America Archives - Rachel's Ruminations

Watching America Fall Apart on my Renunciation Anniversary

Rachel Heller — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 13:52:15 +0000

One year ago today, I renounced my US citizenship. Here in the Netherlands, since last week’s US elections, friends and colleagues often ask me “Are you glad you gave up citizenship?” I always say “Yes!” but that’s a lie. I didn’t want give up citizenship then, and I still feel sad that I had to...

The post Watching America Fall Apart on my Renunciation Anniversary appeared first on Rachel's Ruminations.

The Ridiculous Story of a Pilot and his Taxes

Rachel Heller — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 16:02:00 +0000

I received a message recently from an American airline pilot living and working out of Hong Kong for a major airline. He told me the story of how America’s citizenship-based taxation affects him and I felt I had to write about it. Ridiculous I already thought the way overseas Americans are taxed by the US...

The post The Ridiculous Story of a Pilot and his Taxes appeared first on Rachel's Ruminations.

Open Letter to President Obama in response to The State of the Union Address

Rachel Heller — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 15:28:58 +0000

A response from an ex-American living abroad.

The post Open Letter to President Obama in response to The State of the Union Address appeared first on Rachel's Ruminations.

The American Dream

Rachel Heller — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 15:32:29 +0000

The following post is one of a series about American values sparked by my renunciation of US citizenship in November 2015. In my last two posts, I discussed four of the six key American values emphasized in the textbook American Ways: individual freedom and self-reliance, and then equality and competition. The last two are material...

The post The American Dream appeared first on Rachel's Ruminations.

Things I Like about Holland

Rachel Heller — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:50:11 +0000

I’ve received a couple of complaints – one from Albert, my husband, and one from Robert, a colleague and friend – that I complain too much about Holland in my blog. Well, first of all, in my defence, I’d like to point out that writing a rant is far more fun than writing about good...

The post Things I Like about Holland appeared first on Rachel's Ruminations.