Johnny Depp Flees France Over Tax Hikes

Townhall.com ^ | September 3, 2012 | Daniel J. Mitchell

[Kaslin]

I’m a bad person. I know it’s not nice to take joy in the misery of others, but I can’t help but smile when I see a story about bad news in France.

In my defense, this is not because of hostility to French people, who have always been friendly to me. Instead, France has become the global symbol of statism (particularly since Sweden has been moving in the right direction). The French, for instance, are increasingly infamous for class-warfare tax policy and onerous levels of intervention.

And since it’s my job to promote liberty, I’ll confess that it’s easier for me to convince non-French policy makers that free markets and small government are the right approach when there’s more evidence that statism is failing in France.

So why am I smiling? Well, France wasn’t doing so well under the de facto socialist Nicolas Sarkozy, and it seems that things are looking even worse now that the de jure socialist Francois Hollande is in charge.

Here’s some of what Reuters recently reported.

“It’s always time for a tax hike!”

The French are bleaker about their country’s future than at any time since 2005, a new poll showed on Saturday, with 68 percent saying they are “rather” or “very” pessimistic… Hollande’s government has been reeling from unemployment at a 13-year high and a rash of job cuts in recent weeks at top employers like carmaker Peugeot and retailer Carrefour. The government launched a plan this week to create 150,000 state-sponsored jobs for youth. Only 34 percent of those surveyed were confident in the government’s ability to battle unemployment, and just 20 percent expect the government to be able to improve their buying power. …The poll found that the pessimism extended even to 58 percent of Socialist party supporters.

I’m wondering when the pessimism will spread to investors. France recently lost its triple-A credit rating, but the rating agencies don’t do a good job, so I think it’s much more important to look at the prices of credit default swaps.

In other words, how much does it cost for an investor to insure debt from the French government? According to this CNBC site, France isn’t viewed as being as creditworthy as nations such as Switzerland, Germany, and the United States, but it is closer to those countries than it is to Spain, Italy, or Portugal.

This is just a guess on my part, but I think France is reaching the point where investors are suddenly going to get concerned about the government’s ability to fulfill its promises.

If Hollande follows through on his threat to impose a “patriotic” 75-percent tax rate, for example, that could be the trigger that makes the bond market a lot more skittish. Particularly since it will result in fewer rich people in France.

I’ve already written about French entrepreneurs and investors leaving the country because of Hollande’s class-warfare tax agenda. It’s gotten so bad that even Hollywood types are packing their bags.

Actor Johnny Depp has moved out of France and returned to America because he didn’t want to become a permanent French resident and pay income tax there. …Depp has now moved his family out of France after government officials asked him to become a permanent resident, as he feared he would end up paying tax in both countries. He tells Britain’s The Guardian newspaper, “…France wanted a piece of me. They wanted me to become a permanent resident. Permanent residency status – which changes everything. They just want… Dough. Money… ” Depp goes on to explain that if he spends more than 183 days a year in France he will have to pay income tax in both Europe and America, adding, “So you essentially work for free.”

Wow, complaining that he doesn’t want to “work for free.” What is he, some sort of radical libertarian from the Tea Party?

But he may want to chat with fellow tax-averse actor Jon Lovitz before moving back to America. Obama’s class-warfare agenda isn’t as bad as what Hollande is trying to impose, but it’s not Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands either.

P.S. Here’s a very good Chuck Asay cartoon about the French economy.

P.P.S. In a few areas, France has better policy than the United States.

[FlingWingFlyer]

It’s weird how all of the Hollywood “celebrity” frauds want Socialism/Marxism/Communism but they don’t want to have to pay for it.

[dfwgator]

Don’t let his sorry ass back here.

[bobo1]

i know, the french have become the butt of many jokes.

my favorite one was in the classifieds:

“french WWII lebel rifle for sale, never fired, only dropped once.”

Blessings, bobo

[DuncanWaring]

Did you say you’re starting to see French sailors starting to show up in your neighborhood with their “crash boats”?

[Milton Miteybad]

It’s weird how all of the Hollywood “celebrity” frauds want Socialism/Marxism/Communism but they don’t want to have to pay for it.

