30% of what? The stuff you’ve previously deferred your taxes on? Your capital gains over $680,000? That’s not entirely unreasonable considering the tax brackets involved – we’re talking people with over $2 million in assets or over $147,000-$157,000 in average income over the last 5 years (the number is adjusted for inflation so the exact amount depends on the exact income in those years, I think.) You can’t keep deferring your taxes if you’re no longer going to be covered under US tax law, after all.

If you have that much money, 30% does not keep you here in “chains”, and if you don’t have that much money, this doesn’t apply to you. Even if it was 30% of the entire $2 million, which doesn’t appear to be the case, that would leave you with $1.4 million, which is probably enough money for most people to be able to settle into a new country.

Sure.

When you try to stick it to the man, sometimes the man sticks back (and his stick is generally bigger).

https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Expatriation-Tax

We’re essentially all kept in the United States in chains.

From what I have heard about the way that absentee ballots are handled and counted, I wouldn’t be too sure about that.

Point taken. The article immediately preceding the one to which you linked, tilted “IRS Power To Revoke Passports Signed Into Law” might be more relevant.

Whatever the case, thank you for alerting me to these important issues.

Yes, it’s there, look at the final (number 10) item in Wood’s list.

Was that a rhetorical question?

If not, the obvious answer is: because the GOP is dysfunctional.

By the way, you do not need “proper” identification to fly. TSA just needs to be able to verify your identity and it will take more time. Whatever the case, the requirement is silly and, IMHO, un-American.