An investigation by the Senate investigations subcommittee has found that Caterpillar Inc. avoided paying at least $2.4 billion in taxes since 2000 by transferring money to a shell corporation in Switzerland.
According to libertarian boy-wonder Rand Paul, Caterpillar deserves an award for screwing average Americans.
“I think rather than having an inquisition, we should probably bring Caterpillar here and give them an award,” Paul said. “You know, they’ve been in business for over 100 years. It’s not easy to stay in business.” [...]
“It is a requirement that you try to minimize your costs. So rather than chastising Caterpillar we should be complimenting them,” Paul said.
Let’s be perfectly clear here. When a corporation hides billions of dollars in a shell company to avoid paying taxes on it, they aren’t stickin’ it to The Man; they’re stickin’ it to the little people.
Sheltering billions of dollars overseas means there’s less money for healthcare, infrastructure, defense, and education. It’s not as if they’re preventing Uncle Sam from throwing a big party. What they’re doing is depriving American communities of revenue.
For this Rand Paul says they’re heroes who deserve an award. Because real Liberty(!) is screwing over your neighbors, customers, and institutions.
I’m sure Rand believes this would be a winning message in a national campaign but I think that’s a gross misread of public opinion.