Posted on 03/11/2014 9:07:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
3,000 Americans around the world renounced their citizenship last year. Meet five U.S. citizens who have given up their passports -- or are thinking about it -- to escape an overly complicated tax code.
I threw up after renouncing
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Donna-Lane NelsonName: Donna-Lane Nelson, 71
Lives in: Geneva, Switzerland
I renounced my U.S. citizenship in 2011. After I did it, I was so emotional that I threw up outside the embassy.
During my renunciation, I broke down. It was like getting a divorce. America gave me my education, a good career path, and I came from a beautiful part of the country. This was very hard.
Before I took the last oath, I asked if I could change my mind. The embassy worker said maybe, with official permission. But I still went through with it.
My decision to renounce was triggered when my bank threatened to close my account because I was American. What would I do without a bank? Americans in Switzerland were having trouble with their investments, getting credit cards, and some weren't even getting loans.
I've been in Switzerland since 1990, and became a citizen in 2005, because I wanted the right to vote where I was living. The Swiss can tell I have an American accent, and I'm often explaining that I grew up in the U.S. and have a daughter who still lives in the Boston area.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
I don't question ice-water in Hell, either.
“As an older adult I will now try to give up wine. It will not be easy as I drink one bottle of red wine a day.
I hadn’t read his comment about his drinking a bottle of wine a day. Maybe that’s why he only has social security as income - perhaps he couldn’t hold a job for enough years with one company to get retirement from that company or save any money for his old age - wine costs money when you drink a whole bottle a day. Wouldn’t one stay drunk about 100% of the time to drink a whole bottle a day every day?
I can’t judge by me since I have a fast metabolism and more than one regular size wine glass full, or like more than one Margarita, makes me too tipsy so I don’t do that. I like being able to think and function, perhaps he doesn’t.
Can any of you drink a whole bottle and think/function?
AlexW,
At first I believed the “patriotism” of the self-styled dogs. It isn’t. It is ignorance.
I now also see the lack of character behind the posturing and the lack of understanding of the issues affecting expats. I suggest you ignore them, but you already know that. Enjoy the weather where you are. It’s got to be better than the winter we’ve had.
I’m a bourbon man myself... partial to Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve.
Also like fine Irish whiskey too... Bushmill’s and Jamesons.
I’m guessing Phillipine treatment of liver cirrhosis isn’t up to modern first-world standards, increasing the likelihood that his son will attend his father’s funeral prior to reaching adulthood.
You can be an expat dealing with the issues associated therewith without being a pompous, insufferable pr*ck.
You’ll note, if you pay attention, that we pay no attention to other expats.
“At first I believed the patriotism of the self-styled dogs. It isnt. It is ignorance.”
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Yes, I know that, and it is childish ignorance by some of them. I stopped reading their hate several weeks ago. I know it is them by their long ping list. It is also their way of venting their frustration with life in America. It especially galls them that I am not affected by the Commie, and his Obumbocare. I am, however, aware that his draconian actions could filter down to make life bad for all of us, no matter where we live. I just wish we had a decent replacement for him, if and when he is gone. The Republican party looks pretty much useless at this point.
We desperately need a new Ronald Reagan.
“Youll note, if you pay attention, that we pay no attention to other expats.”
You would have to give me a reason to pay attention. It hasn’t happened yet.
You’re free to research our posting history; it’s not hard.
A few months ago, there was a ferryboat that sank in the Phillipines. One member here posted that the sinking was just a few miles from where he lived. None of us have said squat to him.
“Youre free to research our posting history; its not hard.”
True, but I’ve seen a lot right here.
Being an expat has ZERO to do with it. It is his incessant, never ending constant pounding and bashing of our beloved America that is THE issue. He attempts to paint those FReepers who decide to live in America, (The USSA as he calls us), as stupid and foolish.....all the while living in some third world. A defenseless third world that will be begging for America’s help when the SHTF and Americans living abroad will become IMMEDIATE ‘high value’ targets for torture and death by the allah ackbar dull blade wielding muzzies. If others want to take a run out powder on America, when we need all hands on deck, well that is their choice. Just don’t mouth off to other FReepers about how idiotic we are to stay here in America and to try to right the ship. I wouldn’t trade where I live here in America, (and I’ll bet most of the dawgs feel the same way), for anything.....especially some defenseless third world location.
And what you haven’t seen is any of us saying anything to any other expat Freepers about their situation.
I don’t have a problem with him being an expat; I am less than impressed by his constant cracks about the “USSA” and “pubic” (sic) schools.
Not if it's Thunderbird or its equivalent in The Philippines, Marcella. That would seem his economic speed based upon what he has posted in the past about his limited income.
“...At first I believed the patriotism of the self-styled dogs. It isnt. It is ignorance....”
I’ll tell you what Patriotism isn’t - renouncing your Citizenship and running away.
And there’s no “self-styled” about this; ask your buddy there about the name.
Most of us will stick around to try to save this great country, but some will leave if it turns into a socialist rathole.
I was speaking of when a person was in the states and had a job - one has to have some kind of job for the period of quarters one has to work to qualify for an SS income, however, one could be on SSI which is for people with a disability who can’t go on SS disability income. Perhaps alcoholism is a disability now. Of course, one could have always used Thunderbird in order to have more bottles, but Thunderbird is so uncouth - not trendy or classy. I would never buy such a low class wine as my imagine of being perfect in mind and dress was of utmost importance to me. (If you believe that, I’ll sell you ocean front property in Arizona).
You see (and this part is the truth), Social Security sent patients to me to psychologically test to determine how they functioned before a so called disability happened and how they functioned now. Those testing sessions lasted six hours and my report to SS was about 12 pages long single spaced. Some of those patients had paid SS and some had not so they were SSI patients. I never had any patient come with an alcohol disability. These days with Hussein’s give away policy in everything, perhaps alcoholism or other drug addiction qualifies for disability payments. :o)
These days with Husseins give away policy in everything, perhaps alcoholism or other drug addiction qualifies for disability payments. :o)
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Back in the nineties every alcoholic in the half-way houses qualified and received SS. Now it has to be a dual dx with depression, mania and on and on. Or suffering from the physical disabilities of years of alcoholism.
“And what you havent seen is any of us saying anything to any other expat Freepers about their situation.”
True that. What I have seen though is deplorable behavior for an American.
“I dont have a problem with him being an expat; I am less than impressed by his constant cracks about the USSA and pubic (sic) schools”
I love my country, but I also see it is not the country I grew up in long ago. I try to have a balanced view of our strengths and weaknesses as a nation.
“Pubic” schools may be accurate.
“Ill tell you what Patriotism isnt - renouncing your Citizenship and running away.”
I can conceive of circumstances where it would be - if you are loyal to what America was conceived of and stood for. My ancestors did not run from their countries. They came to what America was. It is a shadow of that nation today. I don’t doubt that the same pursuit that drove immigrants here will continue to drive them in pursuit of freedom elsewhere.
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