Shedding the Shackles

Most people who renounce their American Citizenship do so to escape the draconian financial burden imposed on successful Americans living abroad. There are other reasons; most recently to avoid unjust divorce settlements, and at least in one case, the protection of one’s children from the clutches of the state. All good reasons.

At least two websites have published the same story about one of the most unusual reasons for renouncing one’s American citizenship. The story by Jeff Knaebel, “Declaration of Renunciation and Severance of U.S. Citizenship,” was published by both the voluntarist and LewRockwell.com. Mr. Kneabel’s philosophy behind his decision is difficult to categorize. I’m inclined to say it is quasi-religious, combining elements from American Indian beliefs and Buddhism. But Mr. Kneabel is also a Voluntaryist, which, for those unfamiliar with it, is a kind of individualist anarchist philosophy or movement. In his brief, but very interesting biography, he describes, “How I Became A Voluntaryist: A Farewell to Tax-Financed Murder.”

While I have very little sympathy with Jeff Knaebel’s spiritual beliefs, I have a great deal of sympathy with his sense of individualism, freedom and life, expressed in his renunciation:

“… I renounce my citizenship - and reject all claims of whatsoever nature made by the United States against me. I am not government property, and I am not a criminal. I am a peace-loving human being who is finished with being a slave to the Corporate Warfare State.”

He is quite right, that, “No permission is required to renounce that which I never sought in the first place, for which I never entered a contract, and which is imposed upon me against my will.”

…and about the nature of the U.S. government: “The United States government is incomprehensibly malevolent and destructive. It takes our money, our identities, and our lives. It gives us back corruption, war, heinous crime, and lies. This government has no moral right to exist. It ought to be abolished without further human bloodshed.”

And he is absolutely right about the only source of government authority:

A coercive government has no legitimate authority over me. None. Its only authority comes through the barrel of a gun. [Emphasis mine.]

While financial reasons are good ones for giving up one’s American Citizenship, perhaps the most important and moral one is the one described here by Mr. Knaebel:

“Foremost among these tax-and-public debt financed activities are the waging of war; the conscription of soldiers; and the expenditure of citizens bread labor upon armaments which by now can destroy our earth many times over. … I will not support such activities with my life, my money, or my energy.”

All independent individualist must at some point ask themselves if they can morally continue to support the American government with their life, their money, their time and their energy. This is exactly what Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged is all about—those who knew it was their own productive efforts that provided the chains that bound them, that supported the machinery of government oppression and allowed the government to commit its atrocities, refused to be their own enslavers and tormentors—they shrugged.

Should You Shrug?

No one knows the future, and the time may come when the only way an American can find freedom will be to shed the shackles of “citizenship” and to say goodbye to American oppression. It seems ironic, that American citizenship can characterized as shackles, but that is what it has become. Far from being a privilege or honor, it is the source of endless obligation and restrictions on one’s freedom and life.

Certainly not for the same reasons as Jeff Knaebel, there are many Americans who have learned that American citizenship is a great burden and source of oppression, not freedom. Llewellyn H. Rockwell’s good article, “Renouncing American Citizenship,” makes the point:

“Let’s be clear about something. A person who decides to give up his US citizenship is not guilty of disloyalty to America; quite the opposite. He could very well be more loyal to American principles than the regime is willing to tolerate.”

And many are making that decision:

“State Department records show that 502 people gave up citizenship in just the last quarter of 2009. That is more than twice the total for 2008.” Llewellyn ends his article with this somewhat surprising advice:

“To the young and successful families who ask our advice, we say this: ‘Get out while the getting is good!’”

More Shackles

Reasons for abandoning American citizenship are increasing almost every day. It has been true for a while that “U.S. citizens are in a uniquely horrible position as expatriates, wherever they reside, since the U.S. is just about the only major nation which taxes its citizens regardless of their residential status.”

“One Swiss-based business executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of sensitive family issues, said she weighed the decision for 10 years. She had lived abroad for years but had pleasant memories of service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“Yet the notion of double taxation—and of future tax obligations for her children, who will receive few U.S. services—finally pushed her to renounce, she said.

”‘I loved my time in the Marines, and the U.S. is still a great country,’ she said. ‘But having lived here 20 years and having to pay and file while seeing other countries’ nationals not having to do that, I just think it’s grossly unfair.’

”‘It’s taxation without representation,’ she added.”

Seems to me some country fought a war over that very issue.

“Stringent new banking regulations—aimed both at curbing tax evasion and, under the Patriot Act, preventing money from flowing to terrorist groups—have inadvertently made it harder for some expats to keep bank accounts in the United States and in some cases abroad.”

How To Shed The Shackles

If you decide your freedom requires you to renounce your American citizenship, the process is quite easy. It is certainly not necessary to engage in an elaborate ceremony like Jeff Knaebel’s. In fact, if it is privacy and freedom you are seeking, the less publicity there is, the better.

To renounce your citizenship, you must be in a foreign country and appear before a U.S. consular or diplomatic official and sign a renunciation oath.

It is possible to live in some countries without a citizenship of any country, but most find that having a citizenship does provide some conveniences, especially for travel, and that citizenships of many other countries are much less restrictive than American citizenship.