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by throwqrm 2082 days ago
[idea retracted; proposed a tax-based solution but maybe too distracting]
4 comments

We actually already tax immigrants more than citizens. They pay the same taxes we do but don't qualify for all the deductions, and pay into social security and medicare even though they can't get those benefits.
IIRC even as a non-permanent resident after paying into social security for 40 quarters you are eligible to collect out of it.

That doesn't make your point any less valid though.

Not sure why the downvotes, this is factually true. When I was on an h1b I was paying for all these things while I could not take advantage of it.
As an American I do not qualify for either of those things but have to pay into it, you need to pay into the system for 40 quarters (10 years), and meet other requirements. It is currently underfunded and most likely wont have much money left by the time I could withdraw. If you have a higher income and/or a spouse that works you generally pay in more than you will get back in benefits as well because it is a progressive safety net system. I've seen many people see the high salaries and the good quality of living in the US, but many of these things take high taxes to pay for.
I am against taxation without representation. If it require "balancing out" (via taxation), then it wasn't a workable system in the first place.
I guess the idea would be that the employers are taxed, not the employee. Also, H1Bs are already taxed all the regular taxes even if they return to their country before they could use Medicare or gather enough SS credits.
A side question: should representation without taxation be allowed?
If it was we’d lose half the voting populace.
People have a choice of where they want to go for work. If you tax them so hard that anywhere else is better then you may as well have simply not bothered pretending like you wanted it to be easier for them to come at all.
So government slaves, basically?
That wasn't my intent but I think I might retract the idea.