Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

kentuck

(115,400 posts)
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:05 AM Nov 2012

Should capitalists that move their jobs overseas lose their US citizenship?

And once they move their jobs overseas, they would zero taxes to this country.

Also, they would have no protection from our government or our military. They would be subject to the protection and taxes of the country where they move.

On top of that, they would get no special preference for bringing their products back to America to sell. They would take a back seat to any American company that could make the same product. America would no longer be the "free market" that they thought was sacred and no one could make any rules to enforce that it is a fair system?

Would that be unfair?

52 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Should capitalists that move their jobs overseas lose their US citizenship? (Original Post) kentuck Nov 2012 OP
nah, they go to washington DC and get worshipped nt msongs Nov 2012 #1
What would that say about our political system? kentuck Nov 2012 #2
Clarification DietCoke Nov 2012 #3
It's a simple question. kentuck Nov 2012 #4
Perhaps we should dig deeper.... DietCoke Nov 2012 #6
You ask? kentuck Nov 2012 #7
Yes I have. DietCoke Nov 2012 #9
Yes. It doesn't work. kentuck Nov 2012 #14
God chosen? DietCoke Nov 2012 #24
ridiculous. on so very many levels. cali Nov 2012 #21
Perhaps its a bridge I built myself..... DietCoke Nov 2012 #25
it is to pay $2 a day for a 14 hour work day, by other human beings that are desperate. we KNOW seabeyond Nov 2012 #15
Ahh yes... 99Forever Nov 2012 #16
Teabags????? DietCoke Nov 2012 #26
Who did you support in the election? Who would you support now? uppityperson Nov 2012 #30
+1000000000 JustAnotherGen Nov 2012 #31
Live and let live..... DietCoke Nov 2012 #35
You supported Gary Johnson, Libertarian from New Mexico. Got it. thanks for clarifying. uppityperson Nov 2012 #39
When you start posting Teabagger memes... 99Forever Nov 2012 #33
Differences..... DietCoke Nov 2012 #41
I think your motives and ... 99Forever Nov 2012 #48
NO IMO we should make moveing jobs overseas unprofitable azurnoir Nov 2012 #5
And the economy? DietCoke Nov 2012 #10
ah so moving jobs overseas is good for the economy I see azurnoir Nov 2012 #12
why yes of course if we don't keep costs low and profits high azurnoir Nov 2012 #13
Job creators DietCoke Nov 2012 #27
No one said..so I will.. AsahinaKimi Nov 2012 #28
Thank you DietCoke Nov 2012 #38
Haven't they done serious damage to the U.S. economy? moondust Nov 2012 #8
Not like that. Corporations should lose their corporate charters, no_hypocrisy Nov 2012 #11
Al Gore took us taxpayer money to build cars overseas. Isn't he our "hero"? Romulox Nov 2012 #17
Yes, he's our "hero." KansDem Nov 2012 #22
LOL. EVERY outsourcer claims the work "couldn't be done (CHEAPLY ENOUGH!!!!) in the US" Romulox Nov 2012 #23
I didn't see the term "cheaply enough" in the article. KansDem Nov 2012 #47
The "cheap" part was somewhat implied by the gov't handout they took, no? If their outsourcing model Romulox Nov 2012 #50
A much simpler way. 99Forever Nov 2012 #18
How on earth would that be Constitutional? cali Nov 2012 #19
Billionaires will love that gravity Nov 2012 #20
Nothing in the Constitution provides the government with the power to do that slackmaster Nov 2012 #29
The Constitution.... kentuck Nov 2012 #32
Whaaaaaaaaa" glacierbay Nov 2012 #40
Sorry for the misunderstanding... kentuck Nov 2012 #43
Got it glacierbay Nov 2012 #44
We'd be in deep shit if we had a Congress that started creating ways to deport citizens... slackmaster Nov 2012 #45
The Congress can define whether or not it is "lawful economic activity". kentuck Nov 2012 #46
I really, really think that global corporations should not be allowed to set up shop in the USA Cleita Nov 2012 #34
There's a huge hole in the neo-liberal argument that "free trade" is always "good for everyone". frostfern Nov 2012 #36
Their products should face a GIGANTIC "ENTRY TAX" DonRedwood Nov 2012 #37
No, but congressmen who help them move those jobs should lose theirs! reformist2 Nov 2012 #42
No they shouldn't lose citizenship. HooptieWagon Nov 2012 #49
They wouldn't care treestar Nov 2012 #51
Not as long as the US government and state governments seek to induce multinational corporations... Spider Jerusalem Nov 2012 #52

