Was sitting at a table night before last with friends - ex bankers
One remarked about how great it is being Swiss overseas and that he had to inform the Swiss Gov when he moves countries
The other remarked that he did the same also
I choked on my wine.
It’s something I’ve gradually then quickly fallen into the mindset that my passport (British) would likely be severed by myself the moment the British Government tried to force me as a non resident to inform them where I am, file tax returns as a non resident and no ties to the UK, etc
I remarked you truly have to do all this filing to get your pension that you paid into? To get the health service you say you are entitled to?
They thought it was normal, I left the UK when I was paying roughly 47/49% tax and they’d just increased VAT to 20% (was sold as temporary) my reasoning why was all the tax I was paying yet all the homeless people I saw, all the colleagues that got laid off and the state of the infrastructure in and around London.
At the same time my government was bailing out the Irish banking system and the Iceland banking system so they could bail out the councils that instead of utilizing the funds to maintain and upgrade invested them abroad whilst utilising the returns to give the appearance of maintenance.
The same setup exists today all across the West - it’s basically theft.
It’s hard loving one’s country or what ones country once was but the passport the citizenship means very little in a world where one can readily obtain alternative citizenships and wear them like coats that can be discarded.
I’ve come to the same conclusion with the UK, my friends much older are just happy they are the last on the gravy train - ones a bit pissed as reality is setting in that he was about 10 yrs late - but there’s a lot of self centered views that they know they voted in the people that destroyed the countries, pumped asset prices which they could then sell into the demand for and enjoy their retirements - whilst also getting funds from bankrupt states knowing that it won’t ever be repaid but they will have a good time knowing they didn’t have children that will be left with the mess.
And eventually it goes poof.
And takes nearly all assets with it l.
In that world, hard assets that have a bearer basis or digital assets that are everywhere yet nowhere are the key to survival.
It doesn’t matter what house you have if you are in that zone for they will either tax you out of it or seize it or a revolution will occur and well you are are the rich guy so it’s your head on a stake.
I don’t partake in the decline of the West bar betting against its placebo markets, currencies strength etc.
If in the west you buy stuff you can walk away from yet enjoy, or something you find acceptable to live in but are not the castle on the hill that gains attention.
I see it as something like that - as something needs to give somewhere and I’d rather it not be me handing over to despicable politicians that frankly I believe belong in the Tower of London more so than the gracious halls of West Minister.
So Hard/Digital and everything else something you can walk away from, much like you need to be willing to dump a citizenship like you’d change your shirt for the seasons.
