This was just drawn to my attention – apparently it comes from Namecheap.com which is (I believe) an Australian based ISP.
Author Archives: USCitizenAbroad
The world according to Florida – Inside not looking out!
Amazing!! Amazing!! Amazing!!
Florida won't require Canadians to have international drivers license http://t.co/WZbj3Ovl – Earth to Florida!!! Are you nuts??
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) February 15, 2013
Changes in law, follow changes in society: Cornell Law School introduces course on “Whistle Blowers”
Changes in law always follow either actual or desired changes in society. The concept of “Homeland Security” is one result of 911. Cooley Law School (one of the biggest law schools in the United States) is developing an LL.M. program in Homeland Security. If the U.S. is successful in imposing FATCA Harmony on the world, I expect to see a proliferation of LL.M. programs in FATCA. After all, the legal profession and legal academics see FATCA as the “Gift that keeps on giving“.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Mulroney Explains How Free Trade Necessitated Tax Reform – Lesson for U.S.?
On Tuesday February 12, 2013 Brian Mulroney spoke at Toronto’s Rotman school of business. It was interesting, engaging and a reminder of why he was so much fun to listen to, from 1984 – 1993 when he was Prime Minister of Canada.
The topic of the discussion was the Canada U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Fascinating history. This took place during the Reagan years. The audience was treated to stories about: Ronald Reagan, James Baker, George Bush, Peter Murphy, Derek Burney, Simon Reisman and others. (How many of these people do you remember?)
Canada considers revoking Canadian citizenship
Kenney’s citizenship-stripping plan good politics but dodgy policy: Walkom http://t.co/VWWpzvgj – Huge ramifications!
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) February 13, 2013
Not only is this an interesting article, but it is sure to put (at least) the issue of dual citizenship in the spotlight. This would be a good place to post comments. Although citizenship is not particularly interesting from a tax perspective, it is interesting from a “terrorism perspective”.
Thoughts on the 2013 State of The Union Address
The full text is available here. What struck me most was the exclusive focus on domestic matters. There were some areas that were of interest to U.S. Persons Abroad:
Canada and the US: Citizenship, terrorism and linking the two
This post is from the RenounceUScitizenship blog.
The following comment appeared at the MapleSandbox blog last week:
Citizenship and terrorism is making news both in Canada and US right now.
UNITED STATES:
In the questioning of Obama’s nomination for CIA Director, Senator Dianne Feinstein referred to a man killed in a drone attack as a “so-called” American citizen.
She and CIA nominee John Brennan had this exchange:
The heart of the debate: “What is a citizen”?
At the heart of the citizenship-based taxation debate, is the issue of "what is a citizen" – http://t.co/BDNEhpjn
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) February 5, 2013
Or to put it another way:
Is a citizen the property of the government or is the citizen a member in a voluntary member of a community?
The 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution was enacted for the purpose of ensuring that former slaves had equal citizenship, the U.S. Should that same 14th amendment be interpreted to create permanent slavery?
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Note this interesting comment by Badger:
Green Party of Canada Opposes FATCA
Today the Green Party of Canada issued both a FATCA media release and a background paper on FATCA.
IRS Tax Collection: Evasion of the US or Invasion of Canada? http://t.co/6tSxdvJS – Kudos to the Green Party! Where are the rest! #FATCA
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) January 28, 2013
Green Party of Canada background paper on #FATCA – Keep the IRS out of Canada! http://t.co/wCNsOxQd
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) January 28, 2013
As Winston Churchill said:
Finally we have a victory!
It is illegal for Americans to unlock their own smartphones (maybe)
This post was on the RenounceUScitizenship blog.
The Most Ridiculous Law of 2013 (So Far): It Is Now a Crime to Unlock Your Smartphone – Derek Khanna – The Atlantic http://t.co/KFkVzNLr
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) January 28, 2013
When I first read this article I thought it was a joke. This is so crazy that I still can’t decide. Has the US gone completely out of its mind? This reminds me of Mr. FBAR.
What do you think?