1
Where the good jobs are ...
Many American companies don't what you to know how many jobs they create (or destroy) here, compared to how many they create abroad.
The Washington Post has a story today saying these companies are so secretive that they hand the figure over to government statisticians on the condition that officials will release only an aggregate number. The latest data show that multinationals cut 2.9 million jobs in the United States and added 2.4 million overseas between 2000 and 2009.
Some companies, like GE, break down their employment numbers. Others, like IBM and Proctor and Gamble, do not. But that doesn't stop many of them -- including Apple and Pfizer -- from asking for tax breaks to help them create jobs.
OK, How does this work? The government requires that companies submit certain data to it, but the companies are permitted to dictate the terms of its use? Imagine if I got together with my neighbors and co-workers and we decided to only submit aggregated data to the IRS. How long do you think it would be before we all had liens placed on everything we own and were thrown in jail? These greedy corporations deserve nothing less. Equal justice under the law!
