Comments on: Blackwater Goes on the Offensive http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/ Paying taxes is painful... but reading about them shouldn't be. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:55:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3689 Kelly Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:21:49 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/#comment-3689 We'll have to agree to disagree on the tax dollar argument... I absolutely disagree that all tax dollars are the same. A private sector company has a responsibility to its shareholders. If my dollars are the primary force funding a company (and Blackwater itself touts the US government as one of its best clients on its web site) then I believe it has a responsibility to me to do the right thing - kind of a quasi-shareholder relationship. We’ll have to agree to disagree on the tax dollar argument… I absolutely disagree that all tax dollars are the same. A private sector company has a responsibility to its shareholders. If my dollars are the primary force funding a company (and Blackwater itself touts the US government as one of its best clients on its web site) then I believe it has a responsibility to me to do the right thing – kind of a quasi-shareholder relationship.

]]> By: John Galt http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3690 John Galt Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:33:47 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/#comment-3690 Protest too much? No, not at all, actually if I were counseling "The Prince Group" (Blackwater) I would not have waited a month to respond and I would have had my attorney or GC on every national news program. Is the "Press Release" lengthy - it is - but its easy to follow and I think they have made their position clear. Sure this probably started out as a legal memorandum and it was probably dummied down into a PR. As for the comment on Balckwater held to more scrutiny because its goverment money - all tax dollars are the same. All tax issues are goverment money whether they go into the Treasury or come out of it, its the same! If Congress wants an investigation they should focus on the oversight with the killing of innocent people in Iraq. Again I do not want to confuse this issue its not a political issue - its a tax issue, in other words the politics of a democratic congressman need to be left out otherwise this becomes a witch hunt. Should you or I be scrutinized more because we are supporting the current administration? Protest too much? No, not at all, actually if I were counseling “The Prince Group” (Blackwater) I would not have waited a month to respond and I would have had my attorney or GC on every national news program. Is the “Press Release” lengthy – it is – but its easy to follow and I think they have made their position clear. Sure this probably started out as a legal memorandum and it was probably dummied down into a PR.

As for the comment on Balckwater held to more scrutiny because its goverment money – all tax dollars are the same. All tax issues are goverment money whether they go into the Treasury or come out of it, its the same! If Congress wants an investigation they should focus on the oversight with the killing of innocent people in Iraq. Again I do not want to confuse this issue its not a political issue – its a tax issue, in other words the politics of a democratic congressman need to be left out otherwise this becomes a witch hunt. Should you or I be scrutinized more because we are supporting the current administration?

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3691 Kelly Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:58:22 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/#comment-3691 I agree that it has political overtones. That said, I think the reason that it is being held to more scrutiny than, say a Walmart, is because of the millions (if not billions) of dollars of government money (i.e. tax dollars) that directly fund Blackwater - as opposed to a purely private sector company. In that regard, I do think it's appropriate. As to the press release, it's on Blackwater's own web site and is clearly touted as a "press release" (you can check the link) but it is written almost like a legal memorandum. That's just really bizarre. At my firm, we deal with companies of all sizes - and this is the first time in my career that I've ever seen a "press release" like this. It reminds me of Shakespeare: “Me thinks he doth protest too much.” I agree that it has political overtones. That said, I think the reason that it is being held to more scrutiny than, say a Walmart, is because of the millions (if not billions) of dollars of government money (i.e. tax dollars) that directly fund Blackwater – as opposed to a purely private sector company. In that regard, I do think it’s appropriate.

As to the press release, it’s on Blackwater’s own web site and is clearly touted as a “press release” (you can check the link) but it is written almost like a legal memorandum. That’s just really bizarre. At my firm, we deal with companies of all sizes – and this is the first time in my career that I’ve ever seen a “press release” like this.

It reminds me of Shakespeare: “Me thinks he doth protest too much.”

]]> By: John Galt http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3692 John Galt Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:23:55 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/#comment-3692 Don't you think its odd for a Congressional Committee Chair to accuse a company of "significant tax evasion" based on one SS-8 ruling? Is this a long press release- yes, it is - however from the WSJ aricle they indicated it was 14 pages which is more than the press release. I personally am curious to how this plays out and I am upset with Congressman Waxman political drama and accusation. This is nothing more than a political agenda - if this is a tax issue let the IRS or DOJ handle it. If this was 1950 Waxman would simply be using the term Communist! Don’t you think its odd for a Congressional Committee Chair to accuse a company of “significant tax evasion” based on one SS-8 ruling?

Is this a long press release- yes, it is – however from the WSJ aricle they indicated it was 14 pages which is more than the press release.

I personally am curious to how this plays out and I am upset with Congressman Waxman political drama and accusation. This is nothing more than a political agenda – if this is a tax issue let the IRS or DOJ handle it. If this was 1950 Waxman would simply be using the term Communist!

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3693 Kelly Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:24:09 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/#comment-3693 I know - but don't you think that's odd to lay out in a press release? In excruciating detail? It's a loooong press release for what it is. I know – but don’t you think that’s odd to lay out in a press release? In excruciating detail? It’s a loooong press release for what it is.

]]> By: John Galt http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3694 John Galt Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:55:35 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/blackwater-goes-on-the-offensive/#comment-3694 Pssst...they are claiming 530 relief. Pssst…they are claiming 530 relief.

]]>