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Old 09-07-2017, 06:53 AM
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whell whell is offline
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Let the tax breaks begin

Jeff Bezos and Amazon are looking to build a 2nd HQ facility. Amazon has placed this page on their web site instructing interested cities to submit RFP's for potential locations.

This is a fine opportunity for Amazon to continue to build its company on the backs of the working poor by getting cities cough up tax breaks in hopes of landing the new HQ. Granted the HQ will spur additional economic growth and development in the city that ultimately lands the new HQ. But Bezos, who is one of the worlds richest, should certainly be able to afford to build his new HQ without shaking down cities for tax breaks, right?

But this is what Amazon has always done. According to Inc Magazine:

Amazon has not been around nearly as long as Berkshire Hathaway, yet has been successful securing 100 percent of its tax credits and incentives from state and locals governments, according to Good Jobs First. Jeff Bezos has led Amazon to secure over a half of billion dollars in local incentives. State and local assistance are being used to subsidize constructing and expanding fulfillment facilities (allowing Prime-shipments to arrive faster).

In fact, the progressive group Citizens for Tax Justice calls Bezos someone who does not believe is taxes.

Looks like whatever city is successful in bidding for Amazon's new HQ site better be ready to bend over and....well...give 'til it hurts.
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Old 09-07-2017, 07:02 AM
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donquixote99 donquixote99 is offline
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But Amazon advertises on Brietbart. You're supposed to love them for that. Sounds like they aren't getting what they're paying for there.
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Old 09-07-2017, 07:23 AM
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And how is this different from what just about every major company and sports team in the country does? I don't remember you posting about how Gov. Scott Walker gave away $3 billion to attract Foxconn to Wisconsin.
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Old 09-07-2017, 07:25 AM
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d-ray657 d-ray657 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whell View Post
Jeff Bezos and Amazon are looking to build a 2nd HQ facility. Amazon has placed this page on their web site instructing interested cities to submit RFP's for potential locations.

This is a fine opportunity for Amazon to continue to build its company on the backs of the working poor by getting cities cough up tax breaks in hopes of landing the new HQ. Granted the HQ will spur additional economic growth and development in the city that ultimately lands the new HQ. But Bezos, who is one of the worlds richest, should certainly be able to afford to build his new HQ without shaking down cities for tax breaks, right?

But this is what Amazon has always done. According to Inc Magazine:

Amazon has not been around nearly as long as Berkshire Hathaway, yet has been successful securing 100 percent of its tax credits and incentives from state and locals governments, according to Good Jobs First. Jeff Bezos has led Amazon to secure over a half of billion dollars in local incentives. State and local assistance are being used to subsidize constructing and expanding fulfillment facilities (allowing Prime-shipments to arrive faster).

In fact, the progressive group Citizens for Tax Justice calls Bezos someone who does not believe is taxes.

Looks like whatever city is successful in bidding for Amazon's new HQ site better be ready to bend over and....well...give 'til it hurts.
It sounds to me like the exercise to too much concentrated economic power. This is the kind of thing that the anti-monopoly laws were intended to address. To bad the powers that be will not enforce those laws.
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Old 09-07-2017, 08:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d-ray657 View Post
It sounds to me like the exercise to too much concentrated economic power. This is the kind of thing that the anti-monopoly laws were intended to address. To bad the powers that be will not enforce those laws.
You never know. Bezos and Trump are not exactly best buddies.
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  #6  
Old 09-07-2017, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by finnbow View Post
And how is this different from what just about every major company and sports team in the country does? I don't remember you posting about how Gov. Scott Walker gave away $3 billion to attract Foxconn to Wisconsin.
Its not, but simply wondering if folks are concerned that Amazon is reaping these types of tax benefits.
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Old 09-07-2017, 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by donquixote99 View Post
But Amazon advertises on Brietbart. You're supposed to love them for that. Sounds like they aren't getting what they're paying for there.
Do they really? Wonder if the NAACP will boycott Amazon now for advertising on that racist rag.

The local chapter of the NAACP is going to be boycotting Little Caesars Pizza since the formerly confederate - flag waving Kid Rock (who was given an award by the national NAACP just a couple years ago) who will be performing a concert at the new Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Since they've got their boycott game all warmed up, they should have at Amazon too. That'll likely assure that no Detroit tax money will be given away to Amazon to locate a HQ here.

Last edited by whell; 09-07-2017 at 08:50 AM.
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  #8  
Old 09-07-2017, 09:10 AM
MrPots MrPots is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d-ray657 View Post
It sounds to me like the exercise to too much concentrated economic power. This is the kind of thing that the anti-monopoly laws were intended to address. To bad the powers that be will not enforce those laws.
And this is the biggest problem facing the people of United State today. Banks hold so much economic power that they are virtually un-prosecutable. The 2008 recession was no accident, it was a collusion between US regulators and banks. And look at our healthcare system. No meaningful legislation will ever be passed restricting pricing, price gouging and insurance regulation because the industry is so powerful, and the worst economic power, our military industrial complex, it virtually rules our foreign policy ensuring were constantly at war. Today we are fighting 6 wars and our military budget overshadow all other spending. The USA has been at war for 93% of it's history and war profiteers are a mighty powerful force.

The only entity that has no power? The people, the 90% of our population who have no voice. Why? because if we use that voice, industry will cut our throats. We can't even get effectual consumer protections in this country.
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Last edited by MrPots; 09-07-2017 at 09:21 AM.
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  #9  
Old 09-07-2017, 09:37 AM
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So, he can play politicians just as good as walmart can. It's the American way to fleece the public and their tax doillars, telling them it will make them rich.
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Old 09-07-2017, 09:41 AM
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No one can serve two masters. Thanks to unlimited campaign coffers provided by the rich and powerful including corporations, politicians now serve them and people have been left out of the equation permanently.

This is why I believe America has little to no credibility selling democracy to the rest of the world. Unfettered capitalism has triumphed over democracy.
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