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Cake day: July 2nd, 2023

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  • player2@lemmy.dbzer0.comtoPrivacy@lemmy.mlTraveling to the US - How to prepare
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    2 months ago

    If you are doing something illegal then you should definitely bring a new device. If you are not doing something illegal then you should just bring your normal device and keep it locked/off when entering.

    They can force biometrics but not pin, but they will only do that if you’re already in super deep trouble for breaking the law. Just be normal and you’ll have no issues.


  • player2@lemmy.dbzer0.comtoPrivacy@lemmy.mlTraveling to the US - How to prepare
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    2 months ago

    This is all extremely unlikely unless you are a known enemy of the state or are bringing in illegal goods.

    In customs they simply ask you why you’re visiting, where you came from, if you’re bringing any illegal goods, then let you pass through. If you’re flying in, there’s usually a huge line of people at the airport and you only end up talking to the customs agent for 10 to 30 seconds.

    If you have a very suspicious story that doesn’t check out or you’re trying to bring in illegal goods to the country or you know that you are doing something nefarious then you should be concerned that they might pull you into a back room. I think all of these concerns are very overblown for the average person though.

    When I was reading about whether to bring my phone to China, everyone online had similar recommendations about bringing a new device and it ended up being completely unnecessary. They don’t check anyone’s phone and they asked no questions other than reason for visiting. When I told my co-workers about my concerns they all thought it was quite comical because they’ve traveled more than anyone and see this as extreme paranoia.

    Of course they could take your phone and put you in jail for any reason they want if they really wanted to, the most important thing is to not give them a reason to. They will only get your phone if you give them a reason in the first place.

    Just keep your phone locked/off when you go through the border so it requires a pin.













  • I’m specifically talking about very low income families since I am talking about the general pros and cons of applying an inheritance tax to all citizens since we are discussing why the inheritance tax might have been removed in Austria / German. I’m not familiar with international tax law to be more specific about income levels so I’m trying ro cover all bases.

    If a poor family is sharing a car or a family restaurant, it could be very damaging to have to pay tax on these assets if they don’t have savings.

    I understand that this doesn’t apply to families with large assets and I agree that an inheritance tax is generally a good thing when applied progressively.



  • I think this viewpoint assumes that everyone lives independently. A lot of families function as units and they all live and work together. If you inherit post-tax income from a family member, then the money has been fairly taxed regardless of your viewpoint.

    Why should you have to pay the government to inherit your late-parent’s car or business? What happens if you can’t afford to pay the tax?

    For the low income families this can make or break a person’s way of life, for the 1% it is a way of hoarding the world’s wealth and maintain power.


  • For regular people, an inheritance tax is not great. For the ultra-wealthy it should be mandatory.

    Arguments against an inheritance tax:

    • Double taxation: Critics argue that inheritance taxes are a form of double taxation, since the assets being inherited have already been taxed once during the decedent’s lifetime.
    • Hurts small businesses: Family-owned businesses can face hardship if they must be sold off to pay inheritance taxes.
    • Discourages investment: Inheritance taxes can disincentivize people from saving and investing, as they know a portion of their wealth will go to the government.

    Arguments for an inheritance tax:

    • Reduces wealth inequality: Inheritance taxes help to redistribute wealth from the very wealthy to the rest of society, reducing income inequality.
    • Prevents concentration of power: By limiting the ability of wealth to be passed on unchecked, inheritance taxes can help to prevent excessive concentration of economic and political power in the hands of a few families.
    • Source of government revenue: Inheritance taxes can be a significant source of revenue for governments, which can be used to fund social programs and public goods.