That's actually not true. As the son of an American, my parents filed for US citizenship papers for me after my birth in Canada, where I've gone on to live my entire life so far.
I file tax returns with the IRS every year, but I'm not eligible to vote in any federal election, because I haven't lived in any state for more than 6 months, so there's no state's electors to assign my vote to.
For some of us, this quite literally is taxation without representation.
Fair enough. I wasn't aware that you had to live in some state for 6 months.
But are you sure you can't get a Federal only vote? I guess that would put you in the same place as DC, who also don't get representatives, which is jacked.
The should let you vote in the state closest to where you live or something. Of course, that would mostly boost the coastal states, wouldn't it. :)
There's another quirk of binding up federal, state, and local voting into a single act.
I live and vote in New Jersey (not to mention pay property taxes, etc). I also own a cabin in upstate New York, on which I've got to pay property taxes as well. The thing is, since I am an NJ resident and I vote here, I'm forbidden from voting in New York.
Given the way we structure our voting, this restriction is necessary: I'd be able to get two voices in Washington, otherwise. However, the flip side of it is a situation of "taxation without representation" -- and that's not fair, as Schoolhouse Rock tells us.
They could make it work if they wanted to. They would have you designate a "home" address for both federal and state elections, and then let you vote in all local elections for which you are entitled (because you own land). That would be fair.
In fact, I know that as a Berkeley landowner, my in-laws are allowed to vote on the local Berkeley issues, even though they vote on the state and federal stuff at home.
> I haven't lived in any state for more than 6 months
What do the grey nomads do? Here in Australia, you can specify an electorate where you are deemed to "live", even though you don't spend any time there. It ensures everyone can vote.
I'm not claiming that citizenship isn't without its uses, merely that it's taxation without representation in the most literal sense, contrary to the OP's claim. I can easily take work from US clients, as a citizen.
(Also as I understand it you quite literally need the state department to consent to your renouncing, and if they feel you have significant earnings potential in the future, they will refuse consent on the grounds that you are trying to avoid future taxes).
I file tax returns with the IRS every year, but I'm not eligible to vote in any federal election, because I haven't lived in any state for more than 6 months, so there's no state's electors to assign my vote to.
For some of us, this quite literally is taxation without representation.