PJ/Bono/etc guilty of hypocricy?

Markiemark70

Just for the fun of lively debate, I remember being forced to donate to a little something called the Vitalogy fund last time I bought tickets to a PJ show. I could use the same argument as some are using against Bono: why don't Ed and the guys use their money to donate to the causes they believe in and let me do the same? Isn't that hypocrisy?

Backspacer_Backer

the concept that the middle class pays for it when a country sends aide to another country really is not very accurate.

for instance, here in the USA, only 57% of earners will pay ANY federal income tax for 2009. So really, it's the upper class, and a portion of the UPPER-MIDDLE class who are bearing most of the brunt of this.

And it's silly to say that since Bono and Ed are filthy rich that they shouldn't try to inspire charity in others. Silly is the nice word in my head.

phillypjhead

Hey everyone, I'm new to posting but I have been reading on the board for a few years now. I just thought I would share this little bit of info: Bono and his bandmates pay almost NO income taxes in their home country. Remember the Beatles lyric in "Taxman", about how its 1 for the tax payer and 19 for the tax man? High tax rates drove many musicians out of the UK in the 60's and 70's. The Irish wanted to avoid losing their creative talent, and amended their tax code. I found this via a quick Google search for Irish tax rates:

"The profits from the publication or sale of an original and creative work exempts an Irish resident from income tax if it falls under one of the following five categories: 1. A book or other writing 2. A play 3. A MUSICAL COMPOSITION 4. A painting or other like picture 5. A sculpture."

So, yeah, I have a problem with him telling my government how to spend my tax money when he pays next to nothing himself in taxes.

petrocs

porchmonkey77 wrote:

Hey everyone, I'm new to posting but I have been reading on the board for a few years now. I just thought I would share this little bit of info: Bono and his bandmates pay almost NO income taxes in their home country. Remember the Beatles lyric in "Taxman", about how its 1 for the tax payer and 19 for the tax man? High tax rates drove many musicians out of the UK in the 60's and 70's. The Irish wanted to avoid losing their creative talent, and amended their tax code. I found this via a quick Google search for Irish tax rates:

"The profits from the publication or sale of an original and creative work exempts an Irish resident from income tax if it falls under one of the following five categories: 1. A book or other writing 2. A play 3. A MUSICAL COMPOSITION 4. A painting or other like picture 5. A sculpture."

So, yeah, I have a problem with him telling my government how to spend my tax money when he pays next to nothing himself in taxes.

So you fault the band for the law? I dont think its called the U2law

phillypjhead

So you fault the band for the law? I dont think its called the U2law[/quote]

No, sorry, I didn't mean it that way, the law was in place before U2 existed. what I'm saying is that Bono is most likely paying taxes at a lower rate than 99% of the people on this board. I have nothing against realistic solutions to poverty issues, but he should start at home. Why doesn't he volunteer to pay more taxes so the Irish government could donate that money? Or petition his government to change its tax laws? I'm sure Ireland has people living in poverty...

Backspacer_Backer

porchmonkey77 wrote:

So you fault the band for the law? I dont think its called the U2law

No, sorry, I didn't mean it that way, the law was in place before U2 existed. what I'm saying is that Bono is most likely paying taxes at a lower rate than 99% of the people on this board. I have nothing against realistic solutions to poverty issues, but he should start at home. Why doesn't he volunteer to pay more taxes so the Irish government could donate that money? Or petition his government to change its tax laws? I'm sure Ireland has people living in poverty...[/quote]

why would he give the money to the irish government just so they can take their cut when he donates so much directly to the charities of his choice? think man, think.

government doesn't manage money efficiently. Bono donates more dollars in a month VOLUNTARILY than most of us will pay in taxes in 10 years or more. get a grip, seriously.

phillypjhead

government doesn't manage money efficiently. Bono donates more dollars in a month VOLUNTARILY than most of us will pay in taxes in 10 years or more. get a grip, seriously.[/quote]

Great point! I can't think of 1 government program that is efficient and effective. Philly takes over 5% of my wages, on top of property and sales taxes, and my neighborhood doesn't even get plowed after a snowstorm. The rec centers are covered in trash, empty drug baggies, and graffiti, the roads are beat up, I could go on...

I'm well aware that U2 donate a lot of money to charity. That's well documented. They would have a lot less to donate if they paid taxes at the same rates as the rest of us. I guess my point is that charity should start at home, and that people who pay very little in taxes can upset people who feel that they are taxed too much when they come to our country and tell us how to spend our tax money. For me to pay more than 1/3 of my money in taxes every year, and him to pay next to nothing, doesn't seem very "progressive." That's all I was trying to point out. Sorry if I wasn't clear, I'm new to posting.

Cosmo

I think a sensible way to look at this thing is like this:
Instead of looking to Rock Stars or celebrities... ask yourself, "What am I doing?" instead.
If you are okay with doing nothing... that's okay. but, don't get down on others (Bono and Eddie, included) if they are asking you to lend a hand. It's your call on how you respond and there's nothing wrong with saying, "No Thanx...".

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

i wish people wouldnt bring up U2 when talking about PJ. leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

petrocs

The University of Oklahoma will receive $200,000 -- possibly in the form of an endowed scholarship for student athletes -- for renting its football stadium for rock band U2's performance next month in Norman.

The contract for U2's performance Oct. 18 is between the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents and Live Nation UTours. It was released to the Tulsa World this week after an open records request.

It stipulates a $300,000 service fee to the university for personnel, services and rented equipment. OU will also receive part of the box office convenience fees and will retain all the profits from concession sales and parking, according to the contract, which is dated Aug. 10.

University donors with club seats were to have the first opportunity to buy tickets to the concert, and pre-sales were to be offered to OU students, staff and faculty, as well as seat donors and season ticket holders, according to the agreement.

The stadium doesn't often serve as a music venue and one of the last concerts it hosted was 12 years ago, when the Rolling Stones appeared during their "Bridges to Babylon" tour.

josevolution

So all this info means what to me personally :oops: :oops:

Zod

Cosmo wrote:

I think a sensible way to look at this thing is like this:
Instead of looking to Rock Stars or celebrities... ask yourself, "What am I doing?" instead.
If you are okay with doing nothing... that's okay. but, don't get down on others (Bono and Eddie, included) if they are asking you to lend a hand. It's your call on how you respond and there's nothing wrong with saying, "No Thanx...".

Thats the difference between Bono and Pearl Jam. Bono wasn't asking people if they wanted to donate. He was going to over our heads, to our government, asking them to donate, which would FORCE us to donate.

Thats a very distinct difference in my mind. I donate to charity, but not because I have to. And I think people should have the choice, especially people worse off then me that would be more affected by tax hikes that would be a result of government pledges.