80 McDonald's Ordered Closed in Venezuela

[struggle4progress]

02.05.2005, 08:19 PM

Venezuela's tax agency ordered the three-day closing of all 80 McDonald's restaurants in the country as a penalty for failing to follow tax rules, the state news agency reported.

Tax officials found inconsistencies between the company's purchases and sales records, the state-run Bolivarian News Agency reported late Friday.

Tax official Lucila Ascanio told the news agency the action was part of the tax agency's "zero evasion" effort to make sure individuals and businesses are in compliance with the law. <snip>

http://www.forbes.com/business/healthcare/feeds/ap/2005/02/05/ap1807481.html

[JohnLocke]

1. Viva Chavez! (nt)

[Tinoire]

3. Ditto!

His list of enemies just keeps growing.

[JohnLocke]

6. Chavez and Lula...

Latin America has far better leadership than we do.

[arcos]

20. and Kirchner, and Lagos, and Vásquez.... nt

[Zhade]

18. Damn straight!

NT!

[IndianaGreen]

19. Viva Chavez!

I am sure the White House will accuse Chavez of being a terrorist for daring to attack the Golden Arches of capitalism.

On health reasons alone, McDonald's should be held accountable. I am sure that McDonald's tax evasion is not the only such incident involving American corporations operating in Venezuela and in other countries.

[burrowowl]

2. A healthier

Venezuela!

[merwin]

4. That's the kind of penalty that we need around here.

Fines do nothing. Telling someone to close for 3 days... now that gets the message across.

[NYC]

5. Enforcement against corporations.

What a concept. Wonder if we'll do that here?

[truth2power]

61. Take away their charters. n/t

[NYC]

78. I would like that more than anything.

Corporations were never supposed to "all powerful".

[Gloria]

7. Cool!

eom

[Dover]

8. Enforcement of the law........now there's a real novelty. n/t

[Cha]

9. Wow! I'm impressed!

:wow: I'm not fond of the corporate mcdonalds..anyway.

[Robbien]

10. Bush threatens Venezuela, Chavez threatens global corporatists

and who better to start with than Micky D's.

Global corporatists cannot be too happy with the BushCo right now.

[Straight Shooter]

11. Oh, damn. I was hoping from the headline, that it was permanent.

McDonald's is disgusting.

[alittlelark]

12. Chavez ROCKS !!!!

If we did that here, 1/3 of corporate stores would be shut down at any given time!

[poe]

13. hugo brings down the golden arches-niiiiiiiiiice

probably on the advice of the cuban doctors

[Nostradammit]

14. Ruh-roh!

No one's ever stood up to The Clown, have they?

Wow, clash of the Titans, indeed. The people of Venezuela vs. the people of McDonaldland!

Guess we'll test that "No nation's ever been to war with another McDonaldized country before" maxim.

[Rainscents]

15. Damn... This is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CoffeeCat]

16. ba da ba ba ba....I'm lovin it! (n/t)

[NNguyenMD]

17. why are there 80 Mickey D's in Venezuela, I thought it was suppose to be a

supermodel haven over there?

[donsu]

21. sock it to them Venezuela!

nt

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

22. They (McD's) were just following American Corporate tax practices...

The little guys pay the taxes, not the corporations...

Chavez better watch out or he's going to loose all those great fast food jobs.

[d.l.Green]

25. The corporations already are on welfare, so I guess you could call them

"welfare cheats". That money on the stockholders' tables needs to keep growing or no one will be able to get a fair return on their new and improved privatized SS... so we better keep the welfare coming...

[HuckleB]

23. It's in line with standard practice in Venezuela...

so McD's can't complain that it's being picked on.

[raggedcompany]

24. Chavez is a dead man walking.

Bush & Co. aren't gonna let him keep this up much longer.

[Carl Brennan]

75. Chavez knows, like Castro knows, that he is in a war

whether he likes it or not so he may as well fight back as hard and as possible.

He knows Bush is out to take him down so WTF, go for it.

[Just Me]

26. Everytime Chavez does the "right" thing, I absolutely crack up!!!

:shrug:

Corporations get away with so much corruption here in corporate America that,...I guess I just get a huge kick out of everytime Chavez consistently enforces laws against companies in Venuezuala.

