Record Number of US Citizens Giving Up Citizenship

And the numbers of US citizens renouncing citizenship reached over 3,000 last year, even though the fees to do so went well over $2,000:

Americans Ditch Their Passports

Whenever you read the message boards to this type of story, the common reaction of US-based Americans is “good riddance” and “don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” This is a churlish, childish and counter-productive reaction. These Americans are not traitors, they are simply tired of double-taxation (yes, ironic, considering that is why the original colonists fought for independence). Americans are some of the only citizens in the world (though China is starting to do this as well) that pay taxes in their country of residence, and to the US government as well. Now, they do not have pay US taxes if their income is under about $95,000 but they still have to file and, for many, that is an expensive proposition. Many US expats are not bankers or financiers; instead many are teachers, middle managers for global companies or small business owners. They make well under the threshold but requiring them to hire an accountant (usually back in the US because there are few licensed CPAs overseas) means paying anywhere from $400 to $1000. That’s just unfair, and there should be a simpler way for these Americans such as a simple one-page waiver form to file.

In principle, when living overseas you are not using the services of the government so you should not be subject to taxation to one’s home country. Europeans are astounded to learn that Americans have to pay tax on their overseas salary. Then again, Europeans get national health insurance if they pay home taxes, while Americans get nothing except an order to pay and register for Obamacare.

It used to be $400 to renounce citizenship, and now it’s $2,400. There’s no reason for it to be that high except to fleece an about-to-be former citizen one last time. It should cost $40 to renounce citizenship, or even be free. It’s petty and tacky to charge so much for trying to leave a club. It bespeaks more about the crassness and coarseness of the US government than of the citizens trying to leave US behind for greener pastures elsewhere. Just let them go with minimum fuss, and let go of the currently vindictive system.

Originally posted: http://www.mccarthyism.com/2015/20150213.htm

Four Years for “ISIS Bride” Is Harsh Sentence

An incredibly misguided Colorado woman got a four year prison sentence for wanting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and intending to be a bride for one its soldiers.

Four Years for Wanting to Join ISIS

This sentence is wrong-headed on many levels (and, yes, she will probably not serve the full four years, but even one year is too harsh for this case).

First, any time a government incarcerates a human being then that government is committing a violent act itself. It is unnatural to cage a human being, and should be used only in cases to protect society from future harm (i.e. violent offenders or the criminally insane). This woman committed no act herself, she just intended to join ISIS and had been in the process to do so. Yes, she probably would have done it if the FBI did not stop her at the airport, and, yes, the FBI probably saved her life. The right thing was done by stopping her, and afterwards she has fully cooperated with federal authorities by providing information on her contacts and offering to testify against them. And for this, she received four years in prison? That is not justice. In fact, it will only encourage others not to cooperate with law enforcement in the future. It is the same with John Walker Lindh (“(“the American Taliban”), who is serving a long sentence with no reprieve even after fully cooperating with authorities. He also never fought the US government or military (when he joined the Taliban, the US was at peace with the Taliban and even had talks with their representatives).

Second, imprisoning people is incredibly expensive. Taxpayers are on the hook every time a person is put into prison. The US has over 1% of its population in prison (by far, the highest proportion on the planet), and it is a huge money pit that could be spent on other priorities within the country. This case is just another example of this extreme waste of money, but people don’t say anything or care about it. Deflated footballs get the attention, while the government flushes your money away. Make this woman do community service or garnish her wages as punishment, that would be more civilized, just and effectual.

Stop throwing people into prison for non-violent crimes (particularly first offenders) and wasting taxpayer money.

Originally posted: http://www.mccarthyism.com/2015/20150124.htm

On Reduced Tuition at Community Colleges

One of the proposals in the State of the Union was to reduce tuition costs for students going to US community colleges. The Associate’s degree has become the key for many Americans who want to learn a skill or obtain a certificate to get a better job, or just a job, period. Community colleges also serve as the gateway for students who perhaps were not as academically prepared in high school to get a higher education footing before transferring to a four-year institution. I don’t think many people would understate the importance of community college to society for job preparation and upward mobility for many Americans. Therefore it sounds reasonable to make the tuition costs more affordable for current and prospective students… but there is a trap within this seemingly noble plan.

When the government (local/state/federal) provides more financial aid to students, then higher education institutions increase tuition. The more the beast gets fed, the more hungry the beast becomes for more money. It has become a never-ending cycle that has led to higher education tuition increases far out-stripping inflation or any rational measure (this is even moreso at 4-year schools than 2-year ones). The sad fact is most of the additional revenue has not gone to classrooms, but instead to bloated and useless administrators/staff. Over 70% of instructors at community colleges are part-time adjuncts, which means they are not able to form close relationships with the institution or its students. This is compounded by the fact that community college students are the type who need the most assistance and would benefit from it. Unfortunately accrediting boards are cowards, and don’t call the community colleges ‘leadership’ on this disservice to students. Accreditors are only interested in seeing mounds of paperwork with dotted “i’s” and crossed “t’s” as well as a check that is ready to be cashed. It should not be too much to ask for no more than 40% of a community college’s instructors be part-timers, and even that percentage is too high. Imagine if your high school teachers were part-timers shuttling around from institution to institution to teach classes. A good school primarily needs three things: good teachers, good students, and good resources (labs, software, books, etc.). The administrators themselves are, for the most part, superfluous, but they draw the largest salaries for contributing almost nothing in most cases, and they love the sound of more government flowing in so they can keep raising tuition without providing additional value. Students should protest this as it is their hard-earned money being spent for tuition and then wasted at these institutions. And if it’s financial aid being wasted, then it’s still your money derived from sales and income taxes. Unfortunately, we live in a culture dominated by apathy and despair, so even with money on the line, no one questions how their invested money gets spent.

Originally posted: http://www.mccarthyism.com/2015/20150123.htm