This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/14/if-only-ordinary-citizens-pay-tax-there-will-be-a-revolt-panama-papers-reaction
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'If only ordinary citizens pay tax there will be a revolt': Panama Papers reaction | 'If only ordinary citizens pay tax there will be a revolt': Panama Papers reaction |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Anger, horror and a sense of resigned acceptance. As the news broke that offshore law firm Mossack Fonseca had been helping the global elite protect their riches by circumventing the tax rules followed by the rest of us, we asked Guardian readers to tell us how they felt about the revelations – and what, if anything, would change as a result. | Anger, horror and a sense of resigned acceptance. As the news broke that offshore law firm Mossack Fonseca had been helping the global elite protect their riches by circumventing the tax rules followed by the rest of us, we asked Guardian readers to tell us how they felt about the revelations – and what, if anything, would change as a result. |
| From Nigeria to Norway; Panama to Poland; Belgium to Britain thousands of you got in touch with us to say that you felt cheated by a system that allowed the rich to get richer as ordinary citizens battle austerity and other hardships. | From Nigeria to Norway; Panama to Poland; Belgium to Britain thousands of you got in touch with us to say that you felt cheated by a system that allowed the rich to get richer as ordinary citizens battle austerity and other hardships. |
| Some were more hopeful. Heralding the leak as a turning point that governments could no longer ignore and an encouraging sign for the whistleblowers of the future. | Some were more hopeful. Heralding the leak as a turning point that governments could no longer ignore and an encouraging sign for the whistleblowers of the future. |
| So how do Guardian readers around the world feel about the hidden fortunes of the global elite? | So how do Guardian readers around the world feel about the hidden fortunes of the global elite? |
| Related: 'The game is rigged by those who write the rules': British readers on the Panama papers | Related: 'The game is rigged by those who write the rules': British readers on the Panama papers |
| ‘If ordinary people are the only ones paying taxes you’ll have a revolt on your hands’ | ‘If ordinary people are the only ones paying taxes you’ll have a revolt on your hands’ |
| As a middle class taxpayer, who plays by the rules, I feel I have been treated unfairly. Tax avoidance has pushed the burden for paying for essential government services – the police, fire, utilities, infrastructure – on to people like me. As James Henry says: “if ordinary people are the only ones paying taxes, then you’ll have a tax revolt on your hands.” Joe Cook, United States | As a middle class taxpayer, who plays by the rules, I feel I have been treated unfairly. Tax avoidance has pushed the burden for paying for essential government services – the police, fire, utilities, infrastructure – on to people like me. As James Henry says: “if ordinary people are the only ones paying taxes, then you’ll have a tax revolt on your hands.” Joe Cook, United States |
| ‘Welcome to reality – a message from Russia’ | ‘Welcome to reality – a message from Russia’ |
| I am just happy to say to the rest of the world: welcome to reality. Dig deep inside the affairs of every politician and you’ll find offshore accounts and allegations of corruption. It’s ironic that Iceland has been at the heart of the revelations when, in comparison, Putin looks like a knight in a shining armour. There is no mention of his name in the files, and for those who say: ‘It’s obviously his money’ must also follow the logic that ‘top politicians all over the world are obviously corrupt’. Anton Antipyev, Russia | I am just happy to say to the rest of the world: welcome to reality. Dig deep inside the affairs of every politician and you’ll find offshore accounts and allegations of corruption. It’s ironic that Iceland has been at the heart of the revelations when, in comparison, Putin looks like a knight in a shining armour. There is no mention of his name in the files, and for those who say: ‘It’s obviously his money’ must also follow the logic that ‘top politicians all over the world are obviously corrupt’. Anton Antipyev, Russia |
| ‘The culture of “let’s see what we can get away with” is accepted’ | ‘The culture of “let’s see what we can get away with” is accepted’ |