kentuck

(115,400 posts)
2. What would that say about our political system?
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:24 AM
Nov 2012

Sounds like some room for improvement?

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
3. Clarification
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:25 AM
Nov 2012

Just so I understand the argument completely and don't try to assume things, this is meant to accomplish what?

kentuck

(115,400 posts)
4. It's a simple question.
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:29 AM
Nov 2012

Are these folks (capitalists) still considered good Americans and keep their citizenship and their tax breaks if they move their jobs overseas?

Would it accomplish anything?? I don't know. Would you have an opinion on the matter? Should they keep their citizenship? Should they keep their special tax breaks?

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
6. Perhaps we should dig deeper....
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:44 AM
Nov 2012

Just wanted to know for sure before I responded, nothing wrong with making sure the question is understood correctly.

I think the better question to ask is why are they moving these jobs over seas? And is the answer to them moving jobs away more regulation or more freedom in the marketplace?

As far as tax breaks go, absolutely not! If a business can't support itself in the free market as it sits it shouldn't receive help from our tax dollars. There are far more important things our tax dollars can be used for besides subsidizing a failing business.



kentuck

(115,400 posts)
7. You ask?
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:02 AM
Nov 2012

"I think the better question to ask is why are they moving these jobs over seas? And is the answer to them moving jobs away more regulation or more freedom in the marketplace?"

Is that the only possibilities you can conjure up?

How about greed? Pure, unadulterated greed. Do you think that is possible? Do you think companies making a good profit in America have moved their jobs overseas simply because they can make an even better profit? That's just the way capitalism works? Have you thought of that??

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
9. Yes I have.
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:20 AM
Nov 2012

I understand how Capitalism works.

So the answer to the question is more regulation that is supported vastly by these corporations because they understand that they and only they can afford the legal fees to stay in regulation?

Why not give them what they don't want, a true free marketplace where competition is allowed to grow and not squashed by other companies that can afford the lobbying to support these regulations.

Did you think of that?

kentuck

(115,400 posts)
14. Yes. It doesn't work.
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:42 AM
Nov 2012

You would probably support more tax cuts for these God-chosen "job-creators" also? History is an excellent teacher.

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
24. God chosen?
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:18 PM
Nov 2012

No, everyone deserves the same opportunity to succeed in any business or any industry, which is exactly why no business should receive government support in any way. Again our tax dollars are way better used for the people than against the people.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
21. ridiculous. on so very many levels.
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 11:04 AM
Nov 2012

The claim that corporations "vastly support more regulation" is utter nonsense. There is exactly no evidence for that claim and a ton of evidence against it: Who supports deregulation through lobbyists? Why yes, that would be the corporate world.

Making shit up, is not a winning argument, sweetums.

And unfettered capitalism is a disaster. There could hardly be more evidence of that.

Now go back to whatever nasty bridge you normally inhabit. Please.

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
25. Perhaps its a bridge I built myself.....
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:34 PM
Nov 2012

I think your lying to yourself if you don't think our elected officials are in the the pocket of these major corporations, which is the problem.

So your answer against my claim is to just claim the opposite and say that I'm making it up, very compelling.

So what is the economic plan?

 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
15. it is to pay $2 a day for a 14 hour work day, by other human beings that are desperate. we KNOW
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:44 AM
Nov 2012

the why.

greed.

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
26. Teabags?????
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:37 PM
Nov 2012

I'm going to assume you are trying to say I am a Tea Party member..... Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

Thanks I needed that good laugh this morning.

