Posted on 07/04/2016 8:49:14 AM PDT by lulu16
Is an Expat Living Abroad a True American?
No
We went through incredible screening and monitoring to stay here past the usual tourist time. The consulate in Sacramento was especially concerned that because we were not receiving SS, we would try to work and take jobs away from Mexican citizens. Oh, the cruel irony.
a lot of historical figures who we identify as “real Americans” were actually pioneers who moved west and settled on the frontier because they had gotten sick and tired of what America had become back east.
Yes—moving west to avoid problems in the east and just be left alone worked for my family for about 300 years, then in the 20th century we hit this obstacle called the Pacific. I do have one cousin that has continued the push via Alaska, but this looks like the end of the trail.
I have met kids here, who speak Spanish and English, have parents of Mexican parentage and want to make it clear to you that they are from America and they are AMERICAN not Mexican.
They are more proud to be Americans living abroad than the so called hyphenated, radicalized Mexican-Americans in the US.
Amazing, isn’t it, when you end up defending the USA in a social situation where you’re the only American? When I was a dumb college student I had to defend my country with no weapons or training, lol! Such funny memories. “Why do you pray to your flag??” Etc.
My neighbors here at the Sea of Cortez are rugged Calgarians. They espouse frontier values like us.
I’ve lived in Japan too. Great country with great people. We had a nurse living with us. God bless her.
Can you use Swiss brokerages? I don’t know if they are more expensive but they will all speak English etc.
they live abroad on pension money from America...otherwise, they would be here....
they have left their children, their parents, their brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews....
others like some in the Phillipines found a nice young chickee to "marry" and the nice young chickee is just happy to be on the govt pension payroll...
The facebook pages of many expats are strong Trump supporters. With all their postings, you’d thing they are an ancillary of FR ;)
Whenever I travel abroad and folks ask me what country I’m from, I just say “Texas”.
I spent seven of my 63 years living abroad, so I’m familiar with what that feels like. In addition, I relocated from California to Texas after the age of 50, so you could say I’m living the expat experience in that way.
I don’t consider myself a Californian living ‘abroad’. I relinquished all claims to that status and that place when I made the choice to permanently relocate. I made the concious choice to become a Texan the day I unpacked my bags here. That is now where my allegiance lies.
I still love my birth state, and have half a century of memories there. I also have a huge extended family who still reside there, but I will not wave their flag, or call myself one of them.
or, the expat can't let go of the creep ex girlfriend because that's where he gets all his govt pension money....
We lived briefly in Northern California in a college town and they were big Bernie supporters, and we living the deteriorating effects of Jerry Brown goverment, but they were still running pell mell over the liberal cliff.
But one thing, I was very surprised to hear over and over again, was how they HATED and DESPISED Islam and how they were angry that they were being imported here.
Go figure.
repudiating this country you should also repudiate its money....
and speaking of "pioneers" and also of illegals.....
don't we hate when these Mexicalis come up here and arrogantly wave their Mexicali flag?....don't we believe that if you 're going to live here, you should act like a true American..???
so when some of you go live in your third world country, please, consider youself one of them.....you are not one of us anymore....
and again, if you really want to live elsewhere, repudiate your fat govt pension....
feel so so bad for you....
My daughter and family have been expats for about 4 years. They loved being in Istanbul and Spain, but now in China not so much. After living abroad, their ties to the US seem stronger. The freedom we have is the thing missed the most. By the way, my son-in-law stays in a hotel during the week, home on weekends. The hotel brought him a flag cake and a flag for his room.
I speak several European languages fluenty, having lived and worked abroad for 35 years. As I said: Unduly stringent U.S. regulations requiring foreign banks to violate their local privacy codes, fill out reams of forms, etc., report to both U.S. authorities AND to the authorities of the ex-pat's country of residence, etc. have had the net effect of making U.S. citizens very unappealing as clients for most foreign banks and brokerages.
Unless your net worth is above $5 million, they'll regard you as a nuisance.
As a side-note: Have you heard the joke about the American who flies to Switzerland to open an account? When he sits down at the desk of the new accts officer, the American whispers, "I'd like to open an account... for (barely audible) $3 million." The bank officer replies, "There's no need to be ashamed of wanting to open such a small account with us!"
I'm not so much angry for myself - though I think that it's ridiculous, considering how well-known I am personally by my broker - I'm angry for all the "little" retired guys - including a lot of retired military - with modest incomes whose lifestyle might be hit by a major impact due to this trend.
Regards,
Hope you aren't being sarcastic... considering what you've repeatedly written in this thread about how ex-pats should renounce their govt. pensions. Why, actually? Didn't they earn those pensions - e.g., risking their lives in the military? Aren't pensions a lot like deferred salaries?
Full disclosure: I work abroad because my specialized profession demands it - not because I have in any way renounced America or American values. I hope to return to the U.S. permanently when I reach retirement age.
Regards,
I think this was answered long ago...
PS - It is often cheaper to live overseas - given the destructive policies of our American "leaders." Many who retire here on only Social Security could live a fantastic life in places like Panama and Costa Rica and Thailand, rather than barely make it here. There is often a greater measure of freedom in daily life. It is often far closer to the America of the 1950s-70s that many of us fondly treasure. Top of head. Every one makes their own call.
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