Liberals hard at work: Canada invents the telephone!

[Goingonit]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Asher

How is it you can have both passports? I know the US allows dual citizenship, but AFAIK Canada doesn't.

Thank Teddy Roosevelt. He was on a hunting trip in Canada, bringing his pregnant wife. She delivered early, and thus the child was a Canadian citizen (and not an American one) Naturally, the child of the president must be an American citizen, so the USA passed a law that all children of Americans born in Canada are Americans.

[SpencerH]

Shows you how long its been since I lived in Canada. The govermental act that allows dual citizenship in Canada changed to allow it in 1977

Prior to that time Asher you'd have to have chosen between them.

[Goingonit]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Shows you how long its been since I lived in Canada. The govermental act that allows dual citizenship in Canada changed to allow it in 1977

My dad was born in 1952 and had dual citizeship until he renounced it (to escape the draft).

[SpencerH]

Only from the american perspective, not the canadian one (until 1977) i.e. to the USA he was a citizen of both countries, to Canada he was only canadian.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
I only have one government at a time, Tingkai, but I have two citizenships. Citizenships just let me choose which government I want, not give me both.

Grasp a simple concept: dual citizenship allows you to choose the country you want to live in, but you're stuck with both governments.

You don't get to claim Canadian (or American) citizenship and then turn it on and off whenever you feel like it.

You have the right and responsibility to vote in American and Canadian elections. The fact that you decided not to vote doesn't change anything. An American living in the United States who does not vote doesn't get to claim that "I didn't vote for them so they're not my government."

Originally posted by Asher
It's quite clear to me you don't understand how US/Canadian dual citizenship works if you actually think I pay US taxes of any kind while in Canada.

Did I say you did? No.

You obviously don't know that any American living outside the United States who earns more than $70,000 must pay American income tax regardless of whether they have paid another country's income tax.

The Canadian government is considering a similar tax law.

Wake up to realities of dual citizenship.

[Starchild]

To back up Tingkai a bit on the dual citizenship/government aspect, though from a slightly different perspective:

It states quite clearly in my British passport that the British government cannot protect dual citizens from the authority of their other nation. So, in theory, if I was a British and a Canadian citizen and I was living in Britain, AND Canada wanted to draft me/make me pay taxes/etc, I'd have to. The Canadian government would still be governing me outside Canada.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
Grasp a simple concept: dual citizenship allows you to choose the country you want to live in, but you're stuck with both governments.

Allows being the key word.
I actually can't vote for American elections while I live in Canada, if you must know.

You don't get to claim Canadian (or American) citizenship and then turn it on and off whenever you feel like it.

I'm not doing any such thing.
For **** sake Tingkai, it's VERY simple. While I live in Canada, elect this government, pay taxes to this government -- THIS IS MY GOVERNMENT. Whether I have CITIZENSHIP so if I lived there I COULD elect that government/pay taxes to that government, THAT would be my government.

It's so very simple and you try to make it so very complicated.
Stop being so damn high on yourself.

You have the right and responsibility to vote in American and Canadian elections.

Incorrect, I can't vote in American elections while I live in Canada. It's one of the "restrictions" of dual citizenship.

The fact that you decided not to vote doesn't change anything. An American living in the United States who does not vote doesn't get to claim that "I didn't vote for them so they're not my government."

You clearly haven't a clue what you're talking about.

You obviously don't know that any American living outside the United States who earns more than $70,000 must pay American income tax regardless of whether they have paid another country's income tax.

So how come our family doesn't pay any US income tax at all, Tingkai? Hmm? My mom's a dual, she makes over $70, she doesn't pay a cent in US income tax.

Did you read that law very carefully?

Wake up to realities of dual citizenship.

I would suggest you do your research before telling me about something you clearly know nothing about.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Starchild
To back up Tingkai a bit on the dual citizenship/government aspect, though from a slightly different perspective:

It states quite clearly in my British passport that the British government cannot protect dual citizens from the authority of their other nation. So, in theory, if I was a British and a Canadian citizen and I was living in Britain, AND Canada wanted to draft me/make me pay taxes/etc, I'd have to. The Canadian government would still be governing me outside Canada.

Yeah, that much is common sense. But there are specific restrictions stating that, as a dual citizen in Canada, I cannot vote for American elections as long as I live here as a dual citizen, and I don't pay any American taxes.

Tingkai seems to be basing his "opinion" on outdated information or simply pulling it out of his ass. I've lived my life as a dual citizen, lived in both countries as a dual citizen, and we've discussed the issue with accountants (who do the taxes) as well as done the research on voting privledges.

Simply put, a lot of the "rights" of citizenship are provisional based upon where you currently reside. It's almost like having a "Primary" and "Secondary" citizenship, at least with US/Canada.

[TCO]

GP looks lustily at Albertan minerals...

I think those French have been oppressed long enough by the rest of English-speaking Canada. Time to be on their own...

[KrazyHorse]

Time for grabby Americans to go suck on an egg...

Manifest destiny is dead, and we're the ones that killed it.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by SpencerH


Not from where I sit. As far as I can tell, a canadian scientist working in the US would take a 40-50% salary drop to work in Canada.

Quite possibly true. Still doesn't add up to actual significant loss of personnel, according to the study I saw. Obvious conclusion is that economic concerns may not be primary motivating factor for most...

GP, NU=?

[TCO]

Oh...you mongrel, you. French blood is obviously diluted...

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Time for grabby Americans to go suck on an egg...

I think that it is time for the CIA to give support to the seperatist movement in Quebec.

[TCO]

NU is Northwestern University.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
Allows being the key word.
I actually can't vote for American elections while I live in Canada, if you must know.

Given your record for making wrong statements, what proof do you have to back up this statement.

Originally posted by Asher
So how come our family doesn't pay any US income tax at all, Tingkai? Hmm? My mom's a dual, she makes over $70, she doesn't pay a cent in US income tax.

In all likelihood, your parents claim married exemption which is twice the income exemption (e.g. US$140K)

As an American citizen, you are still required to file annual income tax form, assuming you exceed basic income level.