Metro apps running in resizable windows on the desktop.
So, desktop apps. What's the difference now?
For example, do you like tofu? No? Well tough shit, it's free, and I'm going to force feed you three pounds of it.
The correct analogy would be: do you like tofu? No? Well, here's a coupon for free tofu anyway. If you like it, pick it up at the store. If not, don't. Either way. Free tofu.
Why upgrade, Windows7 does everything I need.
Yes but at a lower rate. Investment income is taxed lower than standard wages.
Right. Usually, that's because:
1) We want people to risk their money making investments to start and grow businesses. That creates economic activity, which is taxed.
2) If the person risking their money on such an investment loses it (as most do - most new businesses fail), they do NOT get to write that loss off on their own income taxes. It's just gone, goodbye.
3) The lower rates only apply if you let the investment site for a good long time. Those who throw money in and yank it back up pay a much higher rate.
businesses and the people who profit from them
Employees ARE people who profit from a business. In fact employees account for the vast majority of the outbound cash that most businesses spend. And its taxed at normal payroll rates. And the taxes levied on the money those people are getting out of the company are a big part of what pays for the public infrastructure that they (as the people who are making money daily in the business) use. Why do you think that city, county, state, and federal programs to encourage business presence and growth aren't hesitant to wave, for some period of time, taxes charged directly to the business? It's because the net result of establishing that business in place and keeping it there is MUCH MORE TAX REVENUE - from all of the other activity and employment that results.
Companies use infrastructure to deliver goods to their customers
But the company doesn't do anything with the money except spend it on growing the company, or in compensation to employees and investors. When those investors or employees take money home from the company, it's taxed. And if those same people take that already taxed money and invest it that or another company, and it makes money, they get taxed again.
The company doesn't benefit from services and education, etc., the people WHO TAKE HOME THE MONEY do (at which point it's taxed). They other group that benefits are company's customers, who spend money (on which they've already paid other taxes) to buy goods or services from that company. And that means nothing until, again, somebody takes it home as pay (taxed) or dividends (taxed) or cashed out stocks (taxed).
The company's actual profits shouldn't be taxed because all that money does is sit there until somebody either spends it on the company as reinvestment (which isn't taxed anyway), or it gets turned over to somebody designated to receive it - at which point it IS taxed as income.
If that is true, then the taxes won't cut into profits, so the businesses won't raise any objections to the taxes.
Of course they will, if they're competing with companies that operate elsewhere with a 15% lower tax rate.
It's a race to the bottom, my friend. You don't out-compete countries with less than a few million inhabitants and no significant social programs.
You mean, like Canada? It has a 26% rate, compared the US's 40% rate. Yeah, third-world hell holes like Canada always whore around with those low numbers, right?
Sorry, forcing a download of an entire album
Stop. Apple just adds the album to the list of music you have access to. Everything else you describe flows from your incorrect understanding of this key point.
this is you strapping them to a chair to listen to it à la "Clockwork Orange".
They absolutely do not in any way make you listen to it.
If everyone got an email saying "Click for a free download of the album!" there would be no complaints.
That's basically what they did. They gave everyone access to it, so you now have a link to download the music by clicking one of the songs and tapping "play.
The real one.
Read it.
Fear it.
"Experience has proved that some people indeed know everything." -- Russell Baker