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Arizona Lottery Winner Revealed — And Wait Until You Hear What the Fiscal Cliff Forced Him to Do

Dec. 10, 2012 2:27pm Jonathon M. Seidl

Arizona Lottery Winner Revealed as Matthew Good | Took Payout to Avoid Fiscal Cliff

Karen Bach, Director of Budget, Products and Communications of the Arizona Lottery, announces during a news conference that one of the winning tickets in the $579.9 million Powerball jackpot was purchased in Fountain Hills, Ariz., Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, in Phoenix. Credit: AP

PHOENIX (AP) — The second winner of the $587.5 million Powerball jackpot was identified Monday as Matthew Good, a married man who moved to an affluent Phoenix suburb last year from Pennsylvania.

Good, 37, had decided to remain anonymous, but lottery winners in Arizona are a matter of public record. The Associated Press filed a public records request to learn his name.

Good took the one-time payout of $192 million from the Nov. 28 drawing, telling lottery officials the looming fiscal cliff was the reason he claimed the winnings now and not in the next calendar year. He had 180 days to claim his share of the jackpot.

Lottery officials wouldn’t say what Good does for a living but described him as a professional who has no immediate plans to quit his job.

A search of property records showed that Good paid $289,900 for his 2,500-square-foot Fountain Hills home in September 2011. The real estate listing describes the house as having gorgeous mountain views, vaulted ceilings, a backyard with an outdoor kitchen and a three-car garage.

Good previously issued a statement that said: “It is difficult to express just how thankful we are for this wonderful gift. We are extremely grateful and feel fortunate to now have an increased ability to support our charities and causes. Obviously, this has been incredibly overwhelming and we have always cherished our privacy.”

No one answered the door Monday at Good’s home, which has a tile roof and desert landscaping, and sits next to a wash.

Neighbors said they were slightly acquainted with Good and described him as a generous, amiable person who keeps up his property.

Randy Tanner, who lives next door, said Good has a warm relationship with his daughter, who is about 5. Good recently helped Tanner carry a table to a friend’s house in the neighborhood.

Retired police officer Jerry Meltzer, who lives across the street, said he didn’t know Good well, but the two had once worked on Meltzer’s car.

“You can’t beat them for neighbors,” Meltzer said.

Good bought $10 worth of tickets and kept the winner in the visor of his car overnight before realizing he was an instant millionaire.

He gave $20 to the cashier of a Fountain Hills convenience store, and the clerk nudged him to spend the entire amount on tickets. He declined the offer.

After Good and his wife learned of their good fortune, he pulled together a team of financial advisers and decided to take his share this month to avoid potentially higher taxes in 2013.

Lottery officials said Good’s wife owns half the prize because Arizona is a community property state.

A mechanic and his wife, Mark and Cindy Hill, of Dearborn, Mo., already have claimed their half of the multistate Powerball prize.

The jackpot was the second-largest in U.S. history and set off a nationwide buying frenzy. At one point, tickets were selling at nearly 130,000 a minute.

Before the drawing, the jackpot had rolled over 16 consecutive times without any winners. In a Mega Millions drawing in March, three ticket buyers shared a $656 million jackpot, the largest lottery payout of all time.

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Comments (107)

guest233
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:25pm
What do ya wanna bet those who supported and spoke the loudest about taxing the rich and then fortune smiled of them where they won milions are now going to complain the loudest about being taxed so much?

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- Gold Coin & Economic News
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:59pm
  It would be nice to have that kind of money. I would probably buy an island and get away from Obama and his foolish socialism. No wonder this guy took all the money now rather than give millions to Obama because of higher taxes that are squarely the fault of Obama and no one else:
  http://www.isthatbaloney.com/nancy-pelosi-calls-for-obamas-outrageous-fiscal-cliff-proposal-to-be-brought-to-house-floor-next-week/
  
  Report this comment
- Chromo200
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:59pm
  Exactly .. Give a poor person a million dollars and see how they will become greedier and want more and be willing to step on the poor .. Maybe not all, but Most ….
  
  Report this comment
- antiprogressive
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 5:23pm
  I would definately consider leaving the country, a DESERTED island has always sounded great.
  But the logistics of food, water,etc. might be a lot of trouble.
  Very large walls around 100 acres would do well enough…
  
  And I disagree with the rich/poor thing.
  Give a poor guy a million dollars and he will be poor again a year or two later.
  If you aren’t “blessed” with simple common sense, a huge wad of money will only give you a chance to prove it.
  
  Where’s that guy with the “golden voice”??
  
  Interesting how the media here is so focused on the exact description of this guy, his house value, his financial decisions etc.
  Says to me that you more you TRY to be incognito, the more you stand out.
  
  Oddly, I FEEL, by the jist of the article that this guy is a relatively successful democrat, but I could be wrong.
  But I find it funny he is focusing so hard to retain his new wealth instead of handing it over to “Our Savior”.
  
  Report this comment
- girlnurse
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 8:41pm
  The government makes a killing off these lotteries!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 8:53pm
  Antiprogressive – I don’t think Mr. Good is a democrat, his neighbors said he is generous & gives to charities. Democrats don’t tend to give much, that is the job of the government & the magic dollars the instantly appears in Obama’s pockets.
  
  If the Goods decides to stay at their home in that neighborhood they are at, then I agree a bodyguard for the children may be a good idea. I would move to a new neighborhood & live under an assumed name for a year or two until things die down. Then they could go back to his last name after the vultures forgot his name for the next winner to leech off of.
  
  I am happy to have donated $16 do their future retirement. Hopefully they will manage it well & not have it ruin their lives.
  
  Report this comment
- Publius
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 9:19pm
  Next the wealth tax.
  
  Report this comment
- ambrosia
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 11:32pm
  Yeah, the government gets their grubby hands on much of it
  and like with everything els, they piss it away.
  
  In some states, it’s the education system that is suppose to benefit
  from the lottery,
  however in states like NY, where public education stinks, suffers & sucks,
  it’s damn hard to see where the money goes-
  probably just circulates back into the teacher’s union.
  
  A better way to make it worth its weight in gold
  would be to allow the lottery winner to choose reputable charities,
  he or she wishes to see benefit from the stash the gub’mint grabs.
  
  If a chunk has to go somewhere else, let the winner
  decide where it would best be needed & appreciated,
  according to their thoughtful, mindful giving hearts & judgement.
  
  Whether it be a veteran cause or a local community charity
  or divided amongst several,
  the winner should have the opportunity to make that call.
  
  The gubmint’ doesn’t know what to do with money-
  except spend & waste it.
  
  Report this comment
dublinthewagons
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:22pm
At least somebody on food stamps didn’t win and have to give up their Obama phone and government Cadillac

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sophie-la-belle
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:19pm
Lucky guy
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- bobdog19006
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 7:17pm
  He gave $20 to the cashier of a Fountain Hills convenience store, and the clerk nudged him to spend the entire amount on tickets. He declined the offer, saying, “What are you, STUPID? Lotteries are for idiots and poor people!”
  
  Report this comment
nonofmybiznez
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:19pm
Can you say set up a trust?

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- VRW Conspirator
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 4:07pm
  yeah…in Switzerland….I would pay off all mine and my family…on both sides debts and homes…. then put 15% into gold and silver and have a bank in Switzerland keep it in their vault….set up 5 blind trusts for my 5 children and one for charity – giving the interest away each year…
  
  of course that is all after paying God His cut….
  
  dang…192 million…at 35% Fed taxes..even off set by the 10% tithe…would still mean paying the IRS nearly 50 million…I mean come on…that would only leave about 120 million to live on…how is that possible…you would be like the working poor or something..
  
  I figure once everything is set up and taken care off….each kid and the charity fund gets about 15 million and my wife and I still have 30 million in cash to pay off all family debts on both sides and get a new house and toys…like guns, ammo, a Liberty safe, and some big trucks and food storage and an underground prepper bunker…which would probably set me back 5-10 million once done…
  
  but hey…the interest on 20 million sitting in a bank in the Caymans would pay me about 2 million a year in interest….i could live with that….
  
