Last night the Radio Télévision Suisse program « Toutes taxes comprises » covered the issue, already discussed here at IBS, of Swiss banks sharing information about their employees with US authorities.
53% of Homelanders want to raise taxes to save Social Security. What do U.S. Persons abroad say?
A recent poll conducted jointly by the Associated Press and GfK Custom Research finds that 53% of Homelanders are in favour of raising taxes and raising the retirement age in an attempt to save Social Security, against 35% who would prefer cutting benefits. There was a big split along partisan lines, with 65% of Democrats and 53% of independents agreeing with higher taxes, against 38% of Republicans.
GfK conducted the poll in English and Spanish in an effort to be inclusive, but of course there’s one demographic group they didn’t bother to survey: U.S. Persons abroad — this despite the fact that many are subject to FICA taxes.
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HUD complaint on housing discrimination vanished into thin air and VA Home Loans won’t do jack
On the July 23, 2012, I filed a complaint on housing discrimination with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. On housing discrimination, HUD writes:
Housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability is illegal by federal law. If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
In Switzerland, one has to refinance one’s mortgage every few years. Yet, as a direct result of US policy, the following banks personally told me that they will not refinance my mortgage since I am a “US Person”:
- Raiffeisen
- Bank Coop
- AXA Bank
- Migros Bank
- NAB
- Valiant Bank AG
- SwissLife
- Hypothekarbank Lenzburg
- Swissquote Bank
- FinanzZentrum Jungfrau AG
Concerning my mortgage history, the current lender wrote:
All experiences with [SwissPinoy] and the bank have been very positive. There has never been a problem with any of their business relations. We are very pleased with all of our dealings with [SwissPinoy]. Our experiences would indicate that there is a high degree of integrity and responsibility in the way [SwissPinoy] conducts their financial affairs. Therefore, we consider them to be respectable, honest, trustworthy and of good standing and repute. This data is based on actual data and experience.
The Swiss government informed me that banks have the legal right to deny individuals mortgages based on national origin. However, since this action is the result of US policy, I filed a complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. After several days, I received no response and so I called HUD and was advised to call back in about 3 weeks. Today, I was finally able to reach someone and was informed that my complaint was not on file. It had vanished. I explained that I’m probably the only US person in Switzerland who has a mortgage and was advised to resubmit the complaint.
HUD will only help Americans who are harmed by US policy in the 50 States and US territories. Americans citizens who are harmed by the US government in other nations are ignored by the US government and left on their own.
Well, no worries. I’m a US veteran and the US Home Loan program allows veterans to purchase their primary residence.
The VA Home Loan program allows veterans with qualifying income and credit to purchase a primary residence without putting any money down towards the sale price of the home, as long as that sale price does not exceed the appraised value of the home.
US Department of Veterans Affairs
So, I called VA to inquire if they would help me to refinance my mortgage since banks are refusing to lend me money simply because I’m a US veteran. Well, the US Department of Veterans Affairs informed me that it does not help American veterans who are denied mortgages for being US persons as a result of US policy. This shows that the US government is not only willing to harm innocent American citizens who served the country and are living abroad, but that it will then do nothing for them afterwards.
Miscellany: three survivors, four minnows, a whale, and a whale of a sovereign debt crisis
The National Post features today the story of Miram Rosenthal, survivor of Auschwitz and Dachau, who didn’t volunteer when the German guards offered extra rations to pregnant women. As a result, she survived while the 200 women who did volunteer that day went straight to the gas chamber. Her son, Leslie, is now 67 years old.
Jacques Wajsfelner, who fled the Nazis and thus escaped the death camps, plead guilty to civil FBAR violations which will result in penalties in excess of $2.84 million on an undeclared Swiss account of high $5.7 million and an undeclared tax liability of $419,940. Thus, the FBAR fine will exceed 6.76 times the tax liability. This was a plea agreement. Had he tried to fight it, undoubtedly he would have faced utter financial ruin and prison.
A commentary on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the light of the Ex Patriot Act and other abuses of the United States upon its diaspora
See also:
United Nations’ human rights complaint procedure
Article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United States
Human rights trump money: Why We must say no to FATCA
Constitutional expert Peter Hogg denounces FATCA IGA as violation of Canadian Charter Rights and Freedoms: The Best News We’ve Heard Since This Nightmare Began!
I provide the full text and offer a commentary on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the light of the proposed Ex Patriot Act and other abuses of the United States upon its diaspora. My comments are in blue.
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Welcome to the United States: When cross-border shopping in the USA, make sure you know which stores you will be visiting
UPDATE: digitaljournal.com covered this in May 2010–so the story isn’t recent. Also, it is apparently unverified, and therein lies the rub. Are these stories the tip of the iceberg? Why don’t we hear about the three terrorist the USA arrest at Niagra border crossing each day (cf. audio)?
Please, somebody tell me that this audio, which has had 181 thousand views, is not real. It all starts with the couple’s cheeky response to the question which “stores” they were going to visit at a mall.
Naomi Wolf talks about US Government scare tactics.
No mention of USPs abroad, just some observations by Wolf on the government’s general attitude about journalism. She also mentions her involvement in the court case filed against the NDAA.
Some U.S. Persons abroad are more equal than others
Despite half-hearted calls for tax reform which might fix the increasingly ridiculous consequences of the U.S.’ drive to tax its Persons and make them file forms wherever they go on the planet, Congresscritters clearly prefer instead to introduce more and more stupid complexity-increasing loopholes to cut tax rates on their favoured groups and locales outside of the fifty states. Puerto Ricans and Guamanians have got their loopholes already, companies which fire Americans abroad and give their jobs to Americans in the Homeland have got John Duncan (R-TN) fighting on their behalf, and Marco Rubio (R-FL) was pounding the nationalistic drums earlier this month to let Olympic medal winners have some too.
Now, two (un)Representatives from opposite sides of the aisle have introduced competing sops for Department of Defense contractors and civilian employees. Of course, in the process, they have to make sure not to give any benefit to all those other whiners who have no good reason to be living outside the Greatest Country on Earth™ — a group of taxpayers known as Escaped Unpatriotic Renegades Opposed to Paying Equal Amounts, Now Living Overseas as Useless Tax-evaders (“EUROPEAN LOUTs”). That means more pages in the tax code and longer forms to go along with it. Are you excited yet?
Romney campaign: Expats can now select a country to go with the US State, US phone number and US zip code
One the 10th of August, The Isaac Brock Society reported difficulties in making donations from abroad to the Romney campaign, with one being unable to select the country where one lived. The Obama campaign appears to be experiencing the same issue. Did Romney hear Americans living abroad after the issue was reported? On his donation page, there is now an option to donate from abroad:
Criminal Tango: Filing FBAR from Abroad
The subtitle translation of this song attempts to reflect how some Americans abroad may feel or view the situation, or how America may be increasingly seen beyond US borders, in response to some recent changes in US foreign policy. The subtitles attempt to show the impact such policy may have on innocent persons abroad while questioning its nature. Yet, each individual may interpret the information presented here as they see fit.
Warning: It is strongly prohibited for US persons or those taxed by the US government to view the subtitles of this song. This warning is in place since this warning has been increasing in popularity with many firms globally in response to US policy. Thus, it is only natural and normal for US persons to be restricted as usual.
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Disclaimer: This is for entertainment purposes only, with about 90% of the song being translated into English and the other 10% being modified to match the current American political situation for Americans abroad in the context of the song.