"You can be a U.S. Citizen, or you can be an American, but not both."

This is something I actually heard said today. A grown-ass man was in the news for tax evasion or some such, and he was part of this hyperconservative extremist group that hates the government to a Xenophanic conclusion. This man--who, I repeat, was like three times my age and incidentally had just the kind of mustache you'd expect on such a character--stated, in court, on the bench, that you can either be an American or a U.S. citizen, but it is impossible to be both.

And that got me wondering.

So, are you an American, or a U.S. citizen? The wrong answer will be reported to the CIA.

Neither.

This is something I actually heard said today. A grown-ass man was in the news for tax evasion or some such, and he was part of this hyperconservative extremist group that hates the government to a Xenophanic conclusion. This man--who, I repeat, was like three times my age and incidentally had just the kind of mustache you'd expect on such a character--stated, in court, on the bench, that you can either be an American or a U.S. citizen, but it is impossible to be both.

And that got me wondering.

So, are you an American, or a U.S. citizen? The wrong answer will be reported to the CIA.

Makhaidos

I'm not really sure what he means by you can be an American or a U.S. citizen, by not both. Maybe he thinks "U.S. citizens" are subservient to the government but Americans are independent or "free"?

[QUOTE="Makhaidos"]

This is something I actually heard said today. A grown-ass man was in the news for tax evasion or some such, and he was part of this hyperconservative extremist group that hates the government to a Xenophanic conclusion. This man--who, I repeat, was like three times my age and incidentally had just the kind of mustache you'd expect on such a character--stated, in court, on the bench, that you can either be an American or a U.S. citizen, but it is impossible to be both.

And that got me wondering.

So, are you an American, or a U.S. citizen? The wrong answer will be reported to the CIA.

whipassmt

I'm not really sure what he means by you can be an American or a U.S. citizen, by not both. Maybe he thinks "U.S. citizens" are subservient to the government but Americans are independent or "free"?

Wow this poll was made just for me! Good on you sir, good on you.

I'm Californian

I guess it sort of makes sense, but it required way too much thought. I'm an American AND a US citizen.

So, are you an American, or a U.S. citizen? The wrong answer will be reported to the CIA.

Makhaidos

I guess US citizen. The whole "I love my country/Im an American ect" jargon kind of turns me the wrong way. I don't like it.

it's just some dumbass that doesn't want to pay taxes

it's just some dumbass that doesn't want to pay taxes

lostrib

I like this response.

So many Commies on this board, I hope the NSA gets this.

So many Commies on this board, I hope the NSA gets this.

Bikouchu35

This is something I actually heard said today. A grown-ass man was in the news for tax evasion or some such, and he was part of this hyperconservative extremist group that hates the government to a Xenophanic conclusion. This man--who, I repeat, was like three times my age and incidentally had just the kind of mustache you'd expect on such a character--stated, in court, on the bench, that you can either be an American or a U.S. citizen, but it is impossible to be both.

And that got me wondering.

So, are you an American, or a U.S. citizen? The wrong answer will be reported to the CIA.

Makhaidos

I guess it sort of makes sense, but it required way too much thought. I'm an American AND a US citizen.

airshocker

I'm so sorry.

I love how when you're in America people will call themselves sub-category Americans(African American, Latin American, etc.), but if they ever get in trouble over seas they're like "Oh please help me American embassy! I'm America". TerryCrew

Yes. Perhaps you missed the keyword in those sub catagories - "American".

[QUOTE="Makhaidos"]

This is something I actually heard said today. A grown-ass man was in the news for tax evasion or some such, and he was part of this hyperconservative extremist group that hates the government to a Xenophanic conclusion. This man--who, I repeat, was like three times my age and incidentally had just the kind of mustache you'd expect on such a character--stated, in court, on the bench, that you can either be an American or a U.S. citizen, but it is impossible to be both.

And that got me wondering.

So, are you an American, or a U.S. citizen? The wrong answer will be reported to the CIA.

Nibroc420

And yet anyone born in America is a U.S. citizen at birth, so clearly it's possible to be both a U.S. citizen and an American.

[QUOTE="Makhaidos"]

This is something I actually heard said today. A grown-ass man was in the news for tax evasion or some such, and he was part of this hyperconservative extremist group that hates the government to a Xenophanic conclusion. This man--who, I repeat, was like three times my age and incidentally had just the kind of mustache you'd expect on such a character--stated, in court, on the bench, that you can either be an American or a U.S. citizen, but it is impossible to be both.

And that got me wondering.

So, are you an American, or a U.S. citizen? The wrong answer will be reported to the CIA.

