# Oh goody. US becoming more like USSR
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [May 17, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214 "2012-05-17T15:36:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/1 "2012-05-17T15:36:38Z")
> **[Senators to Unveil the 'Ex-Patriot Act' to Respond to Facebook's Saverin's...](https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/senators-to-unveil-the-ex-patriot-act-to-respond-to-facebooks-saverins-tax-scheme/)**
>
> Get breaking national and world news, broadcast video coverage, and exclusive interviews. Find the top news online at ABC news.
I remember - when you emigrated from USSR in the 70s-80s (those that were allowed to do so) you had to leave all your possessions behind, and were barred from ever visiting again. How nice to see United States moving in the same direction.
Ah but USSR didn’t try to tax you after you left. I guess US is one up in that department.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/2 "2012-05-17T15:40:22Z")
Not even close.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/3 "2012-05-17T15:43:46Z")
So someone tries to evade taxes they would have to pay by renouncing US citizenship and you think the US is like the USSR to call that a bogus tax dodge and try to get the money it is due?
Not sure how I see how that follows.
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### Author:  [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/4 "2012-05-17T15:50:18Z")
Shouldn’t this be in the other thread you have running about Saverin and his tax situation? If it’s about more than that, you should really put some effort into including other examples of how the USA is becoming more like the USSR.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/5 "2012-05-17T15:51:56Z")
Well, that’ll teach you to unfriend the US government!
And yeah, I don’t see why you needed another thread on this same subject.
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### Author:  [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/6 "2012-05-17T15:53:25Z")
> [@theR](#):
>
> Shouldn’t this be in the other thread you have running about Saverin and his tax situation? If it’s about more than that, you should really put some effort into including other examples of how the USA is becoming more like the USSR.
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Well, that’ll teach you to unfriend the US government!
>
> And yeah, I don’t see why you needed another thread on this same subject.
You probably missed the new legislation proposal.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/7 "2012-05-17T15:55:12Z")
> [@Terr](#):
>
> You probably missed the new legislation proposal.
No, you failed to convincingly demonstrate that they are similar. The differences between the USSR laws and things proposed legislation are not subtle.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/8 "2012-05-17T15:56:28Z")
The ban on re-entry has been the law since 1996.
[Title 8](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/usc_sup_01_8) › [Chapter 12](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/usc_sup_01_8) › [Subchapter II](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/usc_sup_01_8) › [Part II](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/usc_sup_01_8) › § 1182 of the US Code.
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*(E) Former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxation \*\*
> Any alien who is a former citizen of the United States who officially renounces United States citizenship and who is determined by the Attorney General to have renounced United States citizenship for the purpose of avoiding taxation by the United States is **inadmissible**.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/9 "2012-05-17T15:57:09Z")
In Soviet America, thread starts _you!_
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### Author:  [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/10 "2012-05-17T16:06:52Z")
> [@Terr](#):
>
> [I remember - when you emigrated from USSR in the 70s-80s (those that were allowed to do so) you had to leave all your possessions behind, and were barred from ever visiting again. How nice to see United States moving in the same direction.
Honestly, if you want to renounce your citizenship as a tax dodge, I would think it de rigueur to deny you future visits. And, I don’t see any particular reason why the government should allow anything (besides you) to leave the country.
The government you just renounced and spat in the face of controls the nation’s borders. Why should they play nice?
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### Author:  [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/11 "2012-05-17T16:09:13Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#):
>
> Honestly, if you want to renounce your citizenship as a tax dodge, I would think it de rigueur to deny you future visits. And, I don’t see any particular reason why the government should allow anything (besides you) to leave the country.
>
> The government you just renounced and spat in the face of controls the nation’s borders. Why should they play nice?
Thank you, comrade, for your opinion. I met so many like you in the USSR.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/12 "2012-05-17T16:15:55Z")
> [@Terr](#):
>
> Thank you, comrade, for your opinion. I met so many like you in the USSR.
This isn’t acceptable in Great Debates. If you want a debate, make arguments instead of personal comments like this.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/13 "2012-05-17T16:33:47Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#):
>
> Honestly, if you want to renounce your citizenship as a tax dodge, I would think it de rigueur to deny you future visits. And, I don’t see any particular reason why the government should allow anything (besides you) to leave the country.
>
> The government you just renounced and spat in the face of controls the nation’s borders. Why should they play nice?
Agreed; he made his money here and now doesn’t want to pony up.
Take your ball and leave? Fine, we’re not gonna play with you anymore.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/14 "2012-05-17T17:07:49Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> This isn’t acceptable in Great Debates. If you want a debate, make arguments instead of personal comments like this.
That’s all the argument **Terr** has. Don’t totally disarm him.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/15 "2012-05-17T17:11:28Z")
Apparently “tax-dodging Brazilian” is the new definition of an American hero.
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### Author:  [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/16 "2012-05-17T17:36:01Z")
Wait, are we saying that a 30% tax on capital gains is the same thing as confiscating everything you own?
I think this case just reinforces the notion that the wealthy are shirking their already low tax obligations.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/17 "2012-05-17T17:46:17Z")
> [@theR](#):
>
> Shouldn’t this be in the other thread you have running about Saverin and his tax situation? If it’s about more than that, you should really put some effort into including other examples of how the USA is becoming more like the USSR.
Ermm . . . Russia and the U.S. are both growing warmer?
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/18 "2012-05-17T17:50:26Z")
So, lack of sympathy for people who demonstrably hate America now constitutes hating America?
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/19 "2012-05-17T18:10:52Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#):
>
> The government you just renounced and spat in the face of controls the nation’s borders. Why should they play nice?
Exactly. I wonder if **Terr** is for or against getting tough on our borders. I for one am for it.
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### Author:  [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-goody-us-becoming-more-like-ussr/622214/20 "2012-05-17T19:09:37Z")
To be fair, the USSR was anti-emigration and pro-immigration (to an extent).
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