I would respect the Constitution – a document that kcal09 has obviously never read.

I don’t think the constitution says you have to pay taxes to retain the rights protected therein.

They are, if I recall, unalienable.

There also could be a penalty to being American.

You have to pay income taxes on your wordwide income, so it’s not so easy to give up American citizenship. There is a process to renounce it.

As far as income taxes, I think that it’s only fair to pay proportional to the share of wealth you get from society.

[quote=briansd1]There also could be a penalty to being American.

You have to pay income taxes on your wordwide income, so it’s not so easy to give up American citizenship. There is a process to renounce it.

As far as income taxes, I think that it’s only fair to pay proportional to the share of wealth you get from society.[/quote]
If you meet the rules for being an ex-patriot you can exclude a huge chunk of income earned overseas. But that’s because your probably paying taxes where the money is earned. There are rules of how many days you can be in the U.S. per year or lose your expat status. My sister was an expat several years ago and I’m considering an overseas retirement. I do not plan to renounce my citizenship.

[quote=UCGal] My sister was an expat several years ago and I’m considering an overseas retirement. I do not plan to renounce my citizenship.[/quote]

Not a problem if there are reciprocity treaties with other countries, and if your income is just “average.” The exclusion is $91,500 but you still need to file a tax return.

But if you have great wealth, and international income, being an American can be a problem.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/07/20/more-rich-americans-renounce-u-s-citizenship-for-lower-taxes/

I know a lady who gave up her green card because of tax reasons. Her husband died and she wants to come back to America to live with her children. Although USCIS shows that she still has a Green Card, she applying for a permanent residency all over again just to avoid the tax issues of when she was away.

The point is that the US Government doesn’t let you give up your citizenship, or permanent residency that easy.

So as the OP pointed out, maybe there’s price to pay for American citizenship.

[quote=barnaby33]Just read the entire 14th amendment, several times. Its an attempt to nail down citizenship […][/quote]

It’s not an “attempt” – it’s the highest legal authority defining who is a citizen.

[quote=barnaby33]Nothing in this thread, or what Timmay said via Zerohedge has anything to do with revoking or proving ones right to be an American.[/quote]

Read the opening post:

[quote]Nearly half of All Americans don’t pay income taxes, does that mean they should lose their privilege ?[/quote]

WTF is the “privilege of being American” if it isn’t citizenship?

14th Amendment: If you are born here, you are a citizen.

Done.

And in anticipation of any idiotic follow up questions: There is no Constitutional way to “revoke” citizenship except by an individual voluntarily giving it up. And there is no test required to “prove” one is worthy after citizenship is granted.

The US Constitution defines who is an American.

So like I said when I started “being a $%@#” :
As an American citizen, I respect the Constitution.

But if you want to give precedence to some sloppy, partisan, ad-homenim attack article based upon distorted peseudo-facts, go right ahead.

But if you want to give precedence to some sloppy, partisan, ad-homenim attack article based upon distorted peseudo-facts, go right ahead.

No, I just want you to make a cogent argument. I read the entire thread. My interpretation of the OP’s intent was to ask a philosophical question. You are the one who resorted to knee jerk one line answers. Nobody else here argued the definition of citizenship.

There are very few facts to be had, this was an opinion piece. Both on the part of the treasury secretary, and the OP. You’ve added nothing to this.
Josh