Nibroc420

The soveriegn citizen idea is really at the far end of the whackjob scale, especially when it's adherents are talking about kidnapping and torturing people for no reason.

I love how when you're in America people will call themselves sub-category Americans(African American, Latin American, etc.), but if they ever get in trouble over seas they're like "Oh please help me American embassy! I'm America". TerryCrew

I'm so sorry.

Communist_Soul

You shouldn't be.

I am Canadian.foxhound_fox

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]I am Canadian.lordreaven

[QUOTE="lordreaven"][QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]I am Canadian.Nibroc420

South and Central America are America too.

South and Central America are America too.

narlymech

[QUOTE="lordreaven"][QUOTE="Nibroc420"] Socialist Democracy... Not Communist.Nibroc420

http://www.canada.gc.ca/aboutgov-ausujetgouv/structure/menu-eng.html

The Canadian government disagrees.

1.) Being born in America doesn't make you a US citizen.Nibroc420

[QUOTE="whipassmt"]

[QUOTE="Makhaidos"]

This is something I actually heard said today. A grown-ass man was in the news for tax evasion or some such, and he was part of this hyperconservative extremist group that hates the government to a Xenophanic conclusion. This man--who, I repeat, was like three times my age and incidentally had just the kind of mustache you'd expect on such a character--stated, in court, on the bench, that you can either be an American or a U.S. citizen, but it is impossible to be both.

And that got me wondering.

So, are you an American, or a U.S. citizen? The wrong answer will be reported to the CIA.

Makhaidos

I'm not really sure what he means by you can be an American or a U.S. citizen, by not both. Maybe he thinks "U.S. citizens" are subservient to the government but Americans are independent or "free"?

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"]1.) Being born in America doesn't make you a US citizen.PannicAtack

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"][QUOTE="lordreaven"] No, Constitutional Monarchy.lordreaven

http://www.canada.gc.ca/aboutgov-ausujetgouv/structure/menu-eng.html

The Canadian government disagrees.

What I see is that Canada is still under British rule instead of being an independent country if Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign head even though there is an elected prime minister. 

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"] Our Queen is a symbol, not a leader.WhiteKnight77

http://www.canada.gc.ca/aboutgov-ausujetgouv/structure/menu-eng.html

The Canadian government disagrees.

What I see is that Canada is still under British rule instead of being an independent country if Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign head even though there is an elected prime minister. 

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"] Our Queen is a symbol, not a leader.WhiteKnight77

http://www.canada.gc.ca/aboutgov-ausujetgouv/structure/menu-eng.html

The Canadian government disagrees.

What I see is that Canada is still under British rule instead of being an independent country if Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign head even though there is an elected prime minister. 

[QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

http://www.canada.gc.ca/aboutgov-ausujetgouv/structure/menu-eng.html

The Canadian government disagrees.

lordreaven

What I see is that Canada is still under British rule instead of being an independent country if Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign head even though there is an elected prime minister. 

Unlike India which has been granted independence from British rule, I see nothing that shows Canada has been given the same independence. Hence, still under British rule. 

I live in the clearly communist dystopia of Australia :P

[QUOTE="lordreaven"][QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]

What I see is that Canada is still under British rule instead of being an independent country if Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign head even though there is an elected prime minister. 

WhiteKnight77

Unlike India which has been granted independence from British rule, I see nothing that shows Canada has been given the same independence. Hence, still under British rule. 

[QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]

Unlike India which has been granted independence from British rule, I see nothing that shows Canada has been given the same independence. Hence, still under British rule. 

lordreaven

It could be the reason why those in Quebec keep wanting to secede and become their own county. :shrug: 

[QUOTE="lordreaven"][QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]

What I see is that Canada is still under British rule instead of being an independent country if Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign head even though there is an elected prime minister. 

WhiteKnight77

Unlike India which has been granted independence from British rule, I see nothing that shows Canada has been given the same independence. Hence, still under British rule. 

Even in Britain the Queen has no actual power of any kind and serves only as a figure head representing the state. Her duties are all traditional. For instance, when it's time for a new election the prime minister visits the Queen and asks her permission to dissolve the current parliament and call an election. He does not *actually* need her permission. She does not *really* give her permission. It's just a tradition which is still abided by because you're talking about a country which is thousands of years old with a lot of history.

tl;dr the Queen is not really the Queen of anything.

[QUOTE="lordreaven"][QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]

Unlike India which has been granted independence from British rule, I see nothing that shows Canada has been given the same independence. Hence, still under British rule. 

WhiteKnight77

It could be the reason why those in Quebec keep wanting to secede and become their own county. :shrug: