I think one of the important issues surrounding this whole compliance issue is the need for us to become organized and speak with one voice. It pains me to see people going through anxiety and fear as they desperately file their back returns and FBARs, spending thousands of dollars, with no direction from either Government, lets “sit tight and wait”. Just a bunch of empty words and no direction!
The IRS information is confusing and contradictory and it seems they spend more time advising us of the penalty and fine structure rather than telling us in plain English the correct procedures for compliance.
Make no mistake, these IRS tools of mass legislation are targeted firmly north of the border…the innocent, law-abiding, tax compliant, Canadian citizen. We need to get our voice out and educate the rest of the general population on this growing threat of financial war. Then, and only then, can we help ourselves and possibly the rest of the world.
A number of suggestions have been put forth. This site, in my opinion, is an excellent starting point. I have made it a practice to include this email link at the bottom of all my correspondence in the hope certain individuals will review the information and see exactly what we are going though and how we perceive this fog of confusion.
Any and all ideas are welcome…how about writing a book of sorts? I suggest an Author such as PetrosResearch would be an excellent choice in structuring something that could be distributed to the masses. If you have read any of his articles, it goes without saying he is an excellent wordsmith, and is very familiar with this issue, especially from a legal point of view.
Anything we do is definitely going to need some seed money, and I would be the first to write a check when the time comes.
In my perfect world I would also like to see a fund where we can all donate to help those who become innocently tangled in this mess through some clerical misfortune, or cannot afford an Accountant to help navigate through this maze of paperwork. A fund would also be a good spring board to start a class action suit against the United States Government, if it ever came to that.
But more importantly, it would give us some control and power over our own destiny when push comes to shove. We cannot allow them to divide and conquer, which is exactly what they are intending to do.
2012 is the year we must act. It will go by quickly. We need to tell everyone and anyone that will listen to this story. Above all we must maintain our rights, freedom, and privacy that we enjoy in Canada. I am not saying we should not fill in the required paperwork to comply…but what I am saying is don’t sign anything from a bank that waives your rights to privacy. If you do, you have just engaged SKYNET, and then machines will definitely take over .
Ideally, we should be also work together with the New Brunswick folks who seem to have considerable momentum at this point. To start with, we should try to get in touch with Marie Cashion and David Lutz, named as leaders of the movement there in this article:
http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2011/12/03/americans-living-in-canada-beware-of-the-irs/
Regan once said that:
“If we don’t hang together, we will hang separately/alone”.
Seems like that applies here.
To quote David Lutz;
“Things will happen to you if you don’t get organized,” Lutz said during the meeting. “There’s a million Canadians and you need to get organized and tell Mr. Harper you’re concerns. You’ve got to, there’s no other way,” he urged.
Could a letter or petition signed by a significant amount of us to Harper/Flaherty have any effect?
I have actually drafted an email to David Lutz, as he seems to be close to the NB’s on this matter and maybe has some idea’s on a starting point to begin organization so we can at least have a common voice and some support in all of this. I will post something when i hear back.
Check this out:
http://isaacbrocksociety.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/study-on-expats-small-way-to-help-get-the-word-out/