Is there anything better than a US federal election to remind you why you want the hell out of dodge? Wednesday night, Bubba made his return! That's right, someone gave good ole Billy Clinton a microphone and a teleprompter. And, of course, he reminded a Charlotte arena and millions with nothing better to do at home, how he drove the American economy into the ground while dating chubby interns. Then, last night, it was Obama's turn and, well, never mind. Come to Acapulco… or our new libertarian community in Latin America… soon to be announced!
On to the Feedback!
LIKE DAVID LEE ROTH SAID: PANAMA!
Greetings TDV,
I am considering the myriad options available for a fabulous expatriate experience, and Panama is at the top of the list. But, I'm having reservations because it is saturated with the US Dollar. So, my questions du jour are this:
1) How will Panama's economy be affected when the dollar tanks?
2) Is Panama truly separate from the US, or has it become the equivalent of the charming, distant cousin who attends painfully awkward holiday parties out of obligation?
3) On an unrelated note, does Mitt Romney have hair plugs?
Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Cheers,
Anonymous by request
P.S. I dig the blog. Sure, it scares me—so did the splatter-paint fashion trend in the 80s when it arrived…but, upon adapting, both have served me well.
Jeff's Response:
True story… I never go to Panama without playing Van Halen's "Panama" on my headphones. And I'll be going again in two weeks for The Global Escape Hatch (one or two openings may still be available – use discount code of "VIGILANTE" to save $200 if so).
But I digress. Here is the #1 consideration that Americans should pay attention to if Panama is on your radar: The Panamanian Government and the US Government are nearly one in the same. In one of hundreds of attacks that the terrorist US Government has undertaken, it carpet bombed the beautiful city of Panama during Christmas in 1989 in, Orwellian named, "Operation Just Cause". The "cause" for terrorist attacks upon hundreds of women, children and civilians? Manuel Noriega didn't give in to CIA demands to allow them to control the drug trafficking trade in the region.
But, that's old news. The problem, today, however, is as you noticed, the economy and country have been forcibly Americanized. In fact, the IRS has a large office there and sends its staff out, into the night, stasi-esque, to listen in on Americans' conversations in bars and restaurants and see if they can ferret out "tax cheaters". In other words, Panama is not just a charming second cousin… it's a siamese twin of the US apparatchik.
As well, Panama's economy could be dramatically effected during The End Of The Monetary System As We Know It (TEOTMSAWKI) not just because it is a US dollar based economy but also because almost all revenues of Panama are based on that little canal skewering through it. TEOTMSAWKI will be very damaging to world trade for at least a few years and during that time things there could get interesting.
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That aside, Panama could be a wonderful choice for you. There are many different beautiful and isolated locations, including where I'll be in a few weeks, Bocas del Toros. I've never been there so I'll report in with my thoughts on that region. I'll also be meeting with a number of expat TDV subscribers who now live in Panama and from whom we'll be getting write-ups in the paid letter. But, obviously, if your two choices for the next decade are the US or Panama, living in the countryside or islands of Panama is a far better choice than living in Chicago or New York.
As for Mitt Romney and your question about his hair plugs? I don't know, nor care… he's a thief, liar and wants to become the biggest murderer or the planet… all I see are horns.
YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME AGAIN…SO WHERE TO?
Hi,
First of all, I love your website. I wanted to ask you a question that I think many of your readers have. To give you a bit of a background about myself, I'm a 31 year old American citizen who has lived in Asia for the last three years working as an English teacher. I'm now back in the U.S, visiting friends and family, and looking for work, or possibly starting a business. But, the more I think about it, the more I permanently want to leave this country; I can't stand this place! I want out for good. But, getting a job in another country isn't a long-term solution in my opinion. In my case, my work visa was good for only one year at a time; essentially, I was a contract worker that was dependent on my employer in order for me to stay in the country. So, what are the options for those of us that want to leave permanently and not come back? For example, what do some of your readers do that come to live in Acapulco? Do they get jobs? Start a small business? Get married to a rich man/woman? I have only about $50k USD saved up, what could I do with this?
Thanks,
Evan
Jeff's Response:
Thanks Evan,
We've heard renditions of this question about a million times in the last few years… and, not being entirely stupid here at TDV, we have decided to make this question a regular and important part of our newsletter. We are within a week of announcing our new format change and one of the changes will be that we interview TDV subscribers who have expatriated around the world and ask them how they got by and made a life for themselves. You'll be amazed at how many turned into millionaires or who own businesses grossing six figures per year… often with little or no tax.
You specifically asked about Acapulco. Nearly everyone who has moved here now works for us… that's because we are growing like a weed and constantly need help… we look around and see a libertarian/anarchist person and our first question usually sounds something like this, "You looking for something to do?"
Also, we will be announcing a bunch of changes in the next few months but a big part of it will be ways to make money internationally in partnership with TDV and its community.
However, if that doesn't work, you should try to get out of the "employee" mindset. While there is technically nothing wrong with being an employee, it is the mindset that does damage. As example, in that Peter Schiff video that we posted yesterday from the DNC, many of those people have that worker/employee mindset which was founded by that sick phuck, Karl Marx. He, by the way, just plainly had it all wrong. NO ONE is an "employee"… all seven billion of us on this space rock are all "private contractors". You teach at a government school? You are evil.. but you are also a private contractor. You are a company of one that trades its teaching (or indoctrinating) skills in exchange for money. That money you receive is your "profit". That's what makes all those communists at the DNC, who demand that there be no "corporate profit", so wrong. If their take-home pay, after tax theft, is "profit", how many of them would still be against profit? Not too many, is my guess.
