Yearly Archives: 2012

I wonder if the US government ever considered the possibility that 6+ million snail mail letters from around the world and addressed to the “United States Department of the Treasury”, containing the sensitive whereabouts and financial data of targets of terrorism, would fall into the wrong hands while being passed around from one foreign stranger to another during its long global travel to Detroit.

“U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness… The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas… The threat of attacks against U.S. citizens, including kidnapping and terrorist violence, is expected to continue…”
U.S. Department of State – Worldwide Caution

“In today’s society, the old mailbox needs to go away,” he said. “I think you need to be real careful now and get a secured mailbox.”
200 in county recent victims of mail theft

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English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18630837

Swiss French: http://www.rts.ch/info/monde/4105523-la-reforme-sante-d-obama-passe-la-rampe-de-la-cour-supreme.html

Here is the text of the SCOTUS ruling: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf

I don’t have much to say about this yet.  I would like to read through the ruling first. I think that universal health care coverage is a good idea (as long as there is some flexibility and freedom of choice, e.g. the Swiss system).  However I don’t think that Obamacare should have been introduced in the middle of a recession. FDR did something similar in the 30’s with the introduction of some social programs that homelanders still have access today, but the national debt wasn’t in the 30s what it is today.

As I said elsewhere at Isaac Brock Society, I seem to remember that the final Obamacare bill exempted USPs abroad from the insurance requirement.  I believe that insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate on the basis of pre-existing conditions from (2014?), however I am not sure that this applies to USPs abroad who return (those that really want to after all Unca Sam has done to mess up our lives).

A reader posted a comment with this article:

Free Advice to My Schoolmate Barack Obama: Want to Grow Exports and Create More Jobs? Don’t Tax Americans Abroad

Dr. Saud Al-Ammari is Managing Partner, Saudi Arabia & Gulf Region, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has experience in a wide variety of corporate and commercial matters inside and outside the Kingdom. He served for ten years as special counsel and later general attorney for Saudi Aramco. Dr. Saud participated as legal counsel and a member of the team negotiating the Kingom’s accession to the World Trade Organization and served as chairman of OPEC’s legal defense team.

Here is a salient point:

The unintended consequences of taxing expatriate Americans by the US Government is that fewer of them seek employment overseas, and even fewer are hired by global firms. With fewer proponents of American goods and services who can influence buying decisions, there are fewer exports made by domestic companies, and in turn, fewer jobs in America. Ultimately, the US Treasury collects less overall revenue and America has a less competitive economy.

Thus Dr. Al Ammari agrees 100% with Roger Conklin.

According to CNN (via Business Insider), the US government spent $3 million to inform the public about their eligibility for food stamps.  I once lamented that I didn’t know where in Toronto to sign up for US Federal Welfare, Unemployment Insurance or Food Stamps.  Now at least for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), there is a screening tool to see if I am even eligible.  So I thought, “Why not, if the US wants to give me free money?”  So I tried the screening tool.  But I was thwarted by the first drop down menu.  I couldn’t find Ontario.  Crap!

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“No Address, No Voter Registration. That is the Law!”
Kentucky Board of Elections

Sounds great for non-expats, I guess.  Officially, my address claims that I live in Lexington, Kentucky, inside of the Voter Registration Department, to be precise, since I don’t have any other US address that can be accepted for voting purposes. Come by early in the morning and you might get a glimpse of me brushing my teeth over a lost ballot or a misplaced voters registration application, it would seem. Yet, I actually live in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the mail carrier would say, but I am not allowed to officially live there because my address….

A mail forwarding address cannot be used for voter registration purposes.
Your Best Address

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TAS has released the 2013 Objectives Report to Congress. Issues specifically addressing us begin on p 21 and end on p 31.

Given we have just become aware of IRS’ new program for “low risk” filers, this report suggests TAS is having an effect on IRS policy.

I have omitted discussions and footnotes and just listed the major sections so we can begin to examine them.

[21] F.  TAS Will Continue Advocating for American Taxpayers Abroad Who Are Expressing Fear and Frustration about FBAR, FATCA and Other International Penalties …

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Barrie Mckenna has recast his article from yesterday to include the following information:  Flaherty pleased with IRS partial tax amnesty decision.

Here is my response:

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