Day of Reckoning? Super Rich Tax Cheats Outed by Bank Clerk

[David Floyd]

How so? Both are committing economic crimes. Look at it this way - the IRS losing out on all of that income is just less money for the feds to mismanage. A pretty good percentage of that money would be going towards Iraq, the military, and the War on Terror, you know

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'd rather have the government have that money instead of making up the shortfall in the budget having to use even more money from us who are actually paying into the system. As for it getting all spent for something else... well better than dipping into the future for it. And before you say they'd spend it on new stuff, the administration has passed as many new spending bills as it possibly could have.

[David Floyd]

Come on, that was sorta tongue-in-cheek. I'm not saying it's OK to break US tax law, either

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well, it is an argument I've heard plenty of times on the right... who cares, the money will just be wasted on new social programs anyway, etc. You may have been half joking, but I could someone making that argument seriously.

[GePap]

Originally posted by David Floyd
How so? Both are committing economic crimes. Look at it this way - the IRS losing out on all of that income is just less money for the feds to mismanage. A pretty good percentage of that money would be going towards Iraq, the military, and the War on Terror, you know

You might as well say that stealing a penny and robbing a bank are both larceny, so they are the same....

The tax cheats should be glad they don't live in China, were it can be a capital offense.

Let the principality of Liechtenstein try to get this guy - it would be hillarious to see them try.

[DinoDoc]

How is this a minor crime?

Let the principality of Liechtenstein try to get this guy - it would be hillarious to see them try.

Do they not have an extradition treaty with the US?

[David Floyd]

We're not talking about stealing a penny vs. robbing a bank. We are talking about, on one hand, tax evasion, and on the other hand, an individual taking advantage of his position to sell confidential banking records to national governments. Both seem pretty bad to me.

[rmsharpe]

What?! People trying to keep their income?

And just where do they think they live, in some sort of country that has limits to government power?

[MrFun]

Originally posted by David Floyd
What an *******. So let me get this straight - he sold the banking records of people who were breaking no local laws to foreign governments, which will prosecute those people.

It seems to me that anyone affected by this has a pretty ironclad civil action against both this individual and possibly even the bank in question.

I give this guy thumbs up for exposing crooked plutocrats.

[GePap]

Originally posted by David Floyd
We're not talking about stealing a penny vs. robbing a bank. We are talking about, on one hand, tax evasion, and on the other hand, an individual taking advantage of his position to sell confidential banking records to national governments. Both seem pretty bad to me.

You are a liberterian, so DUH......

Personally, I view tax evasion as a vastly more damaging crime and one which was obviously affecting multiple states, one that this speck of a tax-evader's paradise was helping along.

[GePap]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
How is this a minor crime?

The man is peddling information about much bigger criminals. Guys like him rarely get any punishment, because they have in their crime helped justice along.

Do they not have an extradition treaty with the US?

Yes they do, but then, that does not mean states will always honor it.

Also, about the fair little state of Liechtenstein:

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development lists Liechtenstein as one of only three states remaining on its blacklist of "uncooperative tax havens".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7292514.stm

So these guys gladly turn a blind eye and facilitate tax evasion to make a buck. Sorry, couldn't give a **** about someone breaking laws designed to help crime in other countries along.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
What?! People trying to keep their income?

And just where do they think they live, in some sort of country that has limits to government power?

People trying to keep their income by cheating on their taxes.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by GePap
The man is peddling information about much bigger criminals.

The man is violating the rights of others in an attempt to advance his own interests. Guys like him should get punished.

Yes they do, but then, that does not mean states will always honor it.

Why? Is there an exception carved out in the treaty that covers financial crimes?

Also, about the fair little state of Liechtenstein:

I couldn't really give two ****s about your opinion of the country because it isn't relavent to this conversation.

[Arrian]

the IRS losing out on all of that income is just less money for the feds to mismanage.

What?! People trying to keep their income?

And just where do they think they live, in some sort of country that has limits to government power?

Speaking of "true believers..."

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Do they not have an extradition treaty with the US?

So do EU states with the US, but they won't extradite anyone who would face the death penalty in the US. Just because you have an extradition treaty doesn't mean its an automatic.