how much do we spend on corporate welfare?

Discussion in 'Economics' started by noob_trad3r, Apr 27, 2011.

  1. You never hear any reporting on it. But it must be a lot of money. Neither the Media or politicians seem to want to discuss this.
     
  2. wow no one has a clue. Not surprised.
     
  3. Bailout: We printed 268B in nov 2008 and allowed banks to use fractional reserves... 10x: one month of bailouts created 2.68T worth of essentially free money for the banks.. no questions or strings attached. These loans were at 0.078% interest and significant amounts loaned right back to the govt at 3.5%.

    Welfare = no
    Collusion, Conspiracy & Racketeering = yes

    Amazon just got an exemption from the state of SC for collecting and paying sales tax. Not exactly welfare but still a dirty deal.

    Corps have better rights and privileges than people. They can't be jailed and are not required to report and pay taxes on world wide income. They can fill out a form and move country to country shopping for the best deals.
     
  4. stoic

    stoic

    No Corporations pay taxes, never have never will.
     
  5. piezoe

    piezoe

    Hacker, Jeffrey H., "Government Subsidy to Industry," 92 Pgs., Franklin Watts: New York, 1982. ISBN 0-531-04487-4

    Nearly 30 years old, but not much has changed except the numbers. Probably out of print. Maybe on Google for free.

    This is a fairly even handed look at all manner of Government Subsidies of U.S. Corporations. My only criticism of Hacker would be that he, like so many others, tends to confuse Capitalism with Free Enterprise. One can have Capitalism without Free Enterprise. Though often some measure of free enterprise is present in capitalist countries, the natural tendency, unless prevented by strong laws, is for capitalists to use their control of capital to acquire ever greater influence over government, and by this means, bend government to their own desires. Though they publicly extol its virtues, capitalists abhor free enterprise. Given the opportunity they much prefer monopolies and cartels, even though monopolies and cartels are not essential components of capitalism.