(USA topic) U.S. government dissing it's expats opinion piece

[Jingthing]

Just sharing this article.

I knew most of it, but not all of it.

Some of it is kind of SHOCKING!

What really bothers me is the attitude in the U.S. that we are somehow traitors to our country for leaving, and people who should be regarded with suspicion. This is reflected in recently proposed legislation to strip us of our voting rights, put us on special “overseas persons” lists, and require us to provide a detailed explanation of why we choose to live in another country. There was even a proposal in 2014 to take away our citizenship. Although these proposals are unlikely to become law any time soon, they enjoy broad minority support in the U.S. Congress from politicians as diverse as Ted Cruz and Chuck Schumer.

https://www.cuencahighlife.com/united-states-government-treat-expatriates-badly/

[Boon Mee]

Sounds like poppycock to this poster.

[mania]

Definitely sounds like sensationalism....

"There was even a proposal in 2014 to take away our citizenship"

None can be a person without a country so unless you had dual citizenship they cannot

strip anything

About the 10k in foreign banks reporting rule...That is for everyone not just those living outside the US

Probably got started because of those living inside the US hiding money etc outside

"recently proposed legislation to strip us of our voting rights"

Another one that would never get traction but........In some ways I agree

Why should folks like us who chose to live elsewhere country wise...be voting on what goes into recipes

of cake we need not eat? Does not really seem fair

Of course I am speaking of those who chose to leave not those who need to due to work etc.

Also of course voting rights returned when we return etc

[Jingthing]

What about the banking and brokerage regulations that have pushed many US banks and financial firms to kick out expats? To my view that's hostile.

[mania]

What about the banking and brokerage regulations that have pushed many US banks and financial firms to kick out expats? To my view that's hostile.

You mean the pain the US is inflicting on foreign banks if they do not report US citizens accounts?

Yes hostile for sure...but also I do wish the foreign banks would just say enough is enough

But when they are threatened with losing Visa/Mastercard rights of use etc they knuckle under.

Then some banks here find it easier to just say no thanks to US customers seeking to open accounts.

So far I have been fine with my US banks & credit unions even though they know I have not been there in years.

As long as I keep a US address they are ok with it.

But all moot for us too...as we have decided to move back soon too

Edited June 22, 2016 by mania

[thaihome]

The article just makes me wonder why some people try so hard to potray themselves (and usually trying to drag some group they belong to into it) as victims.

TH

[Jingthing]

The article just makes me wonder why some people try so hard to potray themselves (and usually trying to drag some group they belong to into it) as victims.

TH

Expat Lives Matter!

The truth is as far as the political impact expats have in D.C., it is practically NON-EXISTENT.

If looking at a scale of 1 to 1000, where the NRA is at about 1000, where do you think expat concerns rate?

Perhaps it's more like a NEGATIVE number because with tightening of financial reporting, it's clear many in the government see expats as criminal suspects, rather than regular citizens.

Expats -- out of the country, out of sight, out of mind.

Edited June 23, 2016 by Jingthing

[bendejo]

Love it or leave it. And you left it. That says something...

[Boon Mee]

What about the banking and brokerage regulations that have pushed many US banks and financial firms to kick out expats? To my view that's hostile.

Very hostle.

Thank your buddy Dubya for the Patriot Act on that one JT...

[IMA_FARANG]

Not really new.

In 1971 Iworked for the U.S. Army as a civilian communications system tech in the then Saigon, Vietnam.

I saw a message sent to the U.S. embassy there looking for information about a U.S. owned firm that had a branch in Saigon doing work for the U.S. government there,

The U.S government wanted that U.S. firm to supply financial records of their income in Saigon to the U.S. government.

The U.S. firm was suspected of hiding some details of it's income illegally.

The message was signed by the then Secretary of State..... Henry Kissinger.

The message warned that if the U.S. company did not voluntarily reveal the financial information they wanted the U.S. authorities would take "further steps" to obtain the information.

Two weeks later "unknown robbers" broke into the Saigon office of that company and many financial records were stolen.

At the same time a fire was started in that office.....which supposedly destroyed all that company's records.

Pure coincidence, of course.

Richard Nixon was then the U.S. president.

Decide for yourself, I am just telling you a story from the past.

[Jingthing]

I'm not endorsing the content in this article, but it is on topic, so sharing it for entertainment and discussion purposes.

However, I don't think there is any doubt, aside from defined term work assignments and military/embassy jobs, etc., for an American to become an expat is going against the grain.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Be aware. At that point, you have subtly, but undeniably, assumed oppositional status against the U.S. system.

Have no doubts. Your expat wannabe behaviors may now be considered semi-suspicious. Nobody wants you to leave the U.S, not your government, not your bank, not your insurance company, not your medical syndicate. For the overseers, there’s no money made with a smaller flock of sheeple. We’re a nation of immigrants, not expatriates. Guard dogs are eyeballing the restless masses. As natural as breathing, policy controllers will move to dissuade wandering. Bad information, real news ignored, and blatant propaganda are what make up the fences. Future expats should take heed. The information you need may be distorted — or totally fabricated. If allowed, others will covertly decide what you should know. It’s true regarding Ecuador, Latin America, and foreign travel in general. Real, valid reasons justifying a true escape from America? Those are totally unheard of in the U.S. press.

https://www.cuencahighlife.com/conspiracy-theories-expats-putting-wanna-wannabe-important-tip-worst-reason-plan-b-cuenca/

[CaptHaddock]

I view expating as falling through the cracks between systems. Sometimes that's to our advantage; sometimes not. Mostly the cracks exist because we are not numerous or politically important enough for the governments to pay enough attention to address the cracks. The exception is tax revenue for which the US govt is paying full attention. Since we will never vote as a block we will never be able to exert political influence.

But we knew all this before we left, or should have.