.

Badgermonkey

orourkeda wrote: »

Maybe he did. But thats not the issue here.

Disagree, accusations of hypocrisy would carry far less weight if the man has made significant personal contributions imo.

Sonnenblumen

Is it not amazing how regular the 'short on facts' morons come on here complaining about Bono pays no tax, this, that or the other in Ireland?

If only these morons would bother to do some basic research, they will quickly discover, that Bono does pay a considerable amount of tax (directly and indirectly) to the Irish state.

One could guess that Bono pays more tax than all the morons that will ever fit into the anti-Bono bandwagon will ever do.

Don't like his music - fair enough.
Don't like his band - fair enough.
Don't like his celebrity status - fair enough.
Don't like his politicisation of certain causes - fair enough.

Table Top Joe

Ah the ol Bono tax thing again,do people really not understand the problem here?


Here goes,Bono lectures the world on how to spend taxes....Bono pays as little tax as he can himself


What the F is so hard to understand here??? every time this comes up we get "but you would pay less tax too if you could!" of course i would,but im not lecturing people how their taxes should be spent



This just makes me tear my hair out,i have a bit of a hangover so im fairly cranky:o but sweet Jesus its a very straight forward issue people

Show Time

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

Is it not amazing how regular the 'short on facts' morons come on here complaining about Bono pays no tax, this, that or the other in Ireland?

If only these morons would bother to do some basic research, they will quickly discover, that Bono does pay a considerable amount of tax (directly and indirectly) to the Irish state.

One could guess that Bono pays more tax than all the morons that will ever fit into the anti-Bono bandwagon will ever do.

Don't like his music - fair enough.
Don't like his band - fair enough.
Don't like his celebrity status - fair enough.
Don't like his politicisation of certain causes - fair enough.

Are you a family member by any chance or just willfully ignorant of what the posters on here have an issue with? I like U2 and their music and if they are enjoying the celebrity status then more power to them as they worked hard to get where they are. I would be a lot more open to Bono and his save the world message if he and the band were based in Ireland and not in some other country for tax reasons.

Ri_Nollaig

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I have a hard time feeling in any way upset about U2's tax arrangements.

Look at the amount of money U2 give to charities which actually help people in poor countries. Paying tax in Ireland is dead money - it's just paying into a slush fund for bondholders who can't accept that sometimes when you gamble, you lose.

Paying tax in this country is a complete waste with the IMF here. Until we stop putting investors above ordinary people, it will remain that way.

So your argument is that its ok for Bono and co to avoid paying tax here once they are giving money to charities, most likely in Africa, than paying tax here, as its going towards paying off a huge debt?

Why are most Sub-Saharan Africa countries in huge debt exactly?

Of the hundreds of millions that is donated, how much really reaches the people that need it? How much is lost in administration or bribing corrupt government officials/warlords? But thats all ok, its not dead money...

Perhaps its a valid argument that 95% of their business isn't from Ireland. ...So is 95% of their business in The Netherlands? Why didn't they move their business to the US or UK where it probably is? He wants the G8 countries to cancel 3rd world debt in one hand and then in the other avoid paying out of his own pocket as much as possible. That really is having your cake and eating it too.

I actually like U2, I think they have had some brilliant songs over the years but every time I hear Bono speak I just have to cringe... I really hate the man.

orourkeda

Badgermonkey wrote: »

Disagree, accusations of hypocrisy would carry far less weight if the man has made significant personal contributions imo.

Do you know if he has or not?

Einhard

I think it's odd that people wouldn't give a crap about Bono's tax avoidance if he weren't campaigning on debt relief for the developing world, and at least trying to make a positive difference in the world. Sure, I'd rather he paid every cent of tax he possibly could, but in the absence of that, I applaud the man for trying to make some difference in other spheres. If he stopped being the "hypocrite" that other people claim him to be, and wound up his charitable work, and his campaigning, would it make any difference to Ireland's tax base? No. Would it make a difference to ordinary people in the third world? Most likely. So I'm not gonna get all hot and bothered about his supposed hypocrisy. He does some good in the world, and as long as he's not doing anything illegal, then I'm not gonna join in the condemnation of the man.

Einhard

orourkeda wrote: »

When was the last time you heard one of these companies preaching to you about third world debt?

So it's not tax avoidance you're against? Glad we cleared that up so.

