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It is, effectively, the only country in the world that does this. It's shameful.

http://hodgen.com/does-the-united-states-stand-alone/

Wow... I really like the US, but these draconian laws make it difficult to justify moving there. Of course, if you grow up like this and don't know better...

> Of course, if you grow up like this and don't know better...

Also, if you don't plan on moving out of the country, which the majority of Americans (and probably citizens of most countries) don't.

To be fair, the earned income tax exemption is sufficiently large enough that you will be making six figures before you have to pay a penny in U.S. tax. You still have to file though.

Wasn't part of the reason people wanted independence from the British to avoid paying the king's taxes?

They refused to pay without representation. But US expats can actually vote from abroad.

(Not that the votes seem to matter - you get to choose which faction of the military-industrial faction gets a salary this year, but not anything of consequence)