That wry old saying that the only things in life that are unavoidable are death and taxes seems quite true.  We live, we die.  We work to earn a living and we pay taxes to the state which provides us with security and services.  A fair enough trade, most reasonable people feel.  And then there are times when a tax rate can be viewed as utterly confiscatory.  And this is precisely how the new tax rate that France's new Socialist president, Francoise Hollande seeks to impose on France is widely viewed by the moneyed in his country.

There is a long tradition of high earners seeking escape from high taxes on their hard-won income.  Famously the scholar, poet, novelist and expert on antiquity, Robert Graves, exiled himself from England to take up residence in Majorca, unwilling to pay the tax rates imposed upon him by British residency.

And then there is the inglorious instance of Bono, of U2 fame, who became a spur in the neck of world leaders, continually righteously abrading them for not doing more to alleviate world poverty.  It's hard to recall any instance where it might have been recorded that Bono and others of his ilk released much of their personal income to the poverty-alleviation cause they championed.  He, in fact, became infamous for moving his band's considerable financial holdings from Ireland to avoid paying taxes altogether, placing them offshore, and earning public condemnation for his hypocrisy.

Protest group: Art Uncut will hoist a massive inflatable sign with the message 'Bono Pay Up' across the crowd during their set on the Pyramid

 Which brings us back to France, where the great French actor Gerald Depardieu has protested the not-yet-brought-into-law tax rate of 75% by taking up residence elsewhere.  Russian President Vladimir Putin is clearly delighted at Depardieu's choice of Russia, and fast-tracked a passport for the actor, while speaking glowingly of his country's 13% flat tax rate. 

Alexei Nikolsky/The Associated Press File Photo Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, and French actor Gérard Depardieu attend the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg last month. Depardieu has been granted honorary Russian citizenship.

As for Gerard Depardieu, the affair is rather tawdry.  He is in the exalted 0.1% rank of sky-high earners.  It is, admittedly, wealth he has earned through his formidable thespian talents, but it seems to ill become him to spurn his country and its needs in this manner.  We first saw his acting prowess displayed in The Return of Martin Guerre and were moved by the dramatic story, and by his skillful portrayal.

The man has become increasingly gross in physical appearance, detracting hugely in an anaesthetic manner from his acting skills.  He leads a dissipated lifestyle that holds no credit for him, nor anyone else whose such lifestyle choice cannot be commended.  Yet, who are we to judge a man who has entertained countless people throughout his acting career?

Sad, though, that it has come to this; his manner of entertaining himself is deplorable, far more than his decision to abandon France; on the other hand, perhaps it should be viewed as a full summation of intrinsic character.