| It’s pure greed. The politicians speak about wanting a “transparent” government, yet they think nothing of having offshore bank accounts to amass their fortunes. In Argentina nothing will change because we have a lack of ethical responsibility. The main newspapers cater to the government and the elite – and vice versa – so it has been dismissed as a ‘legal issue’ and not a big deal. Instead we have a culture of la viveza criolla meaning, let’s see what we can get away with. Name withheld, Argentina | It’s pure greed. The politicians speak about wanting a “transparent” government, yet they think nothing of having offshore bank accounts to amass their fortunes. In Argentina nothing will change because we have a lack of ethical responsibility. The main newspapers cater to the government and the elite – and vice versa – so it has been dismissed as a ‘legal issue’ and not a big deal. Instead we have a culture of la viveza criolla meaning, let’s see what we can get away with. Name withheld, Argentina |
| ‘Citizens are treated like milk cows – it’s taking our planet to the brink’ | ‘Citizens are treated like milk cows – it’s taking our planet to the brink’ |
| As an “ordinary global citizen” in my twilight years, I feel like a milk cow: milked by multinational companies, governments, banks, and tax agencies. What the Panama Papers reveal only confirms what I have known all my adult life: the unfair distribution of wealth and exploitation of the masses. I have always believed that not one person in this world should have to live in poverty or die of starvation. This is a result of the 1% owning the world’s resources and wealth while behaving badly, the 1% has brought our planet to the brink. Margo van der Voort, Australia | As an “ordinary global citizen” in my twilight years, I feel like a milk cow: milked by multinational companies, governments, banks, and tax agencies. What the Panama Papers reveal only confirms what I have known all my adult life: the unfair distribution of wealth and exploitation of the masses. I have always believed that not one person in this world should have to live in poverty or die of starvation. This is a result of the 1% owning the world’s resources and wealth while behaving badly, the 1% has brought our planet to the brink. Margo van der Voort, Australia |
| ‘Remembering Panama – big banks and a poor population’ | ‘Remembering Panama – big banks and a poor population’ |
| Visiting Panama years ago I found a lovely spot to sit along the water, I could see the ships waiting to go through the canal and downtown – which had a number of very tall bank buildings in its skyline. This felt odd, since the majority of the population seemed very poor. I had read somewhere about Panama banks offering “services” to rich foreigners, but to a person of modest American income, banking seems rather straightforward – what kind of services did they mean? So, the Panama Papers do not come as a surprise, but the big question now is how will the rest of us respond? Name withheld, the United States | Visiting Panama years ago I found a lovely spot to sit along the water, I could see the ships waiting to go through the canal and downtown – which had a number of very tall bank buildings in its skyline. This felt odd, since the majority of the population seemed very poor. I had read somewhere about Panama banks offering “services” to rich foreigners, but to a person of modest American income, banking seems rather straightforward – what kind of services did they mean? So, the Panama Papers do not come as a surprise, but the big question now is how will the rest of us respond? Name withheld, the United States |
| ‘People get distracted by trivialities’ | ‘People get distracted by trivialities’ |
| Nothing surprises me anymore. I think the scales fell off our eyes in the financial crash of 2008. Greed rules the world but sometimes it seems that we’re all too apathetic to act upon it. People get distracted by trivialities. Katarzyna Kurzawska, Poland | Nothing surprises me anymore. I think the scales fell off our eyes in the financial crash of 2008. Greed rules the world but sometimes it seems that we’re all too apathetic to act upon it. People get distracted by trivialities. Katarzyna Kurzawska, Poland |
| ‘I am horrified by the apathy around me’ | ‘I am horrified by the apathy around me’ |
| I am shocked and horrified, not with the global elite, but by the total apathy of everyone around me. People are saying it’s “just another story” and that “we can’t do anything about it”. The crippling levels of taxes in Europe, and the acceptance that the rich won’t pay them, is the modern society we live in. Name withheld, Italy | I am shocked and horrified, not with the global elite, but by the total apathy of everyone around me. People are saying it’s “just another story” and that “we can’t do anything about it”. The crippling levels of taxes in Europe, and the acceptance that the rich won’t pay them, is the modern society we live in. Name withheld, Italy |
| ‘It feels like going for a meal and the people who’ve eaten the most walk out without paying’ | ‘It feels like going for a meal and the people who’ve eaten the most walk out without paying’ |
| It feels like going for massive meal out, the bill comes, and the people who’ve eaten and drunk the most expensive items get up and walk out without paying. Celebrities, business moguls and political bigwigs have made their money from my endorsement. So to hear that they have withheld tax from the domestic coffers that pay for social infrastructure and provision, makes me want to revolt. Name withheld, Australia | |
