Nevertheless, U2 chose to move part of its business operations to the Netherlands to take advantage of an even lower corporate tax rate. While I am admittedly not involved in any business ventures, to my untutored ears this sounds like good business sense. Perhaps Ireland should be an example for the rest of the EU, but if their decision was fiscally advantageous their private sector company, all I can really say is, U2, I’m with you.
And, regarding investment in Forbes, as much of a humanitarian as Bono is, he seems to be quite aware that, while all wealth ultimately belongs to God, there is nothing wrong in amassing it and serving as its custodian, as long as it is done in a moral and legitimate way. After all, the Torah itself often identifies wealth as a divine blessing.
Consider Abraham, who is told by God that, “I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will increase your fame, and you will be a blessing.” This is shortly followed by a description of the blessing: “Abram [whose name was not yet changed to Abraham] was very much laden with cattle, silver, and gold.”
Or consider how well Isaac did when living in G’rar: “Isaac planted in that land and found in that year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. And the man grew great, and continued to do so until he was very great. And he had flocks, herds, and many servants, and the Philistines envied him.” And one can also point to the blessings Jacob gives to his children on his deathbed, of which material prosperity is a major theme.
Of course, we want to see the material prosperity of all nations, not only because it is good, from an economic standpoint, for our own nation – but also because it promotes world peace and self-reliance, and because no one wants to see the people of any nation living in poverty.
Ultimately, though, a country’s prosperity must come from within, rather than from foreign gifts. Can wealthy nations play a role in helping poorer nations achieve economic expansion? Yes, but, in the words of President Warren G. Harding (from his essay “Fraternity”): “I have an abiding conviction that America can play her greatest part in the furtherance of mankind by first making sure of the character of our citizenship at home, and then give to the world the American example rather than the word of a Republic assuming to meddle in the affairs of the nations of the earth.”
In other words, wealthy nations can lead by example.
Money can be funneled into poor countries, but if these countries don’t become part of the market economy and establish an environment that encourages foreign investment, all our good intentions will just bring about more calls for debt relief.
Not long ago we read in parashas Shoftim the command to establish a Jewish monarchy and some of the monarchy’s limitations. It is worthwhile remembering Shmuel the prophet’s reaction when the Jewish people, now on their own land, did finally request a king:
“This is what the king who rules over you will do: He will take your children and make them charioteers and horsemen, and make them run before his chariot; he will make them officers of thousands and officers of fifties, and [make them] do his plowing and harvesting, and make his instruments of war and of his chariots. He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give them to his officers and his servants. He will take a tenth of your sheep and you will become his slaves.”
The people were warned, but they still wanted the monarchy. And, indeed, the expropriation did grow – so much that by the time we get to Rechavam, Solomon’s son, Rechavam states: “My father made your yoke burdensome – and I will increase your yoke; my father chastised you with whips – and I will chastise you with scorpions.” The result? The ten northern tribes of Israel seceded, leading to disunity, a corrupted nation, and eventual exile.