Thoughts on statists, taxes and, um, PATRIOTISM ???? | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Brant Clifton discusses the juxtaposition of patriotism and capitalism in his "bare knuckles" Conservative online publication known as The Daily Haymaker.

    On the surface, it's heart-warming to hear statists celebrating the concept of patriotism. Of course, their idea of patriotism and MINE appear to be vastly divergent. I think of Old Glory, baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and our military heroes of past and present. Leftists think of patriotism in terms of paying taxes through the nose and at exorbitant rates to atone for your greedy, selfish, capitalist ways.

    US Senator — and Senate Democrat Whip — Dick Durbin (D-IL) went out of his way to browbeat Chicago-based Walgreens, in the most mafioso manner possible,into backing off of its decision to move its corporate headquarters to Switzerland. Now, the left is targeting Burger King for its decision to merge with a Canadian fast food chain and move its headquarters to Canada.

    Of course, both companies's attempts at moving were declared 'unpatriotic.' (Never mind that Burger King — at its corporate level — is owned by a Brazilian private equity firm.) To add a bit of humor to this not-so-funny story: Durbin took Walgreens's initial announcement as meaning that the chain was going to close all of its US locations and move them to Switzerland too.

    A corporation's NUMBER ONE purpose is to maximize value for its shareholders. Create the biggest return possible for the investors. It's hard to do when you are paying outrageously high corporate taxes. In terms of corporate tax rates, North Carolina in 2014 has one of the nation's ten worst business climates. The Tar Heuhaulel State ranks 44th out of 50.

    Let's look at this from the macro level. The United States has THE HIGHEST corporate tax rate in the world. That's right. We've held steadily at 40 percent since 2006. (Switzerland went from a high of 21.3 percent in 2006 to 17.92 percent in 2014.) Mexico has floated between 28 and 30 percent since 2006. Canada, the renowned socialist utopia, has cut its corporate tax rate from 36.1 percent in 2006 to 26.5 percent in 2014.

    That's right. It's now a better deal to set up shop in Canada or Mexico than in the United States. And you wonder why all of these businesses are closing up shop and running for the border.