Actor Renounces His Citizenship in Snit Over French Tax Burden

zimmer · Dec 17, 2012

Gérard Depardieu will be French no more, so exasperated is he with French taxes and the French government, he declared in an angry open letter to France’s prime minister on Sunday.

Mr. Depardieu, who has been accused by France’s Socialist government of abandoning the country to avoid paying taxes, will be giving up his French citizenship and taking up residence over the border in Belgium, he wrote. Mr. Depardieu insisted that his move was not solely for tax reasons, but also because he felt the government believed that “success, creation, talent — difference, in fact — must be punished.”

Mr. Depardieu’s decision to leave France, where the Socialist government has created a 75 percent marginal tax rate for incomes above $1.3 million amid stagnating growth, rising unemployment and a contracting budget, has drawn reprobation from politicians of all ideological stripes, as well as the news media and a good number of ordinary citizens. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has called the actor’s departure unpatriotic and “pathetic,” while the labor minister, Michel Sapin, deemed it the sign of a “form of personal degeneration.”

He also joked that French residents of Néchin, the Belgian border village where Mr. Depardieu has bought a home, should not get too comfortable. Mr. Hollande noted that the mayor there is also a Socialist.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/w...-he-is-giving-up-french-citizenship.html?_r=0

I'm lov'in it.
Well done and thanks Gerard, for you further exposed the socialists for the vile parasites they are.

What kind of message are the French sending the world?

Do not invest here.
Do not create wealth here.
Do not create jobs here.
You didn't build it.
Your money is our money.

Would you want to invest in France?

Just brilliant on the part of the socialists. But hey! It will be a lab to show us how trickle up works... ROTFLOL... because Obama's 6 trillion, his business illiteracy and hostility and didn't make an impact on our Parasite Nation.

These morons in France are screwing themselves yet again. This move of theirs is as brilliant as their idea to reduce the work week to 35-hours and make working longer punishable.

That's what happens in a country rife with envy and ignorance... Socialism.

The fall-out from this will be interesting to watch... or should I say the whoosh sound of France going down the crapper. Not the normal type either, this will have that jet-like sound of an aviation crapper.

Paying punitive taxes is "patriotic"? Sounds like Obama/Biden idiocy.

DDD · Dec 17, 2012

So Mr. Depardieu choose to pay taxes to Belgium instead then. They speak French too, while they are among the most kind people I've met thus far.

PeteEU · Dec 17, 2012

Typical American media...

He is NOT renouncing his citizenship LOL..

He is moving country... huge difference...

Plus it is sour grapes over his man Sarkozy lost the election. Also I doubt that he even earns so much that he will be hit by the 75% tax burden... after he pissed in the isle of a commercial plane in mid air.. his "star" has very much gone down in France and around the world.

Rainman05 · Dec 17, 2012

The article is a bit buggy but yes, Gerard will not longer be contributing to the French treasury. Not that it matters. It is one of few people. And it is not like Gerard was using his money to invest in companies and create wealth. he is not a wealth creator. He is just using his money to live a very, very comfortable life. Much like most of the retards in holywood or who get featured on MTV (moron TV). Most of them serve no purpose but to leech millions and provide crappy entertainment to the masses.

DDD · Dec 17, 2012

Rainman05 said:
Much like most of the retards in holywood or who get featured on MTV (moron TV). Most of them serve no purpose but to leech millions and provide crappy entertainment to the masses.

I hear this a lot. MTV and other media dumbing down the USA:

Mixed Morals - Video Clips - South Park Studios

So as then the quest is to search for and raise the bar:

The Bar Has Been Raised - Video Clips - South Park Studios

Excon · Dec 17, 2012

Good for him!

Wiseone · Dec 17, 2012

There's no right answer but its interesting to see how so many people are readily willing to accept someone renouncing their citizenship over tax policy, ie individual concerns come before patriotism. HOWEVER these are many of the same people who will consider it an affront to liberty to give citizenship or residence to a poor working family coming across from Mexico for example.

