I realise I have been really, really quiet the past year here on Daily Kos, as moving from Denmark to Switzerland has been challenging. I had to cut out "noise" from all areas as I adjusted... okay I digress.
I still am active in a passive way, and as I pop my ballot in the post today here in Lausanne, Switzerland, an e mail from the Obama/Biden campaign in my FaceBook box got me riled...
The e mail was about cutting taxes.
This got me riled up a bit as an expat who is living overseas.
I was at our Expat Expo here in Geneva a few weeks ago, and we had many groups representing Americans Abroad for all facets.
The one I was drawn to was representing our rights and fight, "our" meaning those of us who abroad. Those who have chosen to take the leap, challenge our identity and culture, those who chose to venture out into the greater world and share who we are and from where we come. To share the essence of being American with other cultures-- brave, innovative, kind and pioneering.
We are still paying taxes to the US, on top of the tax we pay in our host countries. I admit I do not know the details, as Deloitte handles all of this (tax idiot here!), yet when our income reaches a level we still have to pay back to the US.
Difficult to do in some countries, as the cost of living is high.
Tough to do when we are not represented.
And it is my understanding that even though we are contributing to Social Security, we cannot access our contributions upon retiring. And we are contributing to our pension schemes in the countries that we are living abroad.
I realise that I need to be more educated on this, as it appalls me to know that we abroad are being subjected to the very system our forefathers bucked over 200 years ago. Taxation without representation, among other ideals, is why we have our independence. To even think that we US passport carrying individuals abroad are being subjected to the very treatment that brings a streak of abhoration to every American's spirit is disheartening.
We abroad share in the market decline, the fear of losing a home, a job... we like you at home wonder "where is this going"?
So as I pop my ballot in the box today, casting my vote for a better today, tomorrow and every tomorrow thereafter, my thoughts reside with the collective conscience we share-- to bring change, good change, healthy change.
We each have the power to do something, and it does not have to be grand. Little things by many brings change. Gratuity for what we have brings us closer to our desires.