Uncle Timmie Looks to the USA – Part II
Freedom is a Choice Not an Entitlement
In case you missed Part – 1 America the Monster
Well now, …hmmm. What a place this United States of America has become. From the vantage point of Switzerland and its adherence to the Rule of Law and democratic governance, USA looks such a very strange place.
The money doesn’t belong to those who earn/produce it. But, rather, to the Government and those “elected” minions of the special interest groups who funded their election. After all, you know no one can take USA elections seriously after Bush-Gore fiasco, eh? No offence meant …, but really!
So, “your money” is not yours and what is to be done with it …you are only told after the politicians have decided. And then only how much more they need from – someone/somewhere, i.e., you. In Switzerland this is not quite how it is done. All must be voted on by those who will be faced with providing the funds to accomplish the ends chosen by these same persons. A novel idea…at least in the USA, hmmm?
If you should wish to spend some of these funds you have made, i.e., income , you may. But, you will have to account for the source of your funds, or be deemed a “possible criminal” and the funds confiscated…if you pay in cash. Checks, credit cards, et alia financial instruments leave paper trails and so are “acceptable…to
your masters – I mean government. Do forgive me.
You see, all of these financial controls are strange and quite foreign to free people, such as the Swiss. In Switzerland one may pay with cash and not be regarded as a criminal. One may , unlike in the USA, cash a Bank Cheque or as you say here a “Cashier’s Check”, drawn to “cash”, without presenting identification of any kind. No matter in what amount. It is, after all, the cheque which must be verified not you, eh? In the USA, I speak from experience, this is not the case.
Sometimes a week or more must elapse before one may access the funds. Ah, the joys of banking in the USA.
Another point of interest in the USA system of banking: The banks are required , by law, to report any suspicious activity they think they may have observed. Should you deposit less than 10,000.00USD to your account, in cash, it may still need, at the banks discretion, be reported and, if the government wishes to this may become
characterized as “structuring”, a felony in itself. Ah, the joys of USA banking. Of course, any transaction involving a USD cash deposit of 10,000.00 or more must be reported – by law.
Forgive me for my incredulity it is just that , in Switzerland it is not done so. There it is considered that the money is yours and you may, so long as you pay the tax agreed to previously, do as you wish with it. It is, in the final analysis , yours.
In the USA one may not, without filling out forms and justifying ones act, remove or bring in any sizable amount of money. And heaven forefend that this money should be in cash! Further, one takes a great risk of having ones money confiscated, even within the country, if one carries it in cash. The local police may seize it and are not even required to inform you how, if at all, you may petition for its return. Cash isn’t “yours” either…in USA.
To have banking accounts in countries other than the USA, a USA …citizen, must notify the government of their location and the amounts contained therein. Not so different from the laws of Germany during the Third Reich. The Nazi’s sent representatives to Switzerland during the 1930’s and up to 1945 to ascertain if there were any
“German” funds in the banks. They were unable to force the banks to divulge this information. And the world applauded. However, the USA is now trying the same sort of thing. We’ll see how it turns out, eh?
In the USA your health care leaves much to be desired and is, for a large percentage of the populace, prohibitively expensive. In Switzerland it is somewhat different. Yes, taxes are paid for the medical system and its services to the public. However, what one pays for, one receives. The service and the quality is outstanding, just ask
anyone who has had to avail themselves of it.
It seems odd to a Swiss that the USA has so many laws about firearms and so much violence associated with them. Odd because in Switzerland every male over 18 years of age is in the military and has, in his home, his weapons and a given amount of ammunition for them. So, everywhere one goes , in Switzerland, they are surrounded by
selective-fire weapons ,i.e., “assault rifles”. Odd that there is so little violence in the Swiss cities and so much in those of the USA. One wonders if it doesn’t have to do with the lack of, real, education and meaningful employment, as well as no actual control of the governing functions of the state? But then, it is said that a people
have the form of government that they want.
It is odd , from a Swiss point of view, to consider that in USA, it is not possible for the citizens to call for a law to be re-examined as to its desirability . And these same citizens cannot demand that a measure be considered for inclusion as a law. Strange that all such , in USA, must come from “elected representatives”, eh? Ah well, there
we have, again, that dictum in regard to the sort of governance desired.