| ‘I feel satisfied and hopeful’ | ‘I feel satisfied and hopeful’ |
| I was already angry before, as it was clear those things were going on without scrutiny. Now I feel satisfied and hopeful. What the #Panamapapers leaks have changed is that offshore havens are now out in the open and, hopefully, politicians cannot postpone reform for much longer. I think the leaks have set precedent for further exposing the rot and I hope they change the way tax havens are regulated, or even banned altogether. Mircea Nanca, Belgium | I was already angry before, as it was clear those things were going on without scrutiny. Now I feel satisfied and hopeful. What the #Panamapapers leaks have changed is that offshore havens are now out in the open and, hopefully, politicians cannot postpone reform for much longer. I think the leaks have set precedent for further exposing the rot and I hope they change the way tax havens are regulated, or even banned altogether. Mircea Nanca, Belgium |
| ‘A strength of capitalism is that you can do what you like with your wealth’ | ‘A strength of capitalism is that you can do what you like with your wealth’ |
| One of the strengths of capitalism is that you can do as you wish with your wealth without having to justify it – as long as the action is legal and the wealth was acquired legally. Some of the people named in the paper may be dishonest, but not all of them did it for selfish reasons. It is wrong and premature to judge them without knowing the real reasons they saved money offshore. Mark Nfon, Cameroon | One of the strengths of capitalism is that you can do as you wish with your wealth without having to justify it – as long as the action is legal and the wealth was acquired legally. Some of the people named in the paper may be dishonest, but not all of them did it for selfish reasons. It is wrong and premature to judge them without knowing the real reasons they saved money offshore. Mark Nfon, Cameroon |
| ‘I fight the system with a turnover of less than €100,000 – what if I had millions?’ | ‘I fight the system with a turnover of less than €100,000 – what if I had millions?’ |
| I run a small business and have a constant struggle to avoid paying arbitrary and seemingly unfair taxes. If I fight “the system” with a turnover of less than €100,000, how hard would I fight if my business was making millions? If taxes were simpler, it would be more acceptable to pay them and they would be more difficult to evade. Name withheld, France | I run a small business and have a constant struggle to avoid paying arbitrary and seemingly unfair taxes. If I fight “the system” with a turnover of less than €100,000, how hard would I fight if my business was making millions? If taxes were simpler, it would be more acceptable to pay them and they would be more difficult to evade. Name withheld, France |
| ‘This is a global issue and fundamentally a moral one’ | ‘This is a global issue and fundamentally a moral one’ |
| I feel vindicated in my long-held suspicion about the iniquities in financial institutions. Money, power and media ownership and control are intertwined and work to the advantage of politicians. The Panama Papers reveal that this is a global issue and fundamentally a moral one: a lack of principles, honesty, integrity and basic decency. Barry, France | I feel vindicated in my long-held suspicion about the iniquities in financial institutions. Money, power and media ownership and control are intertwined and work to the advantage of politicians. The Panama Papers reveal that this is a global issue and fundamentally a moral one: a lack of principles, honesty, integrity and basic decency. Barry, France |
| ‘Nobody has yet proposed a system for fairer distribution of wealth’ | ‘Nobody has yet proposed a system for fairer distribution of wealth’ |
| I am hopeful that things will change, but not optimistic. The biggest factors in wealth retention and growing wealth inequality, are inheritance and unearned income and the whole point of tax havens is to maintain this. Nobody has yet proposed changes that would see a fairer distribution of wealth to the benefit of society. Bob Minor, Canada | I am hopeful that things will change, but not optimistic. The biggest factors in wealth retention and growing wealth inequality, are inheritance and unearned income and the whole point of tax havens is to maintain this. Nobody has yet proposed changes that would see a fairer distribution of wealth to the benefit of society. Bob Minor, Canada |
| ‘As a salaried person living in the Caribbean I cannot hide’ | ‘As a salaried person living in the Caribbean I cannot hide’ |
