Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship • Hacker News Board

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#741

Post by aerostable_slug » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 12:10 AM UTC

angrais wrote: post #738

aerostable_slug wrote: post #727

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If non-PC thoughts are against the rules, post those rules in the acceptable use policy. I don't think it's hateful to critically discuss BLM. I do think it's hateful to say "x group is bad", but that's not what I read. I believe BLM to be led by Marxists and that is backed up by objective evidence. I'm not sure why that's controversial. It's also objectively true that George Floyd had a criminal record. Again, I'm n…

I don't have the feature to downvote you, but it I did then I would. Here's why: what is an "objective fact"? Are those statements you made relevant to the death of George Floyd? The answer is no. He was a criminal who made mistakes - for which he served his time. Stating your "objective facts" appear to diverge attention elsewhere and in particular to paint George as the guilty party that warranted the police respon…

> Are those statements you made relevant to the death of George Floyd? The answer is no.

They were in the judgement of a coroner. Not enough to mean murder wasn't called for, but it's obtuse to not observe that Floyd's drug load was past the lethal level for most people.

> Stating your "objective facts" appear to diverge attention elsewhere and in particular to paint George as the guilty party that warranted a cold bold death sentence. Did he that?

No, and when did I argue that? I never said he deserved to die. He should have been transported to jail and then tried for his crimes, not killed.

> He begged for his life while being kneed to the throat. There's an objective fact for you pal.

Anyone with any experience with corrections finds statements by suspects like this laughable at best. With him it was perhaps true (you physiologically can't speak if you can't breathe, but I don't deny he was killed). With someone else, it was because their wrists hurt because of those shiny bracelets they earned by committing crimes. I believe essentially nothing that a suspect says about their comfort, because the majority are accomplished liars. This is what they do. It is literally their occupation. I also believe Floyd was killed. Can you fit those two concepts in your head?

> Further, there was no "real life complications of a real life case" he was literally murdered. That's the point and is why the police office is serving jail time!

His drug consumption was absolutely a complication with his trial. Why would you think it wasn't?

> Please take some time to consider what and WHY you wrote what you did. Do you think that he deserved death? Why?

I don't think he deserved to die. I wrote what I wrote to illustrate that Real Life is hardly clean. There's nothing class-, race-, or otherwise-based in what I wrote. Objective facts.

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#742

Post by sunshineforever » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 12:16 AM UTC

aerostable_slug wrote: post #727

maxerickson wrote: post #663

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23559004

If non-PC thoughts are against the rules, post those rules in the acceptable use policy. I don't think it's hateful to critically discuss BLM. I do think it's hateful to say "x group is bad", but that's not what I read. I believe BLM to be led by Marxists and that is backed up by objective evidence. I'm not sure why that's controversial. It's also objectively true that George Floyd had a criminal record. Again, I'm n…

The Unites States needs a dose of Marxism. Things are bad here for the working class. We have more than enough resources to do better and bring our society up to par with other developed countries.

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#743

Post by hermannj314 » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 12:17 AM UTC

junar wrote: post #708

hermannj314 wrote: post #536

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was an American citizen living in Luxembourg for 3 years around 2015. I agree - many banks did not want to let me open an account, and when BNP Paribas said they work with Americans it was a huge ordeal to open the account. However, as a salaried employee, I did not struggle with the taxes. The IRS form was very straightforward and after deductions I didnt owe any US taxes (I made just over the equivalent of $100k…

Did you file Form 2555 or Form 1116? Were you also required to file FBAR or Form 8938? About how much time did you spend on tax preparation yourself? If you used a paid preparer, how much did that cost you?

I have no idea what form I used. I do know that I paper filed those years and it didn't cost me money, only time, a few evenings, reading IRS publications and googling 'expat taxes please help'.

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#744

Post by jimkleiber » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 12:21 AM UTC

mellavora wrote: post #638

jimkleiber wrote: post #282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I lived and worked in East Africa, I know that most, if not all of my income, was not taxed back in the US because of the Foreign Income Exclusion Act. Basically, for foreign earned income anywhere below ~$80,000 at the time, I didn't have to pay tax, which the limit is now around $108,000 or so. However, as you point out, that doesn't seem to apply to dividends and capital gains and other types of income [1]. I…

The problem isn't paying tax, it is 1) filing, which is enormously complicated, and 2) severe restrictions on what financial services you can access.

I appreciate this comment. I as well wish just "regular" taxes were more simple to file and also I can imagine how frustrating it might be to not be able to access certain services. Thank for the clarification.

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#745

Post by AlphaSite » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 12:21 AM UTC

jrochkind1 wrote: post #505

w0mbat wrote: post #418

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As multiple people have explained, preparing the required paperwork each year is a major expense and hassle, even if you do not owe any tax. Also, if you are technical enough to frequent this web site and you think $108K is a lot of money, you are being underpaid.

