[Pilgrim37]

Interesting article in Slate,apparently Romney enjoyed Swiss banking services.


http://www.slate.com/articles/business/e...land_.html

[defguy]

That one made me raise an eyebrow. From what I heard Switzerland boycotts American citizens opening bank accounts ever since the US strong armed them to hand over the names of US citizens with bank accounts. It really hurt Swiss credibility because of their banking secrecy laws. Maybe Romney had an account since before this event...

[Hencredible Casanova]

Yup. Since 9/11, the US has made Swiss banks compromise their secrecy policy wrt US Citizens. As for Romney, it's crazy how they want to give him problems for being a rich, successful guy. He's doing what any guy in his position would do. Hell, I wouldn't even be in public life if I were him. He's actually a good guy. I would be unmarried and ballin' out of control being absolutely no use to society. Guess capitalism is only great until you're losing.

[Cincinnatus]

Link isn't working, at least not for me.

I still find it astonishing that the Swiss were strong-armed into opening the books on a lot of accounts -- something I'm sure everyone with assets in the bank felt could never happen.

Casanova is right on the money though, with that kind of money, why the hell would you bother with public life? I'd be on a beach in southeast Asia somewhere, slamming gin and tonics and banging local bitches.

[hunter7]

edit

[misterstir]

Swiss banks are no longer safe for Americans and Canadians, and now all they do is have the cia hire/bribe people in the bank they know to be corrupt to get a list of Americans/Canadians who have accounts there.

Cayman is a better bet, closer too

[Deluge]

(01-29-2012 10:24 PM)misterstir Wrote:  

Swiss banks are no longer safe for Americans and Canadians, and now all they do is have the cia hire/bribe people in the bank they know to be corrupt to get a list of Americans/Canadians who have accounts there.

Do you literally believe that happens?

[Benoit]

(01-29-2012 11:25 PM)P Dog Wrote:  

(01-29-2012 10:24 PM)misterstir Wrote:  

Swiss banks are no longer safe for Americans and Canadians, and now all they do is have the cia hire/bribe people in the bank they know to be corrupt to get a list of Americans/Canadians who have accounts there.

Do you literally believe that happens?

They don't need to do that. More likely they just tell the bank heads that by not handing over the details they will be arrested and extradited to the US if they ever leave Switzerland, along with their family, same deal for any execs and their families. No matter if the charges stick, you can bet they wouldn't be sent to a white collar crime prison to await trial.

[misterstir]

(01-29-2012 11:25 PM)P Dog Wrote:  

(01-29-2012 10:24 PM)misterstir Wrote:  

Swiss banks are no longer safe for Americans and Canadians, and now all they do is have the cia hire/bribe people in the bank they know to be corrupt to get a list of Americans/Canadians who have accounts there.

Do you literally believe that happens?

It happend with a UBS banker. They just gave him a bunch of bribe money to bring a list of hundreds/10,000s of foreigners with swiss bank accounts. but the other poster is right, often they just threaten arrest

[Smitty]

(01-29-2012 02:21 PM)MSW2007 Wrote:  

Casanova is right on the money though, with that kind of money, why the hell would you bother with public life? I'd be on a beach in southeast Asia somewhere, slamming gin and tonics and banging local bitches.

In most cases, men who have that kind of money are ambitious, driven and obsessed with success. They are never satisfied with doing nothing. They're always looking to conquer.

Bill Gates is unique in that he dedicates most of his time and energy to his foundation.

[Smitty]

(01-29-2012 10:24 PM)misterstir Wrote:  

Swiss banks are no longer safe for Americans and Canadians, and now all they do is have the cia hire/bribe people in the bank they know to be corrupt to get a list of Americans/Canadians who have accounts there.

I highly doubt the CIA is involved. The State dept and Treasury dept are the primary agencies pursuing the lists of Americans who have accounts with these banks. Even if the CIA were to somehow obtain a list of U.S. citizens with a swiss bank account, a lawyer would have a field day with that information because it was not lawfully obtained. That's why State and Treasury are suing the Swiss banks for this information. Obtain the information through proper channels, and then sick the IRS on those who were stashing more than $10k (max amount that can be unreported) overseas.

Personally, I think the Swiss banking system could rot in hell for caving in to the pressure. But I don't blame some of those banks who will no longer accept U.S. citizens as clients. Not worth the hassle for them.

[misterstir]

From what i've seen the courts do not care and often will not allow one to raise such an objection once they have decided. In the case of UBS, a UBS worker handed over the list of private information of US citizens with swiss account. I doubt tax court will say well because this was obtained illegally under swiss law but legally under us and canadian law that you tax cheat guy is free to go.

From what I see CIA is heavily involved in the US politics. Everyone from Obama, to Bush senior to Clinton to half of your cnn newscasters like anderson cooper are former cia employees/agents/operatives. The worst part is some people actually watch CNN and think it is objective news. You're also forgetting that those government guys are all on the same side.

[Handsome Creepy Eel]

(01-29-2012 10:54 AM)Hencredible Casanova Wrote:  

Yup. Since 9/11, the US has made Swiss banks compromise their secrecy policy wrt US Citizens. As for Romney, it's crazy how they want to give him problems for being a rich, successful guy. He's doing what any guy in his position would do. Hell, I wouldn't even be in public life if I were him. He's actually a good guy. I would be unmarried and ballin' out of control being absolutely no use to society. Guess capitalism is only great until you're losing.

I disagree. Romney is hated in that regard not because he's rich - everyone likes success - but because he makes a perfect example of how the U.S. financial and tax system disproportionately favors the rich, and is very arrogant and shortsighted about its effects on the society.

The recent study that showcased one of the lowest economic mobility rates in the supposed "land of opportunity" was no coincidence - most rich people's excess or poor people's shortage of money nowadays comes much more more from the system than from their talent or hard work. People are legitimately angry about that, if shortsighted (trying to solve it by the means of Tea Party and whatnot).