French President
François Hollande is the Barack Obama of Europe. He's a moderate
socialist who came to power promising to balance France's budget while
simultaneously restoring the generous social benefits the French demand.
His plan was to soak the rich.
But it hasn't been working out too well for Hollande. Gerard Depardieu, one of the country's top actors, has decided to move to Belgium
to avoid the new tax rate. The Prime Minister called
Depardieu "pathetic" and suggested that paying high taxes was "an act of
patriotism." U.S. Vice President Joe Biden made a similar comment about the wealthy in 2008.
Depardieu responded to the attack on his patriotism with an open letter which read in part: "I'm leaving because you think success, creation, talent and anything
different should be punished. I am sending you back my passport and
social security, which I have never used."
Saturday, Depardieu got aid from an unexpected quarter. In a surprise move, the French high court overturned the 75 tax rate,
saying that its design was capricious and unfair. The Prime Minister
has vowed to adjust the design and resubmit it to the court. (Continues)
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