sycho

Let me stress, I don't care about anything having to do with malpractice. I just want some relief from my current predicament. The best I can tell it's a dislocated toe dating back to January, 2007. I only want to meet up with a surgeon who is willing to cut off this bothersome toe. I want this person to ask no other questions. I also want this person to accept no other responsibiities. Just cut the motherfucker off - that's all I ask.

I'm posting this in the news forum because the decision announced today by John Roberts is a worldwide headline.  This post is not intended, however, to report news, but rather seek some clarification pertinent to people who have expatriated from the u.s.

Does anyone have any information as to whether or not those who have expatriated are mandated to purchase health insurance under the ACA (aka Obamacare)?  I have a personal stake in this because today's decision throws my ability to live legally where I have chosen to live in peril.  It is not my intent, however, to air my personal grievances.  I just want to throw out an offer to spearhead an effort to explore a legal challenge on behalf of expats (with the intent of seeking class action status - if damages are incurred before the resolution of such a case could be realized). The fact that the individual mandate was upheld as a tax rather than under the commerce clause makes things much more difficult in my opinion. I believe the door may still be open for some kind of taxation without representation argument, though. I have some hope that since the legislative, executive and judicial branches have all now deputized private, for-profit, corporate robber barons as tax collectors, we ought to be able to demand either exemption from said taxes or the same benefits as any other person being so taxed. In other words, they can either pay our medical bills in the places where we choose to live or they can exempt us from the tax. Of course, if there is already an exemption in place for those of us who reside outside of the u.s., such a challenge is not necessary.

Any feedback is much appreciated, but I would ask that any declarations be accompanied by citations of sources. It'll be hard for me to tell the Social Security Administration that they can't automatically enroll me in Medicare (at an inflated premium because I had previously opted out of such coverage) or for others to convince the IRS not to impose penalties because so and so 22 on TijuanaBlog.com said we were exempt. Even citing a reporter will be helpful because we can always go to the reporter to get their source. I really didn't think it would come to this and it's funny for me to be saying that John Roberts let us all down (since I had not previously envisioned him being of a mindset to do anything on my behalf), but we now possibly have only 18 months to shield ourselves from a law that, at least from my vantage point, was enacted on a people living in a foreign nation-state.

I agreed to pay my rent in u.s. dollars. I can walk a half block from my home to get all the pesos I want from the atm, but I'm not sure how to get the currency I'll need to pay my rent. In that vein, I have two questions.

First, does anyone know if any ATM's in Playas de Tijuana offer the option of dispensing u.s. dollars? I was told somewhere along the line that such machines exist. (Outside of Playas as well? as others may have the same question)

Second, why would it not be a good idea for me to get pesos from the ATM and walk to an exchange house to buy the u.s. dollars. If the banks are selling 14.03 for each dollar and the houses are selling each dollar for 13.45 pesos, it seems that would be preferable to just getting u.s. dollars from the ATM.

Thanks in advance for your help.

TIJUANA, Baja California(PH)
This Tuesday morning the dollar dawned to sell in exchange offices between 13.57 and 13.69 pesos and between 13.40 and 13.45 pesos to buy.

In banks the American currency sells at 14.03 pesos and to buy at 13.84 pesos.

Economists indicated that the behavior of the current exchange rate is due to external factors and still not so much internal.

Meanwhile before the elections in Greece for this Sunday there could be volatility in the exchange rate, as well as in the case of the elections in Mexico for this first of July.

