A former senior Swiss bank executive said on Monday that he had given the Wiki Leaks founder, Julian Assange, details of more than 2,000 prominent individuals and companies that he contends engaged in tax evasion and other possible criminal activity. Based on this article, I believe that Rudolf M. Elmer had something to do with the tax invasion and other criminal activities. Tax Evasion is an illegal practice where a person, organization or company intentionally avoids paying his or her true tax liability. Those caught evading taxes are generally subject to criminal charges and substantial penalties. He refused to identify any of the individuals or companies. Rudolf Elmer has committed the gravest of sins because he violates Switzerland's strict banking secrecy laws. On my opinion I believe that his action is federal crime because he violates the law. Tax evasion is illegal. People who practice it should generally subject to criminal charges and substantial penalties.
Well, by now the problem has obviously escalated to a much more serious situation therefore now many more factors are involved then originally would have been if this issue would have been addressed from the moment it was made public in 2002. In my point of view the problem should be looked at from the root, the fact that this bank knew that a large sum of people were committing tax evasion and let it happen for such an extend of time is the basic problem here. I mean, one can justify, that ‘Yes Elmer has committed a great sin by leaking these individuals names’, but perhaps only to clean yes moral conscious mind. I think the bigger question right here is ‘Which is the greater sin; Elmer violating Switzerland’s Banking secrecy law, or the Switzerland Bank for allowing these individuals to engage in tax evasion? The fact that these politicians have committed some very bad criminal acts is not even debatable; they should be convicted no matter what happens. I personally believe that Elmer shouldn’t be held responsible because if we face the matter straight on, if the bank would have either a) turn these people in from the beginning or b) just simple denied them services, than this whole thing wouldn’t have happened and Elmer could have never leaked their names.
There are obviously more than two issues being pointed out by this article. To begin with let’s mention the wrong doing of the government regarding tax evasion, and its illegal practice. Treason is also part of the issue because Rudolf Elmer has violated a code of honor by exposing all the documents and names that should have remained a secret. With this being said we can infer that their moral senses have been absent for the last couple of years. All the information that Rudolf Elmer has in his possession he turned it in to the founder of Wikileaks and it is being revealed to the public. It is part of “all for the people” it’s true that the people should know what is going on in the government, because some of the things being done are not morally right, and I do agree that in order to have a true democracy there should be transparency. The people should know what is going on behind the scenes. Let’s look at the other side of the article. Why would Rudolf Elmer all of the sudden turn all this documents that contain exclusively important information about tax evasion and criminal information ? would it be that the reason he was dismiss was because he was a threat to the revealing of the information, and now that he was finally dismiss and ready to take revenge he turned all the information in to the press since Wikileaks is such a news carrier? In my opinion Rudolf Elmer is admitting his guilt and pleading for forgiveness by revealing the information. Last but not the least is the fact that Wikileaks is such a breakthrough in press, yet because of such there have been jobs lost. Is Wikileaks a good or bad thing? It is important for the people to know what the truth is and what is truly going on yet it is also mentioned that they are doing so by unlawfully publishing private information. Is it morally right to do so or are they being egoists and thinking of the people are the same time even if it is at the cost of breaking rules? In the last part of the article it is mentioned that “an estimated 15,970 jobs in 2008 and 8,484 through April of this year” with this being so is Wikileaks making things better by harming the job status. I don’t think that knowing more than what I should is worth the loss of others job. Wikileaks is not being very useful. I do agree that the people should know the truth that hides within government, but to take it to the extreme is just a little too much. Democracy does claim that the people should all be aware of things “for the people” but some of the people don’t know how to take and process the information. In other words Wikileaks is wrong by doing this because it is harming society as it is. When the truth is revealed then things start changing and since Wikileaks is dedicated to reveal truth about unlawful things that happen within the government in my opinion it cannot be a good thing.
If you look up the definition of tax evasion it would clearly be defined as an illegal practice where a person, organization or corporation intentionally avoids paying his/her/its true tax liability. According, to the law: Those caught evading taxes are generally subject to criminal charges and substantial penalties. This situation is delicate, my opinion is that both sides (the bank an Rudolf M. Elmer) are both to be blamed. The fact that the bank accepted this tax evasion at the beginning, completed the catastrophe; the smart thing that they should have done was to denied them in the first place. As for Elmer, my opinion of him is strictly negative. Even though, the bank could have ended this whole situation by simply denying tax evasion, but Elmer is still to blame becuase he is the one who commited the act. Yet, is like Rosana Quitana said the root of this problem goes to the bank for allowing this situation to be allowed. My point is that people involved with this problem are morally wrong because they have done harm to others, economically. All are selfish only looking for self-interest, I know that selfish wouldn't be the correct term to use in this situation, but the reality is that they are!
From my perspective, WikiLeaks is a creative answer to a real problem affecting the U.S. and many other countries, namely the over-control of government information to the detriment of public policy. Regardless, it has the right to post information they are able to get their hands on. If the information is so valuable and classified it should be well secured, unreachable from the press and any source that would bring it to the public eye. WikiLeaks has published a considerable number of valuable official records that had been kept unnecessarily secret and were otherwise unavailable. Which lead to the varieties of names earned such as evil rhetoric, the devil itself etc, which is not at all true information given by WikiLeaks are all fact, which companies despise that their corruptive acts are publicly known.
