May 29, 2013 11:13AM 

# The Real Reason Politicians Want a Bigger Bite of Apple 

By [Daniel J. Mitchell](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-mitchell) 

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Earlier this month, I explained [four reasons why the Apple “tax avoidance” issue](http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/four-reasons-to-applaud-apples-tax-planning/) is empty political demagoguery.

And [Rand Paul gave some great remarks](http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/rand-paul-debunks-the-shameful-demagoguery-against-apple/) at a Senate hearing, excoriating some of his colleagues for trying to pillage the company.

But this Robert Ariail cartoon may be the best summary of the issue.

![Arial Apple Cartoon](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/download-remote-images/danieljmitchell.files.wordpress.com/27968178233/arial-apple-cartoon.jpg?itok=dszBeZUw) 

What makes this cartoon so effective is that it properly and cleverly identifies what’s really driving the political class on this issue. They want more revenue to finance a bigger [burden of government spending](http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/a-fiscal-policy-tutorial-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-economics-of-government-spending/).

When I did [my contest for best political cartoonist](http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/question-of-the-week-who-is-your-favorite-political-cartoonist/), I picked a [cartoon about Greece and euro](http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/the-european-mess-captured-by-a-cartoon/) for Robert Ariail’s entry. While I still think that was a very good cartoon, this Apple cartoon would probably take its place if I did a new contest.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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