For at least two years now, people concerned about FATCA have pleaded with the media to stop treating them as tax cheats. We are law abiding Canadian residents and Canadian citizens who pay all our taxes in Canada. Yet the media continues to treat us as criminals. This is a form of libel, to be sure. But it is worse. It is destroying our ability to get our message out: We are law abiding but even the Canadian media treats us as shirkers and tax cheats. Consider this headline by Barbara Shecter of the National Post: Canada signs agreement to dull impact of U.S. crackdown on tax cheats.
This is journalistic incompetence at best; but at worst, it shows malice towards people of US National Origin. It is incompetence because it employs a logical fallacy, a common propaganda tool called “Poisoning the Well“:
This sort of “reasoning” involves trying to discredit what a person might later claim by presenting unfavorable information (be it true or false) about the person. This “argument” has the following form:
- Unfavorable information (be it true or false) about person A is presented.
- Therefore any claims person A makes will be false.
This sort of “reasoning” is obviously fallacious. The person making such an attack is hoping that the unfavorable information will bias listeners against the person in question and hence that they will reject any claims he might make. However, merely presenting unfavorable information about a person (even if it is true) hardly counts as evidence against the claims he/she might make. This is especially clear when Poisoning the Well is looked at as a form of ad Homimem in which the attack is made prior to the person even making the claim or claims.
If you consider the comment section of the Shecter article, you can see how commenters refer to those affected as tax cheats. Shechter’s poisoning of the well is very effective at shutting out people’s willingness to hear our side, because we are now labelled as tax cheats or as wanting to enable tax cheats. We deserve an apology from the National Post, but I never expect them to owe up to their despicable acts. Why? Because the major papers in Canada are publishing wings of the major banks. Barrie McKenna in his most recent report gives great press to the wolves (KPMG, Kevyn Nightingale) of the compliance industry and to the Canadian Banking Association, all while neglecting more credible experts like Abby Deshman, Alison Christians and John Richardson; or constitutional experts like Peter Hogg.
I am not sure what to do about this. I once pleaded with Barrie McKenna over the phone to change his narrative, but now two years later, he still treats alleged Americans in Canada as needing to get into compliance:
Tax experts said the deal is a wake-up call to Americans living in Canada that they should quickly get their tax filings up to date with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“For American citizens living in Canada, this really is the indication that there is nowhere left to hide,” warned accountant Kevyn Nightingale of MNP LLP in Toronto. “The clock is ticking now. The flow of information to the IRS is going to be computerized and comprehensive.”
Where is his plea to the Canadian government to stop helping the USA to tax Canadian citizens by handing over their private account information to the IRS? No, he is aiding and abetting the IRS through these kinds of statements. Where is the outrage? No outrage. Only a quote from Robert Stack, the chief tax collector from Canadian citizens (emphasis mine):
“FATCA implementation is critical to combatting international tax evasion and promoting transparency,” said Robert Stack, Deputy Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary. “The agreements clearly demonstrate the considerable international support behind FATCA and we are proud to lead the global charge on this pressing issue.”
Are you, the readers of Isaac Brock, international tax evaders? If not, then why will the Canadian government make you prove at your bank that you are not a US person? After two years of hard work, we are back where we started with the Globe and Mail and the National Post, the two national so-called newspapers in Canada. This is how propaganda works. And we are victims of it. I bet we would get better press in Pravda.
Journalists will forever be sensationalizing their articles – *especially* the titles. Business people will forever be trying to drum up business with whatever scare tactics they can (via Barrie M, KPMG etc) to motivate people to use their services. If you scare people about staying compliant, they will come running to you for advice, and pay money to get compliant. Seems like everyone is in it for their own slice of the pie. The biggest thing that angers me about the whole IRS strong-arming is the question of “value for services.” As US citizens living abroad (and many dual), we are interested in our slice of the pie wherever we live (legally of course!) – and in many, many cases, we are legitimately working towards these goals of more slices of pie. Who isn’t? My biggest complaint with US – IRS invasion is that there is “no value added” proposition. We are not getting anything in return for these compliance headaches, and US homelanders are not really getting anything either – in fact, I do not believe the US could actually get anything from homelander tax cheats – and it begs the question, are they going after homelander tax cheats too (in the same aggressive barking dog manner)? But more importantly, it raises the question of taxation based on citizenship in that there is no expected value for services when you reside abroad in another country! You are living in the other country and should expect value added services in the country where you are residing. This is the argument, plain and simple, and this is why no other country in the world does this sort of thing. On a purely economic and practical scale it makes no sense. On an emotional and personal scale it also makes no sense. On a global diplomacy level – it makes absolutely no sense!
