Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus • Hacker News Board

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#41

Post by kylebenzle » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:00 PM UTC

Barrin92 wrote: post #34

magicalist wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's not moral behavior. Getting a second citizenship?

Buying one. Citizenship is something that ought to be earned and given to people who show that they want to live in and contribute to a country. People like Schmidt purchase themselves a tax excemption or freedom of movement in a world where ordinary people right now lose their jobs and are locked into their country.

How can you argue that Eric hasn't "earned" citizenship anywhere he wants. I have a buddy from India who has worked hard in the tech industry and is applying for US citizenship and I hope he gets it.

Its not like he just inherited his wealth and is now skipping out ASAP.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#42

Post by kylebenzle » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:01 PM UTC

gruez wrote: post #35

esarbe wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bailing on your taxes. Or what else do you think he's doing it for?

Won't he also have to renounce his US citizenship, since US collects taxes on world wide income?

Only if he wants to avoid paying taxes on money he makes moving forward.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#43

Post by DSingularity » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:01 PM UTC

CalChris wrote: post #21

Cyprus is the easiest (if expensive) way to get an EU passport which is useful for travel. I don't read much past that. He already has an army of lawyers and accountants to deal with his taxes. https://www.goldenvisas.com/cyprus

Why do you think Eric has problems traveling?

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#44

Post by fraoulitsa » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

I look forward to meet him at our cypriot beaches ;) it would be interesting to see how and if, this drives more prestige figures in our island, and how will affect the economy...

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#45

Post by dheera » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

esarbe wrote: post #19

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #6

I don't blame him for taking advantage of the system. What I blame him for is all of his supposed altruistic bloviating. No different than a Russian oligarch.

Huh, why not? If not for people taking advantage of "the system", "the system" would not exist. I mean; here we have a guy that has taken all the advantage of all the benefits a developed industrial country has to offer and then in turn does everything in his power to give back as little as possible. Hell yeah I'm going to blame him. It's not moral behavior. I don't care whether it is legal or not, he's behaving like…

> that has taken all the advantage of all the benefits a developed industrial country has to offer

a. He has also given a lot more back to the said country. than he has taken from it, IMO. Imagine what life would be like without Google.

b. Google is a global company, not just a US company

c. I don't believe in the notion of nations or citizenship and don't blame him if he doesn't either and is switching citizenships just for convenience/logistics.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#46

Post by FDSGSG » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

kylebenzle wrote: post #42

gruez wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Won't he also have to renounce his US citizenship, since US collects taxes on world wide income?

Only if he wants to avoid paying taxes on money he makes moving forward.

Isn't that exactly what esarbe is trying to imply?

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#47

Post by bduerst » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

CalChris wrote: post #21

Cyprus is the easiest (if expensive) way to get an EU passport which is useful for travel. I don't read much past that. He already has an army of lawyers and accountants to deal with his taxes. https://www.goldenvisas.com/cyprus

Yep. Before Brexit, it used to be St. Kitts where you would get citizenship.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#48

Post by esarbe » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

s5300 wrote: post #28

esarbe wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh, why not? If not for people taking advantage of "the system", "the system" would not exist. I mean; here we have a guy that has taken all the advantage of all the benefits a developed industrial country has to offer and then in turn does everything in his power to give back as little as possible. Hell yeah I'm going to blame him. It's not moral behavior. I don't care whether it is legal or not, he's behaving like…

[flagged]

That's not basis for a functioning social contract. You need a functioning social contract to enjoy the fruits of your labor or spoils of war.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#49

Post by 1024core » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

Barrin92 wrote: post #34

magicalist wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's not moral behavior. Getting a second citizenship?

Buying one. Citizenship is something that ought to be earned and given to people who show that they want to live in and contribute to a country. People like Schmidt purchase themselves a tax excemption or freedom of movement in a world where ordinary people right now lose their jobs and are locked into their country.

As long as he remains a USC, he will have to pay US tax.

Don't get me wrong: I don't like the idea of buying a citizenship at all. But this won't let him escape taxes, if you think that was his intention.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#50

Post by mensetmanusman » Mon, Nov 09, 2020, 7:02 PM UTC

Optics aren’t great when a well-known democratic donor who may be a part of the new administration is simultaneously evading the taxes that the administration might adjust.