I'm guessing this author's best seller probably reads like a Tom Clancey novel. The synopsis of this book details his covert recruitement by the United States National Security Agency while on the payroll of an American consultancy firm who travels to third world countries to entice leaders of these under developed nations to accepting loans from the IMF and World Bank so that it can be used to generate lucritive contracts for American multi-national construction companies. When these unfortunate nations fail to meet their obligations to repaying these loans, these multinationals would come in and take over the nations resources and government.

I'm not denying what he did was made up and perhaps there is some element of truth to his autobiography. But if you believe what's written why then would they let Lehman Brothers, one of the largest mulit-national American banks in the world, to go bankrupt?

Now the glaring error on your part is it obviously completely contradicts your point, since in your example it is the government who has place an individual in a high up position in a multi-national company, not the otherway round as you've stated.

 

Well if you were to listen to all the sheeple banker bashers, you'd think everyone in the banking industry were all Harold Shipmans!

 

Mind you, that could simply be the state of your mind, not the true reflection of the state of the country.

You may say that same can be applied to your opposition for their belief about the state of the country. I know, but can it be truly applied or not? That's the question you need to ask one another. So carry on arguing.

 

As you will see I am expat living in Germany , its not tax free I get stopped 40% but earnings are more or less the same as UK but your living costs are lower, food /drink/fuel and mortgages in particular; You get to drive as fast as you like most places so here Im happy to keep my licence and just pay the occasional fines for the odd overs that we all get. If you need health care its ok too and if you are prepared to work then you will do fine, you even get 24 months at 65% of your previous pay if you become unemployed. So a lot of people come here and work.
I have also lived in Hong Kong until 97 anyway it was at 15% tax but housing is 5 times the cost and you have to like the food and pressing yourself into the trains its a bit like the central line at Bank, but at least you do get to look over all the other heads.

The best thing about working abroad from UK or Germany is you are relieved of tax after 182 days so if you play it right you can go for 2 years and not pay tax in your home country for the 6 months each end. I will have paid off for my German 5 bed home in a couple of years but the problem I have is getting back to the UK , my kids will move out so I won't need a 5 bed but if I did a comparable house will cost another 150-200 grand. This is an issue. So I am planning to get a boat and sail to NZ and then buy down there and enjoy the pension that I earned in Germany, As back in the eighties I had contracted out of the UK scheme and since leaving my UK pension has definately gone down instead of up. Would I leave just to avoid paying tax, NO. Would I come back if I could YES. Hope this helps Linksfahrer

 

As did you Matt

Jesus, to blame the "global financial crisis" solely on all Banks is very much to miss the wider picture.

Human greed across all sectors plays a major part. Everyone from part time property speculators to sub prime mortgage brokers in the good old USA trying to make a quick buck are equally as responsible as the so called "city traders" you're so quick to vilfy.

Perhaps you should do a bit of research rather han simply relying on your own thoughs and beliefs this time.

 

But the greed of the big banks are solely to blame for the financial crisis that has caused so much heartache misery and ultimately deaths to many family's.
The banks cause a meltdown by greed.
People loose their jobs or careers as the spiral worsens, these people can't keep up with morgage repayments, the banks then evict these families in many many cases with children robbing them of a home.
No banker has been put on trial for recklessness instead the goverement throw more money at them, then stupid amounts go out on bonuses to those who have caused so much suffering.
The system is so corrupt.

 

Why shouldn't banks repossess their house if mortgagees cannot repay their mortgage? It's in the T & C of a legally binding mortgage agreement!

 

Point out where I blamed just the banks for the financial crisis? I said they had a hand in it.

What IS annoying is that we didn't borrow recklessly, we didn't get out a giant mortgage, we lived within our means and saved a decent pot of money which has been earning f*** all for half a decade. So not only have the banks got away with it, so have many who debted themselves up to the eyeballs.

The more cautious and sensible got battered for daring to consider massive debts might be a bit dodgy.

Add the frankly retarded grasp of basic economics by our own government and councils (hey, we have £Y billion income, let's spend 50 x Y; no one will notice and we'll retire by the time it matters), non stop financial scandals and tax payer owned banks sticking their fingers up at the public and it's all rather irksome.