The Canadian media has called my wife a “tax cheat” plain and simple. If someone said that to me in my person, I’d ask them to step outside. This notion that the media is using seems to be a ratings ploy. Who wants to read about a bunch of honest hard working people being bilked of their assets and information from another country. People like hard news, ratings go up with “terrible tax cheats” which is the hook. I want to see a full page WARNING to anyone who came to Canada from another country. Your rights and protections from the Canadian government are fictitious. just look at how Fatca was handled. The people of Canada need to see where millions of their banking charges are coming from with nothing in return. Canada was never given a chance to fight this because a weak kneed government handed over a “succer” for Canada and left the Canadians being the “succers” Lets see what the media headline will be for this….
Reading this is very upsetting. But it does no good. As stated before- this is the general tenor of the whole shebang and has been for years. And the only thing that will work is force against force. I think one needs a “shot to be heard around the world” and that would be with a class action suit. The only thing that would work would be a ruling in favor of expats in Canada- that what is going on is a human rights violation and against Canadian laws. Thats the ONLY thing that could make people listen up.
Similar to the genocide in World War 2- I fear that only when 6 milion are “dead” (= or financially ruined) will there be a movement towards change. So get that class action under way! With millions of you, it shouldnt be too expensive. Maybe someone would be willing to give a good price for the exposure. I think it is time to get something done which is actually heard.
Those of us who have a voice must speak out extra loudly for those who don’t. We should work to repeal FATCA in the short term, with a change to residency based taxation as the ultimate goal.
Spread the petition to Congress to abolish FATCA in as many places as you can:
https://www.abolishfatca.com/live/
I mentioned this before and now am going to encourage people to continually phone the dual citizen very popular CKNW talk show host in Vancouver who for some reason refuses to air this problem. Please take the time to phone his show everyday to harass him into dealing with this like a man not a coward and open it for discussion.
Jon McComb – The show is called The World Today and is on in the afternoon
http://www.cknw.com/the-world-today/
I know for a fact that he is a dual citizen. he has a huge audience so everyone keep calling even if the show is on a different subject, just change the subject after you get on air. They will ask you what you want to say so make sure you listen to the show and pretend you will talk about whatever it is about then switch the subject
Open Line: (604) 280-9898
Toll Free: 1 (877) 399-9898
Interestingly enough Barrie McKenna is on Twitter right now basically saying in his heart of hearts he supports FATCA and Citizenship Based Taxation.
@Tim
A supporter of CBT is somebody who doesn’t understand what CBT is and/or how it works.
Another by McKenna. Lynne’s quoted:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/ottawa-to-give-irs-information-on-americans-in-canada/article16710461/
Sorry, I see you posted that already, Petros.
Barrie McKenna is acting like an even bigger ass on Twitter.
Yah, let’s give him death by a thousand tweets!
My wife is the accidental American in our house. I am Canadian, own a business, and am furious that Canada has capitulated to the banks and to the IRS. I have read this forum for two years now and have seen much talk of lawsuits , but the talk is always on behalf of the so called “U.S. persons” doing the suing. Wouldn`t it be more effective if the Canadian spouses initiated the law suits? I don`t want my bank account details sent to the IRS because I am Canadian . I don`t care if my wife`s name is on the account. It is my account in my eyes and I don`t think that the CRA or anyone has the right to send MY information anywhere.
@rob, very good points. Why don’t you tell bshecter@nationalpost.com that you are not a tax cheat and you don’t appreciate that the government of Canada and the National Post are treating you like one.
@Rob. I too am in the exact position you are in and am also furious. I called the office of Jim flaherty today and blasted them for not bothering to answer my letter sent to them on Nov 23rd. I asked his secretary what protection I would have when the government sends MY personal information to the USA(foreign country). She sternly said “you wife’s” I stopped her and had to explain that all “joint” accounts will be reported. I had to also let her know that the Native Court system is currently looking into Fatca and doing research on it as of today. they now have a copy of the “IGA”. She had no answer for me as to how I am protected as a Canadian. She never disagreed with me when I said it would clearly be treason if MY information was sent. It seems we really need to all be together on the lawsuits. We must protect ourselves as the government has no answer…..
@NativeCanadian
Good for you.
If these bureaucrats think that they can sanitize the IGA is ways where they aren’t going to get any blowback, they’re in for a surprise.
It is like every Reuters story that comes out on FATCA, has in the headline, “anti Tax Dodger”. I am afraid they (the sympathizers of FATCA) are winning the war of characterization, and when we use the same language back, we are NOT TAX Dodgers it just re-inforces the message. Not sure how to counter it, but you have to find a clever way to change the langanage and the Meme. Frank Luntz was brilliant with this, in the use of the term ‘Death Tax’ for Estate taxes, and ‘Pro life’ instead of anti-abortion. Why, because it helped change the meme and the words journalist use…
So, I would suggest that we stop saying, We are NOT TAX Cheats, because it sounds like Nixons” I am not a crook.” When you use their language they WIN.
