Media and Blog Articles – Part 1 of 11 (to 26 May 2015)
You can access all years at this link:
http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/media-and-blog-articles-links-for-all-years/
EmBee suggested that it would be good if there was a thread for new articles, so that people would be aware of where to comment. So, I created this permanent page. You could mention such articles in the comment stream for this page, or if I see one on another thread, I can copy the link to here. I’ll keep adding to the list, but not deleting, so we’ll end up having sort of a “bibliography” too. [Note: Some articles are not open for comments]
For more articles on FATCA, enter FATCA into Google then click on the link “more news for fatca” just below the most recent featured article.
Note also: JC suggests to see #FATCA on Twitter for latest breaking news. JC finds that is quite a good source and there even are some international articles that one may read using Google Translate.” Others may help certain tweets and articles remain in elevated position by retweeting them.
2015.05.26
New Survey finds US expat voting could impact 2016 Presidential Election, Greenback Expat Tax Services, NASDAQ GlobeNewswire.
This congressional committee wants to hear all your FOIA gripes, Colby Itkowitz, Washington Post, US.
The black money recovery skills of IT department are nothing to write home about, Vivek Kaul, The Daily Reckoning.
2015.05.25
The Intersection of US Federal Tax Law with Collection of International Information- – Including Other Federal Agencies, Patrick W. Martin, TaxExpatriaation, US.
2015.05.23
America the not so brave: America has led the global assault on tax dodgers and their enablers. But the reality still lags behind the rhetoric, The Economist, UK.
Cash Banned from Chase Safe Deposit Boxes, Matt Chilliak, Live and Invest News.
2015.05.22
US Steuergesetz hat unerwartete globale Konsequenzen, Colleen Graffy, Geopolitical Information Service. Also at Consequences of US widening net to catch tax dodgers, Colleen Graffy, World Review.
The horse may have bolted … but, Angelo Venardos, Asia Asset Management.
Important Correction: Passports Required to Enter and Leave US — but SSNs May be Optional, Patrick W. Martin, Tax Expatriation, US.
2015.05.21
Americans working abroad face unexpected financial issues, Sarah O’Brien, NBC, US.
Senate tax reform groups get more time, Bernie Becker, The Hill, US.
2015.05.20
Malaysia will defer FATCA reporting, FSI Tax Posts.
America’s Self-Inflicted Wound, Moises Naim, The Atlantic, US.
Janice Mays: The Tax Guru Who Guides House Democrats, Alex Brown, National Journal, US.
Sen. Rand Paul Launches Filibuster in Protest of Patriot Act Renewal, C-SPAN, US.
It’s a myth that there is no trust. Just ask Robert.
@ Polly I agree about it being a “sad state of affairs when one cannot trust one`s own government”. It’s like living in the Middle Ages when there was a king but also lots of Princes and Dukes and invaders from the north or across the mountains and you never knew who you could trust to be loyal to you because you were just a tiny cog with your tiny plot of land that you had to share the proceeds with the local duke if you wanted any food or small hovel to call your own.
Enough with the analogy. In terms of the question about “how much can a government do without the people approving it?”, I think the current problem is that there are too many small to middling to larger to overwhelming power-and-rule government hierarchies building too many laws with amendments and codicils and “interpretation rulings” for anyone to keep up to date with all of this & keep it clear in their mind, and the ever enlarging population of little guys/gals is too busy keeping track of their own employment and neighborhood and family issues plus all the news sound-bites about scary things that MIGHT be happening somewhere nearby, and keeping up with all the new trends in electronic gadgets for ANY of the populace to be bothered with anything the government is doing much less spend the time to think about whether they approve of these actions or not.
IMHO, they are not “brainwashed” or (generally) “stoned” but drowning in the rules and realities and talking heads and multitude of issues confronting them everyday over which they know they have no control or influence and it’s easier to just withdraw into one’s small world (just like the wench or serf in the Middle Ages). There may be hoards of folks who disagree (if they have taken the time to read and think about things) but the energy it takes is massive.
We, at IBS, have to give ourselves credit for being the unusual ones. Yes, we have been battered and threatened, but also we have broken through the apathy of “daily overwhelm” to stand up and take action. I (and probably everyone here) wishes others would do the same but we have to remember that they too are “drowning” in a world and with a government (or two) that has gone amok based on a sense of fear and need for increased control. In Psychiatric terms, it seems the US (and many other governments) are demonstrating symptoms of untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and, believe me, none will seek therapy to reduce these symptoms…..
Don’t be discouraged, we ARE making our voices heard – – it’s just a slow process. Hugs to you and all the other IBS folks who are not backing down.
brainwashed? Or is it just that those who disagree are too few? Is everybody busy getting stoned and they just let the government do whatever it wants?