Another difference, of note, between these countries: When a person desires to become a citizen of either USA or Switzerland it is a formal request to the controlling power for this grant of permission and enfranchisement. Is it not odd that in USA it is addressed to the Government and in Switzerland to the citizens of the Canton of which one wishes to be granted citizenship? I imagine this is just another difference between forms of governance, eh?
Considering all of these items of interest and difference, one wonders why any person would tolerate such disdain for their person and privacy as well as the almost complete appropriation of their financial assets. It boggles the mind. Of course, it is, like most such things, something that USA citizens became used to and
justified,…a piece at a time. And, of course, due to these unusual and difficult times – “post 911” you see.
There was, in my youth (long ago) a story told to we children about a camel, an Arab, and a tent on a cold night in the desert…perhaps you, too, know this story? Most informative in these gradual matters of incursion and invasion, hmmm?
All of this has been a sort of ramble through a few considerations of the differences between living in one country and another. When next I sit beneath the palms on the shore of Lake Lugano, I shall consider some more and in so doing…be delighted I am in Switzerland. I will, also , be aware that not all are so fortunate as I. But, this has been their choice, no?
Well, for now I will bid you goodbye and go back to my thinking and considering of social and political questions of importance to a life of enjoyment and freedom. Perhaps you will join me, again, when I return to these pages? Until then – let me have your thoughts and comments. Do be careful though in what you say. In the USA, I am told
there is a thing called NSA, and well…exercise caution, eh? Gulags come in many forms.
well, the swiss smugness raises it’s ugly head again…it won’t last. switzerland is the ultimate in selfishness and self interest. i have family there, unbearable. close second to the austrians. there is a perception that life in europe is better but if you subscribe to the notion that asia is eating the united states lunch, wait till you see what it does to the entitled europeans. as in the usa, the europeans have been drinking too much of their own kool aid and the awakening ( a la greece ) won’t be pretty.
I agree with what you say, there is something very wrong with our “democracy” in the US. I have a friend from Jordan and I used to joke with him that he had better go visit his family in Jordan before the US brought “freedom and democracy” to them. Cause once that happens it will be all fucked up. To reader above, perhaps Switzerland seems a little smug, but honestly they have more reason to seem so than Americans do right now.
We have horrible economic problems, brought on by Stupashington and I don’t blame any one administration , we have had stupid in power for a quite a while now.
We still have problems with violence, hard to blame it on guns when other countries have far more guns and yet no where near the violence problems we do.
We make it easier for foreigners to make money off of us and harder for Americans to turn a profit (See above Stupashington) .
We are looking to the idiots in Washington to fix things but those morons helped bring all this about in the first place. And yes we could vote them out, but like the South Park episode when they have to elect a new mascot for the school, I don’t like voting when my choices are a douchebag or a turd sandwich.
I don’t think there is an easy fix, and anything that does fix our problems is gonna be painful. But I wonder what is the price of not fixing it?
Greetings
I enjoyed the articles by Uncle Timmie. Have been to this great country and hope to return. What he says is very true and looking back the country has been on auto pilot far too long. The loss of our freedoms has been very gradual so not to alarm the public. It is a government run by the rich for the rich and infected with special interests who with thier big wallets can gain access to power the common people cannot. The bright spot is that the public is now waking up and effecting policy at the grass roots level.
Food for thought:
Who’s Running America by Thomas Dye
The Creature from Jekyl Island by Griffen
I agree with uncle ivan. The things timmie says may be true on a less smugg view but what good is there in making fun of another country. Sly comments are not a mark of ingenuity, if you want to be of an assistance to other countries explain yourself in a more understanding way. Many people are proud of thier nationality (As is OBVIOUS with you) but it dosn’t seem right to pick on and degrade someones country. Most Americans love thier country and it hurt me to read what you had written. I already knew of Americas ecinomical problems so what did your sarcastic advertizment aid me in. Please, if you want to help, give some good advice with genuine care, not puffed up superiorism.
Dear timmie,
Hey guess what? Iam an USA person and was not trained in the, “Walt Disney School of Allegory”!!
Quite the contrary actually, I don’t like perfect, hunky dorry, just so endings. They don’t seem real, and just because you think you know what you are talking about dosn’t give you right to go underrating ALL Americans.