Now, I do not have the answer of the term, but there are enough good minds here, that we should be able to come up with a better answer. I for one, am never using ‘Tax Dodger’ language again, in any Post title, comment or tweet I send.
Any suggestions on a clever phrase or turn of an expression would be appreciated. Our wordsmith specialist, @USXCanada should be able to come up with something.
@Just Me, Excellent point. I will have to think about this. I think particularly the term “Death Tax” conveys an entirely different and sinister notion than estate tax.
We could try to come up with our own terminology, to be sure, and that is probably useful. However, I can’t see how we can overcome the monopolistic practices of the major media outlets. Consider that both National Post and Globe and Mail are major advertisers for the big banks in Canada. They have a virtual monopoly on the message. This is what I was trying to say when I wrote about paternalism:
Our growing internet protest is real. Everyone reading this should help us get the message out. Still, we have our work cut out for us.
I like the NTA’s term “benign actors” but that’s too obscure for the mainstream.
@ Just Me
Is this too long? US targeted Canadian taxpayer
Haven’t found it yet, but a separate email generated a lot of slogans, titles, ideas,headlines…. but still not the “death tax” moniker I would like to find. Maybe there is none, and we are always at a disadvantage for all the reasons Petros says…
Here is some of the phrases I have heard…
Treatment of Americans abroad is un-American.
Americans abroad are second-class citizens
Discriminated Americans
New minority discrimination – Americans abroad
Unwelcome Americans
CBT is immoral
Second Class Citizens
Obama Decimates Americans Living Overseas”
“Americans Abroad Unwelcome by Obama”
“IRS to Overseas Americans: Drop Dead!”
“Obama on Globalization: Overseas Americans are ALL Tax Cheats – Trade Deficit Soars!”
“What to Leave America? Obama Makes You Pay Exit Tax”
“Obama to IRS: Screw Overseas Americans!”
“Obama Solution to Trade Deficit: Deny Americans Bank Accounts Abroad”
“Obama Solution to Trade Deficit: Harass Overseas Americans and Beg the Chinese for a Break!”
“FATCA: IRS Fiscal Imperialism”
America, We pay our taxes! To the country where we live and work.”
Casualties of friendly fire
and one pointed comment I got…
and by the way, again, to remind us all how this started, you should keep sending this video to everyone who says, Oh Obama is Not to Blame. I had to show it again to my wife, who keeps forgetting how the FATCA Ball and the unrelenting Offshore Jihad has started rolling. They have had plenty of time to modify or mitigate collateral damage impacts on Americans Abroad if they were Not the target, and they have done NOTHING meaningful!
http://youtu.be/PMEInTNsacg
and then don’t forget Geithner’s statement to this committee Starts at 3 minutes 19 seconds…
http://youtu.be/kHHjv2HJ4pw?t=3m19s
@petros I sent Barbara from the National Post an e-mail explaining that my wife and I are not tax cheats, and that the focus of her article should have been that we are victims, and that the Harper government has thrown us under the bus and broken our laws and Charter in the process. ( I am a business man and have voted conservative all my life-sheesh). I am writing new letters to Jim Flaherty and my local MP. I don`t think our government has any idea what the political repercussions of this could be . I have three married daughters whom I influence greatly. They threw one Canadian under the bus, and lost 8 votes in the process!
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http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2014/02/05/the-canada-united-states-fatca-intergovernmental-agreement/comment-page-15/#comment-1077581
A singular exception in the media. The Windsor Star gets it, see their editorial:
‘The Star’s view: Ottawa shouldn’t be in bed with the IRS ‘
They should be thanked, and the article notes ….”Perrin Beatty, a former federal revenue minister who is now president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has warned that the agreement is “intrusive in terms of people’s property.”…..
@Badger…
As a GREAT link finder, please don’t forget to list the links you find on the new thread for that purpose. It is really helpful…
I just put the one you mentioned above, another WindsorStar piece and a new Financial post article up here
@ Brockers ….Justme’s list of 7 Feb started me thinking…. we need a strapline that passes the “sniff test”, has anyone suggested “Taxpatriots”?
We are true to the ideals of the founding fathers to the point where we give up, or are in the process of giving up, a cherished birthright-the blue pass…..
if petros and Justme and Swisspinoy and calgary411 and em and all you other dear people like this-no trademark attached……
you guys (generic american term for both the Brockers ladies and gentlemen) are a bright light in a dark world