Source: http://www.frontera....012/599083.aspx
Translated with the help of the PROMT engine at http://www.spanishdict.com/

Did I say that right? I was trying to say "hello Tijuana friends." Hola amigos de Tijuana - right? You know, every time I have ever heard some brain dead redneck say "love it or leave it," I have always wanted to say "okay."  The journey begins in May. I will ride my bike and camp on my way to Tijuana. I have some physical limitations to deal with, so I'm allowing about five months or so for the trip. Something like October or November should find me baring my backside to the rednecks on what is currently, for me, this side of the border.  Once I get there, it would be ideal if I could find a place to live near the beach with a stove and refrigerator for somewhere in the $200-300 per month range (six-month lease). I'm hoping to be able to learn enough of the language to be functional. I'm not having luck doing it here. I think I need somebody to talk to that speaks Spanish. I'm hoping to encounter a lot of friendly street food vendors. What could be better than getting a delicious fish taco while getting some free Spanish lessons?  I'm hoping to experience some culture shocks. Really. American just cannot be the apex. Here's hoping for more evolved cultural experiences (whatever that means). And if I'm going to continue to be forced to witness racism, I would rather be somewhere where most of the people know white people are to blame. Really, though, I just want to forget that there is such an awful nation state as the one I am currently in while that same nation state's government deposits money in my bank account monthly so that I am able to do just that. Ha. I'd love to throw that one in the rednecks' faces. The hardest part of this whole endeavour thus far has been applying for the passport card. I had to admit I am a u.s. citizen. I wanted to write in big block letters "but it wasn't my choice." Anywho, I'm looking forward to relaxing on the beach. Is the water warm enough for swimming in the winter? I'm hoping to meet a friendly person or two. It would be nice if riding my bike turns out to be viable transportation option. Anybody have experience in that regard? I also plan to explore the possibility of extending my stay. To what extent obviously will depend on how well I am able to adjust. I hope to learn about health care options as a part of my explorations. I'm staying close to the u.s. because I know how to navigate this system. The last time took a year and ran up bills of a couple hundred thousand (doctors don't help if you can't find a way to get them some money). It would be nice if I could live where I want and not have to worry about such things. I'm not worried about "crime." My most "valuable" possessions will be my bike and my netbook. Each could be replaced for about $300. I will likely carry more cash than I commonly do now, but I'll be conscious of the advisability of not carrying more than I can afford to donate to a friendly person brandishing a gun or knife. Really, if someone is willing to go to such lengths, they need it more than I do. And if they want to kill me, well I won't be around to have to worry about that, so who cares? I just hope they don't screw it up (doctors' bills and all). The bottom line is I can't imagine that anything I could experience there would be any worse than the things I've already experienced here. And I see no reason not to hope that my experiences just might be better. I understand there may be problems with the electricity from time to time. That's awesome. I find the need for electricity is tied to my perceived need for material possessions and ease. These material needs are my anchors. I look to shed that which weighs me down. I'm starting by ridding myself of anything I can't carry on my bike. The funny thing is the essentials don't require electricity. That's a good thing because I have no electrical outlets on my bike. I have a personal goal of not purchasing or consuming a drop of bottled water. I don't do it now, but I can foresee the possibility of being tempted while on this trip. I'm just determined not to do it. I also have grown up hearing that the water is not safe to drink in those countries. Hey, if a whole bunch of people are drinking it, why can't I? I know a body might be required to build up certain antibodies and the like, but that can be done in an intelligent way - kind of like how immunisation shots work. I will also still have my portable water filtration set up, so I hope to still be able to avoid the temptation to purchase bottled water while I'm "immunising" myself. My guess is I'm going to find that the worries about drinking the water are bullshit - much like most of what we are told. As far as the visa thing goes, I think I'm just going to obey their laws. I mean being a u.s. citizen and not obeying the law to the letter in Mexico of all places seems to at least give off the appearance of being a bit hypocritical. If you're not willing to tear down some border fence or blow up a border patrol station (which I'm not), you ought to at least obey the laws of the country of the people who "your" government abuses so awfully. I think there was one good for 180 days (renewable for another 180 days) that can be applied for at the crossing and paid for at a nearby bank. If it proves to be too difficult a process, I'll just go in as a tourist and find somebody to help. It can't be too difficult a process if americans can do it (just kidding). (Can I claim to be Canadian and get away with it?) So that's kind of my plans and ways of thinking at the moment. Feel free to let me know if I'm totally off base with any of it. I wouldn't be surprised. It'll be nice to hang out and make fun of americans. I mean if you can't make fun of americans in Mexico, where can you make fun of them? lol