OT*-Who do you think should get the Amazon headquarters?

[echappist]

so apparently $1.7B paid by NYC and NY State; some $500M paid by VA state and Arlington. All things considered, at least it's not as ridiculous as the 5-7 billion offered by places like Maryland and NJ.

But still, ridiculous. I get it re: promising infrastructure upgrades, but actual tax breaks, etc. ugh...

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by echappist

so apparently $1.7B paid by NYC and NY State; some $500M paid by VA state and Arlington.

And as a small detail, a helipad for Bezos.

https://slate.com/business/2018/11/a...eff-bezos.html

[likebikes]

bezos for mayor and/or governor!

[jtbadge]

Originally Posted by echappist

so apparently $1.7B paid by NYC and NY State; some $500M paid by VA state and Arlington. All things considered, at least it's not as ridiculous as the 5-7 billion offered by places like Maryland and NJ.

But still, ridiculous. I get it re: promising infrastructure upgrades, but actual tax breaks, etc. ugh...

This is almost worse than the ridiculous, blackmailing smash and grabs that sports franchises pull every year. Almost.

[echappist]

indeed; corporate welfare at its finest

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by echappist

indeed; corporate welfare at its finest

Indeed; it rivals the welfare doled out for sport stadiums.

[bikinchris]

If you actually check into it, the tax "incentives" and breaks on a national level are frankly a large part of budgets.
And on a federal level, the tax breaks given to corporations aren't even figured into the budget. So we have a hard time really getting those figures. Major, very profitable corporations like Exxon get billions in tax breaks on all governmental levels. It was disclosed that Exxon has gotten $2 billion just in Baton Rouge recently.

[parris]

I'm just sickened by this s**t. As someone that's lived in upstate NY my entire life and seeing the way the state has lost jobs and more importantly people and the talent that they take with them the amount that's being thrown at the company is just shattering.

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by bikinchris

If you actually check into it, the tax "incentives" and breaks on the federal level are a frankly large part of the federal budget.

Speaking of the federal budget:

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...me-taxes-2017/

Amazon’s 2017 tax return is not public, and a company spokesman did not return our request for comment. So to find the answer, experts told us to look at the company’s annual filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company could face stiff penalties from the SEC for misleading reports.

In its annual report filed to the SEC in February 2018, Amazon estimated that not only would the company not be paying anything in 2017 federal income taxes, but it would be getting a $137 million tax refund...

[echappist]

Originally Posted by Black Dog

Indeed; it rivals the welfare doled out for sport stadiums.

are you guys at least a bit more fortunate than those of us living south of the border?

what has always struck me as amusing is that in America, welfare for corporations (and especially sport teams) is promoted, while welfare for the needy is deemed unnecessary (or worse, as being infantilizing)...

In contrast, there's greater (though declining) social welfare in the GB, but little welfare for sport teams. Not only do most have to pay their own way for stadia, there's actual promotion/relegation, quite a survival of the fittest...

sometimes I really wish I were Canadian. Actually had the opportunity to become a Canadian citizen but passed on it...

[fa63]

This might be a good time for the saying: "don't hate the player, hate the game" :-)

As long as loopholes exist, accountants/lawyers will continue finding them.

Originally Posted by fiamme red

Speaking of the federal budget:

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...me-taxes-2017/

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by echappist

so apparently $1.7B paid by NYC and NY State; some $500M paid by VA state and Arlington. All things considered, at least it's not as ridiculous as the 5-7 billion offered by places like Maryland and NJ.

But still, ridiculous. I get it re: promising infrastructure upgrades, but actual tax breaks, etc. ugh...

According to data from Thomson Reuters, the consensus target price for Amazon's stock is about $2,100 -- up 9.5% from where the stock is now, giving Amazon a $1.02 trillion valuation.

Bezos one smart cookie..not only big $ incentives to the most valuable company on the planet but invaluable info about each of these potential markets that threw tons of info their way..which I'm SURE goes into some sort of logarithum...gotta make the donald cringe..

[rwsaunders]

Originally Posted by likebikes

bezos for mayor and/or governor!

Perhaps even President or Grand Poobah too...

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by fa63

This might be a good time for the saying: "don't hate the player, hate the game" :-)

As long as loopholes exist, accountants/lawyers will continue finding them.

Most loopholes exist on purpose. So as long as corporations keep funding politicians, politicians will continue including loopholes in legislation. (Also of note is that many times proposed bills are actually written by corporations.)

[echappist]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

Most loopholes exist on purpose. So as long as corporations keep funding politicians, politicians will continue including loopholes in legislation. (Also of note is that many times proposed bills are actually written by corporations.)

exactly this. ain't a fair fight if the player wrote the rules of the game...