Expat Allegiance?

[NickyLouie]

If you're duly living in TH as an expatriate do you hold any allegiance to your home country?

 

[stoner]

7 minutes ago, NickyLouie said:

If you're duly living in TH as an expatriate do you hold any allegiance to your home country?

 

only my passport. 

[JayClay]

11 minutes ago, NickyLouie said:

do you hold any allegiance to your home country

I have never understood the concept of "holding allegiance" to any country simply because I was born there.

 

A country is just a load of rocks with a load of people on top. I made no choice about which rock I was dropped on.

 

If society could just ditch these ridiculous concepts, perhaps we could finally have a go at being civilized.

[LaosLover]

America has zero allegiance to me and the feeling is mutual.

 

Would I feel allegiance to other Americans over here?

 

No. And that goes double if they are Trump Trash.

Edited August 21, 2023 by LaosLover

[soi3eddie]

Culturally, many here would bear allegiance to their "home" country. Once all western countries start taxing for citizenship (rather than residence), will they still hold that alegiance? Quite a few wealthy US citizens, who also hold 2nd country passports are renouncing US citizenship. Will Brits, Aussies and Europeans do same if taxation on citizenship comes to pass (and they can access 2nd passport)?

 

[KhunLA]

Quite the opposite, though felt the same way when living in the USA.

 

I left ... nuff said

[richard_smith237]

From a sporting perspective very much so.

 

[sqwakvfr]

My parents came to America with very little.  Life was never easy but I found opportunities to improve my life many times.  It all started with the. US Army and then I was able to work and find other opportunities.  I still have allegiance, loyalty and a dose of patriotism.  As a long time international traveler I just don’t broadcast my thoughts out loud.  I am certain at some point I will return to the USA on a permanent basis.  

 

Also on the US Income Tax issue I pay because my retirement income comes from the State of California so I can’t exclude that no matter where I am in the world.  When I worked in the Middle East I was able to exclude this income because it was earned overseas. 

Edited August 21, 2023 by sqwakvfr

[foreverlomsak]

1 hour ago, soi3eddie said:

Culturally, many here would bear allegiance to their "home" country. Once all western countries start taxing for citizenship (rather than residence), will they still hold that alegiance? Quite a few wealthy US citizens, who also hold 2nd country passports are renouncing US citizenship. Will Brits, Aussies and Europeans do same if taxation on citizenship comes to pass (and they can access 2nd passport)?

 

In UK it exists now, even if you live in Thailand all year round and only have a Thai address and are classed as "Normally Resident" in Thailand, all income generated in the UK (includes pensions) are subject to UK taxes.

Know a few who hold both Irish (Eire) and UK passports and have done for years, don't know if UK or EU taxes are more beneficial to them.

[georgegeorgia]

I feel nothing for my home country of Australia

 

They screwed us during covid especially in some States 

 

Highest taxed nation .

I wouldn't pee on the country if it was on fire 

[mstevens]

I used to feel an allegiance and pride towards my home country of New Zealand. Unfortunately, I no longer feel that way and at times, I feel the complete opposite. As my country of birth has changed rapidly, becoming insanely politically correct to the point that my demographic - middle-class white men - has become public enemy number one and blamed for all of the country's ills, I no longer feel any allegiance towards the country. Why should I when my country appears to hate me and "my kind" for no bloody reason?!

[JimTripper]

On 8/21/2023 at 7:27 AM, LaosLover said:

America has zero allegiance to me and the feeling is mutual.

 

Would I feel allegiance to other Americans over here?

 

No. And that goes double if they are Trump Trash.

I very rarely hear someone from the USA call the United States “America”.

 

Are you really a US citizen?

[mania]

On 8/20/2023 at 2:27 PM, LaosLover said:

America has zero allegiance to me and the feeling is mutual.

So if tomorrow the USA said...We have zero allegiance to those who live in xxx & we are stopping any SS payments to those ex-patriots..... you would be fine with that right ????

 

PS; I am not claiming allegiance to any country but I do accept the fact they do offer both patriots & ex-patriots alike many benefits

Edited August 23, 2023 by mania

[Jeff the Chef]

Member of the Human Race, waiting for the rest to catch up.

[1FinickyOne]

Allegiance? Like a pledge?

 

I pay taxes... 

[LaosLover]

2 hours ago, mania said:

We have zero allegiance to those who live in xxx & we are stopping any SS payments to those ex-patriots..... you would be fine with that right ????

 

 

I paid in, I should get paid out. That don't take no legal great mind to suss out.

 

Can I just pretend to deeply feel this corn ball, b/s allegiance that you pretend to care about and then just laugh out loud when they turn their back, after I get the money?

 

Because I would love that. And so, apparently, would you.

 

What are these supposed benefits? Our embassies won't do hardly anything for us, ever. Medicare is not transferable over here. I guess if I need Marines to save me......well, iffy at best.

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by LaosLover

[LaosLover]

9 hours ago, JimTripper said:

I very rarely hear someone from the USA call the United States “America”.

