Must read Facebook discussion between one of the those #Americansabroad with @DemsAbroad France about #FATCA #FABR https://t.co/nRAcNuVuyb

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 14, 2014

The above tweet references a Facebook conversation between on Stephanie Reynaud (one of the many who lost the birth lottery) and Connie Borde (Chair of Democrats Abroad France).

Note the reference to the “Canadian FATCA lawsuit“.

I have included the full text of the conversation below (wanting to capture this in it’s original text). It is absolutely extraordinary for reasons that include the following:

– the absolute desperation and anguish expressed by Ms. Reynaud

– the attempt by Ms. Borde to turn the fear, hopelessness, anger and despair of Americans abroad into a partisan issue

– the implied (if not stated) refusal of Ms. Borde to see this as an issue that affects all Americans regardless of party (or no) affiliation

– the recognition of Ms. Reynaud that all Americans must work together on this issue (as per the thoughts of Victoria)

– the obviousness of the fact that Democrats Abroad is there to further the interests of the Obama administration which (whether by accident or design) but WITH FULL AWARENESS IS DESTROYING THE LIVES OF ALL AMERICANS ABROAD!!!!!!

On several occasions I have documented how Democrats Abroad is nothing but “The Obama Democrats Abroad” (and the best argument there is for not voting for the Democrats) and anybody who believes differently is nothing but one of those “Stepford Wives“.

This post will likely be read by Democrats Abroad. I encourage you to share your thoughts.

Stéphanie Reynaud‎ Democrats Abroad France
September 11 at 10:41pm ·

I have decided to renounce my US citizenship because of this debacle. What are you doing NOW to help Americans living overseas who are faced with this situation NOW? I know Democrats Abroad censors any questions about FATCA or taxation issues but the reality will not change and there are many upset Americans abroad! http://online.wsj.com/articles/expats-left-frustrated-as-banks-cut-services-abroad-1410465182

Expats Left Frustrated as Banks Cut Services Abroad
Americans living abroad are being cut off by banks and brokerages as financial institutions seek to steer clear of a U.S. crackdown on money laundering and tax evasion.
online.wsj.com|By Laura Saunders

Like · Comment · Share

Democrats Abroad France Absolutely not so, Stephanie. No organization has lobbied more efficiently and tirelessly for this cause. Our report is coming out this week and Democrats Abroad has been sending regular updates to members over the past months which you have not opened. If any progress can be made, DA will be in front line of having made it happen. Connie Borde, Chair, DAF
1 · September 11 at 11:27pm

Stéphanie Reynaud I sincerely thank you for taking the time to reply. However, I have been censored as well as 7 other individuals (4 of them known Democrats) on the main Democrats Abroad Facebook page because of our questions regarding FATCA. It does not leave a good taste in our mouths and word is spreading that DA censors any dissent on its page. In regards, to what you wrote, I appreciate your outline of what DA is doing. Unfortunately, same country exception is not enough for Americans who move from one country to another. They will still encounter problems. The reality on the ground is bank accounts are being closed, mortgages are being rescinded, investment accounts are being closed, etc. This is happening not only for passport carrying US citizens but anyone who is identified as a US person based on FATCA rules. It is also affecting the non-American spouses of US citizens/US persons. I also have friends who are French in the US who have had their bank accounts closed in France and their mortgages rescinded because they have a US address on the account. They were told it is because of the new regulations for FATCA. This situation and the extra-ordinarily difficult and arduous tax filing procedure as well as treated like criminals to send my local bank account information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Newtwork (FBARs) is beyond unacceptable. We are being targeted and treated as criminals and this is NOT a country of which I want to be a citizen anymore. I was once proud to be an American but not anymore; hence why I have started the process in renouncing my citizenship. Democrats Abroad, Republicans Overseas, and other organisations are more interested in their own egos and agendas and we (me at least for the moment) Americans overseas are used as pawns and are the losers! I am sorry for this “diatribe” please note that I am ONE OF MANY WHO ARE EXTREMELY DISGUSTED AND ANGRY AT THIS!!! If you censor me – so be it but at least I have explained my (and many others) positions on this. I am asking you this question as I will ask Republicans: What candidates specifically are running are fully supporting and fully understand the terrible situation we are in as Americans overseas? Because the current make-up in Congress does NOT WHATSOEVER! Each year it gets worse and worse for Americans overseas and with no understanding or support in Congress and certainly no comprehension by the American people who live in the United States. They have this absurd view of Americans living overseas as wealthy tax cheats, evaders, unpatriotic, …. My ‘other country’ France treats its expats much better and with more respect than the US treats its expats. We have delegates in various parts of the world which give them a voice in their region and most importantly at the legislative level in the National Assembly. Perhaps the US can learn that it can be a better country by looking at other countries in how they can improve their treatment of their expats!
September 12 at 4:04am · Edited

