From: Chris Thompson (x4@rocketmail.com)
Date: Thu May 29 1997 - 08:21:51 MDT
---Michael Lorrey <retroman@tpk.net> wrote:
> Well, you want to set up someplace that has no income tax/capital
gains
> tax, but still has zero or very low tariffs for exporting to the US
> market. There are several Carribean nations that fill this
requirement,
> like St. Kitts. Being signatory members of the Carribean Basin
> Initiative, a free/almost free trade pact developed in the Reagan
> administration after the Grenada conflict, many carribean island
nations
> have special trade priviledges under this. They are also now
pressing to
> become members of NAFTA.
I've been doing alot of reading on offshore entities lately. St.
Kitts/Nevis is an excellent choice, especially if anonymity is the
goal. Nevis corporations can be run by a Managing Director with all
shares of ownership being Bearer Shares. Your name shows up nowhere.
An offshore structure would probably include several countries,
leveraging each for their unique tax benefits. My personal goal is to
live on the Island of Anguilla. No income tax, low cost of living, and
a true paradise, year round.
> ALso, I recommend doing your banking in a country like the
Seyschelles,
> an archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. Depositing at least $2
> million in a Seychellian bank makes one eligible for diplomatic
status
> as well as citizenship in the Seychelles. This gets you diplomatic
> immunity when traveling or living in any other nation with normal
> relations with the Seychelles.
Belize is another. I believe you can get Belizean citizenship (albeit
no diplomatic status) for a much smaller fee. $50,000US comes to mind.
This is a subject I've been wanting to bring up here for some time.
The concept of PT or Perpetual Traveler is very Extropian to me. In
essence, you are never in one country long enough to be under it's
jurisdiction. This doesnt mean skulking from country to country every
week, but essentially it involves a way to structure your life so that
you have complete freedom to do what you please with your money.
That's a terrible description, but you get the essence.
Which brings me to an aside. Why do we need, as Extropians who embrace
Intelligent Technology, a physical presence anywhere today? You can
bank by Web (http://www.sfnb.com, 100% online, highly recommended),
email by web (As you can see by my temporary rocketmail.com account)
and even get Fax and Voicemail on the Web. http://www.jfax.com is a
service that for about $30/mo you get two phone numbers in a city of
your choice (There's 22, ranging from New York and L.A., to Amsterdam,
London, Paris, and Vancouver. Frankfurt, Miami, Washington, Hong Kong,
Tel Aviv, Beirut, Bombay are on their way) These numbers accept fax
and voicemail, which are then made availible on the Web. I can (and
do) shop on the web, (www.amazon.com, www.isn.com, www.cdnow.com, ad
nauseum, ad infinitum).
So all I need, anywhere in the world, is a web browser. I've read (and
sent) email standing in the middle of Circuit City playing on a demo
WebTV through rocketmail or hotmail. The new WIRED magazine talks of
Cyber Cafe's in Beijing, where you can web for about $2/hr US.
With a proper structure of offshore companies and trusts, I can run
most of my life from anywhere in the world.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Thompson | "I swear -- by my life and my love of it --
Hemisphere | That I will never live my life for the sake
x4@rocketmail.com | of another man, nor ask another man to live
ct@mail.org | for mine" -Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
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