No children have been produced in the union with my wife (recently, ex-wife).
We both realized, early on, that we were a bit to selfish with our time and our money, besides the fact that both of us have health issues, so we decided against having any rug-rats.
Basically, my family was in the exact same boat as your friends... lived in Calgary, and moved to Houston. The oil & gas industry moved my Dad down here (and subsequently, the family), and I've been buried in the same industry since finishing up with school.
The industry is SO small... I wouldn't doubt it for a second if I knew your friend, or know OF him/her.
It used to be the politicians that freaked me out. Now, not so much, it is more the people done went and took too many pills and are in fairyland. Now if we only had some fairydust!
My casa, your casa...anytime. Although it isn't that much better here. Difference is when our politicians start acting like lunatics, it doesn't really make all that much difference..lol. We don't really have overly extreme right and left wing. They are all kinda more middle ground. And when in doubt, you can always vote for the Pirate Party. Yep, still not kidding...we really do have a Pirate Party. Still freaks me out....
Im seriously gonna take you up on that girlfriend! Things are gettin freaky as all get out over here! lol The nuts are running the asylum! Altho I was just watching the NEW Nostradaumus..... Those predictions make today look like a piece of cake. They are predicting 10-15 dollar a gallon gasoline. Yikes!
I keep telling ya...you can still come here. You can live in my suite, and I'll sponsor you.
El, I'm curious as well. My husbands cousin is in the same boat as you, except they haven't been there as long. He was transferred from Calgary and now lives just outside Houston (he works in Oil & Gas as an Engineer as well actually). They are not US citizens, but of course do pay taxes there as opposed to here now. What I am wondering is if you have children? Their daughter was born there. They are both Canadians, but their daughter is an American citizen. It's actually made for some challenges when they cross borders with passports, etc. Do you have kids? I am curious if you have the same problem. Might be different though as you married an American..his wife is also Canadian.
Interesting. Sorry, I am nosey but you brought it up, not me. Then when you did I was curious. I am really not familiar with how that works. I do no there are some programs between the two countries and I was thinking it might be one of those that apply to your situation. So, you have an out. You can always go back to Canada which right now is not sounding too bad at all. So basically as long as one has a green card, they are privy to all the rights and benefits of one born here? Got it. By the way, it takes one small mind to identify one I guess. emigrated is immigrated I do believe.
OH, NO point! Just curious.
Me, I was just born here.
I'll answer you, but let's keep the 'personal' details off the board. I'll talk/argue/debate politics with you all day long, but I'd rather keep this high-level and not get too deep into our personal lives... cool?
Why did I never get my citizenship?
Short Answer: I'm lazy.
Plain and simple. I've been eligible for citizenship for over 15 years now, and just "never got around to it". Heck, I'm even married to an american, which automatically entitles me to citizenship, besides the fact that I've been here PLENTY long enough.
Honestly, there's just NO advantage to being an American, besides the fact that you can vote, which as I've said previously, is no big loss for me, as there's no one worth voting for anyway.
I pay taxes, social-security, medicaid, etc, etc, and I'll get to draw on them when I come of age (if there's anything left).
I'm just like an American in EVERY way, except on paper. I have a SS-card and a green-card. I have a British Passport and a Canadian Citizenship Card. When I travel, I use my British Passport when I leave the country, and my US green-card when I come back.
I'm lazy... plain and simple.
Trust me, if there was a SINGLE advantage to becoming American, I'd get in line. Both my parents are (to avoid some of the inheritance taxes they'd incur upon their death, if they weren't citizens), and my sister served in the Air Force and got her's while serving in the Gulf War.
So why did you never get citizenship? And how does that work, you getting social security and all? I mean, you partake in that big government? Really... Is your being here part of a government program between the States and Canada?
Ignorant.
I am a LEGAL Resident Alien and "green card" holder. My family and I emigrated (do you know what that word means?) from Canada to the United States when I was 12 years old, and have been here ever since.
I pay taxes, just the same as all the other tax-paying Americans out there. No more, no less.
From a small mind, comes small conversation.
Bringing up my citizenship? You're REALLY grasping at straws there kiddo!
So what's your point exactly?
Diversion tactics, also from Faux. Answer my questions lmno.
tell me how this not being a citizen of the US works when it comes to legally working here and paying taxes again? I am really really interested in how that works!
Are you even reading what I'm writing?
I have NO problem with a tax increase. Get rid of the Bush tax-cuts. Go back to paying my "fair share"??? How dare you say that. How dare you.
I've been paying MY fair share, and everyone else's fair share, for a LONG time.
Please understand TEKO, I'm not opposed to a tax increase. READ MY LIPS TEKO... NOT OPPOSED TO A TAX INCREASE.
I'd just like some responsible spending cuts, and spending habits, to go along with my tax increases.
Do you realize how silly you sound, towing the Left party line, and not giving an inch?
"Increase taxes, increase taxes, do away with the Bush tax cuts, increase taxes, It's Bush's fault"... silly girl.
I feel sorry for you.
Here is the part you evidently dont get lmno. You blame the poor for leaching off you yet you give the very rich a pass for doing the same thing. And the middle class carry the load as usual and you think that makes sense how?
Damn right! I want those bush tax cuts to expire for everyone. Including you. If you think your squalling now, just wait till you have to go back to paying your fair share! I want the loopholes for the corporations closed, I want the fortune fine hundred companies to pay their share and not the share of their secretary. I want subsidies to big oil done away with. Yessir. I said it! And?
So tell me how this not being a citizen of the US works when it comes to legally working here and paying taxes again? And stop with the fox talking points bs. dont you realize how silly that sounds?
Phew, adgal...I thought you were suggesting that I get another job!!!
Annoys me to no end, the fact that I bust my hump, 70 hours a week, pay 30%+ in taxes, while there are low-life, worthless idiots out there sucking & leeching off the system, and it's being suggested that I give "just a little bit more" to "help out".
Why is it that those that give the LEAST, are screaming the loudest about me giving MORE???
Been paying into the SS system for a while now, and I'm not stupid enough to believe that the Left will leave anything there for me when I come of age. They'll spend it all, if they have their way, and in the meantime, they're going to be asking me to give them MORE, MORE, MORE in taxes.
When does this "Just give a little bit more" end? When am I going to get to enjoy the money I've made? Why is it a crime, and why am I treated like I'm some sort of criminal, for wanting to enjoy the money that I make?
Just because YOU'RE poor, and didn't go to college, and don't have a job, and don't make decent enough money to go on vacation every once and a while... why should I be punished for that, by having MORE, and MORE, and MORE of my hard-earned money stolen from me each and every paycheck?
This Robin-Hood mentality is a travesty, and not what this country was founded on. This country was founded on the principals of Democracy, capitalism, and a "work hard and get ahead" way of thinking.
All the Left wants to do is TAKE, TAKE, TAKE, and redistribute.
Lol, I didnt' mean YOU should get a second job. I meant the gov't needs to increase revenues. And maybe it doesn't even have to be an increase at all. Perhaps actually making those who get out of taxes pay taxes will be enough.
But yes, I agree...spending needs to be drastically cut. I heard Barney Frank talk the other day (I know, not the most popular guy, but he did make a good point). He said that right now the US is still spending a fortune having a military presence in countries where it isn't really necessary any longer ie: Germany, Poland and he named several others. He said pulling out of those countries would not impact the US's security, and would save a fortune. It did make sense to me. I mean, WW 2 has been over for a very long time now, and there is no threat coming from there. I can understand requiring a presence in more volitile areas of the world, but that doesn't seem to be the case in many places.
In any event, yes, spending does have to be drastically cut. I just don't see how that will completely resolve the issue. Once again, if both sides of this debate just gave a little, much could probably be fixed. Maybe they will once the next election is over.
I don't MIND my taxes being increased (yet again), but I want to see DRASTIC spending cuts.
As for getting a 2nd job... "F" that. I work 60-70 hours a week as it is, and it doesn't sit well with me that I have to get a 2nd job to earn more (so I can pay MORE taxes), while there are people that have ZERO job that are paying ZERO taxes.
Increase taxes... go ahead, but I promise you that it won't ever be enough. You'll come to me, in 6 months, with your hand open, wanting to increase my taxes yet again.
I'll say it again... SPEND LESS.
Well, I'll say it. I do think your going to have to increase taxes. I am a pretty simplistic person, and this is how I see it:
When you are in debt, step 1 is to decrease spending. I think that has to come first and formost, no argument there. But if your way in debt, on top of the decreased spending, you might have to get a second job. Looking at the whole big picture here (based on economists, not me), you guys are in deep. And it does seem there are many who get away with no taxes at all due to loopholes, offshore investing, etc. So maybe that should be looked at first. But I just don't see how decreased spending is the way out. It's part of it for sure, but do you really think that can resolve the whole issue? It just seems to me that based on your current structure, the wealthier you are, the less you pay (not everyone, but many). So it's not even really about them paying more...perhaps just their fair share?
So if I'm hearing you right, you're saying that you think that increasing taxes on the "wealthiest Americans" will get us out of this financial mess... is that right?
I just want to hear you say, that increasing taxes, is the way out of this...
LMNO! In case you have not thought about it! Think about it! The bush tax cuts are spending ! Over a Trillion so far! Helloooooo! And someone didnt inform you? The bush tax cuts went to all americans????? Remember! And they ALL need to expire! Go back to fox and ask them for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and c what ya get. Or research it and show me where I am wrong.
Once again... you're making this a taxation problem.
This is a SPENDING issue.
Fine, increase taxes on the "wealthiest Americans". I promise you that it won't be enough. We have to CURB OUR SPENDING.
When you don't have enough money, you can't just keep on taxing, and taxing, and taxing the so-called "rich" (me), you have to curtail the spending.
What part of SPEND LESS MONEY doesn't compute?
It is upsetting to say the least, but the people who have been warning of the consequences of not following a balanced approach to controlling the deficit are finally being proven right. This is the start of the decline of a once great country and it is not because a Black man sits in the Oval Office or that Americans who paid into their retirement plan are collecting benefits, but because of anti-tax dogmata and protection of the wealthiest Americans. The only winners are the extremely wealthy who will buy America when it finally collapses and then charge the American people to live here.IMO
One thing you said that I will agree with. It is OUR fault. It sure is. And your solution is?
Do you know how many of the top 500 fortune companies paid any federal tax last year? Did you know that those companies sending our jobs overseas are enjoying the tax breaks and loopholes even tho and fully supported by the pledge the gop signed? Did you know the subsidies to big oil will not be discontinued even tho, the big oil is into record ever profits this year? Yep that is a tax hike as well.
The majority of the people regardless of party agree that a balanced effort of spending cuts and revenue is what it will take to straighten this country out. This is a subject you cannot cover in a paragraph but I think it is time for solutions mybe?
You know I am tired as all get out of people whining and complaining about the mess this country is in. It is OUR fault and I have said it over and over again but no one here, like the majority of Americans, don't want to hear or listen. We want cheap stuff and lots of it but want high wages and top notch benefits. We want our 401ks and IRAs to make great rates and cheap mortgages on houses that are beyond our means. We want entitlement programs that feed the poor, as well as those that don't want to work because the jobs that are there are beneath them. We continue to hand money out around the world to buy friends under the guise of humanitarian aid, but how many pictures of bags of grain do you see say France, Germany or China? Nope they say USA!!!! However we are the evil country that so many hate. We have spent ourselves in to oblivion and it is time to STOP, I do believe if you tax the rich the definition of rich keeps dropping. If any of you cared enough you would read the fair tax book and do some research and find out most of our taxes have been initially waged on “the rich” and it proves the trickledown theory works, when the tax and spend liberals need more money they redefine who is wealthy. Enough said have a great day and BUY AMERICAN, even if it hurts.
I can't wait until my man Brice is in office.
I won't have to pay my mortgage. I won't have to pay my car payment. I'll get free healthcare, free food, free stuff. Man... I can see it now. FREE STUFF FOR EVERYONE!!!
Now all we have to do is figure out who we're going to increase taxes on, in order to pay for all this free stuff... ~scratches head~
I guess we could raise taxes on the wealthy. THAT hasn't been done before. Hell, they're rich. They won't mind giving just a BIT more in order to pay for all of us & our free stuff.
Problem solved... increase taxes on the wealthy.
~What's that you say? Stop spending so much money??? The hell you say! That's no way to balance the budget!!! Increasing taxes is the only way to balance the budget!!!!!!!!!
Getting votes is that easy? I'm almost a shoe in..... and everybody will get free stuff when I get elected...