 

 

I believe it's pronounced Uh-murrr-ik-Kuh.

[Berkshire]

al·le·giance

/əˈlēj(ə)ns/

noun

noun: allegiance; plural noun: allegiances

1. loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause.

 

By the above definition....not sure.  But as an American, I'd never take up arms against the US.  I'd never commit treason or conspire against the US with a foreign gov.  Etc.  There are elected officials in the US that I can't stand nor agree with, but that's the nature of democracy.  I do receive various entitlements from the US, pay taxes, have assets in America, vote, and follow US news every day.  So I'm still very interested in what goes on in my home country, although I still prefer to be in Thailand.

[OneMoreFarang]

On 8/21/2023 at 7:17 AM, stoner said:

only my passport. 

Same same.

That home country passport makes it easy to travel and do business all around the world. For me that is about the only connection to "home". 

[Walker88]

I have allegiance to the ideals that are at the core of the US---which is a work-in-progress toward total equality under the law. I have some pride---despite not choosing my place of birth---that the concept of every human being having equal value under the law originated, in practice, in the US. Yes, the Founders borrowed it from Locke and Rousseau, but the first place it was put into practice was the US. The Founders could have chosen the Magna Carta as the foundation document, but instead took the free ride, that monarchs get under the MC, and put everyone on the same footing (again, a work-in-progress). That is why the idea of 'special simply by being born', as countries with monarchies have, is anathema to me. When people have to pretend some monarch is great, when all evidence says they're somewhere between mediocre and deviant, something is quite wrong (I'm not insinuating anyone in particular, but historically there's been many deviants, from kings to queens to even popes. The Borgias are the quintessential example.)

 

Sadly, not only does work-in-progress require 250+ years, a certain percentage of Americans have lost sight of what US ideals are, and instead have joined a cult and have been fooled by a Snake Oil salesman. The most shocking thing is how transparent and self-serving the clown trump is, yet somewhere around 40% still think he's worth more than a bucket of spit.

 

Thus, because so many of my fellow citizens have become losers, my allegiance is floundering. I feel the US is like Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront: "I coulda been somebody; I coulda been a contenda"

[LaosLover]

I paid a boat load of taxes, I ask for nothing. My message to my fellow countrymen left behind:

.

 

 

[bignok]

Dislike flags. Dislike countries. Not a big fan of people.

 

I like a nice curry and coffee.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

I might find fault with Australia here and there but it really is the lucky country. Free press. Free elections. Decent in terms of fairness. Thank you Australia because I would be in a different state of being without the benefits you bestowed upon me. Still likely happy to spend 50 per cent of retirement in Thailand but. 

[Ben Zioner]

Definitely, we are always at the risk of being persecuted so for several decades I remained available to defend our homeland, our enemies are weak but relentless.

[mania]

16 hours ago, LaosLover said:

I paid in, I should get paid out. That don't take no legal great mind to suss out.

 

What are these supposed benefits? Our embassies won't do hardly anything for us, ever. Medicare is not transferable over here. I guess if I need Marines to save me......well, iffy at best.

 

Well of course most enjoy SS .. but the truth is SS was always a tax & most (if Lucky) receive way more back than they ever paid in. Which is why none should be 100% reliant on it as it cannot be guaranteed to continue forever.

 

As to supposed benefits ....there are many for citizens living in country. Of course as you say less for Expats but that is basically the same as any other country & in fact still better than many

 

US citizens abroad for instance get COLA upgrades to their SS while other countries freeze those out of country from getting cost of living adjustments to their form of pension/SS . US citizens abroad even got stimulus payments which is quite funny when you consider

"stimulus payments" were given to stimulate the US economy ????

 

But yes living abroad is... as it should be ...mostly a get it your dang self service life . Besides so many left claiming they escaped a Nanny State so they shouldn't complain they don't get looked after abroad ????

 

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by mania

[JimTripper]

“Greasy Diego’s” 

You makes a “run for the border” (crossing the land border from California to Tijuana), and you gits “runs at the border” (diarrhea) from eating at Taco Bell. See the donkey show.

Edited August 23, 2023 by JimTripper

[georgegeorgia]

9 hours ago, JimTripper said:

“Greasy Diego’s” 

You makes a “run for the border” (crossing the land border from California to Tijuana), and you gits “runs at the border” (diarrhea) from eating at Taco Bell. See the donkey show.

I guess only Americans would understand?

[novacova]

On 8/21/2023 at 7:09 AM, NickyLouie said:

If you're duly living in TH as an expatriate do you hold any allegiance to your home country?

 

????????100%????????…no matter where I reside.

[novacova]

On 8/21/2023 at 7:27 AM, LaosLover said:

America has zero allegiance to me and the feeling is mutual.

 

Would I feel allegiance to other Americans over here?

 

No. And that goes double if they are Trump Trash.

Nice you can come here and express your prejudices 

[LaosLover]

2 minutes ago, novacova said:

Nice you can come here and express your prejudices 

Trump Trash, thy name is butt hurt. Always and forever.

 

Sweet!