I’m an American. I don’t want to be that guy.

Nobody likes paying high taxes, but I don’t mind. Maybe that’s a luxury, but I don’t need to hire some hotshot to spend 12 hours a day figuring out how to chisel the government out of an extra few thousand dollars. If getting that extra money means a lot of phone calls and talking to financial analysts and lawyers, I don’t want it. I don’t want to have those conversations. A friend said, “You live outside the country more than half of the year. Create a bogus residence in the Caymans and pay no U.S. taxes.” I’d feel like a shit doing that. I’m an American. I don’t want to be that guy. I don’t want to have those kinds of conversations. I’m putting myself to sleep just thinking about it. I’d rather make a lot less money. It’s honest dollars. Everybody gets theirs: my partners make money, I make money, the government gets theirs. If they call me in for a full audit, great, here I am. It’s all there. I lived a lot of years afraid of the bank, the landlord and the government calling. Nowadays, it’s nice to not be afraid.

~ Anthony Bourdain, Anthony Bourdain Does Not Want to Owe Anybody Even a Single Dollar (Wealth Simple, March 14, 2017)

35 thoughts on “I’m an American. I don’t want to be that guy.

  1. I like this guy. Been watching him for a long time. I like the way he gets to the nitty-gritty of life where ever he is. And he’s right about paying his fair share. It’s like the time Sean Combs said, “Yes, I pay a lot of taxes. I should. I make a lot of money.”

    Liked by 2 people

  2. I absolutely love Anthony Bourdain. I love his attitude, his honesty and his full-on living his life on his own terms. I followed a course at one time and one of the things taught was, don’t be mad you have to pay taxes, be glad you’re making the money! I have to agree.
    And ‘coz I love her too… I agree with Raye. I’m sure she’ll share you… 😉

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Right on , Anthony. Great sense of ethics. People who cheat their own government ( and fellow citizens ) would cheat anyone. Don’t need them. They are the cheap tippers of the world ,,

    Liked by 2 people

Leave a Reply