Bono = hypocrite

El_Kabong
Posts: 4,141
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/8/7/145346.shtml?s=lh
Bono Avoids Taxes, Joins Forbes
U2 and its lead singer Bono have been pushing the U.S. and EU countries to fork over more money for Third World nations to relieve debt and fight AIDS.
But when it comes to paying their fair share of taxes to help those efforts, U2 wants a free ride.
That's the word from Ireland, where the group has been based since it was founded in the early 1980s.
The Irish Examiner reports that U2 and Bono are furious that Ireland is doing away with its law exempting artists and authors from taxation.
Under the Irish government's last budget, artists and authors can get up to 250,000 euros ($325,000) in income tax free, but after that they pay like everyone else.
Most taxpayers would be joyous they could get the exemption Ireland provides.
But U2 rakes in tens of millions globally, and the new schedule doesn't sit well with the millionaire singer and his band members. [Editor's Note: Read more about U2 in our Special Report "Bono's Politics" -- Click Here Now.]
The Examiner reports that beginning in June of this year the group began moving parts of their business to Netherlands. The paper said now U2 pays "virtually no tax on royalties" in Holland.
And there's more news that U2 may be more of a savvy business than a social cause. Forbes magazine – the "capitalist tool" – revealed this week that U2 front man Bono and others in a financial investment company called Elevation Partners have purchased a large minority stake in Forbes Media, which owns the magazine.
Elevation Partners is a private equity firm which invests in intellectual property and media and entertainment companies. The Times said the investment amounted to $250 to $300 million.
"This investment by Elevation Partners will now accelerate our pursuit of a number of very exciting opportunities for growth," said Forbes Chief Executive Steve Forbes, who is also editor in chief of Forbes magazine.
Forbes has good reason to be gleeful: he's been a champion of free market ideas forever.
But the Times noted the irony of Bono's investment "in a magazine that celebrates wealth and consumption . . . "
Roger McNamee, a co-founder of Bono's Elevation Partners, responded: "The way you solve poverty is giving people the tools to overcome it."
It's a good point, but one never pushed by Bono.
The paper said the singer was unavailable for comment.
Perhaps he was in the Netherlands listening to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."
and then there's this
http://www.hecklerspray.com/bono-spends-thousands-on-transporting-hat/20051860.php
Bono Spends Thousands On Transporting Hat
U2 frontman Bono has a lot on his mind.
He’s so goshdarn busy - what with trying to save the world and singing formulaic songs in iPod adverts - that he occasionally puts his hat down and forgets to take it with him when he leaves.
"But wait," we hear you cry, "how will Bono keep his rakish flamboyant air without his hat? What will he do? What, for Christ’s sake? WHAT???"
Not to worry. Because (according to an American newspaper) Bono - who wants you to cut back on the odd luxury and give all your money to the poor, remember - is more than prepared to spend $1,700 on flying his favourite bit of headgear from London to Italy.
First class, no less.
Quite why someone would need to do this remains a mystery to hecklerspray. Although we would dearly like to see Bono (CDs) issue some sort of explanatory statement. Preferably while surrounded by a bunch of starving street children who would crawl naked through broken glass for even a fiftieth of the food U2 shove onto their nightly rider.
Still - we hope the hat had a lovely flight.
Oh… and we also hope that the U2 warbler suddenly has a moment of fevered self-realisation, reels back in horror at the pompous overblown hypocrite he has become, before scurrying off to live at the peak of the highest nearby mountain, never to spew his arsebrained sixth-form politics drivel into the world again.
Bono Avoids Taxes, Joins Forbes
U2 and its lead singer Bono have been pushing the U.S. and EU countries to fork over more money for Third World nations to relieve debt and fight AIDS.
But when it comes to paying their fair share of taxes to help those efforts, U2 wants a free ride.
That's the word from Ireland, where the group has been based since it was founded in the early 1980s.
