Comments

• Jose_X

  2009-08-07 11:51:11

  >> THE last time we wrote about Microsoft's systematic tax evasion
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance_and_tax_evasion
  
  >> "Tax avoidance" is the legal utilization of the tax regime to one's own advantage, to reduce the amount of tax that is payable by means that are within the law. By contrast "tax evasion" is the general term for efforts to not pay taxes by illegal means.
  
  Just wanted to point that out in case the intent wasn't to imply Microsoft *illegal* actions in this event (of working to avoid taxes on Azure cloud).

• Roy Schestowitz

  2009-08-07 11:57:11

  Good point, but you might want to read this for example: "Microsoft in tax evasion soup"

• Jose_X

  2009-08-07 13:03:32

  I didn't want to imply there was no wrongdoing, just that I didn't notice any from what was posted.
  
  Microsoft has been caught many times stating ordinary reasons for some action or even claiming generosity on their part but staying quiet about illegal/unethical/negligent/etc actions that placed them in a certain position in the first place.
  
  Judging by the two updates at the bottom of the story, perhaps Microsoft may have struck a deal or is getting Washington state to ease up.

• aeshna23

  2009-08-07 15:34:19

  Tax avoidance isn't bad or evil. High tax rates imply too government in the economy. Tax avoidance simultaneously helps the firm to make more money and encourage governments to lower taxes. Both are good!

• zatoichi

  2009-08-07 15:41:24

  Why are you accusing Microsoft of "running from the law" in a headline to a story that doesn't support the contention that they've broken any law?
  
  Every publicly-traded company has a fiduciary responsibility to its stockholders to do things like attempt to reduce the taxes it pays. The headline is completely misleading (again), Roy.

• aeshna23

  2009-08-07 16:46:54

  Roy can't be expert in everything. The political left has so confused people relative to basic economic common sense that they view the economy with the most strange ideas--such as corporation are evil, while they benefit from those corporations. Also, money for government programs grows on magical trees. Taxes? What taxes? Roy may be a victim of that confusion.

• zatoichi

  2009-08-07 17:02:50

  Roy can’t be expert in everything.
  
  He certainly seems to post numerous stories based on misinformation. He's quite hesitant to correct, them, too.

• aeshna23

  2009-08-07 18:02:13

  On the other hand, Roy is a fountain of information and much of that information is important and accurate. But it is humanly impossible that some errors won't get through. I don't think a single mistake negates a person, nor does a series of mistakes from Roy negate his BoycottNovell project. Where else would you go to get so much information on this topic?