# So....I have to ask...anyone leaving the country? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285 "2008-11-05T16:19:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/21 "2008-11-05T21:06:30Z")
I’m not particularly on the right. Definitely liberal on social issues. Just not an Obama supporter. Someone who makes more money than someone else should not be forced to pay a higher tax rate. It should be equal for all. People need to face that they only make so much money in life. They don’t like it, get another job. Get more education to get a better paying job. They shouldn’t elect somebody to take more from the rich just to pass on to them. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/22 "2008-11-05T21:10:02Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Yep, leaving the country did actually enter my mind. But I’ll wait to see how fucked up it really gets. I know what communism and socialism are. Barack is a socialist. Yeah, 'cause things have been going _so_ well otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/23 "2008-11-05T21:11:01Z")
My guess is that anyone who was afraid of “socialism” in the U.S. would probably have to move to Hong Kong. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/24 "2008-11-05T21:14:32Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > I’m not particularly on the right. Definitely liberal on social issues. Just not an Obama supporter. Someone who makes more money than someone else should not be forced to pay a higher tax rate. It should be equal for all. People need to face that they only make so much money in life. They don’t like it, get another job. Get more education to get a better paying job. They shouldn’t elect somebody to take more from the rich just to pass on to them. I agree completely. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/25 "2008-11-05T21:15:17Z")
So you know it won’t get worse, huh? Incredible how so many, enough to get him elected, consider Barack some kind of messiah. Oprah looked like she was witnessing Jesus on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/26 "2008-11-05T21:17:07Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > So you know it won’t get worse, huh? Incredible how so many, enough to get him elected, consider Barack some kind of messiah. Oprah looked like she was witnessing Jesus on Earth. Thinks he will improve the economy != messiah ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/27 "2008-11-05T21:17:49Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Yep, leaving the country did actually enter my mind. But I’ll wait to see how fucked up it really gets. I know what communism and socialism are. Barack is a socialist. So where are you going to move? We are waiting. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/28 "2008-11-05T21:19:48Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > This does raise an interesting point - where would you move to? A liberal frustrated with a hated conservative administration has plenty of options, most other industrialized nations are to the left of the United States, generally speaking. But where would a conservative frustrated with a hated liberal government move to? The times I’ve heard coonservatives say they were going to leave the country, their dream destination was either New Zealand (which strikes me as odd, given they are the perhaps the most “socialistic” of the industrialized English-speaking countries out there) or somewhere in Central America; usually Mexico or Costa Rica. Apparently, the appeal of Central America is its lawlessness;in their eyes, the kind of places where kids can buy M-80s or Bag O’ Broken Glass legally. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/29 "2008-11-05T21:21:34Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > So you know it won’t get worse, huh? Incredible how so many, enough to get him elected, consider Barack some kind of messiah. Oprah looked like she was witnessing Jesus on Earth. You’re not debating, you’re quoting Republican talking points. Old ones. So what’s your shortlist of countries to move to when “things get worse”? If you sign on to move to a libertarian micronation, make sure it won’t [sink](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Atlantis) first. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/30 "2008-11-05T21:22:49Z")
Not really talking about his self view. But his supporters seemed totally mesmerised. Naw, hopefully it’ll be a quick four years. I’ll stick around. That’s what I say now but who knows. I love Costa Rica though. Just because you like him does not mean I’m supposed to. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/31 "2008-11-05T21:23:39Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Just not an Obama supporter. Someone who makes more money than someone else should not be forced to pay a higher tax rate. It should be equal for all. But John McCain was not proposing a flat tax. His income tax plan really wouldn’t have been materially different from Obama’s in most circumstances. So why are you upset over Obama winning, when a McCain presidency would have had pretty much the same effect on your tax bill? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/32 "2008-11-05T21:26:12Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Naw, hopefully it’ll be a quick four years. I’ll stick around. That’s what I say now but who knows. I love Costa Rica though. From the wikipeida entry on Costa Rica: > [@](#): > > Costa Rica is also the Latin American pioneer in the implementation of a modern welfare state. Its welfare spending is as high as that of Scandinavian countries. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/33 "2008-11-05T21:26:33Z")
Was a Huckabee supporter. Not pro McCain. Anti-Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/34 "2008-11-05T21:27:50Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > It would take Bush suddenly “passing” a constitutional amendment or exception or something making him president until further notice, to make me catch the next flight to Europe. Why would anybody leave if Bush pulled something like that? Me, I’d be grabbing my rifles and looking for the signup sheet for Obama’s civilian defense force. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/35 "2008-11-05T21:29:44Z")
Dang scratch that for my fellow Texan. What is next? > [@](#): > > Costa Rica is also the Latin American pioneer in the implementation of a modern welfare state. Its welfare spending is as high as that of Scandinavian countries. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/36 "2008-11-05T21:35:50Z")
Oooh Wikipedia! But I know how well I could live in Costa Rica for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/37 "2008-11-05T22:01:55Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Oooh Wikipedia! But I know how well I could live in Costa Rica for awhile. If you retain U.S. Citizenship and plan on returning, you’ll still need to pay U.S. Income taxes or they won’t let you back in when the Administration changes. If you don’t and decide to become Costa Rican, they are very likely to tax a “wealthy former American” far worse than you would get here. IF this isn’t just blowing smoke, do your tax research on expat living or changing citizenship fairly carefully. Understand the trades you are making. The Bahamas is apparently a wonderful choice for Americans looking for tax sheltered retirement, but its VERY expensive to live there. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/38 "2008-11-05T22:07:32Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > This does raise an interesting point - where would you move to? A liberal frustrated with a hated conservative administration has plenty of options, most other industrialized nations are to the left of the United States, generally speaking. But where would a conservative frustrated with a hated liberal government move to?.. Singapore? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/39 "2008-11-05T22:08:01Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > his supporters seemed totally mesmerised. Seems, eh? Then, I rather think it’s a failure of perception on your part. That’s more likely than mass hypnosis, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285/40 "2008-11-05T22:13:17Z")
This might be a question for GQ, but since this thread prompted it I’ll post it here: Based on my limited understanding of US taxation, isn’t the vast majority of “wealth transfer”, that is, Social Security and Medicaid, already funded by a flat (or in social security’s case regressive) tax? Those 2 are 42% of the federal budget. Of the remainder, another 20% goes to defense, which isn’t really a wealth redistribution scheme, and neither is interest, which is another 9%. So basically, the stuff at the tail end of the 29% left over, which can be construed as “wealth redistribution”, is what’s forcing **jimpatro** into exile? What percentage of the budget do these make up? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-to-ask-anyone-leaving-the-country/471285.md?page=3)