| I have no problem with the elite trying to maximise their wealth with legal tax avoidance measures. I would imagine it’s a sensible choice. I have a problem with loopholes in government legislation. The UK already has jurisdictions in the Channel Islands and fingers in Caribbean. The US has the State of Delaware but still coverts Panama and other offshore centres in the region. As a person living in the Caribbean on a salary I cannot hide – all my earnings are properly taxed. What about the others? Name withheld, the Caribbean | I have no problem with the elite trying to maximise their wealth with legal tax avoidance measures. I would imagine it’s a sensible choice. I have a problem with loopholes in government legislation. The UK already has jurisdictions in the Channel Islands and fingers in Caribbean. The US has the State of Delaware but still coverts Panama and other offshore centres in the region. As a person living in the Caribbean on a salary I cannot hide – all my earnings are properly taxed. What about the others? Name withheld, the Caribbean |
| ‘Offenders are directly responsible for widespread poverty and homelessness’ | ‘Offenders are directly responsible for widespread poverty and homelessness’ |
| I believe that the compulsive and repulsive addiction to wealth is directly responsible for widespread poverty and homelessness. The people who squirrelled away tens of millions, maybe even billions, of dollars as the world’s economy collapsed. But nothing will change, unless we follow Iceland’s lead. Paul Kelly, Australia | I believe that the compulsive and repulsive addiction to wealth is directly responsible for widespread poverty and homelessness. The people who squirrelled away tens of millions, maybe even billions, of dollars as the world’s economy collapsed. But nothing will change, unless we follow Iceland’s lead. Paul Kelly, Australia |
| ‘Most Czechs don’t care, immigration is seen as a much bigger risk’ | ‘Most Czechs don’t care, immigration is seen as a much bigger risk’ |
| The Panama Papers don’t suggest that any Czech politicians are involved but some well-known and successful businessmen are. People who are often portrayed as successful individuals who made their fortune through hard work – role models. They make infinitely more money than your average person will in dozens of lifetimes yet spend many resources to avoid their fair share of tax – to “protect themselves from ineffective bureaucracy”, and other elitist phrases. But most people in the Czech Republic don’t care. They talk about the risks of immigration and “threats to democracy” spurred by our president Miloš Zeman. Lukas Kaluza, Czech Republic | The Panama Papers don’t suggest that any Czech politicians are involved but some well-known and successful businessmen are. People who are often portrayed as successful individuals who made their fortune through hard work – role models. They make infinitely more money than your average person will in dozens of lifetimes yet spend many resources to avoid their fair share of tax – to “protect themselves from ineffective bureaucracy”, and other elitist phrases. But most people in the Czech Republic don’t care. They talk about the risks of immigration and “threats to democracy” spurred by our president Miloš Zeman. Lukas Kaluza, Czech Republic |
| ‘The liberties of our nations are at risk from this echelon of wealth’ | ‘The liberties of our nations are at risk from this echelon of wealth’ |
| The leaks are vital because global money is exactly that: global. It affects markets all over the world and, therefore, how people live. If the elite can create this echelon of wealth, which facilitates the marginalisation of the working and middle classes – who can’t afford housing, and education – then the liberties of our nations are at risk. We will become another tiered society and history will repeat itself. Name withheld, resident of Ireland, UK and the Netherlands | The leaks are vital because global money is exactly that: global. It affects markets all over the world and, therefore, how people live. If the elite can create this echelon of wealth, which facilitates the marginalisation of the working and middle classes – who can’t afford housing, and education – then the liberties of our nations are at risk. We will become another tiered society and history will repeat itself. Name withheld, resident of Ireland, UK and the Netherlands |
| ‘I’m glad that whistleblowers have been emboldened by Snowden’ | ‘I’m glad that whistleblowers have been emboldened by Snowden’ |
| I’m glad that whistleblowers have been emboldened by Edward Snowden’s NSA revelations, putting this critical information in the hands of journalists. It is imperative that politicians, corporations and the global “elite” are answerable to the same standards as the rest of us. I would also like to see offshore entities, law firms and banks held to account with new international transparency laws. Nancy Roberts-Moneir, Egypt | I’m glad that whistleblowers have been emboldened by Edward Snowden’s NSA revelations, putting this critical information in the hands of journalists. It is imperative that politicians, corporations and the global “elite” are answerable to the same standards as the rest of us. I would also like to see offshore entities, law firms and banks held to account with new international transparency laws. Nancy Roberts-Moneir, Egypt |
