4 ms·

American Imperialism at its finest. "Since we're the best country in the world, you couldn't have possibly become rich without us, and therefore you must pay to

by lowpro 11y ago

American Imperialism at its finest. "Since we're the best country in the world, you couldn't have possibly become rich without us, and therefore you must pay to leave us!"

colechristensen 11y ago
Greatness aside, you probably couldn't have become rich without roads, national defense, clean water...
- ionised 11y ago
  Those things aren't exclusive to the US.
  - colechristensen 11y ago
    Yes, but if you earned your billion on the backs of US peoples and infrastructure, you have to pay a toll when you leave.
    - sushid 11y ago
      But what if you weren't even born in the US, much less have ever set foot in the US. Do you think it's fair to "pay a toll" when you're working in a foreign country?
      - cr1895 11y ago
        I don't think that's what he's saying. I think we are talking past each other, myself included. a) cole seems to specifically be talking about very wealthy people who did work and earn money in the US but who renounced citizenship largely for tax purposes (e.g. Eduardo Saverin) b) cole talks about the foreign-earned income exclusion, which is misplaced (for people like (a) this is very different from income earned on investments and for wealth which is subject to the exit tax) There's a smattering of outright incorrect things too like having to pay taxes for 10 years after renouncing.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- tn13 11y ago
  For that the person has already paid his taxes and he has paid for nonsensical wars elsewhere too.
adventured 11y ago
You're intentionally blowing the parent's comment dramatically out of proportion to what was actually said, as a cheap excuse to bash America. The parent never proclaimed America was the best in any regard, nor hinted at such an attitude. Nobody needs to think their country is the best just to implement negative tax policies. All it indicates at a base level is the desire to maximize tax revenue. That goes for countries with extremely high tax rates on high income, which is semi-common in the developed world: it does not necessarily mean those nations must think their country is the best, therefore they can tax the rich whatever they like and said rich won't leave.
- mineshaftgap 11y ago
  Cheap excuses to bash America is standard fair on HN. Europe is going to lose their mind when America makes them pay their own way in the world, and it will be very ugly for the poor confused bastards.
eropple 11y ago
I have no real opinion on whether territorial versus worldwide taxation is correct, but I think this is incorrect. It's not "you couldn't have possibly," it's "you didn't." You're welcome to renounce your citizenship if you want to disprove the didn't part.

by lowpro 11y ago

American Imperialism at its finest. "Since we're the best country in the world, you couldn't have possibly become rich without us, and therefore you must pay to leave us!"

colechristensen 11y ago

Greatness aside, you probably couldn't have become rich without roads, national defense, clean water...

ionised 11y ago
Those things aren't exclusive to the US.
- colechristensen 11y ago
  Yes, but if you earned your billion on the backs of US peoples and infrastructure, you have to pay a toll when you leave.
  - sushid 11y ago
    But what if you weren't even born in the US, much less have ever set foot in the US. Do you think it's fair to "pay a toll" when you're working in a foreign country?
    - cr1895 11y ago
      I don't think that's what he's saying. I think we are talking past each other, myself included. a) cole seems to specifically be talking about very wealthy people who did work and earn money in the US but who renounced citizenship largely for tax purposes (e.g. Eduardo Saverin) b) cole talks about the foreign-earned income exclusion, which is misplaced (for people like (a) this is very different from income earned on investments and for wealth which is subject to the exit tax) There's a smattering of outright incorrect things too like having to pay taxes for 10 years after renouncing.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
tn13 11y ago
For that the person has already paid his taxes and he has paid for nonsensical wars elsewhere too.

adventured 11y ago

You're intentionally blowing the parent's comment dramatically out of proportion to what was actually said, as a cheap excuse to bash America. The parent never proclaimed America was the best in any regard, nor hinted at such an attitude. Nobody needs to think their country is the best just to implement negative tax policies. All it indicates at a base level is the desire to maximize tax revenue. That goes for countries with extremely high tax rates on high income, which is semi-common in the developed world: it does not necessarily mean those nations must think their country is the best, therefore they can tax the rich whatever they like and said rich won't leave.

mineshaftgap 11y ago
Cheap excuses to bash America is standard fair on HN. Europe is going to lose their mind when America makes them pay their own way in the world, and it will be very ugly for the poor confused bastards.

eropple 11y ago

I have no real opinion on whether territorial versus worldwide taxation is correct, but I think this is incorrect. It's not "you couldn't have possibly," it's "you didn't." You're welcome to renounce your citizenship if you want to disprove the didn't part.