Land Of The Flea

American Expat Taxpayers Would Rather Ditch Citizenship Than Face New IRS Rules

"The rule change followed legislation made in the wake of the financial crisis that was meant to help the U.S. government close the tax gap and combat tax evasion. But the FATCA rule change is shaping up to be an administrative and diplomatic nightmare for some foreign banks. For expats, it is complicating life overseas, curtailing opportunities in everything from jobs to getting bank accounts -- and, of course, potentially raising their tax burden. Now, with the promise of higher taxes coming next year, many expats are saying enough." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerican Expat Taxpayers Would Rather Ditch Citizenship Than Face New IRS Rules

Department Of Homeland Security To Scan Payment Cards At Borders And Airports

"Travelers leaving or entering the United States have long had to declare aggregated cash and other monetary instruments exceeding $10,000. Now, under a proposed amendment to the Bank Secrecy Act, FinCEN will also require travelers to declare the value of prepaid cards that they are carrying, known now as 'tangible prepaid access devices.' Enforceability falls to the Department of Homeland Security, which is already developing advanced handheld card readers that can ascertain whether a traveler is carrying a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDepartment Of Homeland Security To Scan Payment Cards At Borders And Airports

Poll: Nearly One Third Of Americans Would Accept ‘TSA Body Cavity Search’ in Order to Fly

"A new survey commissioned by Infowars and conducted by Harris Interactive has found that almost one third of American adults would accept a 'TSA body cavity search' in order to fly, with a majority of Americans also feeling a law that would make disobeying a TSA agent in any public place illegal is reasonable. The shock results emphasize the level of indignity Americans are willing to tolerate in order to travel. They also highlight how the TSA’s reputation has remained largely intact despite a series of scandals and widespread criticism from innumerable public figures." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPoll: Nearly One Third Of Americans Would Accept ‘TSA Body Cavity Search’ in Order to Fly

Kim Dotcom vows free Internet for all of New Zealand

"Eccentric Internet millionaire Kim Dotcom vowed this week to fund free Internet access for all of New Zealand once he gets his new website off the ground. Dotcom is currently embroiled in an extradition fight against the U.S., which accused him of running the largest criminal copyright infringement operation in history and seized his business, Megaupload, in January. Dotcom says new site, Me.ga, will function similarly, but with enhanced encryption and distributed hosting, ensuring that users 'hold the keys' to their own files. Dotcom’s involvement with the plan could prompt U.S. regulators to resist the installation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKim Dotcom vows free Internet for all of New Zealand

As Sanctions Hit Iran’s Most Vulnerable, the Man Who Dared to Feed Sanction-Starved Iraq Remains in Prison

"Dr. Dhafir was one of many Americans, Muslims and non-Muslims, who for 13 years had raised money for food and medicines for sick and starving Iraqis who were the victims of sanctions. He had asked US officials if this humanitarian aid was legal and was assured it was - until the early morning he was hauled out of his car by federal agents as he left for work. His front door was smashed down and his wife had guns pointed at her head. Today, he is serving 22 years in prison. No executive of the oil companies that did billions of dollars of illegal business with Saddam Hussein during the embargo has been prosecuted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Sanctions Hit Iran’s Most Vulnerable, the Man Who Dared to Feed Sanction-Starved Iraq Remains in Prison

Gary North: Boehner Has Obama by the Boondoggles.

"I am hoping that the House will do nothing. I think that is the best we can hope for, given the fact that what Obama wants is a tax increase on the rich in order to save the Pentagon's budget. I would rather see the Pentagon have its budget cut than to see taxes, meaning progressive taxes, meaning graduated taxes, imposed on the rich . . . or anyone else. I would rather live with Bill Clinton's taxes than Obama's. Then, in 2016, Republicans can blame both of them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGary North: Boehner Has Obama by the Boondoggles.

Puerto Ricans push for U.S. statehood in referendum vote

"For the first time, a majority of Puerto Rican voters expressed support for changing their homeland’s status from a U.S. commonwealth to full statehood Tuesday night. According to CNN, the non-binding referendum on the issue was split into two questions. Residents voted against remaining a territory by a margin of 54 percent to 46 percent in the first part of the referendum, while 61 percent supported statehood in the second part. President Barack Obama expressed support for the referendum. Puerto Rican Secretary of State Kenneth McClintock said economic factors weighed heavily in statehood winning majority support." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPuerto Ricans push for U.S. statehood in referendum vote

Obama Wins A Second Term: Now What?

"The game will go on until the time is up for our nation. Austerity measures will dramatically increase, benefits and promises will be lost by the poor and remaining middle class citizens who really need them and taxes will rise, as will the risk of gold and wealth confiscation. Obama will be blamed, just as Romney would have been blamed had he been elected president, for this is how our regulatory/debt democracy works today in the 21st century. A failed system of central bank control leading a failed economy, a failing currency and a controlled system totally divorced from control or limitation by the citizens of America." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Wins A Second Term: Now What?