I won’t take to heart the accusation that I hate the United States–a refrain from a commenter Adam West at Think Progress. It is not surprising that those Homelanders who support Obama, see dissension on extra-territorial taxation, FATCA, and citizenship as unpatriotic. As too often occurs, nationalism and political partisanship become mixed into an idolatrous blend. Back when George W. Bush was president, these same people often insisted that their protests against him were not unpatriotic. Who can forget Hillary Clinton’s passionate plea for the right to question the current administration?
At the time, dissension over the war on terror and criticism of George Bush was universal among Democrats, and the response from many right-wingers was that such protests were unpatriotic. Wasn’t it right to support one’s country in a time of war? Isn’t it wrong, practically traitorous, to spread discontent with an administration which was leading the fight against the enemies of America? But the progressives at that time claimed that dissension itself is the true form of patriotism. Some even promised that if a republican candidate won another election that they would move to Canada. I heard one woman say that to me while vacation in Grand Cayman, so it must have been a pretty popular sentiment. Isn’t the act of moving to another country just the beginning of a move towards the disbanding of ties that occurs when one relinquishes US citizenship? So weren’t these democrats being unpatriotic haters of America? Aren’t these the same people that defend the Obama administration and accuse me of being a traitor?
If I relinquish my citizenship, protest the treatment of my fellow Canadian citizens by this current administration, am I being unpatriotic, or am I exercising my American right to register my protest against an administration with which I disagree? Are Democrats not confusing disagreement with a lack of patriotism? Have they not simply taken on the persona of their political adversaries?
Here is a video in which Obama claims on the one hand that he won’t call those who disagree unpatriotic, then says that increasing the debt to China is “unpatriotic” but then since he did increase debt to China with even larger deficits proves himself to be more unpatriotic than Bush. The term “patriotic” thus serves the interests of party politics, as does the accusation of hatred of America.
Gosh. And the Fed Debt now exceeds $17 Trillion (excluding unfunded liabilities).
These Politicos are just plain untruthful hypocrites. So what else is new in the land of make believe?
Petros, I see the Isaac Brock Society as people who want to counsel America away from the self mutilation that it is presently doing and is set to do worse with the advent of FATCA.
In the process I see that the rest of the world cannot remain enslaved to anyone and must insist peacefully on their right to self determination and that includes the revocation of extra territorial laws like CBT and FATCA, the “money laundering” scam allegations and so on.
How about a thread finding out about the Liberal MP questions to the government?
Even though I am closer to Petros on economic issue, spend more time on finding practical solution.
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” -Mark Twain
If you agree with Twain, many people are misdirecting their anger toward those who disagree with the policies of a particular government, rather than to the government itself. You can disagree with an opponent, but to vilify them for being unpatriotic is anti-democratic and un-patriotic if you support your country, and the democratic system, imo.
Petros, You are a Canadian questioning the “right” of a foreign government to dictate policy to your government that will undermine the rights of Canadians. Technically speaking, you are being patriotic.
But even if you define yourself as a former American, you still have the right to question and a duty to do so when clear harm is being done and the original intent of the law is being purposefully misdirected for the sole purpose of exploiting the arguably unintended consequences of FATCA.
As to why these people have gone from supporting the rights/duties of citizens to question and criticize their govt to calling it traitorous and right-wing that’s an easy one.
Refomers/patriots are those out of power – as the Dems were under GW Bush. When you are in power, those who question or condemn are now fearmongers, extremists, right-wingers, etc. It’s all a matter of point of view, and the pov of those who control the govt is always going to be that detractors are misguided at best and traitors at worst.
I was at the Justin Trudeau rally last week and he reminded those there that the current Conservative govt grew out of the Reform Movement in Alberta. They wanted to go to Ottawa and clean it up, get rid of the cronyism, secrecy, corruption and whatnot, so the people of Canada could be better served. Instead, they have become what they railed against.
So too the Dems in the US have become the same govt that drove them to the point of foaming at the mouth for most of the last decade.
My husband likens Parliament (and this could apply to the White House and the US Congress) to the Overlook Hotel, which is the evil hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining. These places have auras of their own that slowing seep into the spirits of those who go off to represent the “will of the people” so sure of themselves and their righteousness and never considering for a moment that they will be changed more than they will change govt.
And they won’t recognize the change and they will argue vehemently that they haven’t changed but it will be the truth for the vast majority of them to larger or lessor degrees.
I don’t hate the US. I don’t think anyone here really hates it. But we aren’t part of it anymore and standing outside has afforded us a different viewpoint and understanding. It’s inevitable that many of us will become solely the citizens of where we live now.
I have no problem in “hating” the Homelanders. They’re trying to destroy my family’s economic future. In any situation like that, it would be a cause for a feud the likes of the Hatfields and McCoys. I’ve resolved to never set my foot in that godforsaken nation again in my lifetime. “one nation under god”, my ass.