Corb7 International June 2013 Newsletter

Editor’s Note

Hero or Traitor? Edward Snowden is a Hunted Man

Every week there seems to be another report of the US government dealing with a crisis. From Benghazi – to the IRS – to Edward Snowden disclosing classified spying information, it certainly seems to be an interesting time for bureaucrats and politicians within the Washington loop. We, however, are surprised at how many people are surprised. Like many, we do not know what to make of Snowden’s actions. Is he a hero or a traitor? Most likely only the passing of time will reveal the truth. We find it much more intriguing to watch the reactions of others to these stories. Is everyone really that stunned that the tax collecting arm of the US government might be up to some shenanigans or that your correspondence might be intercepted?

How short our memories must be.

Prior to 9/11, the Internal Revenue Service was under fire. Citizens had filed innumerable complaints which had largely been ignored by legislators for decades. The depth of taxpayer bitterness towards the IRS had been buried until numerous well-documented cases began to surface. In September of 1997, the Senate Finance Committee held three days of hearings to review IRS practices and procedures. More than 1,000 tax-payers had been contacted who claimed mistreatment. As a direct result of these hearings reforms were initiated. The urgency, however, of these changes was lost after the horrific events of September 11, 2001 when focus was redirected to funding the war on terrorism.

Related Links:

IRS Hearings
PDF Record
Tax Payer Bill of Rights

The story of the moment revolves around Edward Snowden and his disclosing that the US government is intercepting communications of all sorts. We are not sure why this is shocking, either. Back in 1999, within the pages of our magazine, we published an article entitled “The Echelon Cover-up” while the television show “60 Minutes” did an exposé just a few weeks prior. After the 60 Minute report, we thought that this intercept network had become very well known. With all due respect to any claim for privacy, it seemed to us only a matter of commonsense that all communications – no matter the place of origin – were being reviewed.

Related Links:

Wikipedia Echelon
Transcript of 60 Minutes on Echelon
CBS News

Our intent is not to offer an indictment of either the NSA or the IRS. On the contrary, they perform necessary functions which are frequently unpopular and besides we doubt very much that these types of stories are limited to one specific government or a few agencies. It is our guess that no matter where you are located modern technology and taxing authorities will find you; consequently, cases of abuse will undoubtedly exist. Our point is that we believe reform and oversight need to be consistently implemented and not just when headlines scream for it.

We hope you enjoy our June Newsletter and do not forget to check out our website for weekly updates.
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Books, Articles, Blogs & Business Tech

Review:

Entrepreneurship and international business is always intertwined with politics, personal motivation, innovation and government regulation. Here we offer books, articles, blogs and business tech innovations which we think worth bringing to your attention.

• Book Review

  
  “Selling the Invisible”
  By Harry Beckwith

  We found this to be an excellent read regarding selling intangible products. If your business is promoting or selling services and not tangible products this should be in your professional library.
  To Review the Book

• Articles You May have Missed!

  Judge Orders Google to Release Data
  A federal judge has ordered Google to comply with FBI warrantless demands for customer data. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston on Tuesday rejected Google’s argument that the so-called “National Security Letters” the company received from the FBI were unconstitutional and unnecessary.
  Click Here to Read Article

  The New Designed US $100 Bill – Coming in October
  The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will begin circulating a redesigned $100 bill this fall, more than two years after its initial target. The Fed has set a target date of Oct. 8. The redesigned note incorporates added security features, such as a blue, 3-D security ribbon and a disappearing Liberty Bell in an inkwell. The features are designed to thwart counterfeiters.
  Click Here to Read Article

  Bahamas: Changes to Private Trust Company Regs.
  Private Trust Companies are exempt from many of the requirements of an ordinary trust company. For example, under the Act, a private trust company would be exempt from the requirement to obtain a business license provided that the criteria to qualify as a private trust company are met.

  Anguilla Real Estate: Tranquil and Virtually No Crime
  The perfect blend of real estate and travel, Anguilla might be the best place in the Caribbean to own a home. The government is stable and relaxed. The people are welcoming. Crime is almost nonexistent.
  Click Here to Read Article

Captive Strategies

Bermuda Captive Insurance Conference

June 10-12, 2013
If you missed the symposium in Bermuda but still wish to learn more about the benefits of owning a Captive Insurance Company then check out the conference archives. The speaker presentations on this site are available in PDF form and date back to 2005. They can be very informative.

Visit Bermuda Captive

Funding Strategies

Our Business Project Funding Program

Debt financing has many advantages. The primarily benefit it offers you is the ability to retain all your equity. So with debt financing, you can expand your business without giving up the fruits of your labor to a venture capitalist. Our funding program helps you reach that goal. In an effort to provide value added services to our clients, we have established an affiliate relationship with a well established funding agent. This gives you the potential to raise capital for projects that might have previously been sent to the backburner.

It offers the following:

• No Upfront Fee, No Financials & No Collateral is needed.
• Lines of Credit can be used for any purpose to grow your business.
• Entire process only takes approximately 30 days.
• $50,000-$150,000 is typical range of lines that are approved.

Unfortunately, you must be a United States based business. Click Here to Inquire

Coming Soon!

A New Marketing Tool

Next week we will be introducing you to a new and exciting marketing tool which can increase traffic to your website!