Damn!!! Wish that happened here!!!

[Judi Lynn]

27. He's setting a great example.

If more countries start getting firm with multinationals, eventually it's going to be harder and harder for humongous corporations to take such wild advantage of them, and their workers.

Gotta start somewhere. No time like the present.

[WetBarNone]

28. Who are these "tax officials"?

And are they as altruistic and beloved as our own IRS?

It seems many here are all too ready to trust the tax man simply because they have attacked an "evil" corp like McDonald's. When they start hitting the non-profits I predict less enthusiasm for their success.

[TahitiNut]

31. Would you like fries with that?

:eyes: Durn revenoors!

[WetBarNone]

34. I like grits instead with my moonshine

Corn squeezins is good for the soul and the truck if needed.

[annabanana]

36. non-profit...like some of those "vote for messiah Bush" churches?

[foo_bar]

29. have we ever invaded a country with McDonalds?

I'm sure this will be considered an act of war.

[htuttle]

32. Yes. Panama.

[foo_bar]

35. let me rephrase that

Have we ever bombed a country with McDonalds?

[htuttle]

37. Yes. Panama.

During the invasion on Dec 20, 1989, the US Air Force firebombed the El Chorrillo barrio in Panama City, killing between 300 (US Govt) and 3,400 (Panamanian Human Rights Groups) Panamanians.

The excuse was that the barrio was full of 'supporters of Noriega'. They hadn't done anything, but were merely suspected of supporting their president.

Christic Institute version:
http://www.skepticfiles.org/socialis/real_pan.htm

In addition to Stealth Bombers dropping 2000-pound bombs, U.S. soldiers
are reported to have directly fired upon civilian homes with machine guns,
rockets, and tanks in the barrio of El Chorillo surrounding Noriega's
headquarters. U.S. soldiers evacuated apart- ments and summarily burned
them to the ground. Witnesses reported U.S. troops killing wounded
civilians with either gunshots or rifle-butts to the head.

CBS's "60 Minutes," in a September 1990 expose, reported the existence of
at least six yet-to-be-exhumed mass graves to conclude that Panamanian
civilian deaths could run as high as 4,000. The findings of many watch
groups support the "60 Minutes" casualty report. Peace and Justice in
Panama, The Central American Human Rights Commission, Panamanian National
Human Rights Commission, Panamanian Episcopal Commision and the National
Lawyers Guild all calculate the death toll to range from two to four
thousand.

The actual death toll has been obscured through U.S. military practices of
incineration of corpses prior to identification, burial of remains in common
graves prior to indentification, and U.S. military control of administrative
offices of hospitals and morgues, as well as the removal of hospital and
morgue registries from their original sites. The U.S. retained direct and
full control of Panamanian media until mid-February. And U.S. journalists
were sequestered in military barracks for the first 36 hours of the invasion
and then saw only official authorized sites.

CNN/Reuters's version (they say the fire was accidental):
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/panama/chorrillo.htm

[Judi Lynn]

40. Once again, like mushrooms, we thrived witlessly completely in the dark

about Panama. Your two articles are very helpful. What a shame they're true. From the second:

"It was excessive, too much. ... It was a war without resistance," Damaris
Sanchez, a street stall merchant, told Reuters, recalling the sustained artillery
fire from nearby Ancon Hill, and the deafening salvos of rockets unleashed
from hovering Apache helicopter gunships.

El Chorrillo was built at the turn of the century to house day labourers
working on the Panama Canal. Residents said the district's close-set
wooden terraces caught fire as stray rounds set alight propane gas tanks
used for domestic cooking.

"It burned very quickly," Sanchez said, pointing to the barren concrete
landmarks that have replaced the wooden homes that once lined the three
main streets in the heart of the low-income community. "From one day to the
next you couldn't recognise El Chorrillo."

