Tax Avoidance, Soho House and the Death of ITunes?
So for those of you following
this blog – Cybergirl has been banging on week in, week out about the shady tax
shenanigans of high profile brands such as Google, Facebook and Apple to name
but a few – brand who clearly believe that tax avoidance is akin to filing a
dodgy taxi receipt on expenses or waiving the service in a restaurant. ‘Tax
avoidance is legal’ is the catchphrase du jour, from politicians and brands
alike.
But I ask you, is it legal for
the millions of ordinary citizens who file self assessment forms every year
come January 31st? How would Apple feel if their employees started
filing expenses to the tune of £200 million? Or if their customers started
paying £2 instead of the £270 for an IPad Mini?
Margaret Hodge, Labour chairman
of the public accounts committee said, ‘We’re not accusing you of being
illegal, we’re accusing you of being immoral,’ – why not? Why on earth is this
kind of corporate behavior not illegal? Why when British citizens are expected
to adhere to the authority of HMRC, are companies that rake in millions in
profits exempt? Google has admitted structuring its affairs to reduce
liability, well if it’s good enough for them – it’s good enough for us. That
wad of blank taxi receipts Cybergirl found abandoned in the back of a black cab
recently – they’ll be filed imminently – it’s ‘legal’ don’t you know...
On another note Cybergirl spent
the weekend at a very exclusive private members club/hotel in the heart of the
Somerset countryside, this uber exclusive hang out (and preserve of the rich
and famous) is well known for banning mobile phones within its hallowed walls,
but now seems to have taken the ethos one step further with a cyberwall that
blocks all Facebook chatter. No matter how hard Cybergirl tried, no status updates,
photos or location services would penetrate the barrier imposed on this very private
garden of Eden. Top marks for privacy to the Soho House Empire...
Thirdly – (yes two points are
never quite enough) Spotify – is it the death of ITunes? How on earth did Apple
think they could get away with ‘leasing’ material to the millions of people
dependent on ITunes software when Spotify; previously the underdog, were
offering an almost identical service – the only difference being that with
ITunes (and for an exorbitant price) the music is leased for life... Hmmmm - Leased
for life or leased by the month – sorry what’s the difference?
Finally (yes this is the week of
gripes) what on earth is wrong with Apple’s Mail? The search facility is
terrible... Cybergirl can never ever find the requisite email without logging
on via Google or another mail client. Googlers have got the hang of searching
email – how can Apple be so far behind? Here’s an idea – how about Google lease
the technology to Apple? Then all the dominoes would be neatly lined up in a
row – now there’s something to think about. Right, rant over.
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