Rudolf M. Elmer ex-employee of JBJ Caribbean division refused to identify publicly, to journalists, the names of the Companies or the people he had officially named in the documents given to WikiLeaks. However, Julien Assange is in possession of more than 2000 names of companies and individuals who have been involved in tax evasion or other criminal activity. If people were not hiding things, did not commit crimes in the name of the Law, were not telling lies to the “ supposedly informed electorate”, they would not allow WikiLeaks to practice this type of journalism. It is not because there is a demand for truth and justice, there is a need for balance, a need to show what is. The reality is unpleasant and suddenly the “evil rhetoric” reappears in the mouth of Gaddafi as well as his opponents. As unpleasant they may be, the Afghan War Diary, the controversial video of an American Helicopter strike on Reuters journalists, the Iraq War Logs and Cablegate publications, were necessary for our information. To reveal the truth or at least to reveal another side of the information that was being fed to us. If Governments controlled the media, there would be no right or wrong because people would NEVER know what would really be going on. WikiLeaks is a non profit organization and , in my opinion, has chosen this path by conviction.
Would Rudolph Elmer have leaked any information if he had not been dismissed from his job.? I'm shocked that anybody is surprised that Swiss Banks have been used to hide, launder and help individuals and cooperations evade paying taxes in their own countries. They have been doing it for hundred of years.After all this is a country that financed Germany during WW2 and helped the Nazis hide billions of dollars that they stole from people and countries that they killed and plundered. Only in the last ten years because there was pressure brought to bear that did they admit to hiding the wealth they had stolen and started repaying those people and countries that were looted. We live in a country where people and cooperation are always looking to circumvent the law if it will put more money into their pockets. I think Wikileaks should print every last person, company and country that has invaded tax laws and these people should should be prosecuted. Someone who is earning $30,000 a year and paying taxes is buying from a cooperation that is earning if not billions of dollars and not paying their fair share. What does it say about our country that millionaires who feel that this is not enough and go and hide money abroad. In regard to Wikileaks exposing wrong doing, you can't have it both ways. One cannot say just tell us certain things. The right will only want to hear what the left is doing wrong and vice versa. In an informed society,, we mishear and read all the news and then make an informed opinion. With the numbers of traditional press disappearing and the onslaught of the internet, Wikileaks should be afforded the same rights of freedom of the press as we have knownit. I am sure that our government would like to control as much informationabout the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan as they can. hey can classify it as national security. It is only because of Wikileaks has so much information been disclosed. I find it laughable that Gaddafi would call Wikileaks an "evil organization" coming from a dictator who has killed innocent people and for forty years has controlled every aspect of what his people hear and read in Libya. There are people in the process of trying to shut down Wikileaks in court. But if we are to have transparency and a democratic society, I'm hoping that freedom of the press will include Wikileaks.
I am compelled to take the nonconsequentialist approach in this case. Without a doubt it is in the best interest of the American people to know information such as the one released by the Wiki leaks. Transparency and accountability are essential in a democracy but the act itself was morally wrong. I have heard since a young boy about the Swiss Bank and the famous and infamous people who have deposited millions of dirty money. The Swiss Bank is known for giving accounts to whomever without caring where the money comes from. Hence why so many drug lords, politicians, thieves, etc have accounts with the Swiss Bank. One has to put themselves in their shoes. What if you have an account with the Swiss Bank and the money you have is well earned. Can one trust now that the information and money one has can be confidential? The point is a former bank employee release confidential information that he was suppose to keep confidential. To stress my point, what if a former gynecologist starts giving personal information on his ex-patients, how would that be judge? What the former Swiss Banker did was morally wrong and I believe legally wrong too. Wiki leaks on the other are just recipients of very good controversial information and that is what they’re known for and what they do. Leave the investigating of fraud to the IRS.
For every utopia there is always some kind of distress. Good cannot have existed without bad. We hear news about these individuals who help run our nation as being liars or corrupted in some manner. Sadly this world is not perfect, will never be, nor is probably imaginable. Same goes governments and top companies; they believe that taking the risk can benefit either them or something of their own interests. Being aware of politician’s acts towards our own government is very important; they hold this nation in place and keep it running. The fact that they know the rules inside and out, gives them a power that they can use they see fit, of course with them knowing that they’ll have a high chance of not being caught. These politicians and “pillars of Society” should not try to manipulate the very foundation they choose to protect and help grow.
The scandals involving WikiLeaks have gotten an expressive space on the press, after the publication of secrets documents involving important figures from politics and business’ scenario. Now, here is the point: which part was the most unethical? The WikiLeaks that published those documents; or the people involved in all these scandals? I’m not saying that WikiLeaks was right by publishing the information that’s supposed to be secret - or not public; however, people should be concerned about what they are doing. What did they expect? Let’s do something illegal that nobody will know it. WRONG! As soon as someone had these information on he or she hands, of course the press would be notified. As a communication professional I strong advocate the freedom of press. If you don’t do anything wrong or illegal, the press will not have anything against you. In addition to that, the security should be enhanced in order to protect information that should not been read by others. On the other hand, I also advocate the right of privacy. The press should filter what they publish in order to avoid a “war” between people and government / companies. To finalize my comment, I'd like to use the statement used by the Professor Triff: “Transparency and accountability are essential for the functioning of democracy.” If we live in a democracy society, transparency, ethics and honestly should be essential factors to everybody. -- Filipe de Almeida
The fact that people rely on the internet as a source of information is incredible. Based on this article, Rudolf M. Elmer had a huge part in the tax invasion and many other criminal activities. Tax evasion is illegal and shouldn’t be done there is no excuse for not doing it. If you are caught evading taxes you should be penalized or subjected to criminal charges. Yet this isn’t the only problem the Swissbank is known for having bad money. Most drug dealers and criminals have their money in the bank. Yet who knows what’s worst the fact that the bank allows it to happen or the tax evasion problems.
