What would Bono do? Probably dodge taxes

Daytona Beach News Journal Online ^ | September 08, 2006 | RICK de YAMPERT

[Doctor Raoul]

September 08, 2006

What would Bono do? Probably dodge taxes

By RICK de YAMPERT

VOX POP Dante, in his 14th-century epic "The Inferno," consigned hypocrites to the eighth circle of hell.

I'm wondering if I should pack Bono's suitcase and book him a trip to Dante's eighth circle. Bono, the U2 singer who has railed against governments for not contributing more funds to Third World nations, is a tax dodger.

Last month, the media in U2's native Ireland and across Europe were buzzing with the news that U2 had transferred its music publishing business to the Netherlands. The move came after the Irish government ended tax exemptions for artists in Ireland -- including an exemption for songwriting royalties (tours and performances were never covered by the exemption).

According to the Irish Voice, the move will save the rock band 15 million euros (about $19.2 million) this year in taxes -- taxes that would have gone into the coffers of the Irish government, the government Bono chided during a U2 concert in Dublin last year for reneging on a commitment to give 0.7 percent of Ireland's annual GDP to Africa.

If U2 were mere hedonistic rock stars, few would question the tax dodge. It's a perfectly legal move, one that you and I and almost everyone would make to pocket more lucre.

But U2, especially frontman Bono, always have been about fighting social injustice and embracing moral causes, whether in their music or during their lives away from the rock biz.

Bono is the driving force behind the organization One: The Campaign to Make Poverty History. Bono's work to reduce poverty and AIDS in Africa has landed him audiences with world leaders, including President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pope John Paul II.

Last year, Time magazine named Bono and Bill and Melinda Gates its Persons of the Year.

U2's moral-spiritual stance has been chronicled in such books as "Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog" and "One Step Closer: Why U2 Matters to Those Seeking God." Churches have offered services with themes drawn from U2's music.

Now we U2 fans who admire their music and their passionate, if quixotic, moral stances -- we who would ask ourselves WWBD: What would Bono do? -- have cause to pause.

I've encountered many people who label Bono a poseur and resent being "preached at" by a mere rock star.

But I've always believed Bono is sincere. I'd point out Bono confronts, in lyrics and in interviews, the contradictions and absurdities of a rock star out to save the world.

"I don't believe in riches, but you should see where I live," Bono sang in "God Part II."

Well, it looks as if he does believe in riches.

Bruce Springsteen once said he was glad he never met his idol, Elvis. A meeting inevitably would have exposed human foibles and led to disappointment, Springsteen said, adding he expects artists to live up to their ideals in their art, not in their personal lives.

The answer to that question -- What would Bono do? -- is: What any person would do.

I'm disappointed Bono talks the talk but doesn't always walk the walk in the real world. But, akin to the Boss, I still expect Bono to live up to his ideals in his music.

Rick de Yampert is The Daytona Beach News-Journal's entertainment writer. He can be reached at rick.deyampert@news-jrnl.com

[Skooz]

It's a business decision. And it looks like a pretty good one.

Of course, the article never mentions how much Bono gives to charities. I don't know the figure, but I have heard that it is substantial.

I really don't see the problem here.

[LexBaird]

One: The Campaign to Make Poverty History.

I imagine that is as feasible as eliminating the leading cause of death.

[P-40]

It's a business decision. And it looks like a pretty good one.

Yes, it does sound like a good business decision...but it also sounds like what he and his ilk would term greedy. That is not what I would call it, but I hear plenty of talk of 'greedy capitalists' from his sort.

[Skooz]

I insist that people pay taxes to provide for the war on terror and a powerful defense to secure us from those who would do us harm.
I believe in taxation, but balk at over taxation.

I have never heard Bono (and admittedly I don't much attention to him) demand that taxes be raised on anyone.

[philo]

Sounds like someone has a bunch of U2 posters on their wall.

[jblair]

Ha, I see what you did there.

[Skooz]

Not me.

I don't have any U2 albums, either. Never have.

[PA-RIVER]

Hey Bono, are you trying to starve little African kids now?

Heartless bastard.....LOL

[Bon mots]

Boner's beachfront home.

The oil he burns to air-condition this palace could pay for the food and medicine for a small African country.

But this is only one of his beachfront palaces... I couldn't find the other one with all the environment destroying SUVs parked out front.

I'm sure that just cutting the grass on his other hangar of a home rips a major rent into the ozone. Oh, then there are his ozone shredding private jets...

Boner should just shut up and sing.
He's a crooner for teenage girls, not an Economist. Not the Dalai Lama nor anyone's prophet.

---

Egads! A 20 room house! What wasteful Capitalist Pig owns such a profligate property. Just flicking on the lights must rip a new hole in the ozone layer. It's in Ireland, so the heat must be running for 10 months out of the year!

But... it can't be true, it's yet another one of Boner's homes?

---

Yikes! Another energy guzzling property owned by Boner.



How do you say, "Fill 'er up" in Gaelic

---

If you would listen to Boner, he might tell you to drive a hybrid. It's the perfect solution for you and me.

But how do Boner and his friends get around?

They call it, "Elevation Air".


"Look, up in the sky, it's a bird... it's a plane... it's, it's... BONER Ripping a huge hole in the ozone..."

[SF Republican]

Can I have a show of hands of everyone that does not try to take as many exemptions as possible? Personally I try to dodge paying taxes at every opportunity.

[rocksblues]

I avoid all the taxes I can. But then again I do not tell people that they should give more to feed the poor.

[Prime Choice]

According to the Irish Voice, the move will save the rock band 15 million euros (about $19.2 million) this year in taxes -- taxes that would have gone into the coffers of the Irish government, the government Bono chided during a U2 concert in Dublin last year for reneging on a commitment to give 0.7 percent of Ireland's annual GDP to Africa.

That's true liberalism for ya: always generous with other people's money.

[philo]

That's not the point, He's telling his government that their not spending enough of his fellow countrymens taxed dollars on his pet project yet he sheilds his from being taxed.

Bottom line, shut up and use your own money for your projects.

[dfwgator]

Why do you think John Lennon moved to the US?

[badbass]

Can I have a show of hands of everyone that does not try to take as many exemptions as possible? Personally I try to dodge paying taxes at every opportunity.

Yes, but I doubt you go around advocating that more tax money be sent to the bottomless pit of Africa. Bono's an alright dude, his heart is in the right place, and he's a very good singer and writer, but why people can't see the hypocrisy in this is beyond me.

[Blind Eye Jones]

"I don't believe in riches, but you should see where I live," Bono sang in "God Part II."

It's the old John Lennon trip or tripe of "All You Need Is Love." All you need is love when Yoko is cutting million dollar deals, and enjoying it. These pop leaders never show us mere mortals the way -- they talk the walk but never walk the talk. If they all took a vow of poverty and lived it, then I'd be impressed. The vow of poverty puts them to shame, if only because there are mere mortals amongst us that actually find the superhuman strength needed to do just the thing, the thing that is just to do.

[Scotsman will be Free]

Here's a simple saying for you.
"Conservatives put their money where their mouths are. Liberals put your money where their mouths are."

[Zeroisanumber]

I'm against abortion, and say that as an alternative unwanted children should be put up for adoption. However, I myself have never adopted. Does that make me a hypocrite?

[Zeroisanumber]

Liberals are people who know what's good for you--but not for them, of course, because they're special.

Does that only go for liberals? What kind of house does Pat Robertson live in?

[proudofthesouth]

Liberals are hypocrites and narcissists.