Case in point from ThinkProgress:
Your Whopper May Soon Come With A Side Of Tax Avoidance
American fast food chain Burger King is in talks to buy Tim Hortons, a doughnut and coffee chain based in Canada, the New York Times reported Monday.
A deal, which could be reached as soon as this week, would mean the iconically American company would be headquartered in Canada, and benefit from the country’s lower corporate tax rate, 15 percent, compared to the on-paper 35 percent rate in the U.S.
Among the comments: "I ate my last BK meal last week. Never again will I grace their doors."
The potential departure of an iconic American company because of "corporate greed" will be trotted out on the campaign trail.
But why?
And then we get to the Twitter world:
Send a message, and denounce Burger King's tax dodge scheme:... http://t.co/8zdPpQ6ZDQ
— Left Action (@LeftAction) August 25, 2014
The traitorous Burger King sits on a throne of fries.
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) August 25, 2014
@BurgerKing BOYCOTT! "@ohiomail: #BurgerKing moving corp hq out of country to Avoid paying US taxes. Boycott or U Pay The TAX 4"
— Casey Miller (@UpperCasey) August 25, 2014
Yet ANOTHER American corporation — @BurgerKing — is considering tax #inversion to dodge taxes & boost their profits: http://t.co/6dxrPMAn5n
— SEIU (@SEIU) August 25, 2014
Hopefully big Corporations like @BurgerKing @Walgreens are paying attention We will boycott any that do no pay their taxes.
— Linda Collins (@LindaCollins11) August 25, 2014
Here's my question for anybody who's upset about tax inversions: Do you have an IRA? or a 401(k)? Did you take any deductions on your tax return last year? or any tax credits? If so, you used a perfectly legal "tax avoidance" strategy. Which is exactly what Burger King is considering.
I stand with Judge Learned Hand who famously opined that:
Any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes.