>>>*My own feelings are that certainly Corporate profits are a portion of the concern with business relocating, certainly not the underlying cause, though.

Business creates the very foundations of an economy, and business will nearly without fail gravitate towards lower costs of operation, lower cost of materials, etc.

Check with anyone in business, and find out the truth of what their burden is to try to operate, then take a look at the government burden on business.

Here in Oregon, we are faced with a couple of ballot measures that will have the net effect of driving even MORE business away from our State.

Yet the lie continues about the "evil" corporations not paying their "fair" share, here the claim is that WE (the corporation) *Note the "WE" part as I AM incorporated. We are currently unindated with TV ads claiming corporations only pay $10 per year in taxes, in the zeal of government and those already on the government dole to pass yet ANOTHER added burden on business? Yet all that $10 is is a filing fee, it is NOT a tax. BTW: We also pay another $50 fee anuually just to record the business name.

The truth? We pay Federal taxes and State taxes, some of the highest rates in the world, prior to actually paying taxes on any income. Those taxes are NOT deductible, so it is taxed again as ordinary income. If the newest measure passes, Oregon will be surpassed only by Denmark as the highest total combined taxes and fees burden on business.

I say that it is government, and the taxes, costs of doing business, the nearly insane multitude of regulations, some conflicting, that drives industry overseas. Neat little things like $17,000 in traffic impact fees to add a 1200 square foot building to my own operations, a $175 "boiler" fee for a simple air compressor, the very manuals I need to operate my business face annual personal property taxes, every piece of equipment I own have burdens placed on them.

Even should I choose to give up and sell? The city of Portland imposes a 2.9% tax on the sale? Why should I pay the city of Portland nearly $10,000 to sell my property? I already pay several thousand annually in property taxes.

Basic common sense tells me that as soon as things settle down in Haiti, I should move there, build a building, buy nice products made in America (assuming I can find any) and peddle them to the Japanese and folks in Europe.

This is simple fact, business already pays far more in taxes and fees than any person working, and if by chance there is anything left, we as members of the population then pays taxes AGAIN on what is left.

This is what is driving those "evil" corporations overseas. That is the only option to compete, yet government continues with double digit annual budget increases while some complain because there are less jobs here.

Some would say all business need do is raise prices? Easy to say, not that easy to do in a world economy. No wonder China (and India right behind) are taking over as world economies, leaving the USA in the dust.

Another truth? This old man really can operate from anywhere on this planet, and I am sorely tempted........*EB