Moving to another country--have you ever thought about it?

  • Thread starter Thread starter whatevergirl
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
whatevergirl said:
Hmm…interesting point. This is all in the petri-dish thought process right now…not fully formed.😉 But–I would move my citizenship to another country, if we moved away. Obviously–it would take serious discernment, and prayer–but we have been strongly considering it. For my husband, who is not a risk taker, to consider it–it might be the right thing–depending on the outcome of the election.🤷
Click to expand...
You would consider renouncing your citizenship as a United States Citizen based on ONE presidential election result? Call me crazy, but that’s a bit of an over reaction, don’t you think?

You don’t just move somewhere and give up your citizenship - you actually have to go to the Embassy and make a sworn statement that you are renouncing your status as a US citizen. This is a very big deal. It means that if you are in whatever country you believe has the greener grass, and something goes down that is very bad and ugly, you can not flee back to the US for asylum. You would look like and sound like an American in a foreign land, regardless of what your papers say. That can be extremely dangerous.

You need to think about this - moving away for awhile is one thing (and I hardly think it is the responsible reaction to a temporary election result), but renouncing your citizenship is a very serious issue that can have many repercussions down the road for you and your children.

Japan? Would you honestly want to be trapped in Japan if things go bad in the East for Americans? Wow.

~Liza
 
whatevergirl said:
That’s the problem–suppose this person were to be in office for 8 years?? Ugh–I have truly never felt this way about a potential candidate…but in this case–I could not see giving my taxes to a person who holds absolutely no ideals that I hold.😦
Click to expand...
So would you rather your $$$ go to someone that will rule their country for the rest of their lives (more often than not in most countries in this world)??? And you probably will not agree with all of their beliefs! I think last time I checked the President of the United State made around $90K. So rest assured only about 1 cent (or less) of your money is going into their pocket. The rest of your money is being dealt out by congress and usually to things that were decided WAY before the next president will take office. I wish I had a name of a book (will ask DH tonight if I remember), although there are a few books out there that tell you how your tax money is spent and how typically the President has little or nothing to do with how it is spent.

Also, I am almost certain that if you “Give Up” your US citizenship, you pretty much can never get it back. I personally agree with that rule.
 
mamacita said:
HONESTLY, SHARON, this does not at all sound crazy!!!

In fact MM has mentioned the exact same thing to me a few weeks back, that if a certain someone is elected we will be outta here! Some place south probably, so that we are not too far away from relatives…not like we will follow through w/ it but hey, w/ homeschooling at least we can live anywhere, right?👍

I know it sounds kinda like a kid 'boo hoo, I didn’t get my way, so I quit (move)" But that’s not it at all. If a certain someone gets elected we will be attacked again by some terrorists because our troops will be pulled out of Iraq and Afghan. and then we would be basically moving to protect our family, right??:confused:
Click to expand...
Heeeeyyy–we could all live in a compound somewhere together…and you could homeschool my kids too? I like this idea!🙂 Just joking–it sounds good though, to a degree. lol

lizanne–it is something we are discussing…we would have to discern…I wouldn’t want to denounce my citizenship…that would not be wise. You make some very good points. My son brought up England, but my husband went into a tirade about how he would NEVER live there. At least there, we could blend in a bit better.🤷
 
JustAnotherThou said:
So would you rather your $$$ go to someone that will rule their country for the rest of their lives (more often than not in most countries in this world)??? And you probably will not agree with all of their beliefs! I think last time I checked the President of the United State made around $90K. So rest assured only about 1 cent (or less) of your money is going into their pocket. The rest of your money is being dealt out by congress and usually to things that were decided WAY before the next president will take office. I wish I had a name of a book (will ask DH tonight if I remember), although there are a few books out there that tell you how your tax money is spent and how typically the President has little or nothing to do with how it is spent.

Also, I am almost certain that if you “Give Up” your US citizenship, you pretty much can never get it back. I personally agree with that rule.
Click to expand...
The President makes something like $400k…if I’m not mistaken…not $90k. Not that that matters to me, really.But just making that clarification. And no, I wouldn’t want to give up my citizenship…I think that would be a dreadful mistake…but then, if you live elsewhere, as people often do–for example we had an associate here move to england last month–does he still need to pay taxes here? Why should he, if he is not living here?:confused:
 
whatevergirl said:
That’s the problem–suppose this person were to be in office for 8 years?? Ugh–I have truly never felt this way about a potential candidate…but in this case–I could not see giving my taxes to a person who holds absolutely no ideals that I hold.😦
Click to expand...
That is just it, you are looking at this from a negative POV. Think of it this way, this person will be in office for only 8 years.