The Irish Examiner reports that U2 and Bono are furious that Ireland is doing away with its law exempting artists and authors from taxation.
Under the Irish government's last budget, artists and authors can get up to 250,000 euros ($325,000) in income tax free, but after that they pay like everyone else.
Most taxpayers would be joyous they could get the exemption Ireland provides.
But U2 rakes in tens of millions globally, and the new schedule doesn't sit well with the millionaire singer and his band members. [Editor's Note: Read more about U2 in our Special Report "Bono's Politics" -- Click Here Now.]
The Examiner reports that beginning in June of this year the group began moving parts of their business to Netherlands. The paper said now U2 pays "virtually no tax on royalties" in Holland.
And there's more news that U2 may be more of a savvy business than a social cause. Forbes magazine – the "capitalist tool" – revealed this week that U2 front man Bono and others in a financial investment company called Elevation Partners have purchased a large minority stake in Forbes Media, which owns the magazine.
Elevation Partners is a private equity firm which invests in intellectual property and media and entertainment companies. The Times said the investment amounted to $250 to $300 million.
"This investment by Elevation Partners will now accelerate our pursuit of a number of very exciting opportunities for growth," said Forbes Chief Executive Steve Forbes, who is also editor in chief of Forbes magazine.
Forbes has good reason to be gleeful: he's been a champion of free market ideas forever.
But the Times noted the irony of Bono's investment "in a magazine that celebrates wealth and consumption . . . "
Roger McNamee, a co-founder of Bono's Elevation Partners, responded: "The way you solve poverty is giving people the tools to overcome it."
It's a good point, but one never pushed by Bono.
The paper said the singer was unavailable for comment.
Perhaps he was in the Netherlands listening to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."
and then there's this
http://www.hecklerspray.com/bono-spends-thousands-on-transporting-hat/20051860.php
Bono Spends Thousands On Transporting Hat
U2 frontman Bono has a lot on his mind.
He’s so goshdarn busy - what with trying to save the world and singing formulaic songs in iPod adverts - that he occasionally puts his hat down and forgets to take it with him when he leaves.
"But wait," we hear you cry, "how will Bono keep his rakish flamboyant air without his hat? What will he do? What, for Christ’s sake? WHAT???"
Not to worry. Because (according to an American newspaper) Bono - who wants you to cut back on the odd luxury and give all your money to the poor, remember - is more than prepared to spend $1,700 on flying his favourite bit of headgear from London to Italy.
First class, no less.
Quite why someone would need to do this remains a mystery to hecklerspray. Although we would dearly like to see Bono (CDs) issue some sort of explanatory statement. Preferably while surrounded by a bunch of starving street children who would crawl naked through broken glass for even a fiftieth of the food U2 shove onto their nightly rider.
Still - we hope the hat had a lovely flight.
Oh… and we also hope that the U2 warbler suddenly has a moment of fevered self-realisation, reels back in horror at the pompous overblown hypocrite he has become, before scurrying off to live at the peak of the highest nearby mountain, never to spew his arsebrained sixth-form politics drivel into the world again.
standin above the crowd
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
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Wow a human being is a hypocrite!!!!! this is a newsflash? I didn't realize that the Pearl Jam boards were inhabited by the only people on earth who are not hypocrites...0
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He's not a hypocrite. It's no secret that he's an extreme consumer. He does great things with his time, money, and celebrity. Amazing things. Because he lives sometimes extravegantly doesn't change any of that. Sure, he could be more of a low-profile kinda guy, but part of his lifestyle is what makes him Bono and it's part of why he's arguably the biggest "rockstar" on the planet. He's got a lot of credibility and it's gonna take more than a complaint about taxes and an honest investment to taint that.0
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both articles dont seem to provide any real evidence, or support any backup for their claims
but it wouldnt surprise me one bit0 -
i would wager that they dont care about the $375,000 tax exemption being lifted because of THEIR having to pay another $50,000 a year, thats nothing to them...i would imagine that they are trying to support the artists in the country they live and became succesful in? just an assumption0
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don't gimme no wrote:He's not a hypocrite. It's no secret that he's an extreme consumer. He does great things with his time, money, and celebrity. Amazing things. Because he lives sometimes extravegantly doesn't change any of that. Sure, he could be more of a low-profile kinda guy, but part of his lifestyle is what makes him Bono and it's part of why he's arguably the biggest "rockstar" on the planet. He's got a lot of credibility and it's gonna take more than a complaint about taxes and an honest investment to taint that.
