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Merkel Does The Devil's Work | 167 comments (167 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (none / 0)
You cannot make a campaign against tax reduction schemes involving foreign countries while remaining pro-Euro. It is too fine a distinction to campaign on.
by oliver on Tue Aug 27th, 2013 at 01:50:22 PM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (4.00 / 4)
So it is necessary to tolerate tax evasion on a massive scale in savings denominated in Swiss Franks in order to remain pro-Euro. This has truly been an enlightening discussion.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Aug 27th, 2013 at 09:08:17 PM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (none / 1)
This cannot is especially regarding the recent crumbling of switzerland as a tax haven a quite dubious claim.
by IM on Wed Aug 28th, 2013 at 03:06:54 AM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (none / 0)
I wish you would read what I actually wrote. I said you cannot campaign on it alone. Something can be done. It just doesn't win you an election. The German Social Democrats did kill the tax amnesty treaty with Switzerland. There has been no effect in the numbers.
by oliver on Wed Aug 28th, 2013 at 03:20:04 AM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (4.00 / 3)
Now you are shifting the goalposts. That is very much not what you wrote. You claimed that is impossible to campaign on tax evasion, tax harmonization etc. without campaigning against the euro. And that is obviously not true.
by IM on Wed Aug 28th, 2013 at 03:51:19 AM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (none / 1)
Hey, Schäuble does it at the EcoFin...

Finance is the brain [tumour] of the economy
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 28th, 2013 at 04:02:55 AM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (none / 0)
The German Social Democrats tried. Their candidate for chancellor tried even while he still was a minister. It didn't work.
by oliver on Wed Aug 28th, 2013 at 04:12:47 PM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (none / 1)
So can you tell us what are the forces in German society that consider the Euro synonymous with tax evasion to foreign havens?
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Aug 28th, 2013 at 04:17:48 PM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (4.00 / 3)
If you watch the video in this thread you'll see Sahra Wagennecht's hobby horse of tax harmonisation, and her mentions of Luxembourg, Ireland and the Netherlands. Of course you can campaign on it, especially in Germany. Everyone does it.

But since the need to rein in tax competition is close to a national consensus in Germany there isn't much to gain from it electorally.

Finance is the brain [tumour] of the economy

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Aug 28th, 2013 at 03:47:27 AM EST
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Re: Merkel Does The Devil's Work (4.00 / 3)
But pointing out to the many that their foregone wage increases are happily residing un-taxed in numbered Swiss bank accounts might create some doubt about the wisdom and fairness of the current policies - who it really benefits and at whose cost.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Aug 28th, 2013 at 12:54:18 PM EST
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Merkel Does The Devil's Work | 167 comments (167 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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