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Trump's first year: 'For Americans overseas, it has been really tough'
Demonstrators gathered on the steps of the Bourse in Brussels on Sunday afternoon to voice their disapproval of the Donald Trump administration on his first anniversary as US president.
Pussy hats and candles were in evidence at the Lights for Rights protest, with participants holding signs saying "Dump Trump", "We refuse to accept a Fascist America" and "Ceci n'est pas un président".
Pauline Manos, chair of Democrats Abroad Belgium, said: "Trump’s presidency has brought with it a stunning abuse of power, myriad conflicts of interest, and a dangerous level of cultural upheaval. The last year was a test of who we are as a country."
How has President Trump's first year affected Americans abroad?
"I think for Americans overseas, it has been really tough - the image the US has, the sudden lack of respect. We have gone back to an era where a lot of people are very uncomfortable because they feel that people associate them automatically with the policies of this administration. The policies have been so polarising and so dramatic, whether it’s pulling out of the Paris climate accord or renegotiating Nafta (the North American Free Trade Agreement).
"There are a lot of issues that affect all of us directly. There are also many people in our community who would like to go back to the US, either to retire or go with family, but honestly cannot. I cannot go back to the US because I would never be able to afford healthcare. I don’t see anything for any American abroad that really speaks to the values and the polices [we] have."
If Americans live abroad, why is it important for them to become involved in American politics?
"I think what most Americans forget is we are still subject to US laws, we still need to file US tax returns. As Democrats Abroad, we feel it is very important to garner the voices of Americans abroad. We represent over six million American voters. We want to be a voice towards democratic parties and towards the US government. And the way to do that is to become politically active, and at the very least, vote. That’s actually a privilege we have that some countries do not have."
Did anything positive come out of Trump’s first year?
"The increased level of activism and engagement has been the silver lining in the cloud, by far. Something that started as an informal group of Belgian, American and European women came together under this umbrella organisation called Lights for Rights, and they organised the Women’s March last year and boom, all of a sudden 2,000 women were on the streets and we got support from all walks of life. That was incredible."
After reflecting on the first year, what is the next step Americans abroad need to take?
"Regardless of your political affiliation, it doesn’t matter if you are Democrat or Republican or independent, request a ballot and vote. I really do think that we underestimate the power of voting. The control of the Virginia House of Delegates was decided by a draw because it was a dead tie. It just reinforces that every vote does count."
Comments
"I think what most Americans forget is we are still subject to US laws, we still need to file US tax returns."
More and more are becoming aware of that, usually painfully so.
"Trump’s presidency has brought with it a stunning abuse of power".
Well Pauline, he's yet to force the entire globe in to implementing global laws at the point of a financial gun at huge expense to other countries in order to terrorise the residents and citizens of the entire globe for taxation and penalties, mostly penalties for the USA.
That was possibly the biggest abuse of power the world may ever have seen.
Oh, but that was saint Obama......
"I think what most Americans forget is we are still subject to US laws, we still need to file US tax returns."
Actually the majority of American citizens abroad either don't know this or don't care, because only a small minority file US tax returns.
However, that's getting more difficult, and it's not because of Trump. As much as it pains me to admit this, given my own politics and the fact that I liked the guy, the Obama years were vastly worse for Americans overseas.
The FATCA law was passed by a Democrat-controlled Congress in 2010. In subsequent years the IRS introduced their extortionate "amnesty" programs for overseas taxpayers and began to "encourage" compliance.
As a consequence, thousands (if not millions) of people with no connection to the US other than their or a parent's place of birth have been identified as US citizens, face restrictions on banking services in their countries of residence, and in many cases have spent significant amounts of money to come into compliance or to renounce a citizenship they didn't need or want and in many cases didn't know they had.
Unscrupulous lawyers and accountants have encouraged compliance, often at great personal and financial cost, in situations where individuals would be far better served by staying off the radar or simply renouncing (despite the ridiculous cost of US$2350) with no further action taken on the tax front.
So while Trump is certainly an embarrassment to Americans overseas, far greater damage was done during his predecessor's term, unfortunately.
From the Isaac Brock society this morning.....
"Unexpected telephone call from Democrats Abroad, who apparently are updating their membership database.
A gratifying opportunity to explain to the caller that I am no longer eligible to be a member of Democrats Abroad and also am no longer eligible to cast a vote for Democratic candidates in US elections – having been obliged as a result of the Democrats’ introduction of FATCA to renounce my US citizenship in order to be able to hold a bank account."
Was that you calling, Pauline?
But no, your embarrassment of Trump seems to come second to the global misery inflicted on millions by your party and Obama.