maybe, but flying a hat to him is a bit too muchstandin above the crowd
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way0 -
I'll worry about Bono when he gets an army and a police force like you have EK. Until then, I couldn't care less what he does with his hats or his money.0
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farfromglorified wrote:I'll worry about Bono when he gets an army and a police force like you have EK. Until then, I couldn't care less what he does with his hats or his money.
i have an army and police force??? cool! are they in my garage somewhere?standin above the crowd
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way0 -
0
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An artist such as Bono. places tremendous amounts of money and energy into such noble causes, and is constantly torn apart. Its a shame. I wonder how much of the scrutiny is because he is a Christian? Face it Bono is one of the good guys. The guy is a fucking hero!"When all your friends and sedatives mean well but make it worse... better find yourself a place to level out."0
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thats pretty bad. he is all for my tax money going to these causes, but he doesn't want to pay his taxes.
well, how much does he give to charity?? we might all be better off if we didn't pay so much in taxes..and instead could give directly to these people and charities without the gov't skimming off the top.0 -
cornnifer wrote:I wonder how much of the scrutiny is because he is a Christian?0
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El_Kabong wrote:maybe, but flying a hat to him is a bit too much0
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don't gimme no wrote:Whoa, slow down, corn. This has nothing to do with religion.
I would hope not. But here, on this board, it wouldn't surprise me a bit. Bono is very up front about his faith. If it were another high profile, artist that did the same type of heroic things with his celbrity, and didn't profess Christianity, I wonder how quick people here, or elsewhere would be to lay into him. Its an honest question.
BTW isn't Pearl Jam playing with U2 in Hawaii?!"When all your friends and sedatives mean well but make it worse... better find yourself a place to level out."0 -
cornnifer wrote:I would hope not. But here, on this board, it wouldn't surprise me a bit. Bono is very up front about his faith. If it were another high profile, artist that did the same type of heroic things with his celbrity, and didn't profess Christianity, I wonder how quick people here, or elsewhere would be to lay into him. Its an honest question.
BTW isn't Pearl Jam playing with U2 in Hawaii?!
I think people here can see good people for what they are, not who they worship. We're not idiots. Plus, people are defending Bono on this thread. We like him. Maybe not all of us, but the majority.0 -
Bono has geniuinely commited himself to accomplishing positive social changes which is more than we can say for most celebrities and most people in general. He's made tons of money but he's also put hours upon hours into helping those less fortunate than him, if he wants to spend the money he earned, all the power to him. Besides, lets keep in mind that 1700 to him is like 25-50 for us.I've faced it, a life wasted, and I'm never going back again.
Some die just to live.0 -
not so bono fide is he.
(its not so much i am proud of that, as i like how it sounds)
:cool:
gonna read that article now.
Thanks!Rarghstarfarian.0 -
If the thread starter and article writer took the time to education themselves they'd now why Bono is against the tax. But laziness and finger pointing rules the day.
Why should I care how Bono spends 1,700 dollars? It's his money. Much in the same I'm going to afford a person on social assistance some privacy and not second guess how they spend their money.“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley0 -
What makes him the biggest hypocrite is his support/defense of israel.0
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I would like an explanation as to why either of these articles makes him a hypocrite?
Seriously.
- Dan
Note -- I'm humoring this thread by assuming both articles are true, despite the fact that not one shred of evidence has been provided.0
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