How soon they forget (At what Tax Rate would you leave America like Eduardo Saverin?)

Washington Times ^ | 05/22/2012 | Richard Rahn

[SeekAndFind]

If you are a nonimmigrant American reading this, do you know why your ancestors came to America? The fact is, a large percentage of immigrants were trying to escape various forms of government persecution, including religious and tax persecution. The American Revolution was set off, in part, by a tax on tea that ranged from about 10 percent to 33 percent of its value. That and other grievances were enough to cause people to take up arms against the British.

Rather than taking up arms, most people who believe the tax burden now has become too great pick up and leave, such as all of those Californians and New Yorkers who are moving to Texas and Florida, where there is no state income tax. Many are all atwitter about Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin deciding to move to Singapore to partially escape what he believes is excessive taxation. Leaving the U.S. is a much more extreme action than moving from a high-tax state to a low-tax state, but a record number of Americans gave up their citizenship last year.

At what point would you consider leaving the U.S.? If you were taxed 98 percent of your income, or 75 percent as the new French president wants to do, or merely 50 percent-plus which is what many Californians will be paying if Gov. Jerry Brown gets his proposed tax increase and President Obama succeeds in getting his proposed tax increase?

Sen. CharlesE. Schumer, New York Democrat, and Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr., Pennsylvania Democrat - whose thought processes seem to be similar to those of King George III in 1776 - have denounced Mr.Saverin and introduced legislation to punish him and others who may wish to leave because of high taxes.

[puppypusher]

If my tax reached a cumulative amount of 50 % I would seriously begin planning on leaving.When your taxes get that high there really is no reason to work any longer.

With the Zero in the White House we are definetly heading that way.

[muir_redwoods]

I would never leave the US no matter what the tax rate. If it get high enough here I’ll be needed by the citizens to either aim and fire or at least be of some use reloading magazines.

AmRev II never seemed so real to me nor so close

[Freestate316]

Taxing the rich at exorbitant rates is a great way to get them to leave. How many uberwealthy British rock stars moved to America for that very reason? Ten Years After sang, “Tax the rich, feed the poor, til there are no rich no more.” Liberal philosophy 101 right there. If we do that our civilization will collapse.

[Freestate316]

I like your thinking!

[Gumdrop]

I would a third reason for the 19th century immigrants - It is neither tax issues or religious issues.

All but one of my immigrant. Europe German and Luxembourg ancestors came because of economic issues, either they were the second or third son in a family and could not inherit the farm; or they were too poor to enroll their sons in an apprentiship to learn a trade offered no chance of a job!!! Without a farm or a trade, young men were forced to either enter the military or be day laborers, and were therefore forbidden to marry as they were without the ability to afford a family.

America was the land of opportunity. Obama does not like that & is deliberately destroying the dream of all those previous immigrants. I might add that the overwhelming majority of “illegal immigrants” from south of our borders came to the USA for the same reason that the 19th century immigrants came here - opportunity to better the lives of their children.

[urbanpovertylawcenter]

I did not leave America, America's government left me.

Any government that chooses to demonizes the wealthy who pay
the great majority of taxes is short sighted and ignorant.

In my country I am nice to the producers, at least the ones who have feet.

[super7man]

from south of our borders came to the USA for the same reason that the 19th century immigrants came here - opportunity to better the lives of their children

It sound good but I do not see the reality of it. The parents of these children from south of the border do not do the things that are needed to insure that their kids succeed. They do not value the educational opportunities here. Not like Asian immigrants. Once in awhile you hear of the mom working 3 jobs to put her kid through college, but it is not the norm.

[theBuckwheat]

Happily, after the Founding Fathers revolted, they left us with a Constitution that allows us to convene a convention on the question of whether or not to redefine or revoke that central document. This of course would have the same effect as going to war against those whose fortune and ideology is tied to the Leviathan State we are quickly getting. We should expect that there will be a violent and maybe even bloody response should any call for a convention start to get serious traction.

[Texas resident]

Back in the 90’s, some boneheaded think tank in DC did a tax study. Their goal was to see just how much money fedzilla could bring in if everyone was taxed at 100%.

Then they extrapolated that data out for 10 years.

Just didn’t dawn on them that no one would go to work after the first year.