JustAnotherGen

(38,043 posts)
31. +1000000000
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:52 PM
Nov 2012

I'd like to know who this 8 post person voted for - take it to the next level. Not supported - VOTED for! I smell Freepturds.

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
35. Live and let live.....
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:03 PM
Nov 2012

Both options in the 2 party system made me quite upset, so I didn't support either of them. Perhaps New Mexico has the answer I am looking for.

uppityperson

(116,017 posts)
39. You supported Gary Johnson, Libertarian from New Mexico. Got it. thanks for clarifying.
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:10 PM
Nov 2012
Both options in the 2 party system made me quite upset, so I didn't support either of them. Perhaps New Mexico has the answer I am looking for.

99Forever

(14,524 posts)
33. When you start posting Teabagger memes...
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:54 PM
Nov 2012

... 8 posts into a fresh account, what do you expect?

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
41. Differences.....
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:12 PM
Nov 2012

Do you not think certain parts every political belief have things in common? Just because I believe in a free marketplace doesn't mean I am against the rights of women and LGBT and force my religious beliefs on others. Hell you probably think I'm a Republican as well huh?

99Forever

(14,524 posts)
48. I think your motives and ...
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:15 PM
Nov 2012

... allegiances are unclear. Time will tell.


Edit:Whoops, seems time already did tell. Hope you enjoyed your brief stay.

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)
5. NO IMO we should make moveing jobs overseas unprofitable
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:37 AM
Nov 2012

that can easily be done by making them pay by levying a tax on them for each and every person who loses their job and perhaps those who might have been future employees, they do it for profit and the way to stop it is to make it very unprofitable



 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
10. And the economy?
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:45 AM
Nov 2012

So if the price of all goods imported skyrockets what happens to our economy?

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)
12. ah so moving jobs overseas is good for the economy I see
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:30 AM
Nov 2012

must keep profit margins up to keep costs down, where have I heard that before..............?????

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)
13. why yes of course if we don't keep costs low and profits high
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:33 AM
Nov 2012

for the job creators, why it'll all go to hell , so let's move those jobs overseas, keep costs down profits up

seems I've this all before someplace, let me think........????

 

DietCoke

(11 posts)
27. Job creators
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:43 PM
Nov 2012

Do you really think major corporations are the main job creators? They're merely just one business in a industry that happens to receive large tax breaks from there buddies in DC.

moondust

(21,284 posts)
8. Haven't they done serious damage to the U.S. economy?
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:14 AM
Nov 2012

Do they qualify as "enemies of the state"?

Some would probably say "Fuck You" and move to Switzerland or someplace that welcomes their money with open arms. Maybe some have already made threats of a mass migration of billions to other countries if the government interferes with their "free market." Hell, a lot of fat cat money is already deposited in offshore accounts just to avoid taxes.

I think the French and Russian revolutions demonstrated that the "rules of engagement" are subject to change. Maybe it's just a question of how change comes about.

Some kind of re-importation tax might be enough to discourage offshoring jobs by making it unprofitable, i.e. "If you want to sell it here you'll have to build it here." That would still allow exporting (and importing necessary foreign) goods and services. Along those lines Sen. Schumer a few years ago proposed a tax on U.S. company (banks) customer service calls that are serviced overseas (India) in an effort to discourage offshoring of call centers. I don't know whatever happened to that.

no_hypocrisy

(54,881 posts)
11. Not like that. Corporations should lose their corporate charters,
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 09:05 AM
Nov 2012

that is, lose their rights as American corporations and be considered foreign entities AND then be heavily tariffed as well as losing their tax breaks.

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
22. Yes, he's our "hero."
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 11:32 AM
Nov 2012

From the report--

With the approval of the Obama administration, an electric car company that received a $529 million federal government loan guarantee is assembling its first line of cars in Finland, saying it could not find a facility in the United States capable of doing the work.

Vice President Joseph Biden heralded the Energy Department's $529 million loan to the start-up electric car company called Fisker as a bright new path to thousands of American manufacturing jobs. But two years after the loan was announced, the company's manufacturing jobs are still limited to the assembly of the flashy electric Fisker Karma sports car in Finland.

