Protesters plan to accuse U2 of tax dodging during Glastonbury festival gig

Oh no, Bono: Protesters plan to accuse U2 of tax dodging during Glastonbury festival gig

Associated Press
June 24, 201

LONDON - Anti-capitalist activists say they plan to protest during U2's performance at England's Glastonbury festival, accusing the Irish group of dodging tax.

The group Art Uncut says it will unfurl banners and placards in front of TV cameras. Member Charlie Dewar said frontman Bono "is well known for his anti-poverty campaigning," but has avoided paying Irish taxes at a time when the austerity-hit country desperately needs money.

Bono, guitarist The Edge and U2's other members — bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen — are among Ireland's wealthiest residents.

In 2006 the band moved its corporate base from Ireland to the Netherlands, where royalties on music incur virtually no tax.

U2 is headlining the first night of the three-day festival.

Some 170,000 people have descended on a farm in southwest England for the music extravaganza, which includes sets by Morrissey, Mumford and Sons, Coldplay, Beyonce and scores of other acts.

Rubber boots are the fashion item of choice after heavy rain turned the 900 acre (364 hectare) site into a mudbath. More rain is forecast for later Friday.

I don't know a single person - even a single socialist - who thinks that Bono is anything other than a hypocrite who doesn't live on the same planet as the rest of us.

The_Amber_Spyglass wrote:I don't know a single person - even a single socialist - who thinks that Bono is anything other than a hypocrite who doesn't live on the same planet as the rest of us.

One can't be that wealthy and not be hypocritical. It's what pisses me off about folks like him (or relevant people). They want taxes to be high but they don't pay more than they have to. I wouldn't either. But they're free to write out a check.

I'm sure he does give away a lot of money to the needy but as the article notes, his own country is right in the shit at the moment and he is doing his utmost to avoid paying taxes. It's not right.

The_Amber_Spyglass wrote:I'm sure he does give away a lot of money to the needy but as the article notes, his own country is right in the shit at the moment and he is doing his utmost to avoid paying taxes. It's not right.

What I was getting at is the rich people out there who want higher taxes, they're always free to write a check to their treasury. The USA internal revenue service actually has such an option. It's rare that it happens.

Yeah, I'm picking on rich liberals here. There's many here in America that bitch about taxes being too low. Well, some of the Hollywood movie stars should send Uncle Sam a check for a few million if it makes them feel better. But they don't.