What benefits does one have when living in a foreign country as a US citizen? There is no legal representation. There is no access to US government services. What exactly would an overseas US citizen be paying for?
All of the benefits that taxes provide. I don't even know them all offhand, let alone have enough space to enumerate them fully.
Some of the major benefits that come to mind: Protect by a world superpower military and diplomacy, welfare and social security, a stable place to return to in the case of trouble, a country that ensures development of vaccines and provides them for it's population in the case of pandemics.
I would really like us to add to that list: medicare (or similar) for all as well as some other social benefits that make sense to enable more risk free pursuit of happiness and simplify employment.
>>Protect by a world superpower military and diplomacy,
That's the argument the British crown once made for taxation without representation. It wasn't very well-received.
A country is obligated to protect its own borders and demand commensurate payment. I don't see a reason to pay for American military expansionism if I'm kept safe enough by my country of residence. Anything beyond that is wasted tax dollars or adventurism with the US government's own motives in mind. I shouldn't have to subsidize either one.
>>welfare and social security,
EBT, food stamps, COBRA, etc. aren't recognized outside of the United States. Social security is not a benefit. It's a Ponzi-scheme with a gun to your head taking money that was already earned and delaying it until you have strong chance of dying from a heart attack.
>>a stable place to return to in the case of trouble,
That's an argument that can be made for most overseas citizen of many countries. Yet these other countries have not fallen to shambles on the basis of lacking global taxation. There's no reason for me to pay for a "stability" I'm not in a longitude and latitude to benefit from.
On the contrary, there is a case to be made that United States is quite unstable itself as it has failed to contain a disease within its own borders and has also chosen to violate property rights under its unconstitutional eviction moratorium without providing just compensation. Even pre-COVID, some areas like Chicago and Los Angeles have had crime ratings high enough to compete with entire countries.
>>a country that ensures development of vaccines and provides them for it's population in the case of pandemics.
So can India, China, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, etc. Why should I pay the United States if I received my vaccine from these countries' labs and and medical resources instead?
>>medicare (or similar) for all as well as some other social benefits that make sense to enable more risk free pursuit of happiness and simplify employment.
An American citizen can't use medicare in a foreign country. Just like how a British citizen can't use NHS services in the United States.
The pursuit of happiness is a negative right, not a subsidized one.
>>>>Protect by a world superpower military and diplomacy,
>>That's the argument the British crown once made for taxation without representation. ...
IIRC Those living outside of the US still have the right to cast votes for President, and are not compelled to pay non-federal taxes. An argument might be made for non-state citizens to at least have a single representative and senator they can vote for.
>>>> (social programs)
>> ... Ponzi-scheme ...
I agree about the problems with the funding and fulfillment structure. However the reality still exists even if the current implementation is unfair for those of us not yet seeing the benefits. If you're also a US citizen, please vote to get this fixed.
-- The next set of points contradict my historically long viewed claim of stability. Generally both viewpoints are correct; though I would like to compare the current issues with the virus and unrest in the US to the latest 6 WEEKS lockdown in portions of Australia. Stability is __relative__.
-- The last point was my hopeful view for benefits I'd prefer all US taxpayers to receive in the future. If your opinion differs from mine, you could share what other befits you'd like to see instead.
Legally: yes, federal law says that you have to be allowed to vote for the federal offices from wherever you last lived in the US (or your American parent, if you were born abroad but never lived in the US)
Reality: some states make it easy and will even let you vote in state and local elections, others make it inconvenient if you’re not with the military (have to request ballots every year, have to diligently watch for registration purges), and some make it practically impossible for non-military.
If you’re an American abroad having trouble registering and/or getting your ballots, your local Democrats Abroad chapter has someone who will help you out. Even if you’re a Republican ;)
I want as many US citizens abroad as possible to vote on a regular basis, even if they’re voting differently from me: our representatives will pay more attention to us if they see that we vote in larger numbers.
Is there a way to, even approximately, target the "social security system" issue with your vote? Or do you have to chose between 2 or 3 bundles of pre-chosen policies, the composition of which you had no say in?
I would suggest that the major benefit would be that if things go to shit wherever you are, you can flee back to the US. There are probably other countries you could choose for that instead, though.
Also, if you give up your citizenship, does that have any implications for traveling back to the US? You might very well have friends and family you would like to visit occasionally.
We are still culturally American, and we still have family in the US. And if we visit, we pay taxes on everything while we’re there. There are taxes on the flight in, on the fuel we use, on the stuff we buy. And maybe we’d like to move back.
So why conflate being American with federal taxes and bureaucracy?
Maybe America should think about the benefits we expats provide to it while living and representing our culture and values abroad. We usually make a good impression on our country’s behalf, but everyone abroad is shocked to hear about the potential draconian penalties and compliance headaches our government forces on us.
