Taxes and Freedom
Doug Casey on Taxes and Freedom
The always-outspoken Doug Casey addresses a broader view of taxation and its costs to both individuals and society in general in this interview with Louis James.
L: Doug, the Taxman cometh, at least for most US citizens who file their annual tax papers on April 15. We get a lot of letters from readers who know about your international lifestyle and wonder about the tax advantages they assume it confers. Is this something you care to talk about?
Doug: Yes; something wicked this way comes, indeed. But first, I have to say that as much as I can understand the guy who flew his airplane into an IRS building, as we once discussed, I do not encourage anyone to break the law. That’s not for ethical reasons – far from it – but strictly on practical grounds. The Taxman can and will come for you, no matter how great or small the amount of tax he expects to extract from you. The IRS can impound your assets, take your computers, freeze your accounts, and make life just about impossible for you, while you struggle to defend yourself against their claims and keep the rest of your life going. The number of IRS horror stories is beyond counting. As the state goes deeper into insolvency, its enforcement of tax laws will necessarily become more draconian. So you absolutely don’t want to become a target.
L: So… just bow down and lick the boots of our masters? Continue reading
Doug Casey on the US Constitution
By Doug Casey, Casey Research
Legendary contrarian investor and the original International Man Doug Casey takes aim at the US Constitution, from its sneaky beginnings to its encroachments on individual liberty and free markets.
Louis: Doug, we’ve threatened to talk about the Constitution many times. Since there’s increasing interest in the country’s economic and political future, maybe now is a good time to put that into a fuller historical context..
Doug: Good idea. I confess I suspected this was coming up, so I just now read the Constitution again. This is actually something I recommend to everyone. Unfortunately, the Constitution is now a dead letter, but reading it is instructive in a number of ways, and it only takes about ten minutes. One should know the law of the land, even if it no longer applies.
That will probably be enough for one conversation, but we should probably also take up the amendments, especially the Bill of Rights, in a future conversation, and then maybe another on the Declaration of Independence – another short document everyone should read.
L: Well, some might argue that since the Constitution was ratified with the Bill of Rights attached, they really ought to be considered together, but I’d certainly agree that the later amendments – like the ones establishing and repealing Prohibition – should be a separate conversation.
Doug: Thank heaven for the Bill of Rights; it slowed the descent of the US considerably, while it was still taken seriously. So, where to begin…
L: How about with the fact that there wasn’t supposed to be a constitution? The Continental Congress authorized delegates to gather to amend and improve on the Articles of Confederation, not to replace them with a new form of government. Continue reading
Creative Ways to Earn Extra Money over the Weekend
So you don’t want to give up your day job in this difficult economy, but you want to make some extra money. It’s a common situation, and many people are looking for creative ways to turn their free time into a fun and profitable second job. Whether you need a quick influx of cash for a short term goal, or you’re interested in starting a side business that has the potential to grow into something more, there’s tons of opportunities to fill a need in your community while putting a little extra in the bank. Here’s a few creative ways to earn extra money on your days off.
Why Occupy Wall Street is Wrong-Headed
By Alex Summers
If you turn on the news, you will discover that the mainstream media is taking the side of the protestors in the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations across the country. The only outlet that is not giving this group a walk in the park is Fox News, who are trying to analyze the situation in their “Fair and Balanced” journalistic voice.
The media wants you to feel sympathy for the protestors, but many of the things they are criticizing are not based in fact but pure emotion. Here are some of the reasons why you shouldn’t blindly go along with the Wall Street movement as it pertains to investing in small business and commerce in America:
Less Investing
When the Occupy protestors stand out in front of large investment firms and banks with their iPhones, they are making the biggest ironic hipster gesture ever. The technology, research, and marketing that made the iPhone a possibility for everyone in the country was all funded by the same big banks and corporations they are protesting. Without firms like Goldman Sachs and CitiBank pumping money into companies like Apple, Google, and all of the social media startups, they simply would not exist. Continue reading
