Trading Places
Inside views on the jobs market
from Summit Notebook:
Tax evaders on the run
By Neil Chatterjee The U.S. has promised it will hunt down tax evaders. And it seems tax evaders are on the run. DBS bank, based in the growing offshore financial centre of Singapore, told Reuters it had been approached by U.S. citizens asking for its private banking services. But when told they would have to sign U.S. tax declaration forms, the potential clients disappeared. Swiss banks also approached DBS on the hope they could offload troublesome U.S. clients to a location that so far has not been reached by the strong arms of Washington or Brussels. DBS said no thanks. In fact many private banks and boutique advisors now seem to be avoiding U.S. clients. Will this spread to other nationalities, as governments invest in tax spies and tax havens invest in white paint? Is this the end of offshore private private banking?
from Global Investing:
On Bankers and Busing
Bankers are having a rough time of it lately. It is not just that their companies are collapsing beneath them and their bonuses are the subject of global hate and derision. They also have to put up with the barbs of journalists (who are very familiar with being at the bottom of the popularity pile).
The latest example comes from Tim Dowling, scribbling away for Britain's Guardian newspaper. Mr Dowling has penned a useful primer for bankers who suddenly find themselves living in the real world.
You can read the complete guide by clicking here. But Global Investing's favourite tip concerns the use of London's celebrated buses:
"When a bus comes into view, raise your right hand as if you were hailing a taxi. Get on at the front and tell the driver where you are going. He will name a price. Haggling is frowned upon, as is suggesting a route. Buses have no business class as such, but the top deck, if there is one, offers superior views."
So cruel. So very cruel.
Yes, you just have to wait (forever) for one of these filthy, overcrowded red things to come along.
Then you can see just how bad a service is provided by those who are berating you for what you have done.
PS your average public sector employee has had every form of Public service benefit from the NHS onwards subsidised by your high tax. So next time one of these moaners has a go at you remember, you paid ££££ in tax every year so that they could pay £ in tax.
