Why are anarchists targeting HSBC?

vivatifosi

Genuine question. I don't appreciate anarchist methodology but I would get their targeting banks owned by the public but where there are big salaries being taken still. I would get their targeting Barclays given how there have been big stories in the press about how little tax they pay. So why are they singling out HSBC? I can't believe that they are standing up for workers at Canary Wharf who may lose their jobs if the HQ moves.

Ilya_Ilyich

You're wondering why anarchists would oppose a giant, exploitative multinational corporation?

Are they actually 'singling it out' or was it just a target of convenience?

MegaMiniMouse

vivatifosi wrote: »

Genuine question. I don't appreciate anarchist methodology but I would get their targeting banks owned by the public but where there are big salaries being taken still. I would get their targeting Barclays given how there have been big stories in the press about how little tax they pay. So why are they singling out HSBC? I can't believe that they are standing up for workers at Canary Wharf who may lose their jobs if the HQ moves.

I seriously considered joining the UK Uncut march today, but decided not to because I am not anti-capitalist

I am, however, extremely anti-bank, and I recognise no difference between good banks and bad banks

Some of them just got lucky, and I expect you can easily prove me wrong

MMM

vivatifosi

I'm wondering why they would single out HSBC when they are far from the worst offenders.

vivatifosi

Ilya_Ilyich wrote: »

Are they actually 'singling it out' or was it just a target of convenience?

News reports stated that more than one branch targeted, hence question.

Ilya_Ilyich

Dunno then sorry, not anything I've heard about.

Bear in mind that the media calling them "anarchists" doesn't necessarily mean they're anarchists in any way so tough to guess their motives without knowing their beliefs.

noh

It's to do with tax avoidance.
Same reason they targeted Topshop.
Here is a link to a UK Uncut press release from last October.

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/press-release-ukuncut-target-hsbc-over-2billion-tax-avoidance

vivatifosi

Ilya_Ilyich wrote: »

Dunno then sorry, not anything I've heard about.

Bear in mind that the media calling them "anarchists" doesn't necessarily mean they're anarchists in any way so tough to guess their motives without knowing their beliefs.

There has been a lot of daubing of the anarchist symbol where the attacks have happened, so I would imagine that's got a lot to do with it. How do you prove someone actually is an anarchist, in the true sense of the word as opposed to a bunch of hoolies out for a bit of fun? They aren't anarcho-pacifists, I can tell that much though.

vivatifosi

noh wrote: »

It's to do with tax avoidance
Here is a link to a UK Uncut press release from last October.

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/press-release-ukuncut-target-hsbc-over-2billion-tax-avoidance

Ah that makes more sense, I wasn't aware of that. Thank you.

whatyadoinsucka

MegaMiniMouse wrote: »

Some of them [Banks] just got lucky
MMM

got to disagree hsbc never went barmy in the acquisitions market that rbs et al did. They always had good systems and affordability calculators built into lending, whereas other banks would lend to the first person in through the door.

when rbs bought abn amro it was a megalomaniac in charge, he should have stepped back and said is it worth it..

taxation rules are to blame for no tax payments as much as any avoidance practises. All companies are allowed to carry forward tax losses. the government (labour at the time) should have changed the write off rules. RBS and Lloyds will be carrying losses for the immediate future, limiting the tax payable.

Wookster

Because they are bl00dy idiots.

It seems that no matter how logical a case you put forward some people don't realise that private enterprise creates wealth and jobs (where as the public sector does not) and that excessive borrowing is extremely damaging, be it to private enterprise or the public purse.

Every time I hear a union leader (or either of the Eds) speak I am reminded how divorced from reality they are.