When news broke yesterday that Burger King was headed north of the border to reduce its tax liability, many people lost their minds. Facebook commenters took to Burger King’s page and hurled epithets like “traitor,” “un-American,” and “tax cheat” at the burger joint. Americans have a right to be upset that an iconic brand is fleeing for Canada, but they’re pointing their finger in the wrong direction. The only reason Burger King is heading north is our prohibitive corporate tax rate, which is the highest effective corporate tax rate in the world. At nearly 40 percent, our corporate tax rate is some 15 points higher than the average nation’s. It’s important to remember that corporations don’t pay taxes. It’s not as if Burger King’s creepy faux king mascot foots the corporation’s tax bill. People do. Burger King’s workers pay it through lower wages, shareholders pay it through lower payouts on their investments, and consumers pay it through higher burger prices. Burger King’s attempt to reduce its tax burden will only mean it can pass on higher wages to workers, higher earnings to investors, and cheaper burgers to the rest of us. Burger King is simply making a prudent business decision. If Americans are up in arms about the restaurant’s relocation, they should call their congressman and demand that we fix our tax code, starting with the corporate tax. Get rid of all the loopholes that favor some business over others, and lower the overall rate for all businesses—from the mom and pop shop to the Burger King’s of the world. That’s the “American” solution to this whole affair. – Justin Owen
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US
LATEST POSTS
Tennessee: The Asterisk State—An Excerpt from “Modern Davids”
On the final day of the 2016 legislative session, lawmakers voted to repeal the Hall Tax. Jon and Linda remain engaged in Beacon’s work to t...
From Colour to Color and from Blockchain to Staking: How Definitions Pave the Way
Just as Noah Webster paved the way for a new language, Tennessee lawmakers today have the opportunity to make our state a hub for new jobs,...
Fighting Back Against Trademark Theft: The Roberto Clemente Family v. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has appropriated Roberto Clemente’s trademark against his family’s wishes, and at the expense of his and his family’s reputation...
Fighting for Freelance Freedom: Littman v. Department of Labor
With its bustling music industry, Nashville is home to many freelancers and independent contractors. Many of these individuals choose to be...
Healthy Competition: An Excerpt from “Modern Davids”
CON reform will directly benefit Asher and other Tennesseans like her who suffer from a lack of quality healthcare options. It’s a powerful...
Why Conservatives Should Support Zoning Reform
Typically, proposed laws at the local level rarely get any attention, let alone make national news. But here in Tennessee, we’re anything bu...
A Dose of Free Market Medicine: Expanding Access to Healthcare Through Pharmacists
Beacon’s newest report, “A Dose of Free Market Medicine” compares Tennessee’s laws and regulations around pharmacists and compares it to rec...
An Interview with Coi Morefield
Education “is meant for service. It’s not a political thing. We are here to serve the children.”
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US
WANT TO DO A STORY ABOUT SOMETHING YOU SEE HERE?
CONTACT US AT:
mark@beacontn.org
(O) 615-383-6431
WHO ARE WE?
The Beacon Center of Tennessee empowers Tennesseans to reclaim and protect their freedoms, so that they can freely pursue their version of the American Dream.