"There was no contract manufacturer in the U.S. that could actually produce our vehicle," the car company's founder and namesake told ABC News. "They don't exist here."

Henrik Fisker said the U.S. money has been spent on engineering and design work that stayed in the U.S., not on the 500 manufacturing jobs that went to a rural Finnish firm, Valmet Automotive.

"We're not in the business of failing; we're in the business of winning. So we make the right decision for the business," Fisker said. "That's why we went to Finland."


The sad fact remains that the manufacture of electric cars should have begun in this country a lot sooner than now. Peak oil and global warming was known about at least since the 1950s:

1956:
Hubbert Peak Oil theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbert_peak_theory

1958:



And, of course, the Bush Family pals and business partners, the Saudis, turned off the oil spigot in the early 1970s, causing uncertainty as well as an increase in oil prices and gas lines.

Even GM toyed with the idea of manufacturing electric cars in the 1990s. The result was a product that Americans wanted. There were lists of anxious consumers would wanted one of Roger Smith's electric cars:

"Who Killed the Electric Car" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489037/

Unfortunately, he had them all destroyed.

We were warned, repeatedly, what would happen if we remained dependent on oil. We should have known what this all would lead to. Unfortunately, we opted for the gas-guzzling SUV and Hummer.

So if the electric car needs to be made in a foreign country, so be it. We had our chance and we blew it. Why? I don't know. Greed? Someone needs to ask the automobile CEOs. Also ask the fossil fuels CEOs.

Perhaps if Al Gore had taken his rightful place as POTUS, there might be a booming electric-car industry in this country today. But he was denied his chance and the presidency was given to W. Need I say more?

But, as the "news" report indicates, the overall plan included the creation of 1,000s of jobs in America. And an automobile for the future. We'll see.

But I do applaud ABC with its attempt at "hard-hitting investigative journalism."

Romulox

(25,960 posts)
23. LOL. EVERY outsourcer claims the work "couldn't be done (CHEAPLY ENOUGH!!!!) in the US"
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 11:36 AM
Nov 2012

It's a lame excuse from YET ANOTHER outsourcer.

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
47. I didn't see the term "cheaply enough" in the article.
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 09:26 PM
Nov 2012

But considering the opposition to electric cars by corporatists and their minions in Congress for the past several decades, it might have been determined better to begin manufacturing in a foreign land. At least Gore didn't close down a factory in the US already making electric cars and transfer the jobs to China.

Let's see what becomes of this. As I said in my previous post, manufacturing of electric automobiles should have begun in this country long before now...

On edit: Here is this comment from your article:

This story is very misleading. Fisker Automotive has created hundreds of design and engineering jobs at their southern California headquarters and the vast majority of their funding (more than $1B) has come from private equity financing. What's lost in this politically motivated sensationalism is the fact that Fisker is doing something Americans should be proud of by leading the auto industry in a new direction with a bold and innovative idea.

Perhaps ABC might "investigate" this part of the story.

Romulox

(25,960 posts)
50. The "cheap" part was somewhat implied by the gov't handout they took, no? If their outsourcing model
Thu Nov 15, 2012, 11:36 AM
Nov 2012

was so gosh-darned successful, why does the US taxpayer need to fund it?

99Forever

(14,524 posts)
18. A much simpler way.
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:58 AM
Nov 2012

Of course end ALL tax breaks for these traitors. And then tariffs that level the playing field, with the income from those tariffs going to rebuild infrastructure and education.

gravity

(4,157 posts)
20. Billionaires will love that
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:59 AM
Nov 2012

because they don't have to pay taxes to the US anymore. The US is one of the only countries that taxes its citizens overseas income so it will create a huge loophole exploited by the rich.

kentuck

(115,400 posts)
32. The Constitution....
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 02:52 PM
Nov 2012

...gives the Congress the power to pass whatever law they wish. They are under no Constitutional constraints.