Googling, just the first one that comes up, suggests that median income for "software developer" in USA is $86,523. Meaning half make less, half make more. $100K is the 75th percentile, meaning 75% make less. ( https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Software-Developer-Sal... ) Some people that work in especially high-paid sub-industries have a mistaken idea of what typical "technical enough to frequent this web site"…

I don’t think that zip recruiter data is accurate, apparently the average engineer salary in Sunnyvale is 100k, where I can see new grad salaries are above 120k and do that doesn’t take into account bonuses or stocks.

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#746

Post by phatfish » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 12:32 AM UTC

aerostable_slug wrote: post #741

angrais wrote: post #738

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have the feature to downvote you, but it I did then I would. Here's why: what is an "objective fact"? Are those statements you made relevant to the death of George Floyd? The answer is no. He was a criminal who made mistakes - for which he served his time. Stating your "objective facts" appear to diverge attention elsewhere and in particular to paint George as the guilty party that warranted the police respon…

> Are those statements you made relevant to the death of George Floyd? The answer is no. They were in the judgement of a coroner. Not enough to mean murder wasn't called for, but it's obtuse to not observe that Floyd's drug load was past the lethal level for most people. > Stating your "objective facts" appear to diverge attention elsewhere and in particular to paint George as the guilty party that warranted a cold b…

So you agree he was killed and didn't deserve to die. You are just annoyed that such a "fuss" was made about it, and that he was black has nothing to do with it.

Got it.

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#747

Post by aerostable_slug » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 12:40 AM UTC

dylan604 wrote: post #409

vagrantJin wrote: post #355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I needed to laugh really hard at this because it encapulates the US citizen's mind so perfectly. Partly because the US lives in my head rent free. Is it because every single US diplomatic relation is in one way or other tied to the military? If a jibali captures an operator then fair enough. The US is very preachy about their soldiers. But for a civilian to think about that as a benefit is just wild.

"cīvis rōmānus sum" It's not like the US made this up. The Roman citizens had this protection too as they wandered the globe.

Yes, but we can actually make it happen (relatively quickly).

Last year, Navy SEALs from the Navy's Special Mission Unit parachuted in the dead of night to save a missionary. When's the last time the armed forces of Brunei did that? Or DRC? Or Azerbaijan? The answer is never. Intent != capability. I'm sure Paraguay wishes they could put commandos on the ground anywhere in the world in hours, but the fact is that they can't.

Being American is like having an American Express Card: membership has its privileges.

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#748

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 1:03 AM UTC

phatfish wrote: post #746

aerostable_slug wrote: post #741

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Are those statements you made relevant to the death of George Floyd? The answer is no. They were in the judgement of a coroner. Not enough to mean murder wasn't called for, but it's obtuse to not observe that Floyd's drug load was past the lethal level for most people. > Stating your "objective facts" appear to diverge attention elsewhere and in particular to paint George as the guilty party that warranted a cold b…

So you agree he was killed and didn't deserve to die. You are just annoyed that such a "fuss" was made about it, and that he was black has nothing to do with it. Got it.

[deleted]

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#749

Post by aerostable_slug » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 1:08 AM UTC

phatfish wrote: post #746

aerostable_slug wrote: post #741

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Are those statements you made relevant to the death of George Floyd? The answer is no. They were in the judgement of a coroner. Not enough to mean murder wasn't called for, but it's obtuse to not observe that Floyd's drug load was past the lethal level for most people. > Stating your "objective facts" appear to diverge attention elsewhere and in particular to paint George as the guilty party that warranted a cold b…

So you agree he was killed and didn't deserve to die. You are just annoyed that such a "fuss" was made about it, and that he was black has nothing to do with it. Got it.

When did I ever say that? I am annoyed someone was blocked/banned for quoting facts. I don't think Floyd needed to die at that point in time.

Why are you so hell-bent on painting me as a racist? I've said nothing of the sort. I've never said anything apologetic towards the actors in Floyd's death. I've not even made a statement on his death at all, other than his drug use complicates things (which I think anyone would agree upon).

Sure seems like you're out to get someone. Why? What makes you so hungry for blood? I did nothing to irritate you.

Re: Wealthy people are renouncing American citizenship

#750

Post by allarm » Fri, Aug 06, 2021, 1:08 AM UTC

shell0x wrote: post #283

larrysalibra wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for reading! The stay versus go debate in HK is always very interesting and one that has been going on for decades and will no doubt continue for many people.

I think it reached a point of no return. HK is still a very special place, but I see a lot of expats leaving for Singapore and Hkers leaving for overseas(BNO visa). Singapore is more stable, but has even less freedoms than HK though.

> Singapore is more stable, but has even less freedoms than HK though

And it’s getting worse every day. I.e. recently they allowed “social distance enforcement officers” to get into your house to check that you’re not breaking any rules (for instance not having a party with more people than allowed by current regulations). No warrant needed. Non-compliance penalized by up to $10000 and/or jail time.