@ WhiteKat We are all looking for ways out of this mess, some would like to keep their US citizenship in the process. I get that. I don’t want anything to do with it myself, I have no attachments to the US other than being born there. Obama’s proposal looks good on the surface for some of us. I agree with others that the offer was not made in good faith, it does look like an attack on the Canadian lawsuit. Obama seems to recognize the problem but the solution he offered is weak. I am hoping it is a “crack in the wall”. We are all in this fight together and the best solution for all would be elimination of CBT. One step at a time. Word is getting out. Keep trying to educate the “Mikes” of this world, some will “get it”.
Wow. You don’t have to report retirement accounts on 8938 if the country has an IGA. Still processing this:
http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Corporations/Update-to-2014-Instructions-to-Form-8938-1
@ Neill
At this point in my life, ALL of my accounts (chequing and savings) are retirement accounts. I just don’t have anything with an RRSP label on it. This might be a big whoop for some but like every “loosened” regulation offered thus far, it doesn’t help me in the least. Right now the only thing that will let me live my life as I fully deserve to live it — free from an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-controlling big brother foreign and soon my own government — is to have absolutely nothing in a bank.
@LM
Yes- I especially like the part where you write that there are too many quicksand types of rules. The laws bend and change shape with everybody at a loss to comprehend, and the constitution sadly is being twisted to be unrecognisable- or even lost. It is so obvious to just about everyone that the NSA is doing things which are unconstitutional – but people really do have PTSD. Maybe it is also the sad fact that the country is drowning in debt to add to the confusion and panic. When you think about it, since the 1950s, America has always been at war with somebody. It is a shock to their system that somebody would attack America within its own boarders and actually be at war with America instead of the other way around. ( I think that America`s form of capitalism really does kick human beings- it just goes too far to be SO monetary. They dont care about the individual anymore- as one can see with their healthcare for profit.)
And I too have already complained about too much input daily. Was the human mind really made to be able to deal with so much information coming in all the time? And life seems to be getting faster and faster. Nobody can keep up with it all.
Interesting to contemplate.
From the Globe and Mail.
Not a lot of love being shown between the Harper government and the US Ambassador to Canada.
I follow the Ambassador on Twitter. His posts remind me of Chance the gardener from Being There.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/how-ottawa-left-us-ambassador-bruce-heyman-out-in-the-cold/article23514669/
@EmBee,
While I kind of agree with you it is a least a move toward something that might make more sense. I haven’t fully understand it to see if it would help me. Without retirement accounts I wouldn’t have to file FinCen 114 or 8938.
I read the document as not changing anything. I still have to report in 2014 and beyond. So complex.
Neill and EmBee,
More gobbledygook IRS information regulation needing a tax lawyer for some like me to interpret. Doesn’t have to be reported on 8938 (if it appears elsewhere???)? How about on FINCEN114? How about for net worth — assets on 8854? How about all those OTHER registered accounts? It doesn’t have to be reported AT ALL? That would be nice — just say that.
@calgary411,
Well yes. Not having to report anything would be great. Not facing all these penalties would be great. Unfortunately a bunch or morons voted for Obama so that’s what we have.
@ calgary411
I got distracted while composing, so your Globe and Mail comment got there quicker than mine but it’s neat how we both hit pretty much the same meme. 🙂
@ Polly,
While I try to get a “news fix” every day, to keep up with “the world” (mostly war or terror or fatal crashes or political scandal or racial killings by police or more refugees from Syria or other horrors), I sometimes think that maybe my 40ish children are the sane ones, having no newspapers come to the house nor any TV viewing other than Netflix. Terror and horror sell newspapers and TV news sponsorship. Sad sad sad and easy to get numbed. I’m watching this years’ Downton Abbey and there was an episode where there was great debate about whether to bring a “wireless” (radio) into the manor house – – an intrusion of the world into the family home. Has it been a good thing? Now it is so hard to escape. Do we really care that a major legless athelete in South Africa killed his live-in lady-friend by accident (or maybe not)? Is this really more important than what is happening to 7 million “US Persons” living abroad? Do we have any say over what is “important” on the news? If not, we just get sucked into “information fatigue”. A slippery slope, for sure…
@Orwell,
Mythster Stack hasn’t tried to make that twisted claim for public consumption yet, but, never say never.
@Mr. A, and @Fred;
In weighing anything issuing forth from the US government, I like to keep in mind what the promises of this current US government were to those ‘abroad’ (on the public record – see Obama and the Democrats promises to expats in 2008 http://obama.3cdn.net/610c7f29ee85b124a3_3cm6bxltu.pdf ). Judge their sincerity, their honesty, and their likely worth, by reviewing their explicit promises in 2008, and compare them to what they have actually done to us since.
“…..Obama understands the special concerns and issues of Americans living abroad and will seek to address these as president………”..”…..
