maroonlegions Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/u2-frontman-bonos-tax-avoidance-depriving-poor-14203187.html Well what's peoples thoughts here , i wonder if all these rock stars and groups that sing about ending world poverty have little tax havens also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/u2-frontman-bonos-tax-avoidance-depriving-poor-14203187.html Well what's peoples thoughts here , i wonder if all these rock stars and groups that sing about ending world poverty have little tax havens also. I doubt that they all do but Bono's hypocritical tax avoidance has been common knowledge for quite some time. No doubt he'll claim that he gives generously when the hat's passed round or that his tireless campaigning contributes more to the causes than mere paying of tax but it would be good if people registered a strong protest by not buying the new album. If they're desperate to hear the latest U2 stuff, they could listen to All that you can't leave behind and they'd be just about there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 If there was a"biggest erse on the planet"award,it would need to be re-named"the bono".He is a ******. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigaro Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 South Park and Ross Noble have him summed up well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 If there was a"biggest erse on the planet"award,it would need to be re-named"the bono".He is a ******. Yes. Do an enormous amount for charity? Make people aware of the plight of hundreds of millions? Provide simple pleasure through your music? Kim Jong-il's got nothing on you: you're the biggest erse on the planet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossi_1983 Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 He is a self-righteous, hypocritical ****! One of the many celebs who preaches the "Do as I say, not as I do" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I doubt that they all do but Bono's hypocritical tax avoidance has been common knowledge for quite some time. No doubt he'll claim that he gives generously when the hat's passed round or that his tireless campaigning contributes more to the causes than mere paying of tax but it would be good if people registered a strong protest by not buying the new album. If they're desperate to hear the latest U2 stuff, they could listen to All that you can't leave behind and they'd be just about there. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal. Tax evasion isn't. If Andy Murray ever moves to another country, will your support for him suddenly vanish? Oh - and I guarantee that some of those happy to put the boot into Bono will themselves have done business in cash in the past - in order to avoid VAT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 He is a self-righteous, hypocritical ****! One of the many celebs who preaches the "Do as I say, not as I do" How much have you done for good causes over the years? How many people have you helped? How much has he done, and how many have he helped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossi_1983 Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 How much have you done for good causes over the years? How many people have you helped? How much has he done, and how many have he helped? I am happy enough with my charitable donations. The difference is that even though I donate to charity I don't use it for self publicity. Charitable donations are not for petty point scoring, and should remain private My donations are selfless, can Bono really say the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroonlegions Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 South Park and Ross Noble have him summed up well. Good shout, i wonder what Spitting Image would make of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Yes. Do an enormous amount for charity? Make people aware of the plight of hundreds of millions? Provide simple pleasure through your music? Kim Jong-il's got nothing on you: you're the biggest erse on the planet! So it's ok for someone to beseech others to part with there hard earned while at the same time they are in a position to short change the state? Charity is one or the other, either it plays on people's guilt or their vanity to help the unfortunate. Not that there should be any "unfortunates". Surely in the 21st century with the wealth and resources at the world's disposal, there wouldn't be any actual need for charity to exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Yes. Do an enormous amount for charity? Make people aware of the plight of hundreds of millions? Provide simple pleasure through your music? Kim Jong-il's got nothing on you: you're the biggest erse on the planet! JOG ON ,ERSE:arghh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 How much has he done, and how many have he helped? Probably not that many, given that it is actually the charitable donations of the plebs that make the real difference - not the warblings of a self-beatified ego-centric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronJambo Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I really don't see the scandal. choose to pay huge taxes or choose a perfectly legal way of not paying them? i know what i'd choose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Tax avoidance is perfectly legal. Tax evasion isn't. If Andy Murray ever moves to another country, will your support for him suddenly vanish? Oh - and I guarantee that some of those happy to put the boot into Bono will themselves have done business in cash in the past - in order to avoid VAT. Shaun, I'm a qualified accountant; I know the difference between the two. I acknowledge that Bono's done more than many artists to raise awareness of injustices; he's not a bad man. However, when you're super rich to the extent that Bono is, paying your 'fair' tax liability in full will not cause hardship for you, your children, their children and the ones after that. There is a certain sense of hypocrisy surrounding the whole affair. I did mean to round off my previous rant by exhorting folk to donate the money saved from buying the new U2 album to a worthy charity. The question about whether I'd continue to admire Andy Murray is on a different tangent. I admire AM for his astounding tennis playing ability; nothing more, nothing less. He doesn't make himself out to be a saint and is innocuous to the point of being boring when off-court. I'm kind of so-so about Bono's musical output so my attention on him is partly down to his preachings. He's sort of put himself out there on the moral and ethical highground so I think it's fair to take a pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kearney19 Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Cant stand Bono. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I really don't see the scandal. choose to pay huge taxes or choose a perfectly legal way of not paying them? i know what i'd choose I'm sure we'd all like to be in the same tax-paying position as Bono. The trouble is that it's always the super wealthy who have easy access to the expensive tax accountants who put you through the loopholes. For the amount that the vast majority could save , the cost of the advice is too high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavsy Van Gaverson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/u2-frontman-bonos-tax-avoidance-depriving-poor-14203187.html Well what's peoples thoughts here , i wonder if all these rock stars and groups that sing about ending world poverty have little tax havens also. ML - I'm disappointed. Not one mention of Mulder or Scully in the whole article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Shaun, I'm a qualified accountant; I know the difference between the two. I acknowledge that Bono's done more than many artists to raise awareness of injustices; he's not a bad man. However, when you're super rich to the extent that Bono is, paying your 'fair' tax liability in full will not cause hardship for you, your children, their children and the ones after that. There is a certain sense of hypocrisy surrounding the whole affair. I did mean to round off my previous rant by exhorting folk to donate the money saved from buying the new U2 album to a worthy charity. The question about whether I'd continue to admire Andy Murray is on a different tangent. I admire AM for his astounding tennis playing ability; nothing more, nothing less. He doesn't make himself out to be a saint and is innocuous to the point of being boring when off-court. I'm kind of so-so about Bono's musical output so my attention on him is partly down to his preachings. He's sort of put himself out there on the moral and ethical highground so I think it's fair to take a pop. And before him it was Bob Geldof. The UN need individuals like them to publicise humanitarian causes on a global scale. By all means have a pop - what gets me is the way people act as though, if you're a hypocrite in one area of your life, that renders everything else null and void. Or even, it often seems to me, that someone who does nothing is preferable to someone who does good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 So it's ok for someone to beseech others to part with there hard earned while at the same time they are in a position to short change the state? Charity is one or the other, either it plays on people's guilt or their vanity to help the unfortunate. Not that there should be any "unfortunates". Surely in the 21st century with the wealth and resources at the world's disposal, there wouldn't be any actual need for charity to exist. I agree with you - but we are where we are. Utopia isn't going to happen - meaning we can only make best of what we have. There are people (probably many) who would have died if Bono hadn't worked as hard in publicising the plight of Africa; and if just one person has lived as a result of his campaigning, that makes it worthwhile IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I agree with you - but we are where we are. Utopia isn't going to happen - meaning we can only make best of what we have. There are people (probably many) who would have died if Bono hadn't worked as hard in publicising the plight of Africa; and if just one person has lived as a result of his campaigning, that makes it worthwhile IMO. But the result of the campaigning is the money given by Joe Public. It is Joe Public who should get the kudos, not Bono. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 But the result of the campaigning is the money given by Joe Public. It is Joe Public who should get the kudos, not Bono. Does Bono get the kudos? Or does he just do the work, get slagged off by cynics for being a front man, then ripped to shreds for doing something perfectly legal which many, many others are guilty of in some form themselves? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 JOG ON ,ERSE:arghh: Oooh, am I in line for an award too now? How exciting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Some people are so hypocritical, Bono's not one of them. Almost daily we see threads here lambasting governments for spending our tax money on benefits cheats and scroungers or on missiles and guns or on trams or countless other things and yet many of you are happy to jump on the anti-Bono bandwagon. How much of his personal wealth has Bono given away? I doubt anyone knows, because it's none of their business. If it was more than he should have paid in tax, does that make it okay? What if he disagrees with what his additional tax is spent on? (It's not all of his tax he's avoiding, I'm sure he pays a lot more than most, even if he does some creative accounting to avoid some) Is there something wrong with him wanting more of a say in where his money goes? You could argue that he's being more responsible, taking personal responsibility for his wealth. But no, no-one's going to buy into that, because so many people hate Bono. What does it matter to you where his tax goes, he doesn't live in this country (my apologies to those from the Irish Republic, who are more entitled to an opinion imo!), it's no loss to you. Why do you really hate Bono? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Does Bono get the kudos? Or does he just do the work, get slagged off by cynics for being a front man, then ripped to shreds for doing something perfectly legal which many, many others are guilty of in some form themselves? You're giving him the kudos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 You're giving him the kudos! I'm defending him against flak hurled by others, actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWL Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I'm defending him against flak hurled by others, actually. I'm sure the self righteous little knobend will be okay, he doesn't log on to kickback that often these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Oooh, am I in line for an award too now? How exciting! Shaun there are a few awards i would gladly give you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I'm defending him against flak hurled by others, actually. As in Hove, actually? Sorry, couldn't help it. Nah, you are giving him some kudos and I understand that celebs are easy to have a pop at too. As I said before, it doesn't look good when someone like Bono is asking the general public to part with their hard earned when his annual income is (legally) manipulated so that he saves cash in tax. Tax which is effectively a compulsory charitable donation, from a certain point of view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun.lawson Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Shaun there are a few awards i would