I just don't get on the one hand how they can cheer people abandoning their country, but hate it when other people want to be apart of it.

Excon · Dec 17, 2012

Wiseone said:
There's no right answer but its interesting to see how so many people are readily willing to accept someone renouncing their citizenship over tax policy, ie individual concerns come before patriotism. HOWEVER these are many of the same people who will consider it an affront to liberty to give citizenship or residence to a poor working family coming across from Mexico for example.

I just don't get on the one hand how they can cheer people abandoning their country, but hate it when other people want to be apart of it.

You seem to be forgetting the difference between legality and illegality.

Wiseone · Dec 17, 2012

Excon said:
You seem to be forgetting the difference between legality and illegality.

Not at all, I'm just pointing out that one seems to value this country more than the other if you look at it that way.

Let me ask you this, what would you sell your American, or whatever your nationality is, citizenship for? What these rich are saying is that I'd rather have X amount of dollars than be an American citizen or a French citizen. Again I can understand the frustration, the fact that no one likes to pay their taxes, and that one's country can change so much you can't even relate to it anymore, but lets not pretend these people aren't in essense choosing wealth over nationalism, or patriotism.

Then ask yourself, if I compare that person to someone who would risk his life to cross the US/Mexico border on feet, perhaps even dying in the process just for a chance to live a better life in America who would I say values the idea of being an American more? Or if we are French compare them to someone who crosses the Med on a rowboat from Algeria for example.

Rainman05 · Dec 17, 2012

DDD said:
I hear this a lot. MTV and other media dumbing down the USA:

Mixed Morals - Video Clips - South Park Studios

So as then the quest is to search for and raise the bar:

The Bar Has Been Raised - Video Clips - South Park Studios

Ha ha, funny, but it will never happen.

MTV is too cool to let the bar get higher

Fisher · Dec 17, 2012

Wiseone said:
There's no right answer but its interesting to see how so many people are readily willing to accept someone renouncing their citizenship over tax policy, ie individual concerns come before patriotism. HOWEVER these are many of the same people who will consider it an affront to liberty to give citizenship or residence to a poor working family coming across from Mexico for example.

I just don't get on the one hand how they can cheer people abandoning their country, but hate it when other people want to be apart of it.

Because it is France and we cheer when somebody sticks it to them. Not sure why--WWII I guess. That is just how it is.

Wiseone · Dec 17, 2012

Fisher said:
Because it is France and we cheer when somebody sticks it to them. Not sure why--WWII I guess. That is just how it is.

No I think it has to do with France's recent election and hard shift to the left, then a comparison is attempted between France and the current debate in the United States about how to tax the wealthy.

Fisher · Dec 17, 2012

Wiseone said:
No I think it has to do with France's recent election and hard shift to the left, then a comparison is attempted between France and the current debate in the United States about how to tax the wealthy.

Okay. For you that might be it. For me, I just like to make fun of the French because they like to look down their noses at us even though we are the ones who let them not eat rats.

Wiseone · Dec 17, 2012

Fisher said:
Okay. For you that might be it. For me, I just like to make fun of the French because they like to look down their noses at us even though we are the ones who let them not eat rats.

Complaining about someone's arrogance while being arrogant yourself doesn't help your argument.

Fisher · Dec 17, 2012

Wiseone said:
Complaining about someone's arrogance while being arrogant yourself doesn't help your argument.

Sure it does. I am American. I am free to be a hypocrite whilst I eats my Freedom Fries.

Wiseone · Dec 17, 2012

Fisher said:
Sure it does. I am American. I am free to be a hypocrite whilst I eats my Freedom Fries.

Sure, as long as being a hypocrite and a walking self contradiction isn't important to you. Some people choose to have standards though.

Ikari · Dec 17, 2012

zimmer said:
I'm lov'in it.
Well done and thanks Gerard, for you further exposed the socialists for the vile parasites they are.

