Comments by "Fumble_ Brewski" (@fumble_brewski5410) on "Nomad Capitalist" channel.

  1. “If you drive a car, I'll tax the street, If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat, If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat, If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.” Taxman!
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  2. Andrew, please don't overlook the fact that CA also has the HIGHEST gasoline taxes in the nation--a mind-numbing 66.98 cents combined tax per gallon (as of July 2021).
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  3. "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." - George Carlin
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  4. Well, when one has an estimated net worth of $160 million (like Angelina Jolie), then you can pretty much buy your way into any country you choose.
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  5. “People who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” Boris Bazhanov (1923), Stalin’s former secretary, who fled the USSR in 1928. 🤣
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  6. "Escape From Canada," sounds like a good title for a John Carpenter movie.
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  7. There is no monolithic "safe" country. In every nation, there are certain areas that are safer than others. For example, in the U.S. there are very "unsafe" areas such as Detroit, MI or E. St. Louis, MO or Oakland, CA. Then there are places such as Logan, UT, Gilbert, AZ or Portland, ME, which are all very safe. The moral of the story? Don't blindly move anywhere until you've done your due diligence to consider ALL factors (safety, cost of living, climate) affecting your choice of a new location. It only takes a few "bad" areas to drag down any country's overall safety rating.
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  8. If California ever was “paradise,” it was so during the 50’s, 60’s and into the 1970’s—45 plus years ago. It’s been running on fumes ever since, sort of like a car that reaches the summit after running out of fuel and then starts coasting downhill to the bottom. Or as Andrew correctly stated, it’s just a legacy brand name, an empty shell of its former glory. Flee if you’re able—we did.
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  9. First, they (state of CA) came for the super-rich, but I wasn't super-rich, so I did nothing. Then they came for the normal rich, but I wasn't a normal rich, so I did nothing. Then they came for the merely affluent, but I wasn't merely affluent, so I did nothing. Then they came for the middle class, and, lo and behold, they couldn't find any!
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  10. Well, with the Russians still occupying approximately 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory, and with thousands of Russian troops stationed within 200 km of Tbilisi, I'd be a bit cautious about living anywhere in Georgia.
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  11. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan." (Proverbs 29:2)
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  12. “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” —(Luke 9:25)
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  13. "War is the health of the State. It automatically sets in motion throughout society those irresistible forces for uniformity, for passionate co-operation with the Government in coercing into obedience the minority groups and individuals which lack the larger herd sense." - Randolph Bourne (1918)
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  14. As Thomas Edison once said, "Genius is 2% inspiration, 98% perspiration."
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  15. Well, are you SURE that you really want to become a citizen of Georgia? Georgia shares an 894 km (556 mi) border with Russia, which runs from the Black Sea coast in the west and then along the Greater Caucasus Mountains to Azerbaijan in the east. Not the most secure place in the world, especially when you consider the fact that its two (much larger) neighbours are not exactly friendly. Plus, depending on your age, you may be required to serve in the Georgian military. Not a good scenario.
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  16. Well, with the Russians still occupying approximately 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory, and with thousands of Russian troops stationed within 200 km of Tbilisi, I'd say that decision makes a lot of sense.
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  17. Please understand that whatever economic freedom(s) you may enjoy living in Dubai/UAR, the freedom(s) that you WON'T have are political rights and civil liberties. UAR/Dubai scored 17/100 (100 being the freest) on Freedom House's recent list of free/not free countries. Rule of law and judicial effectiveness are both rated poorly. So if money is all you care about, then by all means live in Dubai/UAR. Just keep your opinions to yourself and you'll be fine.
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  18. U.S. Government's idea of a "fair tax": 1) State your full name, current address and SSAN. 2) Enter all income from whatever sources derived. 3) Send it all in. 💸
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  19. Motto: "Go Where You're Treated Best." ✔ Also: "Go Where You're Not Likely to be Invaded." 💥
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  20. After having lived in California for 35+ years, we finally gave up on trying to adapt to the "progressively" worsening conditions. Which? Ever increasing taxes and bonded indebtedness by the left-wing state government; adding more benefits & services for illegals (oops, I mean undocumented immigrants). Governor Gavin (The Nuisance) Newsom is still stuck in the 1970's, knowing only how to increase taxes and the size of government. Air pollution, urban sprawl, homelessness and gang violence are all out of control. We said, "Enough!" and relocated to ***, and have never had any cause to regret our decision. *** has a much smaller, less intrusive state government, along with with modest, reasonable taxes. And the violent crime rate is miniscule compared to CA. People can still leave their cars unlocked at the local shopping mall (I don't--too many years of living in CA). I'm almost afraid to post this comment, on the chance that it might bring more disgruntled/liberal Californians over here to ****, and ruin a wonderful place to live. Any middle class people that still opt to remain in the (not so) Golden State, do so at their own peril.