Seriously, Bono's tax avoidance, and his preaching on the 3rd world aren't related. You seem to dislike him because he does both, whereas I don't see any benefit to him abandoning the latter, so as to avoid the inevitable charges of hypocrisy that such campaigners will always face.

ejmaztec

Ri_Nollaig wrote: »

So your argument is that its ok for Bono and co to avoid paying tax here once they are giving money to charities, most likely in Africa, than paying tax here, as its going towards paying off a huge debt?

Why are most Sub-Saharan Africa countries in huge debt exactly?

Of the hundreds of millions that is donated, how much really reaches the people that need it? How much is lost in administration or bribing corrupt government officials/warlords? But thats all ok, its not dead money...

Perhaps its a valid argument that 95% of their business isn't from Ireland. ...So is 95% of their business in The Netherlands? Why didn't they move their business to the US or UK where it probably is? He wants the G8 countries to cancel 3rd world debt in one hand and then in the other avoid paying out of his own pocket as much as possible. That really is having your cake and eating it too.

I actually like U2, I think they have had some brilliant songs over the years but every time I hear Bono speak I just have to cringe... I really hate the man.

I don't even think that even the Dutch tax authorities get their hands on the loot, as U2's tax lawyer then bounces earnings across multiple companies registered in various tax havens around the globe.

Before U2 transferred to Holland back in 2006, they probably weren't paying any tax here at all, after taking into account the Artists' Exemption.They only transferred the business because the Irish government decided to place a restriction on the exemption, and U2 would have had to pay tax on most of its earnings.

It's quite possible that U2 never paid any tax anywhere, and even if they did, it was probably a piddling amount.

Sonnenblumen

Show Time wrote: »

Are you a family member by any chance or just willfully ignorant of what the posters on here have an issue with? I like U2 and their music and if they are enjoying the celebrity status then more power to them as they worked hard to get where they are. I would be a lot more open to Bono and his save the world message if he and the band were based in Ireland and not in some other country for tax reasons.

Who are you? You don't own Bono, apart from sameoh lameoh moaning about the location of the company for tax purposes, what has that got to do with you or I? How does where the company is registered make a difference?

For the benefit of humanity, perhaps you will let us all know what you do have done or plan to do, to help the cause of the poor, the needy etc etc. Those poor unfortunate people will not be interested in your cheap jibes at Bono etc, but if you have any clue how they might help themselves or their children to survive another day, I bet you'll get their full attention possible.

FFS get a life and help others save some more.

Einhard

Ri_Nollaig wrote: »

I actually like U2, I think they have had some brilliant songs over the years but every time I hear Bono speak I just have to cringe... I really hate the man.

What gets me about all this, is that nobody would care if Bono just avoided tax. But when he avoids tax, and tries to do some good, people get all angsty. So, the lesson to be learned folks, is that you shouldn't try to mitigate your tax avoidance by works of charity, and deeds that help other people. Apparently, you're a worse person if you avoid tax and do charitable work, than if you just avoid tax alone. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but then the hatred of Bono, which was evident well before his corporate move to the Netherlands, never really made much sense anyway.

Ri_Nollaig

Einhard wrote: »

So it's not tax avoidance you're against? Glad we cleared that up so.

Seriously, Bono's tax avoidance, and his preaching on the 3rd world aren't related. You seem to dislike him because he does both, whereas I don't see any benefit to him abandoning the latter, so as to avoid the inevitable charges of hypocrisy that such campaigners will always face.

But they are!
He calls on countries such as the US to either cancel 3rd world debt or to pay more to charities in Africa. Where does that money come from? ...Tax, tax that he himself is avoiding.

Yes everyone, if they can, will avoid tax. The more you earn the more effort you will put in to try and avoid it. However the difference here is, he is telling the very countries (Ireland included) how they should spend the tax he is trying to avoid. Or worse, telling people who will never have the means to avoid tax to donate more.

Fighting Irish

Show Time wrote: »

I would pay more attention to what the little short arse has to say if he was willing to pay some tax here.

Jealous much?

If you could work the system so you make more money, you wouldn't?

Badgermonkey

orourkeda wrote: »

Do you know if he has or not?

Addressed that previously, you replied so assumed you'd read my qualification.

Correct me if I'm mistaken but the business moved to the Netherlands pertains to the bands publishing rights.

They continue to pay tax in Ireland on monies accrued from touring and merchandising, which constitutes the majority of their earnings by some significant margin.