The FACTA Progress...

The ACA (American Citizens Abroad) has sent a letter to congress to complain about the 'reporting monster' will create if FACTA is enacted.

Oh, congratulation Switzerland for beating the European Champions.

Lady Gaga's 'Telephone' Video Featuring Beyonce Is Beyond, NSFW

Ok I finally watch this video after it was posted a million times on my FB feed. My opinion-

-It's something I wished Madonna and Janet would have done together (two great titans of the music industry mesh their talent together, some dreams go to the way side).

-LOVED the imagery, the tech, and visual play on the dance movements.

-Love the creativity of the outfits, I have always respected Lady GaGa for that.

-Liked the feline power presented

-Noticed the Thelma & Louis theme, don't know how I feel about that.

-Appreciate the collaboration between the two.

But for the that sorry ass, slowed down techno, monotony of music- SUCKED. That is why I will never purchase a single song from Lady Gaga. There needs to be something that breaks through and beyond the bling kling, the ting tang, and bleep beep of two computers copulating.

So my grade for them would be a solid C-. I know they are way more talented and Beyoncé disappoints me with the amount of experience she has. They can do better. Where is the message?

I gave my 9 minutes, I thinks it's fair.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Send Us Your Questions For Ford CEO Alan Mulally!

My Ford Question

Mr. Alan Mullaly,

I had discussion with my partner a couple of years ago about the impact the car v.s the train had on the American society. My partner explained and pointed out to me that Ford and the other car companies essentially subsidized and directed the construction of municipalities to accommodate and sustain the viability of the motor vehicle, personal or otherwise through infrastructure, laws, sub-industries, and lifestyle. We, the human race, are heading toward a damning age of scarcity, no matter which way you cut it.



So here's my question,



Since you (Ford) have been king of the road since your inception, why not now take the majestic leap and not only to assist, but be the harbinger of sustainability? Specifically, since through 2 generations of blood, sweat, and tears, we gave you the road through education of the usage of the vehicle, laws protecting it, and our embracing it as symbol of our sovereignty, why not create jobs, decrease pollution, further protect the environment and teach anew a respect for our resources by supporting, leading, and manufacturing high-speed rail systems that would rival China, France, Germany, and Britain? It is my belief that this would at least allow Ford to remain at the top, be morally profitable, and garner a greater respect from those that are fighting for a sustainable future for mankind.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Being a victim of Intelligent backlash against Ignorant legislation.

I was shot down by a bank representative on Thursday about my account when I tried to reorder a bank card. From what I understood, my bank account may be shut because I am an American citizen. She kept repeating 'Qualified Intermediary' to me as I was trying lower my blood pressure (I just knew this was coming). She explained all US citizens of Bank Cantonal Vaudois (BCV) will be notified of their situation by letter, this month. She finished by apologizing and explaining that at this moment, BCV can not issue me a card because of the 'qualified intermediary' issue. Which sent me on very frustrating information search marathon.

The Qualified Intermediary (also known as an Accommodator) should be a corporation that is in the full-time business of facilitating 1031 exchanges. The role of a QI is similar to, but not identical to, the role of an escrow company.

-Wikipedia.org

(Anyone doing financial business on behalf of an American, even just opening a simple checking account for an American)

Well I have been digging around and I have found that Charlie Rangel with HR 3933 and Max Baucus with S 1934 are planning to beef up the tax collection policies of the IRS by requiring that any 'qualified intermediary' to report on the account activities of all Americans doing business with them under FATCA. According to American Citizens Abroad, a non-profit advocacy organization for United States citizens,

'With regard to American citizens residing abroad, a group of major UK banks has already stated
that they will close accounts of American citizens if the proposed QI regulations of January 1, 2010 become effective. We know for a fact that Swiss, Dutch and Spanish banks are refusing American citizens residing in their countries as clients and are closing accounts. Do not forget that there are over 5 million American citizens residing abroad. These people need to maintain foreign bank accounts in the country where they reside to make current payments receive salaries and hold their investments. The proposed legislation and reinforced QI* regulations will make it all the more difficult for overseas Americans to maintain a bank account where they reside. '
*(Qualified Intermediary)

This is what the bill does via Open Congress.com

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise and add reporting and other requirements relating to income from assets held abroad, including by:
(1) requiring foreign financial and nonfinancial institutions to withhold 30% of payments made to such institutions by U.S. individuals unless such institutions agree to disclose the identity of such individuals and report on their bank transactions;
(2) denying a tax deduction for interest on non-registered bonds issued outside the United States;
(3) requiring any individual who holds more than $50,000 in a depository or custodial account maintained by a foreign financial institution to report on such accounts;
(4) imposing an enhanced tax penalty for underpayments attributable to undisclosed foreign financial assets;
(5) extending the limitation period for assessment of underpayments with respect to assets held outside the United States;
(6) requiring certain tax advisors who assist U.S. individuals in acquiring a direct or indirect interest in a foreign entity to file an information return disclosing the identity of the foreign entity and the individual investors;
(7) requiring shareholders of a passive foreign investment company to file informational returns;
(8) enhancing tax rules and penalties relating to foreign trusts with U.S. beneficiaries; and
(9) requiring withholding of tax on dividend equivalent payments received by foreign individuals.

The odds:

From my experience and business empathy, they will close my account. I don't blame them. I don't support tax evasion nor tax fraud. Yet, I don't support imposing laws that punish the innocent to justify the enforcement of laws broken by a few. It's inane and very draconian. Why should my bank keep me when it would be cheaper and less of a burden to force me to find another institution? Understood, but what I don't understand, why a blanket enforcement with such apathy for the complications that come along with such legislation?