Remember also that our government has it’s checks and balances - Congress makes Laws, the President must sign them into being and the Supreme Court upholds them. If Congress doesn’t pull together the laws th is person wants, there is no way this person can make his/her policies into laws! So have hope, get out there and campaign for those you trust more - both for the Congress (House and Senate) and for President. It is not as hopeless as it seems!

Brenda V.
 
whatevergirl said:
My son brought up England, but my husband went into a tirade about how he would NEVER live there. At least there, we could blend in a bit better.🤷
Click to expand...
Not as a Catholic you won’t. Catholics are in the minority there, and you will not find the massive support structure there within the Church that you find here. My husband just immigrated HERE from England a little over a year ago. He is quite happy with his decision, but he will not be taking the oath of citizenship of the US, he will remain a British citizen and a permanant resident of the US.

~Liza
 
whatevergirl said:
I just thought of Spain! My neighbor relocated from there last year–and she boasts about how wonderful it was there…how the schools are great…lower kids to teacher ratio…how friendly and warm the communities are…how much she misses it. Her husband is ex military, so their experience living on a base, might be different than living off of it…but I have heard good things about Spain.
Click to expand...
They also have the Basque separatists setting off car bombs, amongst other things.
 
:eek: 🤷 wow, I thought she asked for people who have considered moving to another countries opinions, NOT the ones who never thought about it!
 
i did some searching on the IRS website
you might want to too.
A U.S. citizen or resident alien is generally subject to U.S. tax on total worldwide income. However, if you are a United States citizen or a resident alien who lives and works abroad, you may qualify to exclude all or part of your foreign earned income. For specific information, refer to Tax Topic 853, Foreign Earned Income Exclusion - General.
Click to expand...
irs.gov/faqs/faq13-7.html

this is a pretty drastic step tho, and keep in mind, all of the big-mouthed hollywood types who said they would leave the country if so-and-so got elected never did. not that i’m saying they are smarter than you. but a certain party is know to come together better when they aren’t in the white house. we do have 3 levels of government just for that reason. no one has absolute control in this country.
 
Brenda_V said:
That is just it, you are looking at this from a negative POV. Think of it this way, this person will be in office for only 8 years.

Remember also that our government has it’s checks and balances - Congress makes Laws, the President must sign them into being and the Supreme Court upholds them. If Congress doesn’t pull together the laws th is person wants, there is no way this person can make his/her policies into laws! So have hope, get out there and campaign for those you trust more - both for the Congress (House and Senate) and for President. It is not as hopeless as it seems!

Brenda V.
Click to expand...
Thanks Brenda! I am really glad I posted this, because as crazy as it sounds, it is something I have been thinking about. My husband is the more pragmatic of our marriage…and he points out the very things you are here–although, he doesn’t like the thought of this person being our President, perhaps in principle. But, hopefully, through prayer and rallying our support for another candidate…this won’t happen. Really, I appreciate your thoughts on this…
 
whatevergirl said:
Thanks Brenda! I am really glad I posted this, because as crazy as it sounds, it is something I have been thinking about. My husband is the more pragmatic of our marriage…and he points out the very things you are here–although, he doesn’t like the thought of this person being our President, perhaps in principle. But, hopefully, through prayer and rallying our support for another candidate…this won’t happen. Really, I appreciate your thoughts on this…
Click to expand...
Do you know any foreign languages? Does your husband have enough language skill to get a job in a foreign country where he would be competing against fluent speakers of their language? How would your family not stick out like sore thumbs? After all, in another country, you would be expected to learn their culture, not expect them to cater to you.
 
lak611 said:
They also have the Basque separatists setting off car bombs, amongst other things.
Click to expand...
And they also presently have a liberal government that was elected right after the train bombings in Madrid; the new government immediately removed Spanish troops from Iraq so as to forestall any further such acts by Islamic terrorists on Spanish soil - so much for Spanish pundonor! The government there is enacting laws similar to those of our more liberal states (think Vermont).
 
chewchoo said:
i did some searching on the IRS website
you might want to too.