| ‘The crimes of the powerless are usually under the spotlight – not this time’ | ‘The crimes of the powerless are usually under the spotlight – not this time’ |
| It is not surprising that people with money try their best to earn more. It is what this system has wired us to do: by stressing individualism over collective efforts, and financial gains over life satisfaction, a free-rider culture now permeates everything. The most blatant crimes are made by the most powerful, but the crimes of the powerless are usually under the spotlight – but not now. Francisco Diaz Heinzen, Germany | It is not surprising that people with money try their best to earn more. It is what this system has wired us to do: by stressing individualism over collective efforts, and financial gains over life satisfaction, a free-rider culture now permeates everything. The most blatant crimes are made by the most powerful, but the crimes of the powerless are usually under the spotlight – but not now. Francisco Diaz Heinzen, Germany |
| ‘The implications for the Communist party of China will become clear’ | ‘The implications for the Communist party of China will become clear’ |
| In Hong Kong I think everyone was aware that elite were utilising tax avoidance systems, but it was a surprise to read that the Hong Kong office is Mossack Fonseca’s busiest. Also very interesting to read about how the Communist party of China were using offshore accounts. The implications will become clearer over time, but I’m hopeful that this will be very embarrassing to the CCP and will force change. Claire Wong, Hong Kong | In Hong Kong I think everyone was aware that elite were utilising tax avoidance systems, but it was a surprise to read that the Hong Kong office is Mossack Fonseca’s busiest. Also very interesting to read about how the Communist party of China were using offshore accounts. The implications will become clearer over time, but I’m hopeful that this will be very embarrassing to the CCP and will force change. Claire Wong, Hong Kong |
| ‘Leaders are trusted with public funds – how do they justify stealing them?’ | ‘Leaders are trusted with public funds – how do they justify stealing them?’ |
| I am disappointed and honestly outraged. The revelations are unfathomable. The problem of tax evasion is bigger that the public perceive it to be, especially if it involves public office holders. These leaders are trusted with public funds, how do you justify stealing them and then avoiding paying tax on such funds? Name withheld, Nigeria | I am disappointed and honestly outraged. The revelations are unfathomable. The problem of tax evasion is bigger that the public perceive it to be, especially if it involves public office holders. These leaders are trusted with public funds, how do you justify stealing them and then avoiding paying tax on such funds? Name withheld, Nigeria |
| ‘Every politician should face strict auditing of their financial lives’ | ‘Every politician should face strict auditing of their financial lives’ |
| Every politician should be required to meet strict auditing of all financial aspects of their life: family and business – past, present and future. I hope that the people of Iceland people will keep up the pressure on their government. I also hope the British people will pressure Cameron, and his cronies, to reveal all of their foreign assets. Daniel Bakke, Norway | Every politician should be required to meet strict auditing of all financial aspects of their life: family and business – past, present and future. I hope that the people of Iceland people will keep up the pressure on their government. I also hope the British people will pressure Cameron, and his cronies, to reveal all of their foreign assets. Daniel Bakke, Norway |
| ‘This isn’t an epiphany because it’s been going on for so long’ | ‘This isn’t an epiphany because it’s been going on for so long’ |
| I don’t see this as an epiphany because it’s been going on for so long. It’s up to ordinary people to demand a change to “business-as-usual”. Stop electing business-as-usual politicians. Stop worshipping celebrities, they’re just people with foibles. Most importantly, stop kowtowing to corporations and the banks. Until such time as we claw back power, I believe we are in for many more Panama Paper-style exposes. Name withheld, Switzerland | I don’t see this as an epiphany because it’s been going on for so long. It’s up to ordinary people to demand a change to “business-as-usual”. Stop electing business-as-usual politicians. Stop worshipping celebrities, they’re just people with foibles. Most importantly, stop kowtowing to corporations and the banks. Until such time as we claw back power, I believe we are in for many more Panama Paper-style exposes. Name withheld, Switzerland |