PrintTeaching fishing, Part 1
Worried that those who believe poverty in Africa——or anywhere else——can be cured with massive rock concerts by stars whose homes could adequately house all the displaced in Africa; whose tax bill, if paid honestly, could inadequately sate just about any mad dictator, "are not hooted—down with sufficient scorn"? Do you think "we need more articles, jokes, movies, and other popular culture on the subject" because "Aid without reform is worse than a waste. It is an enabler for tyranny."?
Relax. As usual, clear headed writers and thinkers rescue us from from the slop of fuzzy brained wailers. Mark Steyn in an article aptly titled "What rocks is capitalism...yeah, yeah, yeah" cleans up the slop by discovering that, what do you know, rock stars can be shrewd businesspeople, not throwing their money around at well, greedy governments and African dictators. They can really be role models but not in the way most of their equally fuzzy brained, adoring fans think.
Seven years ago, you'll recall, Sir Paul's wife died of cancer. Linda McCartney had been a resident of the United Kingdom for three decades but her Manhattan tax lawyers, Winthrop Stimson Putnam & Roberts, devoted considerable energy in her final months to establishing her right to have her estate probated in New York state.
That way she could set up a "qualified domestic marital trust" that would... Yeah, yeah, yeah, in the immortal words of Lennon and/or McCartney. Big deal, you say. We're into world peace and saving the planet and feeding Africa. What difference does it make which jurisdiction some squaresville suit files the boring paperwork in?
Okay, I'll cut to the chase. By filing for probate in New York rather than the United Kingdom, Linda McCartney avoided the 40 per cent death duties levied by Her Majesty's Government. That way, her family gets all 100 per cent — and 100 per cent of Linda McCartney's estate isn't to be sneezed at.
For purposes of comparison, Bob Geldof's original Live Aid concert in 1985 raised
