[Advisors] FW: Hmmmm... Google: "Internet Freedom!"... (from taxes?

[michael gurstein]

(Sorry if you have already seen this... My take on the discussion...

http://vrritti.com/2012/11/23/australian-minister-provides-detailed-explanat
ion-of-tax-evasion-by-google-apple-and-others/

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/news/15431664/france-says-google-would-
lose-court-case-over-taxes/

http://en.apa.az/news_google_italy_suspected_of_tax_evasion__183392.html

http://www.3news.co.nz/Starbucks-Google-Amazon-accused-of-UK-tax-evasion/tab
id/369/articleID/276457/Default.aspx

http://www.linformaticien.com/actualites/id/27219/menace-d-une-taxe-en-allem
agne-google-defend-la-liberte-de-surfer.aspx

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/11/23/0156212/australian-govt-pledges-acti
on-on-google-tax-evasion

http://gurstein.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/the-ituwcit-thinking-about-internet
-regulatory-policy-from-an-ldc-perspective/

If governments, companies and (g@d preserve us) certain elements of civil
society want to pursue (project) a libertarian political agenda globally
that of course, is their g@d given right. But let's be clear, drop the
hypocrasy and call a bit a bit and stop confusing a bunch of well
intentioned people that this is some sort of holy crusade to "save the
Internet". 

I would be the first one to argue for a transparent, net neutral, open
access, free speech Internet but I'm also for an inclusive Internet in a
decent socially equitable environment with proper schools, and healthcare,
and an adequate physical and social infrastructure for all, not just for the
rich (or those in rich countries) and that means that companies, like
everyone else have to pay their fair share.

Greed is greed and the best way to keep from paying taxes as the
libertarians know extremely well, is to make sure that there are no
laws/regulations in place to require anyone to pay taxes.

(From my contribution to an on-going discussion on the civil society list
concerned with global Internet governance...

Mike