Yeah...funny thing there. These sniveling leftists sure make a grand noise about the need for greater "social justice" for all, but when asked to financially underwrite this policy they purportedly champion, they disappear completely. Almost as if they are advocating beliefs for others that they themselves do not hold.

There's probably a word for that...but I just can't think of it right now. ;-)

[Crimson Elephant]

To be fair, I think some of the reason a few bigger stars live there is their laws on the Paparazzi are a LOT tougher than here, so if you are as recognizable as a Johnny Depp, I can understand wanting to get away from NY and LA paparazzi.

[dfwgator]

John Lennon “imagined” lower taxes, which is why he fled England.

[golux]

Canada’s small business taxes are lower than ours... Billions lost.
People all over the world refuse to fly to or through US cities because they are disgusted by TSA security... Billions lost.
Many very wealthy people have left the US because they can no longer stand the incessant encroachments... The “safety DUI search & seizure stops,” the endless permitting, OSHA, etc for business, the laws which screw Dads in divorces... And on and on... Billions lost...
But what’s really lost is America’s soul, the Constitution.
Don’t be so quick to point a finger at France. France sucks, but... It Tolls For Thee.

[Revolting cat!]

feared he would end up paying tax in both countries.

Go ahead and diss France, but it's all about paying tax to Uncle Sam while living somewhere else!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"I’m a bad person. I know it’s not nice to take joy in the misery of others, but I can’t help but smile when I see a story about bad news in France."

Please forgive me for a moment of pedantry.

The quote above is a perfect illustration of the meaning of "Schadenfreude". The writer is not only taking "joy in the misery of others"; he also clearly feels guilty about it. Schadenfreude is a guilty pleasure. If there is no feeling of guilt, it's just gloating.

Schadenfreude is a great word -- we had to borrow it from the Germans, because there's no word quite like it in English. Unfortunately, it's been so overused -- as a simple synonym for gloating -- that it's probably forever lost its special meaning. /pedant

At least, that's how I understand it. If I'm wrong, perhaps some greater pedant will set me straight.

[Happy Rain]

Oh dear, Willy Sparrow doesn't like government stealing his hard earned wages...

welcome to the Liberal Democrat jungle you Hollyweird tool!

Better bundle for Obama pretty boy or you may have to pay like the rest of us!

[geologist]

WE ALL LEARN AS WE GO..

It was reported he ‘broke up’ or left his girlfriend and the mother of their two children.. No reason why. Money perhaps. Likely another movie star affair.

God bless them. They must live an unusual life. At least here in America it is unusual. In a fish bowl unusual. France was more laid back and accepting, or something.

[max americana]

As an ex-canadian, I usually am privy to tax attorney’s who handle some of the NHL players work stuff here in America. From what I’m told, (don’t want to say who or which team), it is cheaper for canadian players to set up shop in America than canada due to tax credits they receive using a certain visa. In canada, they pretty much take out 56% (around that rate), and they kill the NHL players returning to canada when it comes to tax time.

There is a reason why you see a lot of canadian ex-NHL hockey players marrying Americans and staying here for the long haul.

[CapnJack]

Wow, what happened to all that euphoria after the election?!?!?!?

How un-Patriotic that Depp is, doesn't he know the taxes are for the good of the people?

[NonValueAdded]

Depp goes on to explain that if he spends more than 183 days a year in France he will have to pay income tax in both Europe and America, adding, “So you essentially work for free.”

Does he grasp what he said? Johnny Boy, that could be your epiphany moment.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"John Lennon “imagined” lower taxes, which is why he fled England."

Lenon's "Taxman" was probably the best anti-tax protest song of all time.

"Let me tell you how it will be

There's one for you, nineteen for me

'Cause I'm the taxman"

The Beatles had just worked themselves up to the 95% tax bracket.

http://www.metrolyrics.com/taxman-lyrics-beatles.html

[Kaslin]

Go to this site
http://www.bing.com/translator/
Type in the left field "Du bist ein Depp" without the quotation marks and click the translate button. This is what Johnny Depp reminds me of

[Flag_This]

"Oh dear, Willy Sparrow doesn't like government stealing his hard earned wages..."

Arrgggh... he doesn't want to lose his booty to the taxman.