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You are right. From a few random websites: "In 1996, Congress included a provision in the expatriation law to bar entry to any individual “who officially renou

by seiji 14y ago

You are right. From a few random websites: "In 1996, Congress included a provision in the expatriation law to bar entry to any individual “who officially renounces United States citizenship and who is determined by the Attorney General to have renounced United States citizenship for the purpose of avoiding taxation by the United States.” This section of the 1996 Immigration law, known as the Reed Amendment, added ex-citizens to the list of other “excludables” which includs practicing polygamists, international child abductors, and aliens who have unlawfully voted in U.S. elections." Avoiding taxes by moving after the fact is an asshat thing to do.

mindcrime 14y ago
Avoiding taxes by moving after the fact is an asshat thing to do No it isn't. Avoiding paying taxes is the Right Thing To Do. The idea that taxation is just or right is rooted in some ridiculous ideas, like the notion of an "implicit contract" which is a total oxymoron. Contracts are explicitly, well, explicit. The idea that someone drew some lines on a map, gave that area a name and created something called "government" and now have some authority to collect money from anybody who happens to be inside those lines is absolutely absurd.
- wpietri 14y ago
  Ah, capitalized phrases, the sign we've crossed from politics to religion. In the name of the Fountainhead, and of the Galt, and of the Holy Dollar: go forth and tax no more. Hear our prayer, St. Ayn. That you find something absurd isn't proof that it's a bad idea, or that it doesn't work, or that you can just pretend your fantasy world will be awesome. I think it's absurd that we genius beings of ethereal light and wisdom are implemented on top of leaky, decaying bags of meat. But that's how it works for now, and denial isn't going to make my life any better.
  - mindcrime 14y ago
    That you find something absurd isn't proof that it's a bad idea No, but it's still a bad idea. and denial isn't going to make my life any better. So work on changing the situation. That what I do vis-a-vis my issues with the way American society is implemented. At least with this stuff, we have tools at our disposal to try and actually change things: running for office, volunteering for campaigns, donating money, spreading the word about better ways of doing things, etc., etc.

by seiji 14y ago

mindcrime 14y ago

Avoiding taxes by moving after the fact is an asshat thing to do No it isn't. Avoiding paying taxes is the Right Thing To Do. The idea that taxation is just or right is rooted in some ridiculous ideas, like the notion of an "implicit contract" which is a total oxymoron. Contracts are explicitly, well, explicit. The idea that someone drew some lines on a map, gave that area a name and created something called "government" and now have some authority to collect money from anybody who happens to be inside those lines is absolutely absurd.

wpietri 14y ago
Ah, capitalized phrases, the sign we've crossed from politics to religion. In the name of the Fountainhead, and of the Galt, and of the Holy Dollar: go forth and tax no more. Hear our prayer, St. Ayn. That you find something absurd isn't proof that it's a bad idea, or that it doesn't work, or that you can just pretend your fantasy world will be awesome. I think it's absurd that we genius beings of ethereal light and wisdom are implemented on top of leaky, decaying bags of meat. But that's how it works for now, and denial isn't going to make my life any better.
- mindcrime 14y ago
  That you find something absurd isn't proof that it's a bad idea No, but it's still a bad idea. and denial isn't going to make my life any better. So work on changing the situation. That what I do vis-a-vis my issues with the way American society is implemented. At least with this stuff, we have tools at our disposal to try and actually change things: running for office, volunteering for campaigns, donating money, spreading the word about better ways of doing things, etc., etc.