U.S. President George Bush ordered the invasion, dubbed "Operation Just
Cause" by Defence Secretary Dick Cheney, to seize Noriega and bring him
back to trial in the United States and to safeguard the lives of American
residents in Panama.
(snip)

I wonder if Cheney's heart didn't start going south out of remorse for his disgusting disrespect for his fellow human beings in Panama. Maybe his repressed conscience struck back!

So both father and son have vaporized men, women, children.

As El Chorrillo readied to exorcise its shared demons on the 10th
anniversary of the invasion on Sunday night, local resident Orlando Jimenez
remained adamant that the military intervention was unnecessary.

"We paid the price for an invasion which other people called a just cause,"
he said. "They did not have to sacrifice the community to take out Noriega."

[WetBarNone]

42. Poor Noriega

Thankfully he did not convince the whole village to protect him and allow even more innocent people to die. Poor Noriega and those that supported him.

[struggle4progress]

46. "Who sups with the devil should bring a long spoon."

US supported Noriega because he was intimately involved in smuggling drugs for the CIA, as came out in the mud-slinging Republican primaries of 1988. Noriega's tactical blunder appears to have been believing that his specific knowledge of GHWB's criminal history could be used to leverage his independence and immunity. But GHWB won the primary and the election and hence was in a position to invade Panama to seize Noriega and shut him up.

[leesa]

50. Perhaps they were protecting him because he hadn't done much more

than refuse a US deal. It's why we killed his predecessor

[Judi Lynn]

55. Where did you get the impression the villagers attempted to protect him?

I didn't see it. Maybe you could point it out, if you would.

Furthermore, I don't know of anyone who has grieved over throwing Noriega in prison. Do you?

[IMayBeWrongBut]

77. Serbia had a McDonalds too(nt)

nt

[htuttle]

30. Someone in the IRS should check them out here

If they are playing that game in Venezuela, there's a damn good chance it's corporate-wide.

From what I understand from the article, what they did is compare the amount of inventory purchased with the amount of inventory declared sold. If there is as large disparity, oftentimes it indicates the corporation is skimming off the top somewhere (by falsely understating sales, or overstating purchases).

Given the extreme uniformity McDonald's imposes on it's franchises (hell, they specify which SPOON to use to stir the pancake mix...), I wouldn't be suprised if this skimming was standard practice at all McDonald's (if they are indeed found to be scamming).

[Rockerdem]

33. Awesome!!

Sometimes it makes me wish that we had such an efficient system here in the US. Having to go through the court system prevents timely administration of justice in a lot of cases. Our federal tax and labor enforcement divisions could get a lot more done if rightwing judges didnt stand in their way, protecting corporate interests.

It should be more like local health departments and liquor control boards, who can shut down crummy outlets without lawyers inserting themselves.

[htuttle]

41. The IRS already has the power to do this here

They can seize about anything. You can appeal and try and get it back, but only after the fact.

Same with the DEA or just about any law enforcement agency when they use civil forfeiture.

The problem with enforcement against corporations in the US is the Executive branch, not generally judges (they come into play later).

[GHOSTDANCER]

38. AWSOME!!!!!! KICK

:kick:

[Vidar]

39. I like Chavez more with every headline.

[WetBarNone]

43. Maybe he will tax the Sierra Club too

If the SC rubs against a Chavez pet project who is there to stop him from hounding the Sierra Club and their tax-free ride?

[Bridget Burke]

44. What's your problem with the Sierra Club?

Please, enlighten us.

[WetBarNone]

45. Wake up

I have no problem with the SC and their tax-free status. It's dictators like Chavez that would decide to tax them I am concerned with. Take your strawmen elsewhere.

[Bridget Burke]

47. So--you think Chavez has a problem with the Sierra Club?

Why?

[WetBarNone]

48. Slippery slope is in play with Chavez

He will take and take until the people can give no more. He is no angel.

[struggle4progress]

57. Please produce a link on Chavez and the Sierra Club. eom

[Judi Lynn]

58. Could you provide a link concerning Chavez' taking from the people?

It'd be helpful in order to make sense of your post.

[bvar22]

49. So, you think Chavez is a dictator?

Why?

He has won several free and open elections (two more that bush*) and a recall financed by the Global Corporations. He enjoys the overwhelming popular support of the people of Venezuela.

