That mail ballot had to travel a long way — from Joliet to the Vatican City, where Pope Leo XIV has led the Catholic church since white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel in May 2025.
Non citizens who live here do pay taxes and should be able to vote in at the very least local elections. They live here, they contribute to the local economy, they should have a say as much as someone born in a different state who moves in. Imo a lot of the citizenship voting laws are a dog whistle for racism, trying to prevent the “wrong type” from influencing elections.
Then again, I also believe that the immigration system is designed to be as difficult to properly follow as possible to keep people from getting access to the same rights and services citizens get. Usually this is, again, the “wrong people” kept from getting their resident or citizenship.
Legal residents (but not citizens) in most countries do have to pay taxes.
Most places make you pay income tax if you’ve stayed more than 6 months a year while earning money.
The benefits of being a “resident” and paying taxes include living in a place that has “the rule of law” and borders that are defended, so that the next country over can’t come over and seize everything and everyone occasionally. If this all sounds medieval, it is because it is. It’s like being “under the protection of” the local noble/warlord.
Citizenship itself, in more abstract terms is interesting. It is a “club” that individuals can shoes to join and/or change per will? Or is it more like the state “owns” you and they don’t care enough to prevent you from moving around.
Remember, the US requires you to file/pay taxes if are a US citizen but live abroad. Most other countries do not require you to pay taxes if you’ve live/work outside of their country. Does it feel “medieval” yet…, where the most powerful “lord” can make his people pay tax even though they are living in another “lord’s” domain?
If you pay taxes in both places, why wouldn’t it be right to be able to vote?
Well then we enter into “what about non citizens that pay taxes” argument.
Non citizens who live here do pay taxes and should be able to vote in at the very least local elections. They live here, they contribute to the local economy, they should have a say as much as someone born in a different state who moves in. Imo a lot of the citizenship voting laws are a dog whistle for racism, trying to prevent the “wrong type” from influencing elections.
Then again, I also believe that the immigration system is designed to be as difficult to properly follow as possible to keep people from getting access to the same rights and services citizens get. Usually this is, again, the “wrong people” kept from getting their resident or citizenship.
To which I ask, out of ignorance, “Why are non citizens paying taxes if they aren’t getting the benefits of citizenship?”
Legal residents (but not citizens) in most countries do have to pay taxes.
Most places make you pay income tax if you’ve stayed more than 6 months a year while earning money.
The benefits of being a “resident” and paying taxes include living in a place that has “the rule of law” and borders that are defended, so that the next country over can’t come over and seize everything and everyone occasionally. If this all sounds medieval, it is because it is. It’s like being “under the protection of” the local noble/warlord.
Citizenship itself, in more abstract terms is interesting. It is a “club” that individuals can shoes to join and/or change per will? Or is it more like the state “owns” you and they don’t care enough to prevent you from moving around.
Remember, the US requires you to file/pay taxes if are a US citizen but live abroad. Most other countries do not require you to pay taxes if you’ve live/work outside of their country. Does it feel “medieval” yet…, where the most powerful “lord” can make his people pay tax even though they are living in another “lord’s” domain?
Sales taxes.
Income taxes.
Property taxes.
The list goes on if you want to get detailed about what kinds of added taxes when you buy things from a special area.
Thank you.
It is early where I am and none of this would enter my brain on its own. How could I forget about sales taxes lmao