Sorry, do I need to further research all that too?

I don't seem to have stated anything wrong, I just hate the f**king banks, public sector freeloaders, ultra greedy energy companies and and and… actually most people.

 

Lol @ Mattyboy; your turning into me, there's a few houses round here you could afford.

 

Good omnirant

 

I have outrage fatigue

 

Strangely it's not our own situation that worries me - it's actually bloody good. It's the injustice to others. Maybe I should do some voluntary work or something.

 

Nah, **** 'em. You're in danger of sounding like a socialist.

 

I blame Bill Clinton.




Oh, and Maggie of course

 

What injustice Matt?

Those who lived properly within their means, like you did? You are now benefitting from that.

Are you talking about a statistically insignificant number in the financial services industry who benefitted more than you did?

Are you feeling hard done by because your savings haven't generated "meaningful" returns? High interest rates were not sustainable in any event.

What many forget is that UKplc has been bankrupt for years. Its only luck that the bubble didn's burst a long time before it eventually did. None of it was sustainable and eventually something had to give.

To blame the economic downturn on a few greedy traders/bankers is so far from the mark as to be laughable (this point not just directed at you by the way)

We in so called civilised society *all* wanted more than we could afford. And we have done collectively for a long time. It is, sadly, in our nature.

I've worked in the insolvency and restructuring profession for over 20 years. Human greed and debt on both a personal and a corporate level was massive long before I started and hasn't abated.

It was all completely fcucked and something *had* to give. And give it did. To blame banks and other financial institutions (again, this is a general response) is, however, simply naieve.

 

At least I can spell naive ;-)

I have said the banks were PART of the problem.
Envious of those that make plenty in the finance industry? About as far from the truth as you can get. A large part of me would die if I became part of such a corrupt, unethical industry. We have turned down numerous clients too if they appear to lack any morals.

Life's good for us thanks; I just hate seeing billions wasted, the corrupt getting rewarded and the poor getting it in the neck.

I think I am far more informed than most too.

 

So why start a rant directed specifically at bankers? Why aren't you showing the same contempt for the others you mentioned that are also part of this problem. This thread is about avoiding tax, why don't you start with BMW who are currently being investigated for tax evasion in India and denying the poor of much need revenue for the poverty stricken in India. You mention morality and ethics lacking in those in the banking industry, I'm guessing you choose to ignore this because you love and own their cars. Perhaps you could pop into a BMW showroom and knock out a few of their staff. If you really cared about ethics, you'd get shot of your BMW rather than continue to support a company with unethical business practices.

 

Lame effort. Very lame.

 

Why is it lame? I've simply put forward a robust arguement using your standards you've put forward against unethical practices. I'm just trying to add to the debate, but by calling my response lame serves as no defence at all to your point of view and merely highlights how "informed" and perhaps even hypocritical you might be.

 

Really?

The greed of large corporations are also to blame.

Funny how you didn't turn down one of your key clients on the basis of morals - too lucrative for you? because lets be honest, its former charman wouldn't know morality if it slapped him in the face

Don't be getting all hypocritcal on us now Matt just because a particular stance doesn't suit your ends

 

This is going nowhere. Goodbye.

 

Now that is what you can truely call lame!

 

Nope; DD just used his stalker card again. I have no interest in debating with people like that.

 

Stalker card?

No, Matt, no stalker card. I'm just questioning your position on morals on the basis of publically available information.

There's nothing devious or underhand about it. And by the way, I never for one second suggested you were envoius of anyone. That, it appears, is how you read it however - based upon your own hangups about "bankers"?

Dude, if you can't take a bit of heat when being called out on something, having just thrown in "I'm whiter than white" then perhaps you should be more careful in the manner in which you post?

Just sayin ...

 

Okay DD fair enough but you haven't received the very worrying stalker stuff I have.
TBH I think I trust you (as far as can be done with someone I've not met) but on a few occasions, I've been genuinely alarmed at the lengths some will go to just to "win" an internet argument.

Anyway I'm appeasing my "guilt" by volunteering to be a coastguard...

 

No, probably not - that **** is just a step to far..

Good on you