Democrats Abroad France While we don’t doubt the sincerity of your anger and frustration, it does seem that your grasp of some of the facts is a bit uninformed. Democrats Abroad, along with AARO and a few other organizations–but notably NOT anyone from the Republicans–have been to Washington several times to lobby congressional representatives and agency administrators for FATCA relief, and we’ve met with some success–though not yet enough concrete action. Unfortunately, policy-makers do not act quickly on this issue for various reasons, and so progress is unbearably slow. One of those reasons is the perception that anyone living abroad is somehow a tax cheat or unpatriotic, and we’ve been working hard to change that perception. Our forthcoming report, which is considerable in scope and precise in its recommendations, details over 300 cases of ordinary americans who have been harmed by this regulation, and provides data on 1000s more. We’ve also found that the horror stories that you recount of “reality on the ground” have really been the exception rather than the rule–though that doesn’t mean there aren’t hundreds of stories–there are, and that’s why we continue to do our work. Now, it’s fine if you want to express your anger, we understand that, but when you accuse Democrats Abroad of being interested in their own egos, claim that we use our members as pawns, and assert that we’ve done nothing to remedy the situation–well, that’s flatly incorrect, and maybe even mendacious. And if the people you’ve mentioned on the main page were repeatedly doing the same thing despite overwhelming evidence to counter and correct their claims, that might account for what you call “censorship.” We also have several high profile allies in Congress who are deeply aware of these issues–Senators Franken, Booker, Warren, and Gillibrand, for example, and Representatives Maloney, Honda, Walker, among others. Even Minority Leader Pelosi has spoken at Democrats Abroad meetings and is aware of the issues. Legislative inaction is due largely to who controls the levers of Congress, so you are right when you implicitly argue that our best weapon is voting. Of course, if you renounce your citizenship, you give up that right. And no one really believes that the Republicans — despite the rhetoric of the newly formed Republican Overseas — will do anything at all about this let alone repeal it, so if you do hang on to your citizenship long enough to vote in this election, and you vote for the GOP, you’re going to be even more severely disappointed that you are now. The bottom line is that instead of attacking Democrats Abroad for what you incorrectly think we haven’t done, you should inform yourself of what we have already accomplished and join us to continue that work and bring relief to millions Americans living abroad.
1 · September 12 at 4:20am

