So what if Google shareholders are worth $155bn, its text advertising network is a goldmine, and the search engine is munching through the media industry? It's the American way, and the Mountain View company pays it taxes. Except in North Carolina, where the fabulously wealthy internet giant is negotiating with a depressed county that needs investment to make up for the decline in furniture manufacturing. To win a Google server farm, for which North Carolina is pitted against its neighbor to the south, Lenoir County has agreed to waive all business property taxes and 80% of real-estate taxes. For 30 years.

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