  Report this comment
- Theocracy588
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 5:08pm
  To VRW–I’m no math major, but $2million in interest off of $20million is 10% a year. Pretty sure you won’t find rates like that in the Cayman Islands. Bangladesh, however will pay you around 12.5%…
  
  Report this comment
VanceUppercut
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:18pm
The same dumbass Cons who think that the fiscal cliff is Obama’s fault are the same ones who in one poll blamed Obama for failing to prevent 9/11, which took place when he was a friggin’ state Senator.

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- tkayvegas
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:30pm
  Ya. If there is one thing we all know, it’s that Obama didn’t do jack sh*& as a senator…
  
  Report this comment
- GoodStuff
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:41pm
  @Vance
  
  “are the same ones who in one poll blamed Obama for failing to prevent 9/11″
  
  Lay off the pills.
  
  Report this comment
- Gregory_Adams
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 4:28pm
  Mr Good can use your tears to water his shrubbery.
  
  Report this comment
- happ77
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 4:35pm
  Where did you find that poll, on the Onion ?
  Dumbass lib.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 5:01pm
  You sound a little confused there VANCY. It was Van Jones who put his name to a petition to investigate the government over 9/11.
  
  There’s no way Obama can be blamed for 9/11…he was a community organizer. In 2004 however…little Barry ran for State Senator where he served the grand state of Illinois with an exemplary record of voting “present” 130 times in his short tenure there. He was also busy getting Bill Ayers to write his memoirs.
  
  Fastforward eleven years and Obama’s involved with his own 9/11 in Benghazi however.
  
  Report this comment
- HI_Don
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 7:20pm
  Yo, Vance, that poll was about Obama failing to prevent 9/11/12 when he was/is president. No, people don’t hold him accountable for 9/11/2001, because that of course was Bush’s fault – who of course had only been President a few months – but we couldn’t say that was Clinton’s fault.
  
  Report this comment
- OlderCowGirl
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 8:21pm
  @VanceUppercut, you said “The same dumbass Cons who think that the fiscal cliff is Obama’s fault are the same ones who in one poll blamed Obama for failing to prevent 9/11, which took place when he was a friggin’ state Senator.”
  
  Uhhhh….VanceUppercut…me thinks the 9/11 they are talking about is the second 9/11 (2012)…REMEMBER BENGHAZI???? It also happened on 9/11. And Obama was President.
  
  The first 9/11 was in 2001…New York. Was Obama a Senator in 2001? If I recall, Obama was a Senator only 2 yrs when he ran for President (and elected for 2008). So wouldn’t that put him elected as Senator around 2006?
  
  And…I believe that it’s not all Obama’s fault for the fiscal cliff. I’m quite sure there are many other folks who contributed to our financial mess….both Dems and Repubs. HOWEVER, Obama did manage to spend a big bunch of taxpayers money…if you recall. And Obama also voted while Senator (2007) for the big bunch of money that G. Bush spent of taxpayers money.
  
  Please…someone correct me if I’m wrong. Going from memory…too tired to go look it up.
  But what do I know,..I’m just a “Cons”. I believe that’s short for “Conservative”.
  
  Signed…a very proud Conservative Capitalist Pig (albeit a poor one)
  
  Report this comment
- dugbru
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 9:34pm
  Your ab idiot Dem mouthpiece Obama momma … no one blames Obama for 9-11 he’s blamed for Benghazi 9-11 #2 . He owns that.. Obama lied, the ambassador died..
  
  Report this comment
- jasonwenaas
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 9:41pm
  HAHAHA, 9/11 2001?? Wow!? YOU are dumb. Try responsible for 9/11 2012!!
  
  I’m sure if you google it you will be able to relatively inform yourself of what happened that day.
  
  Report this comment
- Chuck Stein
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 1:10am
  Well, Vance, seems like the dumb donkey is you for failing to distinguish between the year 2001 and the year 2012.
  
  Report this comment
- beekeeper
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 8:16am
  @VANCEUPPERCUT – Yes, I blame Obama for the fiscal cliff for one simple reason – it IS is fault.
  
  Who extended the Bush tax cuts until 12-31-12? Obama.
  
  Why is the so-called ‘payroll tax cut’ ending on 12-31-12? Obama.
  
