Now Open: Maple Sandbox for standing up to IRS bullies.
Outraged Canadian and Blaze invite you to come play with us at Maple Sandbox in a spirit of fun, friendship, sharing and enthusiasm as we learn, grow and share together.
While Maple Sandbox offers a calm and casual approach, we know the battle against the IRS is a serious one that has turned lives upside down. So, we are determined to stand up to bullies, wherever they come from.
We know how alarming, distressing and worrying issues of dealing with IRS from afar can be. At Maple Sandbox, we aim to offer a dwelling for rest and relaxation in an atmosphere of sharing, exploring, and learning. We are starting small, but we plan on adding building blocks and new friends along the way.
We do not shy away from the conflict. We plan to arm ourselves and others with resources, respect and advocacy against the attempted intrusion of IRS into the lives of honest, law-abiding tax paying people outside USA.
Canadians and Americans fight wars differently. Likewise, Maple Sandbox will conduct this dispute to reflect Canada’s long and esteemed history of fighting for freedom, while also promoting global peacemaking and international development. .
Isaac Brock Society literally saved our sanity and gave us strength and strategies for saving ourselves and others. Eventually, as both we and Brock changed, we decided it was time to Blaze a new Outraged Canadian trail. Thank you usxcanada for the superb suggestion that we go find another sandbox to play in. We have done just that by building Maple Sandbox. .
Blaze and Petros have sealed a treaty. We are allies with Brock and others around the world. As strong trading partners, many of our toys were imported from Brock. We hope to export buckets of sand to Brock. Maple Sandbox and Brock will share building blocks as we expand our treasure chests.
Brock soldiers are welcome to relax in our playground. Likewise, we expect some Sandboxers may also be Brock troopers.
Maple Sandbox believes learning and growing occurs through open, honest exchange of thoughts, ideas and communications. We cherish freedom of speech and freedom of expression as fundamental Canadian values. At the same time, neither freedom is absolute– nor should they be in a civilized world. So, we will follow Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which provides that “reasonable limits” may be placed on individual rights in a free and democratic society.
Come to Maple Sandbox to play, explore and even fight with us as we Blaze a new Outraged Canadian Trail.
*Petros, probably about 10 and mostly US-based. I try to be polite and follow the rules but don’t always swim in the same direction as others. One mod called me “invincible” prior to banning me for my “debate style”. Another mod banned me in response to his/her edit of what I wrote. Another forum banned me because of my reputation. Another censured my writings to make a ban appear necessary. Another yielded to popular pressure. Another banned me in response to my response to attacks. Another banned me because I was trolling since I was banned (that ban was justified). That would average to about 1 ban per year. In one forum, I even post about once every year or two so that I’m not banned for expressing my views frequently! My posts are really not as bad as it may seem. I have no hard feelings against anyone, don’t hate anybody, am not politically affiliated and just enjoy being critical in controversial topics without getting very personal.
@SwissPinoy, impressive credentials. I feel personally humbled by your resumé. 🙂
*LOL
*@ em, I agree with what you wrote, as far as it goes. Yes, we must distinguish between ordinary people and leaders with psychopathic tendencies. Many USans (a proper subset of all residents of North and South America, who have misappropriated the title “Americans” for themselves) are good, decent people. Yet even the good people among them seem mostly to accept the myth of US exceptionalism. My experience of becoming Canadian led me to discard that myth very quickly.
Of course, Canada isn’t perfect, and the current federal government here, in particular, displays some worrying trends. But politics is on a smaller scale here. It’s actually easy to meet and get to know our representatives. And Canadians are generally modest about our power and our role in the world. We recognize the good aspects of many other countries and are open to learning from them. Except when our leaders foolishly follow belligerent foreign leaders, we don’t pose the kind of threat to others that the US and other domineering nations do. So I’m much happier living on the Canadian side of the one-way glass that is the 49th parallel than I was on the other side.
@ AnonAnon
And I’m relieved to be back on the north side of 49 — frequently colder but generally happier. 🙂
*In fact as January 1st 2013 with ObamaCare now being made legal by the US Supreme Court Alberta will have a combined federal provincial tax rate on investment income lower than any place in the US including Florida and Texas. If the Bush Tax Cuts expire too BC, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nunavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territories will all have lower income taxes on unearned income than anywhere in the US. Additionally Alberta if the Bush cuts expire will have lower taxes on earned income. (I might be off a province or too but much of Canada will have rates next year very close to that of the low tax US states like Florida and Texas plus TFSA’s which are much more expansive than IRA’s). All in all I would say when you look at total tax burden Alberta is already as low tax as any place in the US and substantially lower than “high tax” Swiss Cantons such as Geneva and Zurich(Taking into account just 5% GST only sales tax).
Petros – Now we got problems with farcists? Or fideists? Or fatalists? Or faddists? Or florists? Let a thousand flowers bloom. Offend everybody.
@usxcanada, lol! Have a nice weekend everyone.
I cannot longer remain silent to the entrainment that you have provided to me in the past
months. Within my own family we have such disagreements as to what is
appropriate allusions are acceptable. Please continue to disagree. It would not
be a satisfying day unless one of you did not have a different view point. You
are not turning people away. You are endearing yourself to on lookers.
@Petros, it was not an easy journey. Much of what I did was to represent America internationally as a little ambassador in a positive manner that many were less familiar with. I helped to show internationals that some Americans are tolerate and respectful of other cultures and religions. Thus, I gained a lot of respect around the world, discouraged hatred and racism against Americans while also helping to show people that one can successfully challenge a problem without resorting to violence. My main opposition to this was, well, many voices in America. Unfortunately, I didn’t count how many times I was accused of being anti-American or even a terrorist and I wouldn’t be surprised if the CIA had a huge file about me.
Yet, now I’m reconsidering my role of being a little US ambassador since the US is making it more difficult for me to live abroad as a US person. How America will then be viewed around the world afterwords, will no longer be a concern of mine since I’ll no longer fight for a government which doesn’t appreciate my efforts. I fear that America underestimates the priceless value of its citizens abroad.
*
Worldwide, I have pondered whether you meant to say “entertainment” rather than “entrainment”. I think the latter is still the most likely intention–it is after all what you wrote.
A few months ago, someone wrote that reading Isaac Brock was like gawking at a car accident. Indeed, the subject material and the manner that we treat it is entraining. Glad you appreciate it.
I just posted this on the FATCA thread, but I think Carl Watner’s words will resonate here, and Petros you may even feel vindicated!
http://www.informationliberation.com/index.php?id=40224
@bubblebustin, an interesting thread on which to put that link.
No disrespect to anyone intended. Will create a new thread. Does anyone know anything about the author?
I said interesting, not disrespectful. 🙂
Ok, put it up as a new thread, but I want everyone to note that I’m not the one putting it up. I suggested it as only a more cheeky thing to do than posting the article in a comment. He has an interesting list from Naomi Wolfe, citing a book that Jefferson D. Tomas had mentioned.
All I know about him is what is on the blurb on the article. He has a website with more info, perhaps.
i have done nothing re FATCA. No renumciation. Former US citizen, now Canadian.
How is it going at the border? Are you having trouble crossing by car into US? Being turned back?? What are my chances of crossing at Watertown NY?
@ Samuel,
Better to post your question on this thread: Question: Has anyone had a bad experience when entering the US? It’s a pretty active thread and quite a few people have been posting their border crossing experiences on it.