What kind of message are the French sending the world?

Do not invest here.
Do not create wealth here.
Do not create jobs here.
You didn't build it.
Your money is our money.

Would you want to invest in France?

Just brilliant on the part of the socialists. But hey! It will be a lab to show us how trickle up works... ROTFLOL... because Obama's 6 trillion, his business illiteracy and hostility and didn't make an impact on our Parasite Nation.

These morons in France are screwing themselves yet again. This move of theirs is as brilliant as their idea to reduce the work week to 35-hours and make working longer punishable.

That's what happens in a country rife with envy and ignorance... Socialism.

The fall-out from this will be interesting to watch... or should I say the whoosh sound of France going down the crapper. Not the normal type either, this will have that jet-like sound of an aviation crapper.

Paying punitive taxes is "patriotic"? Sounds like Obama/Biden idiocy.

I'd exile them from France. It's cool, renounce your citizenship; but GTFO and don't come back.

Fisher · Dec 17, 2012

Wiseone said:
Sure, as long as being a hypocrite and a walking self contradiction isn't important to you. Some people choose to have standards though.

Like your arrogant attack on me for being arrogant (See how them standards work now dontcha?).

Wiseone · Dec 17, 2012

Fisher said:
Like your arrogant attack on me for being arrogant (See how them standards work now dontcha?).

You're the one who said you were a hypocrite. I feel like I'm being trolled.

jonny5 · Dec 17, 2012

Rainman05 said:
The article is a bit buggy but yes, Gerard will not longer be contributing to the French treasury. Not that it matters. It is one of few people. And it is not like Gerard was using his money to invest in companies and create wealth. he is not a wealth creator. He is just using his money to live a very, very comfortable life. Much like most of the retards in holywood or who get featured on MTV (moron TV). Most of them serve no purpose but to leech millions and provide crappy entertainment to the masses.

Where does Gerard keep his wealth?

jonny5 · Dec 17, 2012

Fisher said:
Because it is France and we cheer when somebody sticks it to them. Not sure why--WWII I guess. That is just how it is.

That would be their constant failure to hold up their end of the alliance/friendship.

DDD · Dec 17, 2012

Well I did not want to use RT sources, but this one has graphs to backup findings of US citizens renouncing their citizenship:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfVH1GVeWIA

This "renouncement of citizenship" issue may be more widespread trend ranging up to millions in USA according to that study. The young productive aged 25-35 people seem to be more at it, together with investors.

Some renounce it, and some go to great extends to have it, like that guy that ate bugs to win the competition to get a green card in USA. Also there is the famous USA lottery.

So a good question would then be: If some people renounce their citizenship and others want it, can not there be something that can be done for them to exchange their citizenship?

AliHajiSheik · Dec 17, 2012

jonny5 said:
Where does Gerard keep his wealth?

That's a creepy government bureaucrat question.

Rainman05 · Dec 17, 2012

jonny5 said:
Where does Gerard keep his wealth?

How the hell should I know... but I don't see him investing in business. Do you?

Fisher · Dec 17, 2012

DDD said:
Well I did not want to use RT sources, but this one has graphs to backup findings of US citizens renouncing their citizenship:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfVH1GVeWIA

This "renouncement of citizenship" issue may be more widespread trend ranging up to millions in USA according to that study. The young productive aged 25-35 people seem to be more at it, together with investors.

Some renounce it, and some go to great extends to have it, like that guy that ate bugs to win the competition to get a green card in USA. Also there is the famous USA lottery.

So a good question would then be: If some people renounce their citizenship and others want it, can not there be something that can be done for them to exchange their citizenship?

Carbon credits but with citizenship? Interesting, but no. It seems that the US is a little more snotty about our citizenship rights than other countries, so it might not be a fair exchange for us.

Actor Renounces His Citizenship in Snit Over French Tax Burden

Educating the Ignorant