What Price U.S. Citizenship?

Townhall.com ^ | January 1, 2012 | Cal Thomas

[theBuckwheat]

Since aliens who reside illegally in the US are not “US Persons”, and are outside of the IRS compliance system, in that there is no way to enforce any reporting requirements on them, and because the present regime has declared its policy of not deporting illegal aliens who commit minor crimes, I am seeking to become an illegal alien in the land of my birth.

Because the US presumes the power to force me to report and pay taxes on income I earn outside of the US (unlike almost evey other country) it seems that is the only way I can be free of this particular tyranny.

[beachn4fun]

Our poor-mouth government might be able to garner extra (sarc/) revenue if they made those 40-some percent who don’t pay taxes, pay them. The only ones who suffer is the middle class...we have to cover for both sides of the aisle = from the “poor” who pay no (or not much) taxes to the “rich” who know how to hide their wealth.

But as an aside, rumor has it that revenue is NOT the problem, spending is. Who’da thunk? UGH!

[Varda]

My husbands ex business partner is leaving the US. He’s 65 so I’m assuming it’s permanent. I certainly felt a bit envious because I see this country as a sinking ship, like Weimer Republic Germany.

[Gay State Conservative]

Giving up your US citizenship isn’t difficult.All you have to do is prove that you have another citizenship (many Americans are entitled to another citizenship) and go to a US Embassy/Consulate abroad and follow the simple steps.If you’re gonna do it for tax purposes you’d be wise to get all you assets out of the country first so the IRS can’t get their filthy hands on it.

[Tau Food]

To a patriot, no asset is as valuable as U.S. citizenship. People who renounce their American citizenship should be allowed to visit, but there should be a tax of $ 20,000.00 per day and any violation of any state or federal law should result in permanent expulsion.

People who turn against their own country cannot be trusted by anyone.

[Kaslin]

I am a naturalized citizen. I am an American, not a German-American

[Gay State Conservative]

I am a naturalized citizen. I am an American, not a German-American

That's good.I greatly admire your attitude.So many people,both those born here and elsewhere,insist on being "hyphenated" Americans.However,for the sake of *this* discussion it's possible that Germany still considers you a citizen.Such laws vary from country to country.I know that under Irish law *I'm* entitled to Irish citizenship by way of ancestry.I haven't filled out the necessary forms so I'm technically not considered a citizen at this time but that's just one example of what I was saying earlier.

[Gay State Conservative]

People who turn against their own country cannot be trusted by anyone.

And if your country turned against you first what do you do? It sounds like,in your opinion,those Jews who were smart enough and lucky enough to get out of Germany in the 30's are traitors as well.Osama Obama & Friends are my sworn enemies.They despise me and I gladly return the favor.If their views are,in fact,supported by the majority of Americans then that means my country has turned against me.

It's not rocket science we're talking here.

[GBA]

Sam works for a large investment firm. He has lived here for the last 25 years. He says that five years ago, he began thinking he could no longer "afford to be an American."

You had your reasons why they shouldn't leave, but apparently they aren't strong enough reasons to keep these folks from seeking a better life elsewhere.

People usually act in their own best interests, usually to gain pleasure and avoid pain. Motivation rarely gets more complicated than that.

[Tau Food]

It's not rocket science we're talking here.

Right. And, it's not "Germany in the 30's," either.

Nobody anywhere in the world during the 30's had it as good as you do right here today in the United States. We're the luckiest people in the history of the world.

But, in the best of times and in the worst of times, people who turn on their own family, tribe or nation are generally viewed with contempt.

[GBA]

People who turn against their own country cannot be trusted by anyone.

Yes and no. It really depends upon the country and that for which it stands.

People who turn against their values and ideals, however, cannot be trusted by anyone. Too bad we keep re-electing them!

[skeeter]

With so many foreigners wanting to become U.S. citizens, it's still a shock to know someone who has relinquished his citizenship.

Lovely - we're trading our educated productive for illiterate tax consumers.

[rcofdayton]

Um, the government has turned against patriots, not visa versa.

[seowulf]

To a patriot, no asset is as valuable as U.S. citizenship. People who renounce their American citizenship should be allowed to visit, but there should be a tax of $ 20,000.00 per day and any violation of any state or federal law should result in permanent expulsion.

Is that you Joe Biden?

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

Even though he and his wife pay taxes on a home in California, the state has denied them in-state college tuition

---

Yet they want to give illegals in-state tuition rates. Where is the incentive to become a citizen?

[Tau Food]

People who are miserable should keep on searching for relief. There are a lot of places to try out there - Mexico, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Haiti.

My own theory is that geography can't cure miserable and that this country is about as good as it gets these days.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"People who turn against their own country cannot be trusted by anyone. "

Your statement contains a very large assumption. Perhaps you intended to make it, perhaps not.

Expatriots who've renounced - that I know of - have not "turned against their country. They would tell you that their country has turned against them.

I've not renounced and have no plans to do so, but I can assure you that my country has turned against all producers - in fact, all citizens - in fact, it:

has imposed usurious taxes without representation
has squandered the revenue that comes it
has debased our currency so that it is difficult to make it on one salary without becoming a ward of WalMart
has made us into a nation of potential terrorists that must be radiated, has circumvented the Bill of Rights
has violated our privacy through intercepting our phone calls and emails without legal justification
has ruled by fiat, instead of law
hs done away with Habeas Corpus rights, if they declare you don't qualify
has made asset forfeiture/seizure without court order or crime commonplace
has impoverished our nation through national debt that cannot be repaid
has driven business from our shores and with it, jobs
has passed so many laws, regulations and requirements by decree that no citizen knows if he is in violation of the law
AND SO MUCH MORE

The idea of America lives on, but in practice, the very foundations that created our nation and were enshrined in our Constitution are being eviscerated daily.

That some leave in pursuit of the original dream of America: freedom of opportunity, privacy, reasonable taxation, pursuit of happiness, in places where it yet lives, does not surprise me.

Nor do I condemn them for pursuing the dream of America while it grows dim here on our shores. My relatives did the same. Those who came with the Mayflower group, and those who fled totalitarianism in Europe during WWI.

AMPU

[justa-hairyape]

But, in the best of times and in the worst of times, people who turn on their own family, tribe or nation are generally viewed with contempt.

Apparently you are not even aware of how the USA was formed. Our founding fathers did not sit around a campfire and sing songs while holding hands with the British.

[Tau Food]

Some kids cry at Disneyland.

We haven't learned how to fix miserable yet.