Don't Fence Me In

As you may remember Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has renounced his U.S. citizenship (see an earlier post in this blog The wretched refuse of our teeming shore).  This has caused a reaction in Washington D.C.  Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Bob Casey have decided that more penalties are in order and have proposed  the "Expatriation Prevention by Abolishing Tax-Related Incentives for Offshore Tenancy” Act (Ex-PATRIOT Act).  The following letter was posted on the Cafe Hayek blog:

Dear Sen. Casey and Sen. Schumer:

Irked that Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has renounced his U.S. citizenship, you propose, with your “Ex-Patriot Act,” to punitively tax and to permanently bar from ever again entering America men and women who, to reduce their tax liabilities, renounce their citizenship in the U.S.

The very fact that sitting U.S. senators issue such a proposal – the sick reality that representatives of an allegedly free people act as if individuals are serfs bound to a master – the noxious yet proudly paraded assumption by American government officials that a peaceful man’s or woman’s freedom of movement can properly be restricted by a government jealous that it misses the opportunity to seize a huge chunk of that man’s or woman’s earnings – does nothing other than to confirm the wisdom and justice of Mr. Saverin’s decision.

Sincerely,

Donald J. Boudreaux

Professor of Economics

George Mason University

A summary of the  Ex-Patriot Act is at this link:

Ex-PATRIOT Act

Ron Paul was correct in his answer to a question about border security during a televised debate.  He said that someday a border fence would be used to keep us in.  It seems that his prediction came true sooner than even he expected.  Watch the video at this link:

Ron Paul debate 9-7-2011