Is U.S. Canada merger suggested by @DianeFrancis1 better than hostile #FATCA takeover of Canada?

Ameri-Canada? TVO http://t.co/ZOKOsoFIDe – @DianeFrancis1 argues for Canada US Merger – Better than hostile #FATCA takeover of Canada?

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) November 27, 2013

(Note the retweet.)

Diane Francis who is author of “Merger Of The Century” and an advocate of U.S. citizenship-based taxation argues that a Canada U.S. merger would benefit both countries. She is currently promoting her message through a series of media events. (She will be at the University of Toronto Rotman Business School on December 4, 2013.)

What is her message? What is her thinking? What is her rationale? The above tweet references a November 25, 2013 Steve Paikan interview on The Agenda.

The Agenda show is described as follows:

Author and journalist Diane Francis sees a mutually beneficial partnership between Canada and the United States. So beneficial, in fact, that she advocates for a merger of the two countries in her new book, “Merger of the Century: Why Canada and America Should Become One Country.” Diane Francis joins Steve Paikin for more.

Jonathan Kay: Diane Francis’ plan to merge Canada and the United States has many, many problems

Is a merger of Canada and the U.S. better for Canada than a surrender of Canada’s sovereignty vis FATCA?

Good interview about #Americansabroad renouncing U.S. citizenship – Linked to #FATCA

Interview links #FATCA to #Americansabroad renouncing U.S. citizenship http://t.co/4bZFjyGiSj – Renunciations on huge grown trajectory!

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) November 22, 2013

This is a good discussion. It is non-judgmental. It links the rising renunciations of U.S. citizenship to FATCA. It also describes a large number of Americans who have renounced.

 

 

@KiwiV and @Royberg1 explain how Cdn snowbirds can be subject to Cdn Departure Tax and #IRS taxes #FBAR AND #FATCA

Cdn snowbirds who stay too long in US will become #Americansabroad subject to #IRS #FBAR #FATCA and more! https://t.co/rcvpFJqXAD

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) November 22, 2013

The article  referenced in the above tweet, written by Guelph freelance writer Kira Vermond, is a decent well researched article. It would be good to get an article from her on the citizenship-based taxation, FATCA and the renunciation of U.S. citizenship.

As #Americansabroad know: Voting and taxation should be based on residence and not citizenship

Fast-food lesson: Voting should be by residency, not citizenship http://t.co/RBEdqFNHdt – Taxation should be by residence, not citizenship

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) November 7, 2013

A very interesting article referenced in the above tweet. The comments are even more interesting. This article suggests a trend toward placing greater significance on residence than citizenship. Those opposed to U.S. citizenship-based taxation (everybody) may want to research U.S. jurisdictions where non-citizens are entitled to vote. Voting (deciding how a community is to be governed) and taxation (paying for the community) are part of the same issue.

Essentially, the article makes the point that when it comes to public policy, use of tax revenues, and taxation the important consideration is where one lives (residence) and NOT where one was born (citizenship). Although citizenship-based taxation is NOT mentioned, there is an analogy between voting and taxation – both are related to participation and identification with the place of residence.

#Americansabroad Beware of Global #IRS Reach — And Very Long Memory

Thoughts on what should determine citizenship in a modern, global world: http://t.co/jjepLB3DKE dominant nationality of #Americansabroad

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) December 30, 2013

 

As you may know, Robert Wood is a San Francisco tax lawyer who writes a blog for Forbes. I recommend both his posts and the comments to those posts which add great value to the posts.

On October 23, 2013 Mr. Wood wrote a post titled: “Beware Global IRS Reach” It is a good article with a number of very good comments. That said, here is a comment from Andrew Grossman that really stands out. I intend to build a couple of posts around it. The most interesting aspect is captured in this tweet:

Beginning of interesting argument for why US taxation of #americansabroad may violate international law http://t.co/Wi7nRKuKsR

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) October 31, 2013

@TheOliverStone and Peter Kuznick Untold History of America

On the back cover of Stone’s “The Untold History of America” you will find an interesting comment from Mikhail Gorbachev.

“At stake is whether the United States will choose to be the Policeman of a “Pax Americana”, which is a recipe for disaster, or partner with other nations on the way to a safer, more just and more sustainable future”.

From time to time I have written posts call into question the “Official version” of America’s History. An example is the post on the book Liberty’s Exiles by Maya Jasonoff.

About a year ago I became aware of a book by Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick called “A True History of the United States“. The book will be featured in a mini-series commencing next week. In any case here are two DemocracyNow.org interviews with the authors. They are very interesting. Pay particular attention to the last three minutes of the second interview where Mr. Kuznick talks about the effects of ON THE UNITED STATES of the Obama drone attacks.

A Letter to America from the Son of an American – by AJ

#Americansabroad are becoming extinct: A letter to the Homeland – If you don't get it after reading http://t.co/2UUFWqn3ok it's hopeless

— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) November 6, 2013

The post referenced in the above tweet appeared at the Isaac Brock Society. A+++ to the author. Make sure you read the comments.

Posted on November 4, 2013 by pacifica777 Posted in Issues regarding US persons abroad 32 Comments

AJ wrote this in response to a post created yesterday by Swiss Pinoy.  Swiss Pinoy’s post,“Stated in honor of FATCA: ‘You [Americans] disgust me’,” was sparked by a comment on the CNN news site, in which an American inside the US stated, “You people disgust me” referring to US citizens abroad.  That person’s comment prompted AJ to write the following:

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