See:
http://obama.3cdn.net/610c7f29ee85b124a3_3cm6bxltu.pdf
http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2012/04/10/senator-obamas-promises-to-americans-abroad/comment-page-1/
@LM
We are in the same age bracket. I also watch the news every morning. I think in this day and age of globalisation it is imperative to know and try to understand what other nations – especially the economically important ones – are doing. Many kinds of investment will need that kind of information. I would go as far as to say that America missed the boat- didn’t ever look abroad for any input all the while thinking that they knew it all. What happened when one now sees Toyotas and BMWs and Hyundais in the parking lots?
But besides this, in order to vote with an informed mind, it is imperative to know more.
After the uproar on the streets of Frankfurt these past few days, I just watched a german debate on TV in which one guy said that he thought it was great that America put the revolver to the swiss banks head and threatened to withdraw their banking licence if they didn’t give up the information on their clients. Another person who is pro FATCA. Of course they all don`t know about CBT in the mix.
@Mr. A
“You should realize that WhiteKat is a loyal dedicated fighter for everyone affected by this injustice.”
I too am a loyal and dedicated fighter, but my commitment is for every single Non-Resident American, not a narrow group that Obama is trying to use as a means to undermine the larger effort.
I don’t view Obama’s faux olive branch as a “crack in the dam.” I view it as a ploy to undermine the bigger effort and I therefore do not support it. I don’t trust any small peace offerings coming from Obama or the Democrats because their objective is to keep CBT, FATCA and FBAR. They will only capitulate when the pressure against them becomes strong enough. Then watch how quickly they change their tunes.
@Polly
“Of course they all don`t know about CBT in the mix.”
I don’t think it would matter. Socialists live for the government to grab other people’s money. They only complain when it comes to their own money.
@badger – Thanks for more evidence that help one keep a healthy distrust of the Obama administration.
@FromTheWilderness
I understand your position and I certainly do not doubt your loyalty and dedication in this fight. I did not agree with your comment that implied that WhiteKat is only fighting for those of us who are the so-called “accidental duals at birth”.
Some people think that this proposal is a crack in the dam and some, like you, don’t. I honestly don’t know, and I am not taking it too seriously as it is only a proposal at this time. Differences of opinion are to be expected but in the end we must all support the ADCS etc.together. We must not be divided and conquered.
@FromTheWilderness, re: “I too am a loyal and dedicated fighter, but my commitment is for every single Non-Resident American, not a narrow group that Obama is trying to use as a means to undermine the larger effort. ”
Is it your view that it is impossible to fight for RBT for those who wish to remain American while simultaneously fighting for those who left USA as children to be able to renounce freely?
I do not understand why anyone would be against letting those who are the least American of all of us (those who left as children) be set free from American citizenship while CBT is still in effect.
‘US persons’ are NOT all the same. There are subgroups with differing needs and wants Some wish to keep American citizenship and therefore need CBT in order to live their lives as Americans abroad without the financial disaster that CBT entails. Some left as children and never identified as American – what is so terrible about supporting this group in their effort to rid themselves of toxic US citizenship?
Can you not see how alienating it is to be in the subgroup of ‘those who left as children’, fighting for CBT and an end to FATCA (as I have been doing very actively for 2 and half years now), yet be told by people such as yourself that you would not support a proposal that would release such a subgroup.
It is not Obama’s proposal that is causing the division here. It is the attitude of people such as yourself.
I’m no expert, but it seems to me that if anyone cared to look at the constitutionality of this matter, they’ll find that there are no degrees of US citizenship. The US considers anyone born in the US to be a US citizen, period. Obama would have us think that the problem’s with citizenship, but it’s not. It’s a distraction from the real culprit, which we all know is CBT. Whether you’ve established yourself as an American should not matter – if the law’s wrong for one citizen it’s wrong for all. People are being put on the right or wrong side of a definitive yet nearly arbitrary dividing line where there shouldn’t be any. You applied and received a US passport from out of the country even though you’ve never used it? Sorry, you’re not accidental enough. You waited too long? Sorry, you missed the boat. There will be no end to the sorrow until there’s RBT for all.
We understand and conclude over and over that the only solution that would be equitable for all is for the U.S. to change to residence-based taxation as the rest of the world (save Eritrea). Why the U.S. won’t do this remains a mystery or it really is another U.S. cash cow.
Anything else is a band aid solution and it puts those affected into the absurdities of…
finding some work-around for ourselves
OR
holding slim hope for this or that US *proposal*
OR
having to hide, forever required to look over our shoulders
OR
paying outrageous fees and becoming subject to draconian U.S. penalties to bring ourselves into compliance through the latest program the U.S. says will save us from being criminals
OR
for those who plan to return to the U.S. one day, full knowledge and acceptance of all of the consequences of retaining their U.S. citizenship.