But, the point is, don't think of yourself as needing work permission (a "work permit"). Don't even think of yourself as a worker. Think of yourself as having assets… you can move your body around to do things… you may even have some money in your pocket (capital). Think about how to negotiate ways to get those assets to people who need them. I'll give you a list of things I know, RIGHT NOW, Acapulco needs.. and Acapulco is just a small beach town on this grand sphere. 1) A good cigar store/bar. 2) A good advertising funded English language website which tells non-Spanish speakers where and how to get what they want 3) Another strip club! Sure… there are already 20 here… but have you ever heard of a strip club being empty? Or closing? It simply doesn't happen. People like naked girls. Or start a restaurant with pretty girl waitresses… it will NEVER be empty. I'll be there every day.
It's really not that hard… it's just the mindset. Try this, as an example, wherever you live. Go out and just think about what YOU want. If other people aren't providing it then provide it. Chances are, you are not the only one who felt that way and wanted that product/service. That's how I've started every business I've ever done… I wanted something and the market wasn't providing it, so I provided it.
Just Because You Can Read Doesn't Mean You're Not A Damned Fool
Hello Jim,
I would appreciate if you could compare the supposed illiteracy of Americans to that of Mexicans (where you've chosen to live). Also, please compare the relative degree to which Mexicans are, or are not, "fools", relative to Americans, based on your specific talking points in your article (how time is spent, etc.)
By the way, of the paid work that you perform during the year, what percentage is U.S.-based clients?
Regards,
Matthew
Jim answers:
Your comments are a bit disingenuous. The article has nothing to with literacy, i.e., the ability to read, but rather the willful ignorance of Americans caused by their choice not to read. My experience with Mexicans is they are far more politically savvy, trusting no party to service them, except in the sense a bull services a mare.
In regards to services for non-US clients, what would be the point? Only the US taxes their citizens on foreign earned income and only the US seems gleefully willing to indefinitely detain and kill its own citizens and others without so much as arrest or due process. It seems logical that the majority of TDV's business would come from those most fearful and oppressed… and others following closely in their footsteps like Europe, Canada, Australia, etc.
Running Across the Border…But in Which Direction?
Dear Gary,
First off let me say how pleased I am that you have made use of the UnderGround RailRoad and left behind the dank and rapidly darkening tombstoneUSA. America died long long ago. It is but a construct, a facade, and has been so as far back as I may pull away the covers of history. My fiance and I used to be part of the left-right paradigm as well when we were younger. Reaganites 🙂 lol… But as the internet age came into being, so too came a broadened access to the truth. With the fallacies of the "Conservative Party" plainly before us, we rapidly (truly overnight) realized our beliefs were Libertarian/Anarchist and have moved down that wholesome road ever since. Twelve years now in Asia as permanent tourists (though we will be heading over to S.America to begin the passport shuffle and break the final chain that binds and chafes at our leg).
Truly we believe as you, there is just no grey area. There is a stark immutable line or barrier between those who believe in the force of aggression (social OR physical) against others for any reason and those of us who believe in the liberating breaths of Freedom. Sadly most will never comprehend the debased nature of their state and soul. Funny in a way, I sense that many of these folks have a conflict or war inside of them between what they may know is right, and their conscious belief system engendered by years of government slavery-control systems. They fight the internal qualms and feelings of unease with great vigor. And this internal conflict brings them to hate. Hating themselves, hating us in Freedom more. Truly to us, they are the soulless, the walking dead. We despise and fear them, the uncouth mob.
But do always leave out the welcome mat for those who are searching, for those who have a mounting awareness that "something is wrong or off in their life/belief system of who they are". Many of them will eventually be led to our waters. They can smell it in their nostrils though not as yet do they comprehend quite what that wilding and liberating scent may be. But they will come, guided by a deep primal desire, to the scent of pure freedom. So dear Gary, let us encourage others to flee the beast of the north while guiding and enlightening them on their path to philosophical (and thus physical) freedom. Let us prepare for them (as there will be hordes coming in future years) and greet them with open arms at the end of the URR tunnel. 🙂
Stay well and safe. We look forward to making your acquaintence someday this Autumn or early next Spring! And yes, do "fear" the mounting evil to the North. We pull our hard drives, destroy our papers and put important things in storage, before we enter Mordor.
With kindest regards,
Martin and Florence
Gary answers:
Thanks, you two. In a little bit of irony, by the time you read this I will be back in the USSA. In California no less! Jeff and I just arrived in California where we will be hanging out with our spiritual father, Doug Casey, at the Casey Conference in Carlsbad. I'm sure we will have some interesting stories to tell next week. We avoided the TSA hassle by flying from Acapulco to Tijuana where we rented a car to cross the border. We had Jeff's giant Samsung smartphone set to record any fireworks with the border agent, but the encounter went without a hitch and was over in less about a minute. Oh well. I'll be bouncing around inside the US for about a month and I'm sure TSA will provide me with some colorful new anecdotes. Or a nice cell for my indefinite detention. Stay tuned to find out which it will be!
You know, if I didn't have to travel at all (and if the tax authorities weren't so greedy and vicious), I wouldn't think the US was entirely evil. But right now travel is where the state has decided to show its true nature. Pure, uncaring, intrusive, degrading force. I'm sure we'll start to see this in other aspects of life more and more in the US. But right now it's the TSA, DHS and IRS that makes my gentle anarchist heart tremble. FEMA has got me more than a little nervous too.
If you're feeling as nervous about these things as I am, then you should check out our TDV newsletter, the perfect companion to our daily blog. You'll get more in depth macroeconomic reporting and actionable advice. After all, while there's a lot of doom and gloom to lament or laugh at, we're also looking to provide you with solutions. Click here to see what we mean.
And that's it for another Feedback Friday, dear reader. Feedback Friday is nothing without you…and your feedback! So keep those questions coming. Til tomorrow.
