Americans Abroad

That most of us are long term expats due to similar situations, usually family reasons.

It's certainly been hard to read all the "overseas tax cheats" type of articles lately especially coming from what I consider to be MY side of the aisle! Shocking really since I had not realized the depth some of these myths hold back home for the majority.

This article using data from Canada's census is interesting.
http://globalnews.ca/news/1109404/the-stereotype-of-the-wealthy-u-s-expatriate/

I do have to laugh. I wish I were one of these lucky ones on an island sipping champagne to justify some of the labels put upon us. Facts though are funny things and when you look at it, it really just doesn't make logical sense that most expats are rich anymore than saying the majority of people living in the U.S. are "rich"

However, that is all relative isn't it? Because I've done volunteer work in rural Jamaican schools and yes, to them who believe the gift of a pencil is like winning the lottery, I am "rich"

Being an expat has given me such a different world view it's sometimes hard to discuss issues with those who have always lived in the U.S. For instance the 1 percent. If you go to a third world nation then we must own up that WE are the 1 percent. That we have benefited from their misery through the actions of our governments, the world bank and the IMF and continue to do so. What do we give back? Not much. I find it very hard to feel sorry for myself but, at the same time am appalled by the destruction of the middle class and poor in North America. Many people around the world though have lived this type of destruction and have never known anything else.

I am of modest income and do not have the same standard of living I would have had if I had stayed living in the U.S. Taxes on lower income people are much higher here. In return for giving more into the social democracy pot I get great schools, social programs and health care. I'm happy with that. In fact I'm overwhelmed at my good fortune in life though some would consider my family rather poor materially.

Lately, I'm concerned about the more and more protectionist attitudes in the U.S. and how myopic Americans seem. A lot of fear has replaced critical thinking and honest discussion. One thing that bothers me about FATCA is that it's going to discourage even more those Americans who might chance living abroad and in doing so will lead to even less understanding of other nations and the world outside their borders as a whole. This is not a good thing.

I thought to open a discussion about who expats are, what leads them abroad, what value do they bring to the U.S? Other nations see their expats in a very, very different way to the way the U.S. sees us.