The Passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

[Aseahawkfan]

Besides this statement being full of preconceptions....what would you suggest if you could control the voting process? For example, I'm in Canada (sending in my ballot tomorrow). My mom is 80, it's safer for her to stay at home.

You still get to vote in American elections living in Canada? Interesting.

[Aseahawkfan]

Ideally, I would like to see every able bodied voter cast their ballot in person. I fully understand that's not a practical desire, especially this year with the pandemic. But to me, there's something authentic about having to make a small effort by enduring a moderate degree of sacrifice and showing up in person and declaring that you're there to exercise your Constitutional right to cast your ballot. There's been a lot of pain and suffering, particularly over the past 100 years, that many have endured in order for women and minorities to earn their right to vote, and now it seems like everybody takes that right for granted.

Obviously there are those that are, for one reason or another, physically unable, like yourself and your mom, to cast their ballot in person that would include people that are home bound, military personnel stationed overseas, nursing home residents, and many others, that simply can't or shouldn't be casting their votes in person and I fully admit that my preference is more of a romantic wish than it is a practical alternative. But I get upset when I think of how many incompetent, ignorant, and lazy people that we have in our midst that don't have a frigging clue about who or what it is they're voting for that has allowed for someone like Donald Trump to ascend to the highest office in the land.

Like I've said about foreign election interference, it's the stupidity and ignorance of the American public that has given our adversaries the ability to extend their influence to our electoral process. It's by far the biggest weakness of democracy. I've often thought that we should be given some sort of qualifying test before being allowed to vote, something on the order of what we give to immigrants applying for citizenship. I swear that Donald Trump couldn't pass one of those tests.

I don't worry about foreign interference. That is always going to happen. It has been happening for years. If you read about Communist infiltration of our university system pushed by The Soviet Union, you know this has been happening for years. From what I have seen it is not an accident that so many socialists, communists, and left leaning people spread their philosophy in the higher education system. Then you have already seen that foreign terrorist organizations recruit in Western nations and back when the IRA and such was at its height money was funneled to support Irish Independence and the IRA. Foreign interference has been with us always even back to the Revolutionary War when the French helped us against the British. It's the nature of the game and it is very difficult to control, but we do a better job than most. It's why we are more often influencing elections in other nations versus them influencing ours, though some influence is inevitable given the money and power that moves when our government changes.

I'm still not sure why people ever thought foreign powers weren't interfering in our elections. I guess whatever propaganda they can use to take out Trump, regulate social media, and pursue their agendas will be supported by the parties just like the Republicans pushed through the Patriot Act without much Democrat resistance.

[MackStrongIsMyHero]

Not speaking for I-5, and he can correct me if I am wrong, but he can vote in a US election if he maintains dual citizenship. The price for that is his income in Canada is subject to taxation by the US government. How all that works, I'll leave to him to explain if he is inclined to do so, but that's my basic understanding of it.

[I-5]

Well, since I'm still a US citizen, and I file a US tax return (which I will do for the rest of my life unless I renounce my citizenship), then of course I can vote, and I'm classified as an overseas voter with my last US address in Seattle.

FYI I'm a permanent resident of Canada, which means I enjoy all the rights of Canada except for voting (which I don't really care about much yet), and I only have healthcare coverage while I'm a PR (Canadian citizens have healthcare access for life). In a couple years, I could apply for Canadian citizenship if I want to, or renew my PR status.

Before anyone asks, I'm not sure about dual citizenship. I've heard the US doesn't support it, but I'm not worried about it for now. If I had to choose one, Canada would be the better passport to hold, but like I said, I haven't decided, and I don't really have to.

Oh, and yes, Mack you have it pretty accurate. I pay taxes to both the IRS and CRA (Canada Revenue Agency), but I DON'T pay double taxes...it's cruel enough I have to file 2 returns every year. This means I have an accountant in both Vancouver and Seattle who have to trade copies of my wife and I's returns with each other to make sure our numbers align. To put it simply, wherever I made an income is where I usually pay income taxes to. However, when it comes to income from the US, after I pay income tax to the IRS, CRA will also add a small tax (the margin of difference between the two tax percentages) to pay for the social services I enjoy in Canada. Do you have a headache yet? In the end, it's worth it. It better be!

[RiverDog]

Before anyone asks, I'm not sure about dual citizenship. I've heard the US doesn't support it, but I'm not worried about it for now. If I had to choose one, Canada would be the better passport to hold, but like I said, I haven't decided, and I don't really have to.

The US does recognize dual citizenships. I have a friend that is a citizen of both the United States and Peru. He holds a passport from both countries. My brother-in-law just got his son a Thai citizenship, too, so that he could stay in Thailand with the girlfriend he met while visiting.

Thanks for the explanation on your tax situation.

[Aseahawkfan]

Well, since I'm still a US citizen, and I file a US tax return (which I will do for the rest of my life unless I renounce my citizenship), then of course I can vote, and I'm classified as an overseas voter with my last US address in Seattle.

FYI I'm a permanent resident of Canada, which means I enjoy all the rights of Canada except for voting (which I don't really care about much yet), and I only have healthcare coverage while I'm a PR (Canadian citizens have healthcare access for life). In a couple years, I could apply for Canadian citizenship if I want to, or renew my PR status.

Before anyone asks, I'm not sure about dual citizenship. I've heard the US doesn't support it, but I'm not worried about it for now. If I had to choose one, Canada would be the better passport to hold, but like I said, I haven't decided, and I don't really have to.

Oh, and yes, Mack you have it pretty accurate. I pay taxes to both the IRS and CRA (Canada Revenue Agency), but I DON'T pay double taxes...it's cruel enough I have to file 2 returns every year. This means I have an accountant in both Vancouver and Seattle who have to trade copies of my wife and I's returns with each other to make sure our numbers align. To put it simply, wherever I made an income is where I usually pay income taxes to. However, when it comes to income from the US, after I pay income tax to the IRS, CRA will also add a small tax (the margin of difference between the two tax percentages) to pay for the social services I enjoy in Canada. Do you have a headache yet? In the end, it's worth it. It better be!

Interesting. Never knew how all that worked in Canada. Far as I know the United States is very liberal about citizenship in multiple places. You don't get much for being an American citizen other than pride and rights I imagine, so no need for heavy restrictions.