The numbers in both studies add up companies who paid no taxes in ANY year. This kind of statistical monkeying can make anything seem like an alarming trend. If you create a graph of all the Americans who poop in their pants in any one year of their life, you’ll get a number close to 100%, because babies crap in their pants, right? But the statistic does not reflect what’s happening across the land at any one point in time. (By the way, I believe you’ll find that this exact technique is outlined in a 20-year old book on how to lie on purpose with statistics).

Tristan is right about about the effect of loss carryforwards. Just look at that list: Ryder, NCR, Unisys, etc. Those are some of the biggest losers from the 1995-1997 slowdown. I believe those 3 went out of business in the late 90s. The more recent GAO study is no doubt reflecting loss carry-forwards from the 2000-2003 post 9-11 slowdown.

I’m not even going to detail the effect that depreciation allowances can have on reducing income and making it “seem” as if those evil corporations pay no income. That’s much bigger than loss carryforwards, but are people saying a company shouldn’t be able to write down aging plant and equipment? Sheesh.

Rough night !

The problem is a Congress that has create a baroque tax law filled with complex giveaways. The solution is to root the corruption out of Congress and simplify the tax code.

As for dodging taxes, the most egregious offender is Bobo, who pays 2% through a strange offshore deal (Netherlands ?) but goes around pretending he’s the Second Coming.

With that slick tongue of his??

Wow Quite a presentation too btw!
Great! Lot’s O’Meat!

Obama’s life is that picture worth a thousand words when you compare his employment background to us “little people” who have struggled to remain solvent on what the government leaves them after taxes.

While many of us have the same typical (there’s that word again) college background, few of us could acquire the assets Barack Obama has from low paying service industry jobs and the expense of a Harvard Law School degree, practice law for only a short time before moving on to enter politics as a part time state Senator and law school adjunct faculty and yet end up with the money to buy a multi-million dollar mansion even with a typical working wife and help from wealthy friends without leaving a huge papertrail.

And in 1995 publishers wouldn’t have issued a big advance on an autobiography from an unknown person who had done nothing extraordinary in his life and didn’t write about his controversial friendships and who wouldn’t be noticed by the Democratic party elite for almost another decade.

His is a “win the lottery” life but who bought him the ticket? Looking at your list of 9 makes me wonder how much they have contributed to the Campaign Obama because I’m sure Big Business wants to keep living in the style they have become accustomed to and needs a candidate elected who will continue to supply it. We know how McCain and Clinton got to the top, Obama is the mystery. From his list of donors I’ve seen it has me asking the question, what’s the connection?

As Leona Helmsley allegedly said ‘taxes are for little people’.

Running off to work right now… and just scanned the above, but it is a huge source of our deficit $$$ issue.

Clinton would be reigning in this mess, (just like Bill and Al did with runaway expenditures) and stopping the 100 dollar toilet seats and hammers.

Bush screwed the little people who pay every dime they are supposed to. No wonder we stay broke, we foot the whole tab and pay our bills as required of the proletariat class.