With free speech, there exists a continuum ranging from tyranny to dangerous lack of boundaries. While it is necessary to safeguard free speech for democracy to prosper, it is equally necessary to ensure that “free speech” is not stretched to the extent that it infringes upon the fundamental rights of others. Wikileaks brings fear of violation of privacy and endangerment of lives through the revelation of sensitive files. Although these fears distinguish valid points, it must be recognized that obfuscation in government activities can pose a great danger, as well and that Wikileaks provides lucidity in a greatly important area of society that can affect a large part of the world. Citizens trust, or at least hope, that their government will carry out its assigned duties justly and without corruption. Of course, people cannot be naive and blindly accept this to be the case; therefore, it is vital that transparency exists whether in war or Swiss bank accounts of possible criminals.
As we know wikileaks isn’t run by the government, it is a nonprofit organization that reveals data and information for the people. We are aware that wikileaks has revealed a series of classified documents to the public. Wikileaks exposed illegal actions of companies and the Swiss bank. Separating law from morality, I can say that what this people have done is not immoral. If there was no law against tax evasion where would the wrong doing be represented?. On the other hand, law says it is illegal of course, and that is what makes it so wrong.
Generally speaking egoism is not bad depending on the action and its result. Here we see business man and even politicians involved in tax evasion knowing that it is illegal, I see them as being egoists. Their purpose for doing this is simply to benefit from it.
The central problem amongst wikileaks, California bank, Swiss bank, and all the companies involved is freedom of the press as well as the law. In my opinion wikileaks is not at any fault for exposing this information. I say the politicians should be charged along with all the others who supported this.
Whatever happened to democracy is “of the people, by the people, for the people”? Are we not a democracy of transparency and accountability? If so, then wikileaks shouldn’t be locked or disabled by no means like it was granted in court in 2008.
I applause Mr Elmer who has probably given us his simple and honest life in order to illuminate all of us about what is going on with our world leaders behind closed doors. He made a sacrifice that many people with inside knowledge should make. When an individual or corporation does not pay taxes it owes, it is a slap in the face of everyone else that does obey the laws and pay taxes. Why our government would turn a blind eye to this corruption is beyond me. Assange is a whstleblower and journalist, not a criminal. He is revealing things which, in any real transparent society, would be public knowledge. Criminals in the U.S. have a long history of hiding money in Swiss banks, since the Swiss have had an equally long history of protecting the "privacy" of bank accounts from any scrutiny, even those owned by war criminals. At this point hidden swiss bank accounts should be of no surprise.
This article just goes to show you how the world basically revolves around scandals and money. It’s unfortunate that people have to be afraid of keeping their hard earned money in banks where you would think your money should be “safe.” Wikileaks has had a reputation for fraudulent activities in the past. I believe it’s a good thing that Rudolph M. Elmer went forward with this information though he was morally wrong for doing so. Tax evasion is illegal and those whose participate in such a thing should most definitely be penalized. This catastrophe should not fall solely on Rudolph, but also the Switzerland bank for allowing it to happen. The government has to really look under the magnifying glass and notice that tax evasion is not only hurting us “the people” but also hurting themselves, allowing people to not pay their taxes. In my opinion, the Wikileaks organization is filled with egoists who get away with these crimes.
This is the first time I hear of WikiLeaks, I looked it up on Google and it said it’s a nonprofit organization that publishes confidential information to the public. In my opinion any organization that exposes corruption and wrongdoing deserves an award. The people we elect into power should keep the peoples best interest in mind. Sometimes they do illegal things and things that are morally wrong, it’s about time someone shines some light on them. The actions they take affect us, so it is only fair we get absolute transparency. If someone isn’t doing anything wrong then they shouldn’t mind if the public has access to records. WikiLeaks has the right to publish information they believe is beneficial to the public, and they shouldn’t be shut down for it. Legal action should be taken against those evading taxes and doing other illegal activities. Just because WikiLeaks violates their confidentiality does not mean they are cleared from all charges. If a regular individual were to do the same, legal action would be taken.
Democracy sir has its downfalls in how we see it to be. Like you have stated before accountability and transparency are essential for a operational government and even a well working environment. If we were to see what goes on behind the walls of our trusted banks that we hold dear; relevant to the article, would we still be naïve enough to say that our democratic world is functioning the way it should be? Sir, Rudolf M. Elmer committed various mistakes, more so gave us an opportunity to realize what’s happening although we generally are unaware and at times hidden from. Additionally, R.M Elmer defied the rules of the bank when informing the founder of wikileaks of the several thousands of prominent individuals he knew were engaging in tax evasion. Yes it was wrong to do so however, nowhere near immoral. In this case one can fight the argument when detailing the fact that he was morally correct to inform the public of this wrongdoing. We as the public should be informed on what is occurring but to what extent? Should we be able to know this when in fact the outcome are consequence that may harm others or cause them to lose their jobs? Furthermore, wikileaks is amongst the hierarchy of information, thus being so much of the information obtained may have been counterfeited and obtained illegally. To get the information this way wrong in which by far means “Criminal wrong doing”. In basic terms as we see it is a circle of flooded information and illegal possession’s. Sir, I believe that democracy in definition is when all involved all are aware. Tax evasion is illegal and those who defy it should be pinned for doing so. Rudolf M. Elmer has told us; although unknown of his intentions or the reason behind his dismissal still showed that we are getting entangled and used to the evil rhetoric that we follow. Is it an evil organization? Many may argue that it is, and others will contradict, however we should view it as a wheel/ circle of dilemma. Rudolf M. Elmer was morally correct per say. Democracy should function as one, in which case means I agree with the point of view stated and illustrated in the article; morals against the beliefs of liberal economy. Ciara C. Vazquez
I believe it to be a great thing that wikileaks releases information of wrong doing to the American public so that we can all be aware of the reality of things, in fact I think that these people not paying taxes and evading them is clearly unethical seeing as though tax evasion is subject to criminal charges. However, I can’t really say that the actions of Mr. Rudolf M. Elmer were immoral or not because the true reason or his intentions are unknown. So many things come to mind, for example, the reason why he’s a former employee of the bank, or what he really gained by blowing the whistle as stated. We can’t be sure of the moral repercussions of his actions but we can definitely be sure that it was legally wrong. Just because one no longer works for a certain company does not allow for that one person to go ahead and reveal what is confidential in regards to the company. On the other hand I believe those who evaded taxes pay for their wrong doing. I see it to be only fair seeing as though we’re all supposed to be equal. As Lincoln said “people” relevant to one. We all get treated the same in every sense of the word. Ernesto A. Castro
Should we be interested that wiki-leaks is spilling the beans? Or that someone has all this information of people committing tax evasion in the palm of their hands? I am very interested that wiki-leaks has real news stories but as for the people committing fraud they should have known they would have been caught at one point or another. Apparently everyone has a swiss bank account or at least anyone with a substantial amount of money. Word travels fast and when malicious deeds are afoot it has its way of getting around in the most public places. My godfather for one was an accountant and starting using other people's investments for his own gain. He had a nice streak using it up and betting the money on horses but eventually the clients wised up and he was discovered. Wiki-leaks is just doing its job. We can not get mad at a teacher for teaching or a fire fighter for putting out a fire. They are just doing their job and if someone like dictator Muammar Gaddafi is taking notice then wiki-leaks deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. We get enough faulty news and gossip in our everyday lives for real news to leak like this is exactly what is suppose to happen.
Wikileaks and those behind its creation have successfully achieved what they sought out to do. They have exposed several faults and misrepresentations that several government and role models in society have kept from the public. Partially to mislead us and keep us in the shadows of the much larger machines that is developing around us. This is no new phenomena in societies and has always been happening. An ignorant society is much easier to manipulate than a society that has full knowledge of what is going on, especially in a democratic society where the population would theoretically have an opinion and hence would want a say in the matter. We live in a time where there is too much happening; globalization has taken firm hold on our planet. Information, goods, people, they all travel much faster than we could ever comprehend. Those who have control over large populations can manipulate what we see in a way that allows them to retain control. We live in a time where ignorance is bliss, because too much is happening, too fast, for us to keep up. Those who were exposed by wikileaks are in shambles because they ideally try to do what’s best for the public with as little complications as possible. The exposés of wikileaks also have done a great thing for themselves, which is created this infamous persona that will more than definitely live on much longer than they ever will. Brent Knowles
First I like to say I’m really bad in understanding politics and laws and stuff like that (reason why I’m majoring in Nursing) so sorry if I got some information wrong. However, my opinion first off is that Elmer should have never given those names to WikiLeaks this is basically making him more powerful and more of a threat. I believe is good that those names came out about because basically they broke the law and need to be subjected to criminal charges but by the right people. Those names should have been given to the law. Moving on to WikiLeaks, I’m not sure I understand much of this… controversy but if all of what he is saying is true then I wouldn't feel so safe in this country that I am living in. Except sometimes I believe some things should never be said or spread for the sake of some people. This controversy is so above us and even the government, that if things like this were to be spread it would create such a problem that it would be too much than the government or the people can handle, with the economy, immigrants, criminals, etc. who would want more problems? Sometimes I think anyways that us as people depend so much on the government to solve problems for us that we shouldn’t really complain for what they are hiding from us UNLESS the whole government is not involved in it and it’s just a group of people breaking the law for their own interest then it shouldn't be acceptable to “turn the other cheek” and charge them for their wrong doing like the names that were leaked out.
A former senior Swiss bank executive said on Monday that he had given the Wiki Leaks founder, Julian Assange, details of more than 2,000 prominent individuals and companies that he contends engaged in tax evasion and other possible criminal activity. Based on this article, I believe that Rudolf M. Elmer had something to do with the tax invasion and other criminal activities. Tax Evasion is an illegal practice where a person, organization or company intentionally avoids paying his or her true tax liability. Those caught evading taxes are generally subject to criminal charges and substantial penalties. He refused to identify any of the individuals or companies. Rudolf Elmer has committed the gravest of sins because he violates Switzerland's strict banking secrecy laws. On my opinion I believe that his action is federal crime because he violates the law. Tax evasion is illegal. People who practice it should generally subject to criminal charges and substantial penalties.
ReplyDeleteReginald Belizaire
Well, by now the problem has obviously escalated to a much more serious situation therefore now many more factors are involved then originally would have been if this issue would have been addressed from the moment it was made public in 2002. In my point of view the problem should be looked at from the root, the fact that this bank knew that a large sum of people were committing tax evasion and let it happen for such an extend of time is the basic problem here. I mean, one can justify, that ‘Yes Elmer has committed a great sin by leaking these individuals names’, but perhaps only to clean yes moral conscious mind. I think the bigger question right here is ‘Which is the greater sin; Elmer violating Switzerland’s Banking secrecy law, or the Switzerland Bank for allowing these individuals to engage in tax evasion? The fact that these politicians have committed some very bad criminal acts is not even debatable; they should be convicted no matter what happens. I personally believe that Elmer shouldn’t be held responsible because if we face the matter straight on, if the bank would have either a) turn these people in from the beginning or b) just simple denied them services, than this whole thing wouldn’t have happened and Elmer could have never leaked their names.
ReplyDeleteRosana Quintana
There are obviously more than two issues being pointed out by this article. To begin with let’s mention the wrong doing of the government regarding tax evasion, and its illegal practice. Treason is also part of the issue because Rudolf Elmer has violated a code of honor by exposing all the documents and names that should have remained a secret. With this being said we can infer that their moral senses have been absent for the last couple of years.
ReplyDeleteAll the information that Rudolf Elmer has in his possession he turned it in to the founder of Wikileaks and it is being revealed to the public. It is part of “all for the people” it’s true that the people should know what is going on in the government, because some of the things being done are not morally right, and I do agree that in order to have a true democracy there should be transparency. The people should know what is going on behind the scenes.
Let’s look at the other side of the article. Why would Rudolf Elmer all of the sudden turn all this documents that contain exclusively important information about tax evasion and criminal information ? would it be that the reason he was dismiss was because he was a threat to the revealing of the information, and now that he was finally dismiss and ready to take revenge he turned all the information in to the press since Wikileaks is such a news carrier? In my opinion Rudolf Elmer is admitting his guilt and pleading for forgiveness by revealing the information.
Last but not the least is the fact that Wikileaks is such a breakthrough in press, yet because of such there have been jobs lost. Is Wikileaks a good or bad thing? It is important for the people to know what the truth is and what is truly going on yet it is also mentioned that they are doing so by unlawfully publishing private information. Is it morally right to do so or are they being egoists and thinking of the people are the same time even if it is at the cost of breaking rules? In the last part of the article it is mentioned that “an estimated 15,970 jobs in 2008 and 8,484 through April of this year” with this being so is Wikileaks making things better by harming the job status. I don’t think that knowing more than what I should is worth the loss of others job.
Wikileaks is not being very useful. I do agree that the people should know the truth that hides within government, but to take it to the extreme is just a little too much. Democracy does claim that the people should all be aware of things “for the people” but some of the people don’t know how to take and process the information. In other words Wikileaks is wrong by doing this because it is harming society as it is. When the truth is revealed then things start changing and since Wikileaks is dedicated to reveal truth about unlawful things that happen within the government in my opinion it cannot be a good thing.
If you look up the definition of tax evasion it would clearly be defined as an illegal practice where a person, organization or corporation intentionally avoids paying his/her/its true tax liability. According, to the law: Those caught evading taxes are generally subject to criminal charges and substantial penalties. This situation is delicate, my opinion is that both sides (the bank an Rudolf M. Elmer) are both to be blamed. The fact that the bank accepted this tax evasion at the beginning, completed the catastrophe; the smart thing that they should have done was to denied them in the first place. As for Elmer, my opinion of him is strictly negative. Even though, the bank could have ended this whole situation by simply denying tax evasion, but Elmer is still to blame becuase he is the one who commited the act. Yet, is like Rosana Quitana said the root of this problem goes to the bank for allowing this situation to be allowed. My point is that people involved with this problem are morally wrong because they have done harm to others, economically. All are selfish only looking for self-interest, I know that selfish wouldn't be the correct term to use in this situation, but the reality is that they are!
ReplyDeleteMeleny Lastra
From my perspective, WikiLeaks is a creative answer to a real problem affecting the U.S. and many other countries, namely the over-control of government information to the detriment of public policy. Regardless, it has the right to post information they are able to get their hands on. If the information is so valuable and classified it should be well secured, unreachable from the press and any source that would bring it to the public eye.
ReplyDeleteWikiLeaks has published a considerable number of valuable official records that had been kept unnecessarily secret and were otherwise unavailable. Which lead to the varieties of names earned such as evil rhetoric, the devil itself etc, which is not at all true information given by WikiLeaks are all fact, which companies despise that their corruptive acts are publicly known.
--Lydia Sanchez
Rudolf M. Elmer ex-employee of JBJ Caribbean division refused to identify publicly, to journalists, the names of the Companies or the people he had officially named in the documents given to WikiLeaks. However, Julien Assange is in possession of more than 2000 names of companies and individuals who have been involved in tax evasion or other criminal activity.
ReplyDeleteIf people were not hiding things, did not commit crimes in the name of the Law,
were not telling lies to the “ supposedly informed electorate”, they would not allow WikiLeaks to practice this type of journalism.
It is not because there is a demand for truth and justice, there is a need for balance, a need to show what is. The reality is unpleasant and suddenly the “evil rhetoric” reappears in the mouth of Gaddafi as well as his opponents.
As unpleasant they may be, the Afghan War Diary, the controversial video of an American Helicopter strike on Reuters journalists, the Iraq War Logs and Cablegate publications, were necessary for our information. To reveal the truth or at least to reveal another side of the information that was being fed to us.
If Governments controlled the media, there would be no right or wrong because people would NEVER know what would really be going on.
WikiLeaks is a non profit organization and , in my opinion, has chosen this path by conviction.
Vera Saeme
Would Rudolph Elmer have leaked any information if he had not been dismissed from his job.? I'm shocked that anybody is surprised that Swiss Banks have been used to hide, launder and help individuals and cooperations evade paying taxes in their own countries. They have been doing it for hundred of years.After all this is a country that financed Germany during WW2 and helped the Nazis hide billions of dollars that they stole from people and countries that they killed and plundered. Only in the last ten years because there was pressure brought to bear that did they admit to hiding the wealth they had stolen and started repaying those people and countries that were looted.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a country where people and cooperation are always looking to circumvent the law if it will put more money into their pockets. I think Wikileaks should print every last person, company and country that has invaded tax laws and these people should should be prosecuted. Someone who is earning $30,000 a year and paying taxes is buying from a cooperation that is earning if not billions of dollars and not paying their fair share. What does it say about our country that millionaires who feel that this is not enough and go and hide money abroad. In regard to Wikileaks exposing wrong doing, you can't have it both ways. One cannot say just tell us certain things. The right will only want to hear what the left is doing wrong and vice versa. In an informed society,, we mishear and read all the news and then make an informed opinion. With the numbers of traditional press disappearing and the onslaught of the internet, Wikileaks should be afforded the same rights of freedom of the press as we have knownit. I am sure that our government would like to control as much informationabout the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan as they can. hey can classify it as national security. It is only because of Wikileaks has so much information been disclosed. I find it laughable that Gaddafi would call Wikileaks an "evil organization" coming from a dictator who has killed innocent people and for forty years has controlled every aspect of what his people hear and read in Libya.
There are people in the process of trying to shut down Wikileaks in court. But if we are to have transparency and a democratic society, I'm hoping that freedom of the press will include Wikileaks.
I am compelled to take the nonconsequentialist approach in this case. Without a doubt it is in the best interest of the American people to know information such as the one released by the Wiki leaks. Transparency and accountability are essential in a democracy but the act itself was morally wrong. I have heard since a young boy about the Swiss Bank and the famous and infamous people who have deposited millions of dirty money. The Swiss Bank is known for giving accounts to whomever without caring where the money comes from. Hence why so many drug lords, politicians, thieves, etc have accounts with the Swiss Bank. One has to put themselves in their shoes. What if you have an account with the Swiss Bank and the money you have is well earned. Can one trust now that the information and money one has can be confidential? The point is a former bank employee release confidential information that he was suppose to keep confidential. To stress my point, what if a former gynecologist starts giving personal information on his ex-patients, how would that be judge? What the former Swiss Banker did was morally wrong and I believe legally wrong too. Wiki leaks on the other are just recipients of very good controversial information and that is what they’re known for and what they do. Leave the investigating of fraud to the IRS.
ReplyDeleteFor every utopia there is always some kind of distress. Good cannot have existed without bad. We hear news about these individuals who help run our nation as being liars or corrupted in some manner. Sadly this world is not perfect, will never be, nor is probably imaginable. Same goes governments and top companies; they believe that taking the risk can benefit either them or something of their own interests. Being aware of politician’s acts towards our own government is very important; they hold this nation in place and keep it running. The fact that they know the rules inside and out, gives them a power that they can use they see fit, of course with them knowing that they’ll have a high chance of not being caught. These politicians and “pillars of Society” should not try to manipulate the very foundation they choose to protect and help grow.
ReplyDeleteAndrae Williams
The scandals involving WikiLeaks have gotten an expressive space on the press, after the publication of secrets documents involving important figures from politics and business’ scenario. Now, here is the point: which part was the most unethical? The WikiLeaks that published those documents; or the people involved in all these scandals?
ReplyDeleteI’m not saying that WikiLeaks was right by publishing the information that’s supposed to be secret - or not public; however, people should be concerned about what they are doing. What did they expect? Let’s do something illegal that nobody will know it. WRONG! As soon as someone had these information on he or she hands, of course the press would be notified. As a communication professional I strong advocate the freedom of press. If you don’t do anything wrong or illegal, the press will not have anything against you. In addition to that, the security should be enhanced in order to protect information that should not been read by others.
On the other hand, I also advocate the right of privacy. The press should filter what they publish in order to avoid a “war” between people and government / companies.
