Residents of Washington D. C. have no representation in Congress but must pay Federal taxes. United States persons abroad may vote–Doesn’t that make the folks in Washington the greater victims of the injustice of “taxation without representation”?
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Another article by James Fallows
Copied to me from Just Me:
Well guys. James has been working late, and just posted this at 1:25a. He has now produced a trilogy on FATCA /citizenship taxation issues…here, here and here. I think he may have developed our passion for the subject now. This has definitely started a conversation and a debate, and anyway you look at it, it has to be good.
On whether Isaac Brock should be our name: My e-mails to James Fallows
Some may be interested to see my full e-mails with national correspondent James Fallows at The Atlantic; now that he has published his article, I feel free to publish my e-mails to him in full.
Breaking news: The FATCA Menance by James Fallows
Just Me copied the following to me:
FBAR_Compliant Just Me
JAMES FALLOWS continues on FATCA Menace with balance attempt from dissenting opinions. Fair enough. The Fatca Menace!
This is a followup to his New Years post, Fatca, the Menace you will hear about in 2012
So, the conversation and education of the “normal” Americans, on the Progressive side of the equation, has started! Let the merits of the opinions and comments be given full voice. We need the debate. I think it Continue reading
Getting harder for American expats to open bank accounts
The argument in favour of the US’s citizenship based tax system has long been that citizens benefit from having an American passport, even if they don’t live in the United States. But for many expats, FATCA is tipping the balance and the US passport has become a liability. Expats living in Europe are finding it increasingly difficult to open bank accounts – a necessity of daily life. But European banks are simply protecting themselves from the exorbitant costs of FATCA compliance and risk of harsh penalties.
James Fallows article in the Atlantic
James Fallows has written an article in the Atlantic about FATCA. He has indicated he will write more about its unintended consequences on US citizens abroad in the future, based on the hundreds of links he’s gotten from people in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe.
The link is: Fatca – The Menace You’ll Hear About in 2012
I noticed he didn’t mention Canada, so I have just written him to make sure he knows about the huge effect and consequences FATCA is having here.
Here is what I wrote: Continue reading
Approaching the media: Honey works better than vinegar
Just Me was successful in promoting our cause with James Fallow at Atlantic. We are all in debt to Just Me’s tireless efforts in this regard. I wrote this yesterday at the expat forum:
One of the reasons for the recent media attention to our issues is that people like “Just Me” and CAFREEB have tirelessly contacted the media whenever they can to congratulated them when they write an article on a subject, then in their communicaton to the author, they will add a perspective or two. (Win them over with honey not vinegar–something I have to learn how to do). Continue reading
A progressive gets it
Just Me sent me this:
At last a well known author and blogger, James Fallows of the Atlantic, with lots of cred in the progressive community, is writing about FATCA.
This hopefully will get attention in a more bipartisan way, as it is now not just a conservative or libertarian issue. It is an issue that can and will affect all Americans not just those of a particular political persuasion.
Banking Sanctions on Iran
Not surprisingly, I saw this article this morning: here. The US has put banking sanctions on Iran, except those transactions within the scope of the energy market. When are people going to figure it out? Sanctions and prohibition just don’t work. All it does is push banned activities onto the black market, which usually end up hurting the lowest classes the most. Continue reading