Stéphanie Reynaud Again, thank you for your reply. I keep myself very informed and I argue your point that those affected by FATCA and the complicated taxation situation are the exception – that is ABSOLUTELY WRONG! You have just proven my point in attacking Republicans Overseas (please note that I am not a Republican or a Democrat but vote on issues regardless of the party) as being disingenuous. There was one recent terrible attack on the DA main Facebook page which proves that warring factions in both parties will only result in Americans overseas being the losers. I cannot tell you the countless number of ANGRY Americans overseas whom I have encountered who are absolutely disgusted in the current situation. Many feel that legal action is the only recourse as started in Canada and as in process in the US. I do not support a Republican platform under normal conditions but these are not normal conditions and I will support those candidates should I still have my citizenship at that point who support the elimination of FATCA and who support RBT as CBT is the genesis of this entire disaster for all of us! WIth due respect, I (and many) take offence to the minimisation of the serious consequences many are facing because of this. I cannot express how incorrect you are. I have French friends who had the unfortunate circumstance in being born in the US. One person was born and left the US after one month as his parents returned to France. He has never been back and is French. He has had his accounts closed at AXA France as he is identified as a US Person. With the US State Department raising the renunciation fee 400% many (and I mean many) feel that they as Americans overseas are targets of the US government and current make up of the administration and Congress. I respectfully and sincerely hope you realize that there is an absolute anger amongst Americans overseas, dual citizens, and US persons who may not be vocal here but are growing in numbers! I still stand by what I stated before with all of the Americans overseas organizations only representing a small segment of the overall population of Americans abroad and their respective attacks on each other which you validated in your response will not advance anything. There needs to be a formal voice for ALL of us regardless of our political affiliation. Use the French model as an example. Because of the backlash of French expats in North America to their delegate, this person went back to the National Assembly and immediately got the French banks to stop closing accounts and rescinding mortgages on these people because they had a US address. This is what I call action and it is much more (when looking at the years of struggle) that is being done for American expats. How many more years must we endure this? Unfortunately, the backlog of US renunciations has risen significantly as many good, decent, Americans are throwing in the towel as it is just not worth the criminalisation towards us and the mountains of tax filing paperwork which needs to be done.
1 · September 12 at 7:36am

Democrats Abroad France again, we don’t doubt the sincerity of your feelings, but again you seem to be misstating facts and (perhaps intentionally) misreading and distorting what we have said. It is not an attack to state as a matter of fact that the Republicans have had zero interest in and made no effort on behalf of this issue, and that Republicans Overseas was created only a year ago as a political–not a practical–tactic, largely to drum up fear and panic, to solicit the support of people like you who “don’t normally support a republican platform under normal conditions.” In brief, they’ve talked a lot to spread fear, but they haven’t actually done anything. Any rhetoric coming from them has to be viewed in that light. There are, however, several other organizations that have acted with some degree of coordination and in good faith despite their differences (some favor reform, others repeal of FATCA) to move the ball forward. And our collective efforts will bear fruit in the near future, and we contend that this kind of collective action is the only way things are going to get done. Complaining to your representatives, attacking us on the premise that we haven’t done anything or dont’ understand what’s really going on, and renouncing your citizenship will not help us achieve these goals. What will help is concrete data and direct coordinated lobbying of key players. We’re going to continue our work on behalf of all Americans living abroad to bring statutory relief to this situation. It’s fine if you want to vent your anger, we understand, but we really can’t respond to it except with sympathy and the promise that our efforts continue. (p.s. We also think your claim about your delegate in factually incorrect, but we cannot, for legal reasons, comment on it beyond that).
September 12 at 8:08am

Stéphanie Reynaud I suggest you review the articles written about the problems Americans overseas are having regarding their banking situation, they are becoming more abundant. Yes, Republicans Abroad (prior to Republicans Overseas) was silent and that was unacceptable! At least there is movement by Republicans Overseas. All organisations have their motivations and yes ulterior motives but if they are supporting the key issue which is seriously complicating the lives of Americans overseas – wonderful! I know the delegate personally so your doubt of what was done is not genuine. I know my facts, I have read through DA, AARO, ACA, FAWCO, RO, et al. I see what is happening across many countries and the ire that is is creating in Americans overseas regardless of their party affiliation. The final result is shown in the backlog of renunciations and the blatant revenge the US government is taking in hiking the fees 400%! I will end with this – you need to be aware of how many American expats, green card holders, dual citizens, and US persons are furious and disgusted with what the US government (Congress, etc.) is doing and how it is targeting them. I can assure you that the numbers are growing quite rapidly. All of the organisations should join together to support and protect Americans overseas but again because of egos and conflicting agendas in all of the organisations – this will not happen. I suggest you take a look at why being a US citizen has become more a liability than a privileged! Those days are over especially when one has to decide between retirement savings or getting a mortgage and their US citizenship – they are choosing the former. Voting in a Democrat or Republican is not going to change what is happening to us. Voting in a candidate who supports and understands the terrible situation we are in and are willing to do something about it may possibly change things. I really hate to say it but the United States is becoming more and more an unwelcoming and unfriendly country – how it is treating its citizens residing abroad is just one example. It is very sad.
1 · September 12 at 8:51am