To finalize my comment, I'd like to use the statement used by the Professor Triff: “Transparency and accountability are essential for the functioning of democracy.” If we live in a democracy society, transparency, ethics and honestly should be essential factors to everybody.
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Filipe de Almeida
The fact that people rely on the internet as a source of information is incredible. Based on this article, Rudolf M. Elmer had a huge part in the tax invasion and many other criminal activities. Tax evasion is illegal and shouldn’t be done there is no excuse for not doing it. If you are caught evading taxes you should be penalized or subjected to criminal charges. Yet this isn’t the only problem the Swissbank is known for having bad money. Most drug dealers and criminals have their money in the bank. Yet who knows what’s worst the fact that the bank allows it to happen or the tax evasion problems.
ReplyDeleteDaniella Beoto
With free speech, there exists a continuum ranging from tyranny to dangerous lack of boundaries. While it is necessary to safeguard free speech for democracy to prosper, it is equally necessary to ensure that “free speech” is not stretched to the extent that it infringes upon the fundamental rights of others. Wikileaks brings fear of violation of privacy and endangerment of lives through the revelation of sensitive files. Although these fears distinguish valid points, it must be recognized that obfuscation in government activities can pose a great danger, as well and that Wikileaks provides lucidity in a greatly important area of society that can affect a large part of the world. Citizens trust, or at least hope, that their government will carry out its assigned duties justly and without corruption. Of course, people cannot be naive and blindly accept this to be the case; therefore, it is vital that transparency exists whether in war or Swiss bank accounts of possible criminals.
ReplyDeleteAs we know wikileaks isn’t run by the government, it is a nonprofit organization that reveals data and information for the people. We are aware that wikileaks has revealed a series of classified documents to the public. Wikileaks exposed illegal actions of companies and the Swiss bank. Separating law from morality, I can say that what this people have done is not immoral. If there was no law against tax evasion where would the wrong doing be represented?. On the other hand, law says it is illegal of course, and that is what makes it so wrong.
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking egoism is not bad depending on the action and its result. Here we see business man and even politicians involved in tax evasion knowing that it is illegal, I see them as being egoists. Their purpose for doing this is simply to benefit from it.
The central problem amongst wikileaks, California bank, Swiss bank, and all the companies involved is freedom of the press as well as the law. In my opinion wikileaks is not at any fault for exposing this information. I say the politicians should be charged along with all the others who supported this.
Whatever happened to democracy is “of the people, by the people, for the people”? Are we not a democracy of transparency and accountability? If so, then wikileaks shouldn’t be locked or disabled by no means like it was granted in court in 2008.
By: Quendra Gomez
I applause Mr Elmer who has probably given us his simple and honest life in order to illuminate all of us about what is going on with our world leaders behind closed doors. He made a sacrifice that many people with inside knowledge should make. When an individual or corporation does not pay taxes it owes, it is a slap in the face of everyone else that does obey the laws and pay taxes. Why our government would turn a blind eye to this corruption is beyond me. Assange is a whstleblower and journalist, not a criminal. He is revealing things which, in any real transparent society, would be public knowledge. Criminals in the U.S. have a long history of hiding money in Swiss banks, since the Swiss have had an equally long history of protecting the "privacy" of bank accounts from any scrutiny, even those owned by war criminals. At this point hidden swiss bank accounts should be of no surprise.
ReplyDeleteNataly Garcia
This article just goes to show you how the world basically revolves around scandals and money. It’s unfortunate that people have to be afraid of keeping their hard earned money in banks where you would think your money should be “safe.” Wikileaks has had a reputation for fraudulent activities in the past. I believe it’s a good thing that Rudolph M. Elmer went forward with this information though he was morally wrong for doing so. Tax evasion is illegal and those whose participate in such a thing should most definitely be penalized. This catastrophe should not fall solely on Rudolph, but also the Switzerland bank for allowing it to happen. The government has to really look under the magnifying glass and notice that tax evasion is not only hurting us “the people” but also hurting themselves, allowing people to not pay their taxes. In my opinion, the Wikileaks organization is filled with egoists who get away with these crimes.
ReplyDeleteJoel Rodriguez
This is the first time I hear of WikiLeaks, I looked it up on Google and it said it’s a nonprofit organization that publishes confidential information to the public. In my opinion any organization that exposes corruption and wrongdoing deserves an award. The people we elect into power should keep the peoples best interest in mind. Sometimes they do illegal things and things that are morally wrong, it’s about time someone shines some light on them. The actions they take affect us, so it is only fair we get absolute transparency. If someone isn’t doing anything wrong then they shouldn’t mind if the public has access to records. WikiLeaks has the right to publish information they believe is beneficial to the public, and they shouldn’t be shut down for it. Legal action should be taken against those evading taxes and doing other illegal activities. Just because WikiLeaks violates their confidentiality does not mean they are cleared from all charges. If a regular individual were to do the same, legal action would be taken.
