A record number of people are giving up their US citizenship, according to analysis by a New York accountancy firm.  More than 5,800 Americans renounced their citizenship in the first six months of 2020, Bambridge Accountants reports, a 1,210% increase on the six months to December 2019.

 The US’s global tax reporting requirements are a major reason why many people decide to cough up the $2,350 (£1,775) fee required to officially cut ties with the US. Boris Johnson, for example, renounced his US citizenship in 2016 after complaining about the “absolutely outrageous” US tax demands. Nevertheless, it seems that Trump is sending an increasing number of expats over the edge.

“What we’ve seen is that people are exasperated with President Donald Trump, how the coronavirus pandemic is being handled and the political policies in the US at the moment,” a partner at the firm commented to CNN. “If President Trump is re-elected, we believe there will be another wave of people who will decide to renounce their citizenship.”

My comment:  Epicureans do not normally get involved in party politics, but peace of mind is of great concern, and what is happening on a daily basis is making ordinary law-abiding people extremely nervous.  Nowhere is perfect, but a small village in France or Italy seems increasingly attractive, even given the fact that the bureaucracy there is notorious.  I personally would like to live somewhere where people are taught science, and respect it (personally, I am an historian – all the more reason to listen to scientists).  Why do far too many Americans despise science?  Baffles me!   Please explain!