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  21. If you're concerned about price inflation, consider this: the cost of a first-class U.S. postage stamp in 1962 was $0.05--that's right, just a nickel! The same first-class stamp in 2022 will cost you $0.60, a 1200% price increase over the past 60 years. And that's merely the inflation rate to which our government will publicly admit, since they have to be accurate with postal rates in order to break even and cover their operational costs. Consider.
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  22. "Fair share of taxes," according to the politicians: 1) State your full name, address and SSAN. 2) List all income, from whatever sources derived. 3) Send it all in to us.
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  23. With good reason did Andrew recommend that you make Vanuatu only a 4th or 5th tier passport. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, includes 83 islands, 65 of which are inhabited, covering a total land area of 12,274 square km (4,739 square mi), which is slightly larger than the U.S. state of Connecticut. There are several active volcanoes in Vanuatu, as well as several nearby underwater volcanoes; this means volcanic activity, along with accompanying tsunamis, is an ever-present danger. Vanuatu is also frequently subject to tropical cyclones. In addition, most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water. Deforestation and water pollution are ongoing problems as well. Added to all of these concerns, the northern islands of Vanuatu are having issues with rising sea levels, which may require relocation of some of their citizens. Still want a Vanuatu "honorary" citizenship? Think I'll pass on that one.
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  24. I can empathize with your situation. Leaving the USA was not an option for me either (age, family), but at least I was able to "go where I'm treated better." That is, I was able to relocate from a horrible dystopian, high-tax state (California) to a very decent, clean, lower-tax state with a much less intrusive government. Think (Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, etc.) For me, this was the "better" option. Cheers.
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  25. "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." – John Adams
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  26. “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” - Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 4
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  27. Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. According to the most recent study conducted by Freedom House, the UAE has a rating of 17/100 (100 being the best), and as such is rated "NOT FREE." One may be able to incorporate there for certain tax reasons, but no one in their right mind would ever want to live there. You'd be better off living in Turkey or Jordan than living in Dubai.
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  28. Please understand that whatever economic freedom(s) you may enjoy living in Dubai/UAR, the freedom(s) that you WON'T have are political rights and civil liberties. UAR/Dubai scored 17/100 (100 being the freest) on Freedom House's recent list of free/not free countries. Rule of law and judicial effectiveness are both rated poorly. So if money is all you care about, then by all means live in Dubai/UAR. Just keep your opinions to yourself and you'll be fine.
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  29. "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose..." - Janis Joplin, "Me and Bobby McGee" (1971)
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  30. Only two words: Bring Money (and lots of it).
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  31. “What pushes the masses into the camp of socialism is, even more than the illusion that socialism will make them richer, the expectation that it will curb all those who are better than they themselves are. The Welfare State is merely a method for transforming the market economy step by step into socialism.” - Dr. Ludwig von Mises
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  32. When people bought homes to simply live in, as opposed to an investment for appreciation (capital gain), this never used to happen. From January 1953 to January 1973, the median home price in the U.S. increased from ~ $18,000 to ~ $27,000, a 50% increase over a period of 20 years. That's an incremental increase of only 2.5% per year. However, from January 1973 to January 1993 the median home price shot up to ~ $100,000, a whopping 370% increase for that 20-year period. Whereas, wages for the same 20-year period remained essentially flat. People used to be able to purchase a home for ~ 3-4 times their annual incomes. IOW, someone earning $9,000 in 1973 could afford to buy a home valued at $27,000. But with wages remaining stagnant and housing prices skyrocketing, many, if not most, families find themselves priced out of the housing market.
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  33. When Mexico starts to enforce its own laws against drug dealing and corruption, then we MIGHT take some of this advice seriously. Yeah, we know all about the supposed 20% of Americans using, but don’t tell us that the readily available supply from Mexico isn’t aggravating the problem. If you make it, they will use it. Limpia tu propio patio trasero, amigos.
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  34. To quote Scotty Kilmer, "An endless money pit..."
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  35. “You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once.” --Robert A. Heinlein, “Time Enough for Love.” (1987)
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  36. “And having food and raiment, with these let us be content.” (1Tim. 6:8)
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  37. I'm not too sure what you consider "boring," but there are plenty of places in Portugal that have a vibrant nightlife. Plus, for you, language wouldn't be a problem, since you're fluent in Portuguese, right? I would avoid moving to any English-speaking, current or former British colony, since they're all heading in the direction of confiscatory taxation and fascist government. That includes the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and especially, the USA. I've heard some positive things about the nation of Belize in Central America, where English is the official language, but I'd also have some concerns regarding both safety and health care in Belize. Cheers.