Stéphanie Reynaud PS. As a non-US citizen which is the road I am going, there will be no more FBARS, there will be no more pages of tax filings to the US, there will be no more fees to accountants for US tax filings, there will be no more privacy rights invasions by the US on my business, there will be no more closings of my accounts (and yes – I had my investment account closed). There will be no more payments to the IRS because of certain deductions which are not recognised by the IRS but are recognised in France especially for independent contractors. In other words, life will be filled with less angst and I will be able to have accounts, save for retirement, etc, without the worry of the US government. Being an American is just not worth this type of turmoil. Should I leave France to live in another country then I am subjected to RBT and not CBT like Americans are! This will be a tremendous relief! If you think having CBT, FATCA, FBAR, etc. is the best of America – then you can keep it! Not me!
September 12 at 9:01am

Stéphanie Reynaud Example: This is what is happening and this is the reality of the situation as more and more people are becoming vocal. This is one of many, many examples: http://www.forbes.com/…/dear-son-why-you-should-leave…/
Dear Son, Why You Should Leave America Now
www.forbes.com
On High School Graduation, You Might Not Expect a Father to Tell His Son to Leave America. But Here is One Father’s Advice to His Dual U.S./Canadian Citizen Son.
September 12 at 9:04am

Democrats Abroad France again, your cases are the exceptional ones, not the typical ones. everyone is feeling some discomfort, certainly, but the vast majority of americans are compliant without the kinds of problems you are describing personally or citing with links from the wall street journal and forbes. Thank you for sharing the details of your situation with us and good luck with your decision.
September 12 at 10:10am

Stéphanie Reynaud You are 100% wrong and you choose to bury your head in the sand. It is NOT the exception to the rule and it has nothing to do with being compliant when one’s bank accounts are closed and mortgages are rescinded! Below is a letter from
Jacqueline Bugnion, Tax Team Director, American Citizens Abroad:

“Thanks to the concerned Americans who wrote the letter and thanks to you for publishing it. It most accurately describes the situation of Americans abroad. As head of the tax team at American Citizens Abroad, I receive calls every week of individuals facing the unjust demands of the U.S. government on its citizens resident abroad. Five years ago, if an American renounced their citizenship, they felt some shame because they felt loyalty to the United States. Today, the sledge hammer that the combination of citizenship-based taxation, FBAR and FATCA have imposed on Americans abroad is so excessive, so wrong, that individuals have lost faith in the U.S. government. Renouncing their citizenship is not longer a matter of shame, but a matter of practicality.

I am glad that they addressed the letter to President Obama because he has been the most hypocritical of all politicians with regard to Americans abroad. During his 2008 campaign, he made a specific promising statement to meet the needs of Americans abroad, and since his election, the actions have been 180 degrees in the opposite direction and have made situation intolerable. Congress is guilty of extreme provincialism and low level political calculations. Most couldn’t care less about Americans abroad, and probably even the increase in the number of renunciations will only evoke a yawn. Since Americans abroad represent at most 2 % of the votes for any Congressional District, Congressmen are not going to stick out their neck to defend such an insignificant part of their voters. And then you have entrenched Senators in Congress, such as Senator Schumer and Senator Levin, who know how to manipulate the emotions of the general public through highly publicized hearings, legislative initiatives and buzz words such as “tax cheats”. The fact is that U.S. laws are made for United States domestic purposes and Americans residing overseas are systematically subject to collateral damage. What Congress has imposed on Americans abroad is comparable to the Stamp Act and other legislation that King George III imposed on the colonies – a mother country imposing laws on its citizens abroad for the exclusive benefit of the home country. Citizenship-based taxation is an absurdity in today’s world of mobile population. The only way for the United States to stop the terrible injustice and prejudice that it is imposing on Americans abroad is to adopt residence-based taxation.”

