Why Americans Are Going Abroad • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Americans Are Going Abroad

#61

Post by technomancy » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 10:47 AM UTC

Luc wrote: post #51

technomancy wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Parent's point is that your Oregonian congressman is not looking out for your interests but those of his resident-constituents. If emigrants comprise a population roughly equivalent to Maryland, why don't they get their own representation?

Some countries reserve parliament seats for representatives of citizens abroad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_constituency

Thanks for the link; that's interesting.

Apparently even in the US the Democratic National Convention gives state-level recognition to Democrats Abroad, an organization for overseas Democrat voters.

Re: Why Americans Are Going Abroad

#62

Post by venomsnake » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 10:50 AM UTC

bottled_poe wrote: post #58

venomsnake wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually no. I want to live at least for a short time in US, so I will either try to get some of the visas or start a company there, or hope to win the green card lottery or any other legal venue. I would never under any circumstances cross a border illegal or without respecting the country borders and laws. Crossing a border/ living somewhere without legal permit is direct attack against the sovereignty of a country…

> full stack of legal documentation Usually in the form of USD.

Well no. Usually visa and work permit. Not hard to get for high value individual.

Re: Why Americans Are Going Abroad

#63

Post by throwaway9324 » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 1:07 PM UTC

venomsnake wrote: post #62

bottled_poe wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> full stack of legal documentation Usually in the form of USD.

Well no. Usually visa and work permit. Not hard to get for high value individual.

Plenty of Americans work without a work permit and overstay their visa.

Re: Why Americans Are Going Abroad

#64

Post by misiti3780 » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:29 PM UTC

dataker wrote: post #14

> Italy makes it remarkably easy for descendants of Italian emigrants to claim citizenship, for example Hm... No. It took me 4 years to obtain my Italian citizenship(from my mother). We almost had a court battle for them to accept a missing letter(literally).

i have been working on it for 3 years now .... they just started charging 350 EU for the appointment at the embassy, even if they do not give you the citizenship

Re: Why Americans Are Going Abroad

#65

Post by lotsofmangos » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 4:02 PM UTC

ddebernardy wrote: post #27

bruceb wrote: post #15

Immigration is complex but what I hate is the BS and half lies that are told like this author does. "We debate immigration and border controls for Mexico ad nauseum, yet, on the whole, the typical immigrant isn’t Mexican." Like many newspapers the author is trying to blur the line between legal and illegal immigrant. The reason we are talking about border controls is because yes most come from Mexico. The typical per…

Three reasons: 1. The US is the only country in the world whose citizens must declare and pay taxes even when they're living out of the country. 2. The paperwork involved is a royal pain in the neck. 3. Failure to do it subjects you to ridiculously high fines.

Even if you are Mayor of London and haven't lived in the UK since you were a child. - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30932891

Re: Why Americans Are Going Abroad

#66

Post by lotsofmangos » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 4:37 PM UTC

venomsnake wrote: post #59

atmosx wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You were not born in the Gaza strip, Syria, Turkey's east border, Mexico, South Korea or Cuba... So why give a shit, right? That's a mature way to think and act. So much for 4000+ years of human evolution.

Hmm ... South Korea is not a terrible place to be born. I was born in a country that has a track record of concentration camps and shooting defectors to the west. Problem?

I don't think anyone has a problem with where you were born, they have a problem with your opinions.

Re: Why Americans Are Going Abroad

#67

Post by usrusr » Fri, Apr 24, 2015, 1:01 PM UTC

icebraining wrote: post #18

sschueller wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than president who can you vote for? Who represents a US citizen's interests when living abroad? Some never have been to the Unites States and have no home state. Yet they are required to file and pay taxes.

Many states allow you to vote from abroad if your parents and/or legal guardians are eligible: http://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/reside

Interesting, this could add another layer of craziness on top of gerrymandering to nonproportional winner takes all repentation. Somebody seems to have had a bright moment when requiring that "parents and/or legal guardians" condition..

Back on topic, I generally feel a little uneasy with the question of the migrant vote. Denying the vote to emigrants? Not good. Denying the vote to immigrants? Not good. Migrants (with inherently less commitment to a single state) effectively getting more votes per capita than non-migrants? Not good either! This is certainly just a highly abstract problem that probably deserves quotes ("problem"), but it should not be completely ignored in a world of ever-increasing international mobility.