I know several people in northern Kentucky who buy bareroots from (what is now Palatine) and Pickering and drive up in late winter to pick them up and then drive them back. These are really large orders so it's worth their effort. I can tell you that bringing ANY soil into this country is really difficult. I worked as a geologist and importing well cuttings (pieces of rock from wells) that were bagged up with drilling mud was not straight forward. One time the name of the well had the world "Rio" in it and the customs agent did not want to understand that the cuttings were from deep in the earth. It took me three hours to reason with him; our customs broker had given up. Customs folks don't like mud as in soil and really don't like it because it could hide microbes, etc. like the disease in Nova Scotia that kills potatoes.

If Noah had lived in the United States today the story may have gone something like this: And the Lord spoke to Noah and said, "In one year, I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all flesh is destroyed. But I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark." In a flash of lightning, God delivered the specifications for an Ark. In fear and trembling, Noah took the plans and agreed to build the ark. "Remember," said the Lord, "you must complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year." Exactly one year later, fierce storm clouds covered the earth and all the seas of the earth went into a tumult. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard weeping. "Noah!" He shouted. "Where is the Ark?" "Lord, please forgive me," cried Noah. "I did my best, but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit for construction, and your plans did not meet the building codes. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans. Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a sprinkler system and approved floatation devices. Then, my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission. Then, I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the U.S. Forest Service that I really needed the wood to save the owls. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won't let me take the 2 owls. The carpenters formed a union and went on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or hammer. Now, I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls. When I started rounding up the other animals, an animal rights group sued me. They objected to me taking only two of each kind aboard. This suit is pending. Meanwhile, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn't take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the Universe. Then, the Army Corps of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed flood plain. I sent them a globe. Right now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking atheists aboard. The IRS has seized my assets, claiming that I'm building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got a notice from the state that I owe them some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a 'recreational water craft'. And finally, the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it's a religious event, and, therefore unconstitutional. I really don't think I can finish the Ark for another five or six years." Noah waited. The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine, and the seas began to calm. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up hopefully. "You mean you're not going to destroy the earth, Lord?" "No," He said sadly. "I don't have to. The government already has."

"It appears that the IRS takes the position that U.S. citizens living anywhere in the world owe them something." No, only the US citizens who earn certain types of income outside of the US need care. "They've been saying that Canadian banks should let them know of any U.S. citizens using their services, of which citizenship they become aware." This doesn't apply to just Canada, it's global. It also doesn't apply to "US citizens using their services"... It applies to US citizens earning certain types of income. "The banks have been complaining that this is going to cost them millions per year ..." Oh well, that's a shame. If foreign banks don't comply, their citizens who have accounts in US banks will be withheld against, too. "... and the IRS says that, if they don't cooperate, that every cross-border transaction which they initiate will incur a 30% tax liability." That statement is correct - every cross border transaction will NOT be affected. I could go through the rest of the OP and show where it's wrong but I won't. and then i could go thru snidely's and show where it will be out of date after July 1 but I won't. I'm a US citizen working for a Candian institution making the new laws happen. This post was edited by jmc01 on Thu, Feb 6, 14 at 5:02

mcpeg, I'm an American and certainly take no offense to your concern and I would agree totally if in your position. That said, I should add that I have problems with all the people coming here for free health care too. People come from Mexico to have children here to be covered by US care at taxpayer expense and to the detriment of other citizens. I don't think that's right. Our state has a more lenient welfare system than many others and we get busloads of people who come in for a weekend to make claims, collect payments and go home. I don't mind helping out, but I don't like being taken advantage of. The problem of course is the laws of our respective countries and states/provinces. Just like the US is too stupid to tax actors who make millions and have their residency elsewhere, including Canada ;) (Dan Akroyd, Michael J. Fox, Adam Sandler, etc) and pay no taxes here. I don't think that's right either. But we have a dyslexic dimwit in the, well, I won't get into politics, not appropriate. But I do think you are justifiably concerned about it and I for one, share your dissatisfaction, and you needn't be sorry for feeling that way.