Bill Collier- A so-called “global minimum tax” represents a 20th century paradigm; the wasteful shot-callers who cannot evolve past the industrial age are attempting to corral the world backwards into their own old top-down, centralized hierarchy of control. Basically, and to be blunt, it is an assault on freedom not warranted by any of the hobgoblin manufactured crises or any pretended benefit to anyone except for the extremely wealthy who don’t actually ever pay such taxes.
The Republicans, who love to soundbite for freedom and prosperity like Democrats love to soundbite for equity and justice, have no real principled response. They are quibbling over details rather than blasting this idea as insanity that is only meant to turn the clock back to the 20th century industrial age when a big boss with all the money and power lorded it over the cogs in their machine whose only real value was profit to the owners.
The “global minimum tax” (GMT) is an archaic proposal from another age that is best left behind. The massive super-state, centralized industrial economy, must be set aside once and for all to favor new forms and expressions of sovereignty and freedom between individuals in freewill participation. Decentralization, localization, jurisdictional competition, citizens as customers rather than subjects, private cities, and the general supremacy of faith, family, and community over politics are the ways of the future. This archaic response is meant to hinder the advancement of human flourishing because such advancements do not tend toward the benefit of the ruling class.
It is for this reason the Republicans, many who have also become corporate puppets, offer a lame response not worthy of any Party claiming the mantle of freedom and prosperity for all.
This is how their “objections” begin- “There has been consistent bipartisan, bicameral support in Congress for the OECD as the appropriate venue to address the digitalization of the economy, potentially including changes to longstanding global tax rules. However, the OECD project would be counterproductive if the Administration’s negotiating position concedes ground to foreign counterparties and harms the U.S. economy. “
How about, “The Global Minimum Tax is a power grab by the ruling class over working people that we will defy and defeat with every ounce of our being?”
This isn’t a response, this is collaboration.
They add, incredibly, and in betrayal of all their claims to be the party of freedom and prosperity:
- The global minimum tax must be fair to American workers and companies – any special rates or exemptions offered to foreign competition must be available to Americans.
- The global profit allocation formula, including any carve-outs and special inclusions, must not disproportionately affect Americans.
- The targeting of American workers and companies by foreign governments must end immediately.
No, The right response is, “there must NEVER, ever, be ANY form of global tax or global minimum tax. This isn’t the 20th century, this isn’t the industrial age. This is the 21st century, the information and decentralization age.”
But, as we are of a wont to say, over and over, the Republicans are collaborationists, not opponents, to the global war on freedom Their soundbites are meaningless, their action belie their stated intentions.
The GMT won’t do anything more than potentially slow progress. The civilizational paradigm shift that is coming thanks to technology and global communications won’t be held back by such draconian chicanery. But in the mean time, this “throwback authoritarianism” to the 20th century will do real harm to millions of people before it finally collapses under its own weight.
The GOP isn’t an opposition party. They are collaborationists with the ruling class, hell-bent on lining their pockets and keeping the mere crumbs the Democrats throw to them. This response by Senator Crapo of Idaho and Republican Leader, Representative Kevin Brady of the 8th District in Texas, is a collaborationist love fest compared to what is necessary.
They didn’t oppose anything and everything connected to this global power grab and for that reason they are abject and miserable failures.