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  38. Most people have forgotten the fact that, from 1934 to 1963, there was an island under U.S. jurisdiction where the residents could live tax free. It was known as Alcatraz Island.
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  39. As a retired person living in southwest Idaho, my effective tax rate is 0%. No tax on Social Security at the federal or state level. No tax on my (modest) VA disability payment. Next to no tax on my private pension. Idaho isn't exactly a "low cost" state as far as the overall cost-of-living, but it has a small, non-intrusive (for the most part) state government, along with very modest income, property and sales taxes. And the violent crime rate in my locale is half of the average U.S. national rate. I feel safe here wherever I walk or drive, so why would I ever want to relocate to another country?
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  40. “What pushes the masses into the camp of socialism is, even more than the illusion that socialism will make them richer, the expectation that it will curb all those who are better than they themselves are. The Welfare State is merely a method for transforming the market economy step by step into socialism.” - Dr. Ludwig von Mises
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  41. Alas, the blatant avarice of taxing authorities, along with their own tendencies toward self-aggrandizement, would seem to know no limits. It would almost be better to be under the rule of robber barons, or even outright gangsters, than to be at the mercy of these omnipotent moral busybodies. The cupidity of the robber baron or gangster might, at some point, be satiated. But these taxing authorities will give us no rest day or night, for they practice their cruel despotism with the full approval of their own consciences. May God save us from these malefactors.
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  42. You could also mention that, in terms of perceived corruption, the USA ranks #25 (just behind Bhutan and just ahead of Chile) according to Transparency International. The USA also ranks in a similar position according to other research studies that rate corruption in various nations.
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  43. Finland, Austria, Estonia, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Israel, Turkey, Brazil are all countries that have mandatory conscription for males 18 and over. Length of service varies with each country, but generally lasts 18-24 months. Plus, Israel and Switzerland both have lengthy reserve/training requirements until ages 40-50 in some cases.
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  44.  @realalexmackenzie  You certainly have a valid point about shunning politics if you’re a guest living in a foreign country. I suppose each of us values political rights and civil liberties differently. Having grown up in northern Ohio, just a short hop across the lake from Toronto, we looked admiringly at Canada as a better, more progressive place in which to live. Even the CAD was worth more than the USD (many years ago). It seems as though the English speaking countries (UK, USA, NZ, Canada & Oz) are trying to outdo each other in depriving their citizens of traditional liberties. A sad commentary on modern “democracies”. Cheers.
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  45. Taxes don't lie!
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  46. Find a dependable mail forwarding service that allows you to use their physical (U.S.) address. Such can be rented for a modest monthly fee. If you really want to cover your tracks, fill out a permanent change of address (USPS Form 3575) with your local U.S. Post Office, and show your new mail forwarding location as your permanent official address. Just make sure to keep your new address paid up fully with the mail forwarding service, preferably 1 year in advance. Saluti e buona fortuna.
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  47. Don't allow the lack of a personal (or corporate) state income tax fool you into moving to either place. True, if you're an extremely high net worth individual (think Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos), then relocating to Texas or Florida MIGHT make sense. But how many people fall into that category? Very few, I trow. For the average middle class person, saving on income taxes is usually more than offset by having to pay very high property taxes, PLUS very high utility bills. I mean, who really wants to live in Texas or Florida during the summertime without air conditioning? Case in point--I have a family member who lives in Austin, TX, and his monthly electric utility bills for a comfortable home run anywhere from $300-400 per month on average. And his property taxes on that same home run well over $1200 per month. Are you willing to pay nearly $20K per year just to live in Austin? And living in a major metropolitan area in Florida is very similar. In fact, some of the highest-priced real estate in the USA is located in south Florida. For people who absolutely detest having to pay STATE income taxes (especially those living in California), then there are lower cost options: Nevada, if you don't mind the heat in Las Vegas; or Wyoming or South Dakota, if you don't mind some colder weather. For people living in SoCal especially, southern Nevada is a very attractive option for staying close to family. Cheers.
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  48. The UAE/Dubai continue to commit serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, cruel and inhuman treatment of detainees, suppression of freedom of expression, and violation of the right to privacy. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continue to deprive stateless individuals of the right to nationality, impacting their access to a range of services. According to Human Rights Watch, the UAE detains those who criticize authorities, including hundreds of activists and academics, and Emirati laws discriminate against women, migrants and LGBT individuals. Flogging and stoning are legal forms of judicial punishment in the UAE due to Sharia courts. As a result, the UAE routinely ranks near the bottom of many international measures for human rights and press freedom. So if money is all you care about, then by all means live in Dubai/UAR. Just keep your opinions to yourself and you'll be fine.
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  49. You have about as much chance of getting Trudeau out as the U.S has of getting Biden out. IOW, “0”.
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  50. “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” ---Samuel Adams, 1776
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