  Who is responsible for all the new taxes implemented as part of Obamacare? Obama.
  
  Who created the Simpson-Bowles commission to address our fiscal crisis, then choose to ignore their recommendations, instead agreeing to aggressive spending cuts and tax increases because they can’t agree on a compromise? Obama.
  
  Which piece of legislation that is causing taxes to go up was passed by even a majority of Republicans?
  
  Report this comment
Clive
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:16pm
“Arizona Lottery Winner Revealed — And Wait Until You Hear What the Fiscal Cliff Forced Him to Do”….

Pretty dramatic headline. The big answer…. “he may have to pay more taxes next year”. Big deal. Great story Blaze. Truly rich and compelling.

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- v15
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:35pm
  I was thinking the exact same thing. The Blaze has a bad habit of over-selling some of their articles with tabloid headlines that are sometimes misleading.
  
  Report this comment
- SovereignSoul
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 7:48pm
  And Wait Until You Hear What the Fiscal Cliff Forced Him to Do”….
  Not sure what you guys are talking about…I don’t see the word “shocking” anywhere in the headline!!
  
  Report this comment
itsjustmichele
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:16pm
It’s awesome that the article could paint him as an evil rich person even before he won the lottery. I’m about ready to poke my eyeballs in my ears to avoid accidentally reading/seeing/hearing the news anymore. Some days I really can’t stomach another ounce of this drivel.

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Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:16pm
At least it was some welfare leech that won it this time.

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- searcher619
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:25pm
  So you’d rather not take anyone off the welfare rolls? Seriously?
  
  Report this comment
- booger71
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:31pm
  searcher619
  ==============
  No, a generational welfare bum would blow the money in 2 years, and be back on it again.
  
  Report this comment
- P8riot
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 4:12pm
  @SEARCHER619
  
  Actually this guy should be rewarded for having already taken HIMSELF off foodstamps.
  
  Report this comment
- lucasjsr
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 10:29pm
  I believe he is already pretty smart of his life and money. It will probably harder on him to NOT produce more wealth and jobs and help more people be on their own feet than to just have to waste energy, resources and opportunity from a thieving central government. Sorry situation people are so foolish and it has come to this. RIP USA Hello USSA
  
  Report this comment
RANGER1965
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:09pm
Sell the house, change your phone numbers, and move immediately.

Settle down somewhere where your reasonably anonomous, and secure.

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- booger71
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:29pm
  Set up the money in a tax haven in the Caymans, pay 10K for a new identity, melt into the wall paper.
  
  Report this comment
- P8riot
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 4:14pm
  seriously! its amazing how many lottery winners have their lives ruined by the money
  
  Report this comment
Hodmokrin
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:02pm
If the profits from the lottery were truly aimed at things like education for states, then why does the gov keep the taxed amount from your winnings? Why not give it directly to education? I guess they need some busy work at the IRS.

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- JustMyOwnOpinion
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:41pm
  In Pennsylvania, lottery winnings from the PA lottery are tax-exempt. We do have to pay taxes for lottery winnings won in other states, though.
  
  Report this comment
- Callie369
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 5:57am
  JustMyOwnOpinion
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:41pm
  In Pennsylvania, lottery winnings from the PA lottery are tax-exempt. We do have to pay taxes for lottery winnings won in other states, though.
  
  That applies to PA income tax, NOT FEDERAL TAX.
  
  The money PA makes off the lottery goes to the benefit of senior citizens, i.e., the PACE program which helps with prescription drugs.
  
  Report this comment
hauschild
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:00pm
His resume pretty much screams stand-up guy – just the type leftists despise. Dude probably even respects his parents – another “daylight” or “garlic” moment for leftists.

I love how the lame-streamers also had to describe in this story that this dude is well-off (although 300k isn’t millionaire home territory) and we’re supposed to infer that because of this, dude doesn’t deserve ONE RED CENT of this winnings. However, if this man were a bottom-feeding, union thug that made just as much money; or another base-voter of the Marxist’s (or put for aptly, pretty much a worthless bastard), then it was as it should be; the worst society has to offer deserves the best.

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Seneca
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:00pm
“We are extremely grateful and feel fortunate to now have an increased ability to support our charities and causes”
Grounded on reality and faith. It is always nice to hear a family like this has the clear mind to help their community. How it should be!

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ProudCapitalist
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:59pm
I wonder why no one answered the door when the press started pounding. Must be a moron to work for the press.

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- BrownBear
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:25pm
  He was probably *gasp* at work.
  
  Report this comment
Papadoc
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:56pm
So if he wasn’t a Republican before, he is now!

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ImChiquita
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:56pm
Mr. Goode tried to remain anonymous AND pulled together a team of financial advisors.

Yay for smart thinking! I’m actually happy for the guy. It sounds like he’s smart enough and strong enough to recognize the weasels that will approach from “long-lost family.”

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- nonofmybiznez
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:16pm
  I wouldn’t be happy that he was outed. Now every yahoo he knows will be contacting him. Nice work, I think we need to change the law so they can actually remain annonymous.
  
  Report this comment
- booger71
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:33pm
  nonofmybiznez
  ===========
  It varies from state to state. In some states you can hire a lawyer to pick up the winnings and keep your name out of it
  
  Report this comment
olderjarhead
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:54pm
$289,000 buys a home in an “affluent” neighborhood? Really? Maybe now he can move to a real affluent neighborhood.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:45pm
Buy some silver gold and lead and don’t forget your uncle progressiveslayer!

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- whatthecrazy
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:18pm
  Also Aunt WhatTheCrazy ,ha bet ya did’t know we were kin huh Progressive;)
  
  Report this comment
- booger71
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:42pm
  My plan
  1. Get new identity
  2. Put most of it in offshore accounts
  3. Buy 5-10 thousand acres (continuous) in TN with plenty of running water and springs
  4. Build a house near middle on top of bluff
  5. Excavate a tunnel in the rock with bank type vaults for food, ammo, and gun storage.
  6. Heating system, wood
  6. Electricity-Water wheel generator.
  7. Hire Progressiveslayer and a few of his friends as private security.
  
  Report this comment
ares338
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:44pm
ya gotta worry about kidnappers now if you have kids. Hire a bodyguard.

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Old Truckers
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:41pm
Trust no one!

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hatchetjob
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:41pm
Good for him. He and his wife will probably NOT be broke in a year from foolish spending, as is so common with other people.

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Exrepublisheep
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:39pm
So if you choose to be anonymous the press will hunt you down anyway? Go to your home? Reveal private information like how much you paid for your house?

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- aragona
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:12pm
  I know it, huh?! He wanted to remain anonymous so they hunted him down via public records and then showed up at his house. Too bad the press doesn’t feel the same drive when covering our president and his corrupt administration.
  
  Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:35pm
Mr. Good stated that his family cherishes their privacy.
This story practically draws a map to their front door.
So much for privacy.

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- Glenn_S
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 4:38pm
  Luckily for him, AZ is not only a concealed carry state but I believe open carry is also legal. He sounds like he’s sharp enough to already be taking advantage of that.
  
  Report this comment
banjarmon
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:34pm
SHAME on Associated Press for publicizing the winner’s name!!!! Now that it is public the rats will come out to hound him for the rest of his life. It is a SHAME!!!

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- Todd Decker
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:42pm
  Yep, but then again, now that he’s in the 1%, he MUST pay for his sins.
  
  If I had won, I would have made arrangements to be hidden in Japan, though unfortunately, loser reporters who can’t find a thing scandalous to report about President Obama will spend time and effort trying to track this winner down, even if they have to harass friends and family.
  
  Report this comment
- hauschild
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:02pm
  You can bet if this dude were the typical AP’s person (bottom feeder), they would have withheld the name to “respect” this person’s privacy.
  
  Report this comment
sophie-la-belle
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:32pm
Some people can just have it all. Lucky guy.
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heavyduty
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:29pm
If I was him I would put 99% of it in offshore accounts before the end of the year.

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- searcher619
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 3:37pm
  What for? It’s already taxed.
  
  Report this comment
- beekeeper
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 8:21am
  @SEARCHER619 – it isn’t about income tax avoidance, it’s about protecting your wealth against the failure of the US economy.
  
  Report this comment

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