gladly give you. I can now die happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Some people are so hypocritical, Bono's not one of them. Almost daily we see threads here lambasting governments for spending our tax money on benefits cheats and scroungers or on missiles and guns or on trams or countless other things and yet many of you are happy to jump on the anti-Bono bandwagon. How much of his personal wealth has Bono given away? I doubt anyone knows, because it's none of their business. If it was more than he should have paid in tax, does that make it okay? What if he disagrees with what his additional tax is spent on? (It's not all of his tax he's avoiding, I'm sure he pays a lot more than most, even if he does some creative accounting to avoid some) Is there something wrong with him wanting more of a say in where his money goes? You could argue that he's being more responsible, taking personal responsibility for his wealth. But no, no-one's going to buy into that, because so many people hate Bono. What does it matter to you where his tax goes, he doesn't live in this country (my apologies to those from the Irish Republic, who are more entitled to an opinion imo!), it's no loss to you. Why do you really hate Bono? Are you arguing that it's morally defensible for him to disburse his own earnings as he sees fit as long as he ends up paying the same amount as if he'd not used loopholes to avoid his tax? (Genuinely seeking clarification there). I'd love that to be the system. "OK, you've all got to have paid x% of your income to various causes & purposes but you get to choose what those causes are." Come to think of it, if folk had had the courage of their convictions back in 1990, it's where Mrs Thatcher might have led us. I doubt that Bono hands over the avoided taxes in full to the good causes he supports. No evidence, it's just that I'm cynical. fwiw, I don't hate Bono. I think he's done more good than many in or approaching his position - more than his bandmates who, I assume, are taking advantage of the same tax loopholes. But I can't reconcile his position on debt & poverty relief with his tax avoidance. I do think it's hypocritical of him to be preaching and exhorting people to support the good causes while he stashes away obscene amounts in tax-free investments. I'd be equally critical of other super-rich tax avoiders - if it wasn't for all of them (UK, Ireland, wherever), we'd all have a tiny bit more cash each or improvements to the services we need. The others aren't up there on the moral highground for me to take a pop at but consider them popped in absentia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 U2 rule all. Cant wait for the album and tour!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest S.U.S.S. Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Bono sucks arse, total tit junkie tosser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deesidejambo Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Bono is a pretentious rat-face tosser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 What if he disagrees with what his additional tax is spent on? (It's not all of his tax he's avoiding, I'm sure he pays a lot more than most, even if he does some creative accounting to avoid some) Is there something wrong with him wanting more of a say in where his money goes? It's just too bad if he disagrees with what his tax is spent on, and the same goes for any taxpayer. He can have his say about where his tax money goes the same way I can - by marking a ballot paper and sticking it in the box on election day. (my apologies to those from the Irish Republic, who are more entitled to an opinion imo!) Years ago, the Irish government introduced a scheme of tax exemption for artists, under which people who earned money from writing, music, painting or sculpture paid tax at a low rate (10%). The original intent of the exemption was to benefit Irish writers and artists who generally earned low incomes from Ireland's small market. But it had the side effect that big earners could also benefit. U2 gained from this, and a lot of foreign pop and rock performers became resident in Ireland to avail of the low tax rate. Since this was not the purpose of the exemption, the government decided to change the rules. The low rate now applies to earnings up to ?250,000, and all income above that is taxed at the top rate of tax (41%). So when U2 moved its business to the Netherlands, the tax loss to Ireland was minor - because they were paying sod all anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Grimes Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Tax avoidance is perfectly legal. Tax evasion isn't. If Andy Murray ever moves to another country, will your support for him suddenly vanish? Oh - and I guarantee that some of those happy to put the boot into Bono will themselves have done business in cash in the past - in order to avoid VAT. tax avoidance may be legal, but its pretty much morally bankrupt. Mark Thomas' podcasts this week touch on the scale of the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Templeton Peck Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 No doubt he'll claim that he gives generously when the hat's passed round QUOTE] Is that the hat that sits on its own in First Class? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Drago Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/'>http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ http://www.makebonohistory.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Spackler Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Shaun, I'm a qualified accountant; I know the difference between the two. The trouble is that it's always the super wealthy who have easy access to the expensive tax accountants who put you through the loopholes. For the amount that the vast majority could save , the cost of the advice is too high. Drop your rates then! Give us all a break;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rust Cohle Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Bono = Tw@t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJAC? Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Nah, he's not a tw@t, he's a ****ing **** faced ****. i hope that clears things up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Bono sucks arse, total tit junkie tosser. Wouldn't mind being a tit junkie myself. To an extent, I suppose I am. Drop your rates then! Give us all a break;) Would love to but I never specialised in taxation. Some of the geeks that went down that route, I'm glad not to have to spend time in their company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
this_is_my_story Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Bono is a hypocritical ****** of the highest order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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