 

glacierbay

(2,477 posts)
40. Whaaaaaaaaa"
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:11 PM
Nov 2012

You seriously believe that the congress is under no Constitutional constraits? They have to follow the Constitution also, it is the supreme law of the land, and do you really think that the SCOTUS, liberal or conservative, would go along with your proposal?

kentuck

(115,400 posts)
43. Sorry for the misunderstanding...
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:14 PM
Nov 2012

They have no constitutional constraints in regards to passing laws about how our country trades with other countries and what tariffs we might put on them or even if we decide to go to war with those countries. The Congress makes the laws.

 

glacierbay

(2,477 posts)
44. Got it
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:21 PM
Nov 2012

but the SCOTUS would quickly rule unconstitutional any law that would strip citizenship from a business owner just because they moved their business overseas, and I would have to agree with that.

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
45. We'd be in deep shit if we had a Congress that started creating ways to deport citizens...
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:48 PM
Nov 2012

...for lawful economic activity.

kentuck

(115,400 posts)
46. The Congress can define whether or not it is "lawful economic activity".
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:54 PM
Nov 2012

It is not written in stone that businesses can do whatever they want, even if it might be against the national interest.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
34. I really, really think that global corporations should not be allowed to set up shop in the USA
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:00 PM
Nov 2012

even though maybe they had their roots in America like AT & T. Those companies that are incorporating in tax haven places and putting their money in banks overseas should be declared non-USA based companies. That really is what's happening. Not only does it take away jobs but tax revenues cause it's easy for them to hide profits if they are incorporated in other countries. We could do a lot by insisting that our corporations be solely incorporated in one of the American states. We could do business with foreign companies by treaty but they shouldn't be allowed in here mining our national resources like BP and their footprint on our landscape should be minimal. I don't give a crap that Toyota has plants in America. We should be producing American cars in those plants instead and selling them overseas as well as here.

If we had a law stating that stores like Wal-Mart had to keep 60% of their stock with goods made in America, and if we put tariffs on cheap imports bring the retail price to what American made goods would cost, we could accomplish this. It was what we did after WWII and it worked. We could do it again. Our incorporation laws were very protective of our American industries then but also restrictive to keep them in line.

Laissez faire economic policies were one of the main reasons behind the French Revolution and will cause one here in the future if we don't wake up.

frostfern

(67 posts)
36. There's a huge hole in the neo-liberal argument that "free trade" is always "good for everyone".
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:04 PM
Nov 2012

The problem they refuse to acknowledge is that in their ideal "free market" model there must be completely free and open competition between all sellers, INCLUDING THOSE WHO SELL THEIR LABOR. Think of it this way: Would Chinese or Indian workers accept lower pay for the exact same work as their American counterparts if they could freely immigrate anywhere in the world? Fuck no! The restriction on the mobility of labor imposed by sovereign nations is a "market inefficiency" ( to use the economic jargon of neoclassical "free market" ideology). Free trade cannot be "pereto optimal" unless we also allow 100% free immigration and dissolve national sovereignty completely.

It's so sad that even progressive politicians have bought into the "free trade is good for everyone" nonsense because they believed all the so-called "economic experts". I just cannot believe the idiocy of the world we live in.

DonRedwood

(4,359 posts)
37. Their products should face a GIGANTIC "ENTRY TAX"
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:05 PM
Nov 2012

that more than makes up for the difference in chinese wages.

 

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)
49. No they shouldn't lose citizenship.
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:21 PM
Nov 2012

But foreign labor costs shouldn't be a deduction in profit/loss calculations when determining corporate taxes owed. And any corporation that relocates HQ offshore to dodge taxes should be de-listed from NYSE.

 

Spider Jerusalem

(21,786 posts)
52. Not as long as the US government and state governments seek to induce multinational corporations...
Thu Nov 15, 2012, 12:19 PM
Nov 2012

to open facilities in the USA, no. This would be a very bad and frankly stupid idea. You might as well say "the USA no longer wishes to participate in the global economy, sorry".

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Should capitalists that m...