irs.gov/faqs/faq13-7.html

this is a pretty drastic step tho, and keep in mind, all of the big-mouthed hollywood types who said they would leave the country if so-and-so got elected never did. not that i’m saying they are smarter than you. but a certain party is know to come together better when they aren’t in the white house. we do have 3 levels of government just for that reason. no one has absolute control in this country.
Click to expand...
Another difference is the Hollywood types can just buy a mansion and bring in servants to take care of everything. They don’t need to actually try to find a job, learn a foreign language, and fit into society. An ordinary person does not have that luxury.
 
whatevergirl said:
But–I would move my citizenship to another country, if we moved away.
Click to expand...
Sorry about my error on the salary of the president, I meant to type $400K, was just doing too many things at once. I do have my taxes done today though, personal and 2 businesses 😃 😃 😃

I guess most of us took the above statement to mean that you would change your citizenship from US to another country, not dual. If you are looking at dual citizenship I would check out the tax law that Kage gave you the link to. 🙂

Guess I agree with one of the pp who said it sound’s like a childish response to me (thankfully most people I hear that from are liberal, so I wouldn’t miss them 👍 ). I have always wanted to start a charity to ship people who make those statements away. Nothing against you JMHO
 
FCEGM said:
And they also presently have a liberal government that was elected right after the train bombings in Madrid; the new government immediately removed Spanish troops from Iraq so as to forestall any further such acts by Islamic terrorists on Spanish soil - so much for Spanish pundonor! The government there is enacting laws similar to those of our more liberal states (think Vermont).
Click to expand...
Most of Europe is very liberal. If we did get out of Iraq, most of Europe would like us. The majority of Europeans do not like Americans on account of Bush and us being in Iraq. France is also definitely out for an American conservative.
 
If you go, who will speak up for good? Who will defend the defensless?Who will be around to vote next time around?
I live in the UK, probably one of the more anti-life secular countries on the planet. But it seems that evil is part of this “vale of tears”.
We have considered emigrating-ironically, my husband works for a US multinational-and I think the grass always looks greener somewhere else.
The main reason we haven’t emigrated is family-my parents are not well off enough to visit. If we went to Australia, for example, that would pretty much be the last time my children would see their grandparents, and as it stands we all are very close.
I also think that I have a duty to take care of my parents, as once they cared for me, as they age, particularly given the anti-life pro-euthanasia slippery slope we seem to be on.

Anyway. my :twocents:
 
whatevergirl said:
Hmm…interesting point. This is all in the petri-dish thought process right now…not fully formed.😉 But–I would move my citizenship to another country, if we moved away.
Click to expand...
Okay, at this point you did speak about renouncing your citizenship.

You are a bright woman, my advice is to look at your actual fears/concerns should the person in question be elected.

Then, research if the President has the power to make the decisoins or pronouncements that you fear.

For example, you mentioned Supreme Court Justices.

Yes, the President does select the people for these openings, however, he/she presents these canidates to Congress and Congress has the final authority. When it comes to the SCOTUS, your concern should be more about your Congressperson(s) than the President.

List out each of the issues, and find the hard cold facts. Consider this a Government 101 refresher course 🙂

When making your list - do not listen to talk radio (aside from Catholic radio) or watch Cable news. They will talk in soundbytes that push the host’s agenda.
 
I think anyone who would actually do this doesn’t really believe in democracy. One of the defining features of democracies is the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next, from one party to the other. If you really believe in our system, you have to accept that people with whom you don’t agree will eventually take office.

I have thought about it… and I decided I would never do it. I am an American, and NO ONE is running me out of my country. I love it too much not to fight for its future. I truly believe that our system is the best in the world (read: least imperfect) and that we have the ability to spread peace and freedom around the world with our influence (used correctly). Our technological advances, encouraged by the free market, clothe, feed, and medicate the world. If the person I fear most is elected to the Presidency, I will wait out their term, doing whatever I can to encourage my representatives to fight against bad policy and things I disagree with. Then, next election, I will fight to get a candidate in office that I do agree with on most things…there is no perfect candidate.

It’s kind of like how I feel about the Church. I was away for many years, and about the time I got serious again was when the sexual abuse scandal started breaking. I was married with young children when the worst of it came out and Cardinal Law stepped down in Boston. I struggled with whether it was right for me to raise my children in this Church… would they be safe? Was I betraying them? But then, I realized that I actually do believe that the Catholic Church has apostolic succession straight from Jesus and that it teaches the truth. The disgusting people who defiled it are not the Church. The real courage is to stay and fight to purify our Church, and get her back to doing God’s work in this world. I am a Catholic, I am much happier and more at peace since I returned to the Church, and I’m not getting run out by people who would ruin it.

Same with my country… 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top