[Mb-civic] Re: Harold's diatribe over a Rock Musician

Sat Nov 26 06:34:14 PST 2005

Jack, yes I have over reacted to Bono's meddling in Canadian politics and for good reason.

Canada and Canadians are great donators and are very involved privately and publicly with global issues especially 3rd world.

As are many, many other countries. 

But it is important to be prudent as a government before "further" commitments are made and that is what the Canadian Prime Minister is doing.

I am not begrudging Bono's charitable work on 3rd world debt etc ... But Bono has to understand that Canada is investing in itself, healthcare education, industry and especially aboriginal issues so that there can be more equality among Canadians and self determination.

And I do not like they way he speaks of our Prime Minister such a negative way in the Media, especially in a pre-election time. 

If Martin losses the next election, the Conservative Right will be in power and the flow of CDN $ to any and all Foreign Aid programs will dry up and be redirected to the Military and corporate interests, including cut backs in health care, education and aboriginal issues.

So yes I do mind Bono's meddling in Canada ....

Anyway

I thank you for pointing out and correcting my inaccuracies concerning U2's corporate and personal business.  

Still I have a distaste for tax havens and of those that use them.

But Bono is not a stakeholder in Canada.

Canada is only a market place for U2's products and has been for over 20 odd years .... 

(The Canadian $ is at 0.85 to the US and is a strong and growing currency)

I apologise for being a critic of your icon

Bono should be fast tracked to sainthood

Later H

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jack Sullivan 
  To: Harold Sifton ; mb-civic at islandlists.com 
  Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005 7:01 AM
  Subject: Harold's diatribe over a Rock Musician

  Harold:

  Your reaction overrules the truth. 

  I see RED in your statements of diatribe and invective; 

  Are you over 60 years of age? 

  Dublinjack 
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Harold Sifton 
    To: MB Civic 
    Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005 1:56 AM
    Subject: [Mb-civic] Bono is a hypocrite

    Bono is such a hypocrite. 

    He said he is crushed by Canada's PM for not giving more!!  "O Canada, O Canada how your faith has fallen..."

    http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051125/bono_ottawapovertyhistory_20051125/20051125?hub=TopStories

    Canada is U2's bread basket. A pathetic note to a band that has made it everywhere. They broke in Canada, before any where else in the world.

    Their management has been Canadian. Michael Chol, who is also presently managing Rolling Stones (14 years)

    U2 is an off shore company, Bermuda, so that they do not have to pay corporate taxes (I know this)  U2 is a holding company to sort world wide income into about 18 discrete companies where appropriate cost accounting takes place- as in any multinational venture. The band members take  net money into their own private accounts. AND PAY TAX !  And invest all over the world - having just lost $100m in an American venture.

    U2 are Irish artists, therefore personally non-taxable in Ireland. Wrong again, Irish artists are exempt on their royalties only - Not performances, or record sales...

    U2 manages Irish bands and charges 80% of net for services provided. (public knowledge, U2 are not popular in Ireland) 

    Wrong  Again !  U2 is so popular in Ireland that last summer U2  added 2 extra days to the concert scheduled at Croke Park, Ireland's largest stadium seating 80,000. That is 240,000 tickets sold at 60 euro each. In the audience were all ages of Irish people - not just teens - Bono is an icon in Ireland and he is a respected and a lively citizen around Dublin where his wife is a pioneer in children's charities, including Chernobyl Children! 

    How much does Bono personally give to his causes ??  His Life and time is good enough for me and Nelson Mandela too! 

    I would really like to see an audit of Bono's activity, if anyone skirts the international tax laws U2 does. This is a bold face lie! Bono was selected by the Special Olympics Committee in Ireland to personally welcome Nelson Manadela who came out of retirement out of respect for the charity and Bono personally. The world views Bono has a voice for the poor. 

    They make their fortune off of 10-16 year old kids, tweens and teens, yet Bono wants to be an activist with 3rd world debt. Wrong Again. The mass of support for U2 is among 25-60 yr olds who still love his tones from their youthful memory. My teen children think his music is dated, old hat- too much like their father's generation. Sorry Harold 3rd Strike YOU'RE OUT. You have had your inning - and no runs scored.

    U2 charges an average of $100 ++ per ticket per show Is that a low value Canadian dollar you are talking about? 

    As a non-tax paying person where does he have the right?  We all have the right, Harold to do good according to our lights and speak out - but unlike you, some speak the truth - like Bono. 

    He should publicly release his personal financials before he starts demanding responsible Nations to increase payments to 3rd world debt over National responsibilities. There is no  financial pre-qualification to free speech. 

    I am not disagreeing with the issue of 3rd world debt, I'm disagreeing with Bono's political interference in Canadian politics. 
    If Bono was a stakeholder in Canada, a tax payer, then i would welcome his position and see his personal financial contribution as an example for others to follow. But he is an off shore puppy who does not pay any taxes and yet wants the world's real tax payers to pay off 3rd world debt. Like any self appointed despot, repeating the lie makes it bigger in your mind. 

    Bono go home, where ever your tax haven is these days. Harold stay home and find out why Canada can't get it up.  Bono and Geldolf and a good few others are awake in their hearts about the systematic pillaging of post colonial countries. Wake up and buy Freetrade.

    PS With Bono's  loud and clear influence at home, Ireland has doubled its contribution to the 3rd world to meet its target as promised. 

    Sincerely in truth.

    Later H

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