ReplyDeleteNicole Encalada
Democracy sir has its downfalls in how we see it to be. Like you have stated before accountability and transparency are essential for a operational government and even a well working environment. If we were to see what goes on behind the walls of our trusted banks that we hold dear; relevant to the article, would we still be naïve enough to say that our democratic world is functioning the way it should be? Sir, Rudolf M. Elmer committed various mistakes, more so gave us an opportunity to realize what’s happening although we generally are unaware and at times hidden from. Additionally, R.M Elmer defied the rules of the bank when informing the founder of wikileaks of the several thousands of prominent individuals he knew were engaging in tax evasion. Yes it was wrong to do so however, nowhere near immoral. In this case one can fight the argument when detailing the fact that he was morally correct to inform the public of this wrongdoing. We as the public should be informed on what is occurring but to what extent? Should we be able to know this when in fact the outcome are consequence that may harm others or cause them to lose their jobs?
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, wikileaks is amongst the hierarchy of information, thus being so much of the information obtained may have been counterfeited and obtained illegally. To get the information this way wrong in which by far means “Criminal wrong doing”. In basic terms as we see it is a circle of flooded information and illegal possession’s. Sir, I believe that democracy in definition is when all involved all are aware. Tax evasion is illegal and those who defy it should be pinned for doing so. Rudolf M. Elmer has told us; although unknown of his intentions or the reason behind his dismissal still showed that we are getting entangled and used to the evil rhetoric that we follow.
Is it an evil organization? Many may argue that it is, and others will contradict, however we should view it as a wheel/ circle of dilemma. Rudolf M. Elmer was morally correct per say. Democracy should function as one, in which case means I agree with the point of view stated and illustrated in the article; morals against the beliefs of liberal economy.
Ciara C. Vazquez
I believe it to be a great thing that wikileaks releases information of wrong doing to the American public so that we can all be aware of the reality of things, in fact I think that these people not paying taxes and evading them is clearly unethical seeing as though tax evasion is subject to criminal charges. However, I can’t really say that the actions of Mr. Rudolf M. Elmer were immoral or not because the true reason or his intentions are unknown.
ReplyDeleteSo many things come to mind, for example, the reason why he’s a former employee of the bank, or what he really gained by blowing the whistle as stated. We can’t be sure of the moral repercussions of his actions but we can definitely be sure that it was legally wrong. Just because one no longer works for a certain company does not allow for that one person to go ahead and reveal what is confidential in regards to the company. On the other hand I believe those who evaded taxes pay for their wrong doing. I see it to be only fair seeing as though we’re all supposed to be equal. As Lincoln said “people” relevant to one. We all get treated the same in every sense of the word.
Ernesto A. Castro
Should we be interested that wiki-leaks is spilling the beans? Or that someone has all this information of people committing tax evasion in the palm of their hands? I am very interested that wiki-leaks has real news stories but as for the people committing fraud they should have known they would have been caught at one point or another. Apparently everyone has a swiss bank account or at least anyone with a substantial amount of money. Word travels fast and when malicious deeds are afoot it has its way of getting around in the most public places. My godfather for one was an accountant and starting using other people's investments for his own gain. He had a nice streak using it up and betting the money on horses but eventually the clients wised up and he was discovered.
ReplyDeleteWiki-leaks is just doing its job. We can not get mad at a teacher for teaching or a fire fighter for putting out a fire. They are just doing their job and if someone like dictator Muammar Gaddafi is taking notice then wiki-leaks deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. We get enough faulty news and gossip in our everyday lives for real news to leak like this is exactly what is suppose to happen.
Wikileaks and those behind its creation have successfully achieved what they sought out to do. They have exposed several faults and misrepresentations that several government and role models in society have kept from the public. Partially to mislead us and keep us in the shadows of the much larger machines that is developing around us. This is no new phenomena in societies and has always been happening. An ignorant society is much easier to manipulate than a society that has full knowledge of what is going on, especially in a democratic society where the population would theoretically have an opinion and hence would want a say in the matter. We live in a time where there is too much happening; globalization has taken firm hold on our planet. Information, goods, people, they all travel much faster than we could ever comprehend. Those who have control over large populations can manipulate what we see in a way that allows them to retain control. We live in a time where ignorance is bliss, because too much is happening, too fast, for us to keep up. Those who were exposed by wikileaks are in shambles because they ideally try to do what’s best for the public with as little complications as possible. The exposés of wikileaks also have done a great thing for themselves, which is created this infamous persona that will more than definitely live on much longer than they ever will.
ReplyDeleteBrent Knowles
First I like to say I’m really bad in understanding politics and laws and stuff like that (reason why I’m majoring in Nursing) so sorry if I got some information wrong. However, my opinion first off is that Elmer should have never given those names to WikiLeaks this is basically making him more powerful and more of a threat. I believe is good that those names came out about because basically they broke the law and need to be subjected to criminal charges but by the right people. Those names should have been given to the law. Moving on to WikiLeaks, I’m not sure I understand much of this… controversy but if all of what he is saying is true then I wouldn't feel so safe in this country that I am living in. Except sometimes I believe some things should never be said or spread for the sake of some people. This controversy is so above us and even the government, that if things like this were to be spread it would create such a problem that it would be too much than the government or the people can handle, with the economy, immigrants, criminals, etc. who would want more problems? Sometimes I think anyways that us as people depend so much on the government to solve problems for us that we shouldn’t really complain for what they are hiding from us UNLESS the whole government is not involved in it and it’s just a group of people breaking the law for their own interest then it shouldn't be acceptable to “turn the other cheek” and charge them for their wrong doing like the names that were leaked out.
ReplyDelete-Whtiny Miranda