“We now find ourselves in the unusual position of being ordered to retroactively pay additional taxes to a government that says we don’t owe them any more than we’ve already paid”

Say what you want about Apple but they’ve done a masterful job at creating a loyal following of Applerubes. Apple could promise to punch a 3rd world baby for each iPhone sold and they’d still have legions of morons lining up to pay a premium for the cause.

The comments thread at Apple Insider re: this news was legendary.

Lots of rage about the possibility that their favorite multinational might have to pay some of their $200B offshore stash in taxes.

Apple is a shining Jewel of Irish industry. We all remember their story- Steve Jobs born in Dublin, Steve Wozniak born in Cork. Building their first computers in the garage of a pub and selling to the Homebrew Computer Club there. We all remember how the Irish government and people supported the growth of Apple through their country’s infrastructure and their countrymen’s sweat. How the industrious public schools provided Apple access to their high quality and skilled employees capable of navigating the new computer age.