1 · September 12 at 10:42pm

Democrats Abroad France it seems now as if you just want to argue for the sake of arguing in order to get us to say something regrettable, and that’s the very definition of trolling. so again, thank you for sharing the details of your case and good luck with your decision
Yesterday at 12:47am

Republicans Overseas responds to the @DemsAbroad France "Renaud Borde dialouge https://t.co/jSdUCeMzHw – Please! #FATCA is NOT partisan!

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 14, 2014

The above tweet references a comment from the Republican Overseas Facebook page which is in response to the above discussion.

In the interests of “Partisan Equality” I include it in its entirety.

This article resulted in Stéphanie Reynaud’s heart-wrenching announcement of “I have decided to renounce my US citizenship because of this debacle” and reply from Connie Borde, Chairman of Democrats Abroad France, “good luck with your decision”.

FATCA tyranny has been built on the assumption that 7.6 million expats are tax cheats. It is compounded by Democrats Abroad’s assertion (see below exchange) that foreign banks’ discrimination against expats due to FATCA is exceptional in order to downplay expats’ suffering. DA needs to understand that FATCA not only deprives all expats’ “pursuit of happiness” anywhere in the world, but also render them America’s second class citizens by taking away their constitutional protections such as right to privacy, presumption of innocence, and no unreasonable search and seizure.

Democrats Abroad France again, your cases are the exceptional ones, not the typical ones. everyone is feeling some discomfort, certainly, but the vast majority of americans are compliant without the kinds of problems you are describing personally or citing with links from the wall street journal and forbes. Thank you for sharing the details of your situation with us and good luck with your decision.
20 hrs

Stéphanie Reynaud You are 100% wrong and you choose to bury your head in the sand. It is NOT the exception to the rule and it has nothing to do with being compliant when one’s bank accounts are closed and mortgages are rescinded!

Below is a letter from
Jacqueline Bugnion, Tax Team Director, American Citizens Abroad: “Thanks to the concerned Americans who wrote the letter and thanks to you for publishing it. It most accurately describes the situation of Americans abroad. As head of the tax team at American Citizens Abroad, I receive calls every week of individuals facing the unjust demands of the U.S. government on its citizens resident abroad. Five years ago, if an American renounced their citizenship, they felt some shame because they felt loyalty to the United States. Today, the sledge hammer that the combination of citizenship-based taxation, FBAR and FATCA have imposed on Americans abroad is so excessive, so wrong, that individuals have lost faith in the U.S. government. Renouncing their citizenship is not longer a matter of shame, but a matter of practicality.

I am glad that they addressed the letter to President Obama because he has been the most hypocritical of all politicians with regard to Americans abroad. During his 2008 campaign, he made a specific promising statement to meet the needs of Americans abroad, and since his election, the actions have been 180 degrees in the opposite direction and have made situation intolerable. Congress is guilty of extreme provincialism and low level political calculations. Most couldn’t care less about Americans abroad, and probably even the increase in the number of renunciations will only evoke a yawn. Since Americans abroad represent at most 2 % of the votes for any Congressional District, Congressmen are not going to stick out their neck to defend such an insignificant part of their voters. And then you have entrenched Senators in Congress, such as Senator Schumer and Senator Levin, who know how to manipulate the emotions of the general public through highly publicized hearings, legislative initiatives and buzz words such as “tax cheats”. The fact is that U.S. laws are made for United States domestic purposes and Americans residing overseas are systematically subject to collateral damage. What Congress has imposed on Americans abroad is comparable to the Stamp Act and other legislation that King George III imposed on the colonies – a mother country imposing laws on its citizens abroad for the exclusive benefit of the home country. Citizenship-based taxation is an absurdity in today’s world of mobile population. The only way for the United States to stop the terrible injustice and prejudice that it is imposing on Americans abroad is to adopt residence-based taxation.”

Expats Left Frustrated as Banks Cut Services Abroad
Americans living abroad are being cut off by banks and brokerages as financial institutions seek to steer clear of a U.S. crackdown on money laundering and tax evasion.
online.wsj.com|By Laura Saunders