161–170 of 267 posts
% of people who will actually leave the US? I'd wager near 0.
It's definitely non-zero, but there's also no evidence actual percentage of expats has increased even if reported desire to become one has increased.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There was no false dichotomy in what I wrote. Our return on taxation is a horrible healthcare system and an extremely effective military. I mentioned nothing about level of spending. I mentioned the returns on said spending. Of corse we could have a powerful military and a good healthcare system but we don’t. We have the former but not the latter.
It’s an implied false dichotomy. There is no reason to mention the military spending otherwise.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Israel's Navy is a joke. They have nothing of any relevance except a handful of subs that might be capable of launching nuclear missiles. They have no destroyers, no cruisers, and most importantly, no aircraft carriers.
Aren't destroyers, cruisers and carriers considered antiquated in a modern / all out war? A few times a year, I see articles about how these slow moving, once mighty behemoths would make easy targets for newer anti-ship missiles / tech. Nuclear armed submarines are probably their most important defensive asset. So is Israel smart for not wasting money on a huge naval fleet?
Israel doesn’t need to worry about an invasion because it can fall back on the US.
> Before and after Trump's election, many Americans -- particularly Democrats -- threatened to move to Canada (as Republicans did after Obama was elected).
So this is just the often-mocked empty-threat to move to an idealized Canada that's commonly made by politically dissatisfied (partisan) Americans?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Federal healthcare spending is much larger than military spending: https://media.nationalpriorities.org/uploads/total_spending_... (from https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-bud... ) It's unfortunate the chart includes social security, which isn't quite tax and spend the way most of the rest of the federal budget is.
The important question is not whether the spending is high. The important question is whether the spending is effective.
I find it interesting how many comments here and on other sites that linked the same article talk about this being tied to concerns around how their tax dollars are spent. It seems many people are not aware that the US is one of only two countries which taxes it's citizens no matter where they reside. Leaving the US is not enough if you wish to avoid taxation, you must also acquire citizenship in another country, and…
How can the US tax foreign income? Presumably they would have no idea about your earnings abroad.
It's worth mentioning that this only affects the middle class. There's a 100k deduction on the low end, while the rich have staff to hide the money at the top.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you not have health insurance? Why would a single illness cost you a million dollars?
Looking at his comment, he said 'Terrible illness' which implies something more severe than just the flu.
Having my illness would cause the rates for health insurance to sky rocket for my company the following year. I wouldn't blame them for letting me go since that would cause hardship for the rest of my coworkers.
I find it interesting how many comments here and on other sites that linked the same article talk about this being tied to concerns around how their tax dollars are spent. It seems many people are not aware that the US is one of only two countries which taxes it's citizens no matter where they reside. Leaving the US is not enough if you wish to avoid taxation, you must also acquire citizenship in another country, and…
While it is true, isn't only after the first 100K USD or so that you have to pay taxes on??
If you make say $135k/yr as a senior engineer for a US company, you will actually pay so much in taxes abroad and to the US, even with FEIE, that it's better to ask for a salary reduction below the $100,800 USD FEIE limit.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Aren't destroyers, cruisers and carriers considered antiquated in a modern / all out war? A few times a year, I see articles about how these slow moving, once mighty behemoths would make easy targets for newer anti-ship missiles / tech. Nuclear armed submarines are probably their most important defensive asset. So is Israel smart for not wasting money on a huge naval fleet?
You can't project power across the globe with tiny ships. It becomes a matter of supply and ability to launch aircraft. You can't do the same things with a tiny ship as you can with an airwing. Also, destroyers and cruisers are primarily used as missile-firing platforms anyway. And good luck countering enemy submarines without destroyers of your own. And I think you are overestimating how large destroyers are. They'r…
Agreed, and currently a modern Navy and it's ability to "projct power" is unmatched.
I just see a lot of commentary about how these large boats would be sitting ducks for modern missile systems. I'm not arguing that they are, just that it's been suggested and I'm wondering if Israel's decisions regarding defense are effected by this (probably not)
Your other two points were good as well - thanks for contributing.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
"aren’t satisfied with the returns on taxation" Ironic as American expats are still taxed, unless they give up citizenship. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/when-us-citizens-liv... https://www.americansabroad.org/us-taxes-abroad-for-dummies-...
The reduction in tax is still substantial.