None of these fixes we decide in our individual circumstances are or should be acceptable. We are not criminals, but we are being criminalized — ALL of us.
While we cheer on each person who finds their own possible half-ass solution above, we know it is not enough.
We fight the Canadian government’s acceptance of this in Canada with the important ADCS-ADSC litigation. We hope its acceptance will be fought similarly in other countries.
And we all support, with our money and/or our beliefs, any litigation that takes place in the US to remedy the real, the only problem – US citizenship-based taxation and all of its consequences for those *US-defined US citizens* or anyone tainted by them.
Well said Calgary. We just have to keep heart and keep working and stick together. We’re all in this differently but hopefully together as best we can.
Re: “There will be no end to the sorrow until there’s RBT for all.”
There most definitely WOULD BE AN END to the sorrow for SOME individuals if a proposal similar to Obama’s were to be legislated. RBT is not a requirement to end the suffering of all US persons although it definitely would end the suffering for everyone.
I do not fit in with the subgroup as defined in Obama’s proposal. Yet, if it were to become legislated, although I might feel unfairly left out, I would not think twice about supporting those who fit the criteria to be released from US bondages.
The road to RBT could be a very long one. In the meantime, it is logical, prudent, and morally correct to end the suffering of some, if it is at all possible.
I do not wish to keep debating this topic, but there is distinct possibility that something like what Obama proposed could become a reality BEFORE RBT does. I would like to think that fellow Brockers whom I have fought along side for all these months (and years) would be happy for those who escape, just as I will be regardless whether or not I am one of them – much like we have been happy for those who found paths out via relinquishment. Note that many of these escapees (Trish and Pacifica come to mind) are still here in the trenches with us.
Every person saved along this long journey is someone to be happy for, and the fight will continue until the very last person is relieved of the pain and misery that is CBT. Unfortunately, we likely will not all be saved at the exact same time or in the exact same way.
@From The Wilderness. I am not figuring out how the position will work. Eliminate CBT or nothing. So one would give up the concession for accidentals and tell the US: get rid of CBT or nothing. That assumes there is some leverage. The US might then just chose to ignore the issues for another few years.
I agree the concession for accidentals is a cleaver ploy to try and derail the ADCS lawsuit, yet at the same time it is a crack in the dam and acknowledgement that at least for this group of individuals that CBT is wrong: crack in the dam, or crack in the US financial Berlin Wall.
As explained by ADCS leaders that say the accidental concession goes through they will find other plaintiffs if needed. They have a number of witnesses already. Stephen Kish is not an accidental but a double taxed Canadian. Did you have a read of the entire claim? It reads like the entire case against CBT. The lawsuit will set up nicely a go at the Canadian Government for the Canadian-US tax treaty allowing the US to overturn Canadian policies for Canadian residents and to allow a foreign country to over complicate/over-regulate finances for Canadians (this is an add on lawsuit I like the idea of, yet ADCS has not acknowledged). Stephen Kish has expressed a desire to launch a lawsuit in the US against CBT yet is focusing resources on the current lawsuit.
I am thinking that even if the concession for accidentals goes through we will not see the end of accidental support for the cause. There are a number of authors/commenters on this website who have gained their CLN yet continue to battle away, outraged at the audacity of the “American” government at the financial terrorism they were subjected to. I am thinking Petros and Tricia Moon among many others. There is also this fellow SwissTechie I see on the comment boards frequently who has his CLN.
I see all this energy commenting here where I feel it may be better directed writing letters, e-mails, making submissions to the US Senate Finance Committee and toward press comment boards educating on the issues, pointing out the injustices, and recruiting more to the IBS community. Various people have various positions. I come from the double taxed think I am compliant group and injustices toward this group is what I tend to include in my comments. However, I have often told of other people’s stories including Calgary411 and Trica Moon to really highlight the injustices.
@WhiteKat
“Is it your view that it is impossible to fight for RBT for those who wish to remain American while simultaneously fighting for those who left USA as children to be able to renounce freely?”
Whether a person left the US at 2 years old or 22 years old does not matter. Both are equally screwed.
@JC
“I agree the concession for accidentals is a cleaver ploy to try and derail the ADCS lawsuit, yet at the same time it is a crack in the dam and acknowledgement that at least for this group of individuals that CBT is wrong: crack in the dam, or crack in the US financial Berlin Wall.”
I view the crack in the dam theory as wishful thinking. The Democrats are big into appearances, that is, appearing like they are addressing a grievance and claiming credit for having so, while simultaneously strengthening their original agenda which is to preserve CBT as a means of financial control over Americans no matter where they live in the world.
FYI: I have a CLN which I paid dearly for — and I am still in the fight, but for all Americans abroad suffering, not just a few.
@All
This fight is bigger than just Canada, it is global.