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from the breaking-up-is-hard-to-do dept.
The USA has been making life difficult for Americans residing abroad; FATCA causes plenty of problems; but so does citizenship-based taxation. The IRS and Treasury department have made the reporting and taxation more onerous, and stepped up their collection efforts.
The result should be a surprise to no one: more and more Americans are handing in their US citizenship. Total numbers are unavailable (the lists published by the government include only a portion of the total), but undisputed is the fact that the numbers are increasing rapidly.
Having lots of citizens want to leave is...embarrassing. One solution could be to review the policies leading to people to hand in their citizenship. Another would be to make the fee unaffordable, especially for people living on second- or third-world incomes. It's obvious, of course, which route the USA has chosen: It now costs $2350 to hand in your US passport; more than 20 times the international average.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by hemocyanin on Wednesday December 03 2014, @04:37PM
The Current US Federal Bill of Rights:
1: You have the right to say anything you want as long as we agree with it. Otherwise, you may be deprived of your life without trial or any form of recourse (Al Awlaki).
...
4: You have the right to privacy and the right to be free from unreasonable searches or seizures. Note however that anything the Federal Government wants is de facto reasonable and lawful irrespective of your appearance of or actual innocence, and all of your motions, communications, and private information (like medical records) is subject to Federal monitoring. Also, if Federal Law Enforcement agencies need extra money, they can seize your property through civil forfeiture for no reason whatsoever and that too is reasonable and lawful.
5: Before being punished, you have a right to a fair trial. A "fair trial" means that the Feds can bully and bulldoze you beyond your ability to actually pay for that trial, and further, that a fair trial can mean a secret trial in which you are not told of the offense, not given an opportunity to defend yourself, and indeed, not even told that the trial is happening, from which there is no appeal, and once completed you will be immediately drone bombed.
6: You have the right to a speedy and public impartial trial, to confront the witnesses against you, to be informed of the crime you are charged with, and to have assistance of counsel. A speedy and public trial comporting with the 6th amendment, as that phrase is defined by the US Federal Government, means a secret trial in which you are not appraised of the charges against you, the evidence against you, are not allowed any representation, and you are not even informed of the fact of the trial.
7: You have the right to a jury trial. The US Federal Government reserves the right to hand select the jury, in secret, during secret trials.
8: Excessive bail and fines are prohibited. It is defined as not excessive if a Federal LEO needs extra money in which case all of your property is subject to civil forfeiture without reason.
9: Enumerating these rights does not mean you don't have other rights. Remember however, that the rights of Federal agencies trumps all other rights.
10: The powers not specifically delegated to the Federal Government belong to the states. Just as the Federal government defines "imminent" to mean "perhaps, some time off in the future", in this instance, the word "states" is defined as "Federal Government."
(Score: 1) by KiloByte on Thursday December 04 2014, @04:23AM
Not sure why you skipped 2nd, that's the amendment your govt holds in biggest contempt beside 4th.
Ceterum censeo systemd esse delendam.