Comment Re:lolol (Score 1) 89
My question is whether or not England comes in as one single State, or if it should be broken up a bit. Will it be the States of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England, or
Where's AniMoJo? I want his input on what we'll call where his home.
Comment Re:lolol (Score 1) 89
B. Agreed. I too remember the indignity Dolly Madison was forced to endure as she rescued priceless works of art from the White House as the filthy Brits set it aflame. We should have taken it quietly in '44, but that's in the past. States 51-54 are the future.
3. This is the best damn idea you've ever had!
Comment Re:Golly that kettle is dark! (Score 1) 89
Now, note the second paragraph of the letter where they point out that Apple was told they could talk to the White House, but not Congress. That's a problem. Congress has oversight and investigations powers. They can call the AG into a hearing and won't take, "The UK told Apple to tell me not to say", as an answer. There are things the AG doesn't have to tell Congress, but I don't think this is one of them. Nobody in the Federal government is a party to the argument, it isn't diplomatic exchanges between heads of state, it isn't private executive communication, it's a formal report from a private American company about what another government is trying to make them do. Congress is already allowed to investigate dealings between American companies and foreign governments. They've passed laws about it.
Apple isn't charged with any crimes but would be if they spoke to Congress. If Congress wants to talk to them, and Apple won't, Apple will be charged with a crime. Congress wants to talk to them. Ouch.
Comment Re:Golly that kettle is dark! (Score 1) 89
Comment Re:Golly that kettle is dark! (Score 1) 89
Comment Re:Golly that kettle is dark! (Score 1) 89
That's what these members of Congress are complaining about. The UK telling Apple and the White House that they can't talk to Congress about something.
Comment Re:Golly that kettle is dark! (Score 1) 89
Comment Re:Golly that kettle is dark! (Score 1) 89
International relations are entirely amoral. The answer to your third question is then simple. Might.
Comment Re:Fair point (Score 1) 89
Or because they have a point. Absent a treaty, the UK can't tell the White House to hide something from Congress. That is what has happened here, according to the letter.
Comment Re:Fair point (Score 1) 89
This is unrelated to the topic at hand, but that thing you said there needs to be seen as a warning. If we push the tax burden too much to one side, that argument will be made, and it will have traction. If one party keeps pushing for lower taxes, and the other keeps pushing for higher taxes only on the rich, at some point we'll end up with only 10% (or less) of the population paying for everything. They will have a valid grievance that the rest of the population is simply robbing them. That can end either with everyone paying taxes again, or a lot fewer voters.
I don't know if people are more likely to vote to pay more taxes or vote to not vote anymore.
Comment Re:Fair point (Score 1) 89
The administration can go to the Court and argue that this is a foreign affairs issue, and Congress doesn't have the authority they've claimed in the letter, but does the administration want to? Would they bother, knowing that the Court has already upheld Congress' oversight and investigations authority when it comes to US companies operating overseas?
Congress will probably get its way. Either Parliament bends, or Congress compels the White House to share the details with an oversight committee.
I think citizens on both sides of the ocean benefit from this being brought into the light.
Comment Re:So, are they driving American cars now? (Score 1) 82
But the union movement got what it wanted. Now we have OSHA, NLRB, FDA, EOC, and a load of other letters making sure workplaces are safe, pay is fair, and employees are treated well. Yet, unions remain. And sometimes, go too far.
Comment Re:20 years ago..... (Score 1) 82
Could go well.