To my friend Josh in China, this includes you. This bill does not specify nations, just American citizens. Banks will be hard pressed to find any benefit in assisting Americans with their finances if it means answering to the IRS (which in their eyes is a foreign tax collection agency with no true jurisdiction within their borders). I as well as any American abroad (I am not clear about service members, diplomats, corporations, private businesses, etc.) are being punished for a few bad apples. I pray I can find a banking institution that isn't repulsed by my citizenship.

Oh, about the american banks abroad, the common (mis)perception of any American abroad is that we are rich. That we work for some major corporation or on military leave. Last year my income was a record $25,ooo thanks to working as a receptionist for a Swiss owned and operated small business. The banks, American or international, have raised the minimum to astronomical levels- $250,000. This will insure that there aren't any shananigans. (I received email today from ACA.org with a list of banks and the minimum deposit requirements all were above $500,000 with exception of Charles Schwab- still developing).

In the end, the PosteFinance.ch, seems like a viable option. Crossing fingers.

If anyone has any info about this issue, I would greatly appreciate it. I will post the letter once received. I will pass more info upon reception on my end.

Ciao!

For Obama, No Opportunity Too Big to Blow

"There are very few U.S. Presidents who have squandered as many once-in-a-generation opportunities as Barack Obama. More than anyone else, the Copenhagen failure belongs to him."- Naomi Klein.

I so agree, AMEN!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Portia de Rossi To Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Gay Marriage Should Be Called Marriage (VIDEO)

Putting people's rights (either the right to prayer or to marry) up to vote is the cruelest form of democracy. It is the pathway to division of a nation. Rights are(I thought) taken away by violation of law and through the decision of the courts. I should not have to fear my neighbors opinion, religious values, mores, or voting record. My neighbor should not be my judge nor I for thee.



If this continues, I fear the voting on human rights by the public will force all us to hate each other for all of our lifestyles, no matter how holy you think you are, is subject to ridicule. Just think, we could all vote ourselves into prison. Or into anarchy.



Voting to allow or disallow human rights is a violation, in my opinion, of human rights.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Keith Bardwell Explains Refusal To Perform Interracial Marriage (VIDEO)

OoooooH! He did it for the chil'rrun! Well bless his heart!



Really, what do you expect from LOUISIANA! I never expected the southern states to embrace such progression of 'mixun uv da races'. He seems old enough to remember Emmit Till. A black man with a white woman? He would have to have a lobotomy to allow such a disgrace, in his Jim Crow mind.



So this is not a news story, in a sense that it's the everyday goings ons of southern bigots (or in the mind of Yankee bigots who lack the guts to be so forthright, such stories give them glee). Now with 24/7 hour convenience store news cycle and having nothing else to report, a light has been shone up this particular bigot. He is this weeks balloon/attic boy. This poor bigot is probably just earning his stripes for the white angst that exist today. Now with all this attention, he can probably retire with a clean Klansman mind and 'clear' Jim Crow soul.



With that said,l respect his honesty, no matter how primitive it maybe.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

"Balloon Boy" ALIVE: 6-Year-Old Falcon Heene Was Never In The Aircraft

This seems like a sad day the media worldwide. All western news outlets carried this story. Welcome to globalization people. Benign stories to keep the masses occupied. Yeah, I know I sound like a conspiracy theorist, but don't we have two wars, bombings, health care debate, and a multitude of more important other things to tend to?



I'm guilty, watching in suspense, wanting to be entertained by the entertainers.



Thanks Heene's for keeping mind off serious things.

Baahahahahaha (I thinks that right).
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

When they came for...

Recently in Switzerland there has been a few instances of political racism. This one below is the anti-minaret campaign. This has the support of the Peoples Party (SVP), a rightwing organization in the parliament here. The SVP is famous for 'wanting to keep the Swiss blood pure' and 'closing the borders to immigrants'. Both ads are considered extremely hurtful and flat out racist here.



This one below was circulating right at the time I was arriving in Switzerland. It drew protest in my neighborhood that year when the leader of party came to Lausanne to give a stump speech. My point to all of this is the whenever economic troubles are manifested the xenophobia is increased. Switzerland has been lucky so far, but this is the temperature of the racism and xenophobia that exist already during good economic times. Just imagine if Switzerland landed in the mire like US.





Now the video below shows what happens when the right-wing fringe and the racism combines with economic hardship. This is modern day nationalism. Something I see in the rhetoric of many American politicianss. Lindsey Graham's and McCain comments about Obama not 'being a Muslim because he's a good man'. The Joe Wilsons, the Michelle Bachmanns, and the Glenn Beck's of the the U.S. are creating the environment the video below enjoys. I don't want to infringe upon anyone's right to freedom speech but we should infringe upon the right to complacency of violence.

The Forbes 400 Shows Why Our Nation Is Falling Apart

Does anyone find it odd that we spend most of our lives making them rich when the 'creator' has another purpose for us? Doesn't anyone see that freedom and liberty are marketing tools to keep you working toward nothing? Doesn't anyone question this system? Money is not the root of evil but our behavior in the pursuit of it tends to lean heavily toward shameful.



Call me a hippie, socialist, commie or whatever, but I think being a wild animal would give me more so called freedom and liberty than working my life away for superficial, inter-changeable and infuriatingly obsolescent material things. Having to protect it because the time and effort we put into it, kissing the ass of the wealth makers, would be lost if we didn't (or at least that's what is advertised to us). Meanwhile,we maintain this process, not realizing that we are killing ourselves and others so that someone can have extra paper in their, if not our own, pockets. So we can maintain our (false) 'sense' humanity, not conscious of the lost time for an inanimate object to please us when we have each other. I think what we have done, do and participate in is disgusting. It's suicide.



My point, it's time to solve our problems without money. We don't need it. The need is a lie to keep you in the system. It's a lie. The game was created by them and will be maintained by your belief in it.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost