Posted on 09/22/2011 8:10:12 AM PDT by danielmryan
One of those accidental Americans is Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente. If the name rings a bell, it's because her opinions often dovetail with the regular fare here. "Help! I’m on the IRS hit list" explains why the IRS has sized her up as a FATCA 'fatcat': she was born in America, and came to Canada at thirteen. That's right: as a girl. She estimates that up to a million Canadians might be affected. Some came to Canada so young, they don't even know they're formally Americans. As Dr. McElroy pointed out, the IRS is picking on a girl because she was born in the States.
There are two reasons why I asked you to cut her some slack: first of all, this is a classic liberal policy. It deserves the name (w/ h/t to Jonah Goldberg) "liberal imperialism." Not American imperialism, liberal imperialism.
The second reason is, Dr. McElroy is right about this measure inflaming anti-Americanism. More specifically, and more worrisomely, it'll wedge anti-Americanism into groups who are inclined to be pro-American.
Nothing good can come of this measure. Obama's apology tours will become even more scoffed at - and not in a good way, either. His successor will have to deal with the reluctance that will come in the IRS's wake: once burned, twice shy. Real anti-Americans will be galvanized; I'm sure they'll say "I told you so." The inherent meanness of the IRS is going to become a huge diplomatic liability. Consequently, the War of Terror will be harder to fight.
Words fail me. The libs go soft when they should be firm, and they lash out when it's counterproductive. Do they even know what they're doing?
You can probably get an exemption if you are one of Eric Holder’s people.
Did she get a PhD?
I seem to remember that the US does not allow dual citizenship. That is, to be an American citizen you must be a citizen of the US ONLY.
Was I wrong?
WAIT A SECOND!!!
THIS IS THE SOLUTION TO THE OBAMA ELIGIBILITY QUESTION!!!!
Did Obama’s parents pay income taxes while he was in Indonesia? If not, then either they are tax cheats, or they renounced their citizenship.
Is Obama an accidental president?
This is purest predaton. No doubt whoever slipped this into the porkulus bill did not spend five minutes considering possible unanticipated consequences. But this is so much more than finding new was to prey on the little guy. Forcing every bank in the whole dam world to spend jillions on new software and specialists to rat out people who are in many cases their own citizens AND make it that much harder to do business with America is a nightmare come to life. The consequences promise to be huge. In fact, it’s clearly not going to work. This monster is going to collapse but only after causing much bad blood for us everywhere. Deservedly so, this time.
Conservatives don’t use the term “imperialist” often but this qualifies in spades. And this is liberal imperialism all the way.
no, she could just dump her US Citizenship and come across illegally and not pay a dime. Plus, she’ll get all kinds of free stuff!
Taxation on worldwide income is evil. Americans should be able to “vote with their feet” like Brits.
You can have dual citizenship until you’re 18 i believe it is. Then you gotta choose one or the other.
no, it changed in the 1980’s.
the danger is that you are subject to the other countries military conscription rules.
Why doesn’t the IRS just put a tax lien on their citizenship, foreclose, and sell it to the highest bidder?
Revenue enhancement, son, they call it revenue enhancement.
My nieces and nephews have dual citizenship with Ireland. One of the brothers also has dual citizenship with Brazil.
And Americans have let that happen. As long as it doesn't happen to you it's okee dokee, right?
At what point will freedom loving Americans stand up to this legitimized Godfather and remove their power to intimidate, steal from, threaten and bankrupt people?
We fought the King of England for less egregious offenses. And won, I might add.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson
We have failed the Founding Fathers in countless ways. And we continue to slowly boil, while shaking our tiny fists at the beast.
Still, none of these people are eligible for in-state tuition in Texas ~ but they gots’ta’ pay the IRS more than they’ve ever earned!
We changed some time back.
Yes.
U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html
In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.
I see. Thanks for the update. Nephew was born in Nova Scotia to US Navy parents stationed there and had to make the decision when he turned 18. It’s been many years ago.
May you live in interesting times.
May you come to the attention of powerful people.
May you find what you are looking for.
"Slowly"? It happened fast and now it's too late. I read a lot of biographies and am constantly amazed at how free we were as recently as the 70s and 80s. And OMG, pre-WWII was anarchy! We blew it.
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