1 rule for the rich quite a different bunch of rules for the rest of us
It depends what you bring to the table and that's as it should be.
Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
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Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#32That's so f * up! Money can buy you everything. Even a citizenship. The NZ-gov should asked themselves why a close Trump supporter and VC is looking for a safe haven outside of the US. Will this person really add value to the society? Or will he build a massive mansion with a wall around it and an airport?
> That's so f up! Money can buy you everything. Even a citizenship.* The latter "money for citizenship" has been going on in most countries (including the USA). https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/07/countries-selling-cit...
I'd just like to see more commitment than spending money. sports people representing a new country i.e.
Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#33He's probably one of their 5 richest citizens at this point. Why would they not seize the opportunity to increase their tax base?
Most likely he doesn't pay personal taxes to NZ. If he still retains his American citizenship, the IRS expects him to file there.
Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#34That's so f * up! Money can buy you everything. Even a citizenship. The NZ-gov should asked themselves why a close Trump supporter and VC is looking for a safe haven outside of the US. Will this person really add value to the society? Or will he build a massive mansion with a wall around it and an airport?
The government can receive money from this guy with no added costs, as it is unlikely that Thiel poses a threat to NZ or its citizens. Even if he builds a mansion or something that's still a net positive that would be irresponsible not to take advantage of. (assuming the funds are not lost to corruption)
Can granting Thiel citizenship create problems in the future, in terms of kickstarting negative trends? That's a possibility but it seems like a nebulous and remote one.
Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course you can buy citizenship. Here's a price list if you are in the market: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/07/countries-selling-cit...
Latvian citizenship at 35.000€ with no residency requirements looks like a steal, considering that you would be allowed to live anywhere in the EU, if I'm not misinterpreting.
You didn't finish your research. Process takes ten years and requires you to become fluent in Latvian.
Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#36However controversial Thiel may be, there's no arguing the benefits his citizenship grants NZ. If millions of $$ of investment and hundreds of jobs created don't qualify him for citizenship, there's a fallacy needing fixing. FYI - the US grants green cards to foreigners who invest $1M in new American businesses, NZ probably has an unwritten law that grants citizenship to those who stimulate it's economy
What's "fallacious" about the view that countries shouldn't issue citizenship for capital as an investment vehicle might shares?
(Incidentally, pointing to the mere existence of somewhat analogous programs elsewhere in the attempt to justify the grant literally is fallacious. Inferring an ought from an is.)
Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's called foreign investment. And not buyyourselfin investment.
Call it what you want to. There are a few hundred xero employees (kiwis) supporting families, the economy, adding to the technical chops of NZ, ..., because of Theil's investment. That can't possibly be so bad.
Do you have reason to believe Thiel was the last/only person willing to make that investment?
Edit: To be clear: point is, yes, investment is valuable, but it doesn't necessarily follow that there's no company or employment but-for his investment.
Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#38He is very wealthy and adds intellectual capital to any country he chooses to live, why is that controversial?
Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think this mindset is largely harmful to the indigenous population of New Zealand, who will become increasingly margenalized in their home country.
There's no evidence to suggest that Thiel's presence will increase that marginalization, or if Thiel is actually interested in decreasing it in the first place.
"or if Thiel is actually interested in decreasing it in the first place"
So, even if hypothetically there were increased marginalization, it would only matter if it were against Thiel's intention?...
Re: Peter Thiel only spent 12 days in NZ before being granted citizenship
#40So what? In Israel, you can become a citizen without spending even a whole day there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Return I don't see why if NZ thinks having Thiel as a citizen would be good for them, they can't give him citizenship at any moment they'd like.
So because other countries do the same or worse, it justifies this ? I'm impressed.