FYI: The only Straw Man Fallacy so far is:
"It's dictators like Chavez that would decide to tax them I am concerned with."

Please Google "Straw Man Fallacy".

[WetBarNone]

52. Many dictators were elected at first to begin their tyranny

So far Chavez has only attacked American interests and I guess that is Okay but we need to watch his every move.

[w4rma]

53. Only American interests? Not true. He's enforcing buisness law on everyone

The U.S. has similar tax laws, but it appears that big buisness is too powerful in our country for those laws to be enforced properly. Big buisness is only as powerful as a regular small buisness in Venezuela and McDonald's isn't used to that.

President Hugo Chavez has taken a tough approach toward tax evasion and bookkeeping irregularities in recent years. The tax agency has fined and closed a number of domestic and foreign companies for failing to follow strict tax guidelines.

Other businesses that have been temporarily closed by the tax bureau include Lucent Technologies, supermarkets and mall shops.

Ascanio told the Bolivarian News Agency that more than 200 businesses were temporarily closed on Friday alone for apparent tax violations.

[WetBarNone]

54. I bet the local Chavez hand puppet shop gets a free ride

Can't be overtaxing a friendly token goods shop now can we.

[Robbien]

59. The BushCo propaganda has done a number on you

Calling Chavez a dictator shows you do not know the meaning of dictator. Bush is more of a dictator than Chavez ever will be since Bush listens to no one alternative voices. For Bush it is his way or no way, with him or against him. Statemenst such as those clearly defines dictator.

Chavez on the other hand is bringing oil weath to the poor by providing education and healthcare. Bush wants to take away education (Leave no Child Behind) and take away healthcare (Medicare No Price Negotiation Drug Program).

You talk about free rides, then you should talk about Halliburton who gets a huge free ride on the backs of taxpayers.

[WetBarNone]

62. I'm talking about chavez...not bush

Please don't change the subject.

[Robbien]

65. You were talking dictators and the biggest dictator is Bush

Chavez doesn't qualify. Just pointing out how erroneous your label was. If Chavez acted like Bush does, then he qualifies as a dictator. Since Chavez is working for his people he is a good leader. Since Bush is working only for his rich cronies and making the majority of Americans poorer, Bush is a very bad leader. Chavez does not rule like Bush, therefore he is not a dictator.

[Judi Lynn]

60. Hand puppet shop? Really?

What does "Can't be overtaxing a friendly token goods shop now can we." mean. This doesn't make a bit of sense.

Are you posting while intoxicated?

[WetBarNone]

63. Yes

And if you want to keep up with me I suggest an open mind.

[Bridget Burke]

67. But--you just chastised someone for changing the subject....

Perhaps you're getting dizzy. (All that spin. All that Coors Lite.)

[WetBarNone]

68. No lite beer here

Moonshine or Wild Turkey or water.

[catzies]

74. Water? Clear spring water?

The better to maintain your life essence?

[struggle4progress]

66. Got a link on this ?

[WetBarNone]

69. A link on what?

My opinion? Yes, but it is top secret and you don't have clearance yet.

[struggle4progress]

70. Do you have a link on the puppet store that you say is getting a break?

[Judi Lynn]

71. I'd like to know more about the puppet store, as well.

Is it a franchise?

Look, a Republican, just like Dick "Five Deferrments" Cheney contemplating the coming _Bush draft!

[Swamp Rat]

56. Like this one?:

[WetBarNone]

64. Hardly

I said elected...not selected.

[Carl Brennan]

79. Wet-one that sounds like selective

outrage to me and outrage at nothing. All Chavez is doing is enforcing the law.

[Darranar]

72. Why? n/t

[Rex]

51. Chavez shuts down freedom post in a lawless nation.

Sorry, just channeling a FOXnews editor.

[Darranar]

73. How dare Venezuela do such a thing!

Actually holding corporations accountable? Utterly shameful!

[Carl Brennan]

76. So what's the big deal?

Heck, he's just trying to enforce the law. Honest corporations that abide by the law should have no problems. They should be behind Chavez on this, because McDonald's has an unfair advantage competitionwise.