Privacy Getting Destroyed

Anyone entering the United States as a tourist is subject to be finger printed and be photographed by the authorities only for the pleasure to elect to enter America. If you are extracting the Middle East will be subject to even greater intrusion into your life.

THE (Bush) administration has developed a computer system to monitor transactions with credit card of every American, phone calls, every email sent and received, in addition to also borrowed library books. All this in the name of fighting terrorism. They call this the "Total Information Awareness system." Essentially it is the single biggest threat to all and privacy of every American in the history of this country.

Unfortunately, I really believe that the US is in the early stages of becoming a police terrifying precisely the likes of which the world has never seen. But this mentality and laws and programs are not limited to the United States.

I just arrived from Australia and they have begun to use, for the locals, technology recognition biometric passport. I understand that in a not too distant future, it is possible that visitors will be 'required' to have fingerprints for visiting! There is no joy that, if this is true and it becomes a reality.

A colleague of mine has made the mistake of wearing his toupee leaving a country he visited, while his passport photo showed him without one! That got him seriously questioned in exit from the country visited (as a tourist), not only from a local official immigration, but by a person of his country as well! Yet his (partner) country was many thousands of miles away and had nothing to do with the country that was departing from, or where he was going. This was very interesting and I thought it should be noted by all readers.

I'm all for trying to limit their activities and terrorist, but not at the expense of 99.999% of the public lose their rights and freedoms. I do not see these intrusions as anything other than a deliberate attack on a sheer privacy. And I have not even mentioned the laws legislated under the pretext of protecting everyone from terrorism! This is another horror show of his own.

FCP: What about those laws?
DWB: Which country would you want to start with?

FCP: How about starting with the worse offender?
DWB: Of course this is the United States is by far the worst country privacy steal with tougher draconian measures to punish offenders "and / or others involved in the melee that I know by a long shot! I have already said about the" Total System Information Awareness ", which is a nightmare come true. (George) Orwell calls the shots of his 1948 blockbuster / best selling book," 1984 ". It was just a little 'soon for about 15 years or so.

According to the law (s) that are used to implement "The system total information awareness", and each of them should read, the laws should be "temporary" I've never seen a law 'temporary' solved all my life, right? The US (and others) do not realize is that the "war on drugs", the war on terrorism in * NOT * temporary and therefore this program invasive and laws (The Total Information Awareness System), is * NOT * temporary . .. Are permanent! Even worse, the new 'amendments' to these laws "temporary" become even more severe and Draconian in time! The really sad part of all this is that rarely, if ever, see newspapers, editorials, or column writers mention this sad fact and terrible consequences thereof to the uninformed American public. Thank goodness you're letting a small group of interested readers to know about this latest horror privacy.

If the US and others were to stop and think seriously about issues (privacy), if the United States won the Second World War, there is still (US) troops in Japan and in Germany 57 years after the war in Korea and more than 50 years after the cease-fire there! Only in Vietnam, where they got your ass kicked, there are Yankee troops.

12 years after the Desert Storm troops in Saudi Arabia and there is no American troops in Afghanistan and will be there for many years. You better believe that American troops will be in Iraq for many years and, all in the name of fighting terrorism.

So what is America going to do? Have troops everyplace in the world where they are colonizing new? America is stretching on its course and speed, reaching the level of incompetence. Bush said during his presidential race that US troops were stretched then, but since being elected (?) That has sent hundreds of thousands of additional troops abroad. The result is that Americans and other privacy was jeopardized in a more serious.

FCP: How are American's privacy at risk with US troops overseas?
DWB: Look at 9/11 and the WTC et al. I believe had American troops been withdrawn from Saudi Arabia after Desert Storm, 9/11 would not have happened! That's not to say there wouldn't be a terrorist threat today, but would YOU like it if some Sovereign government had troops in your homeland? No one can deny that America's response to these and other attacks are anything less than Draconian. Further 99.999% of American's and others privacy have suffered as a direct result of those responses as well!

FCP: Point made.
DWB; There are more than 70 (US) law enforcement agencies. They spend hundreds of billions of dollars per year feeding those agencies, yet they dropped the football on 9/11. The US immigration department sent one of the dead 9/11 hijackers a notice months after the attacks. So what's the government's response? Punish innocent people, i.e. the average citizen, by depriving them of their rights in the name of fighting a hand full of terrorist. They should tighten up their agencies as the first step and they still haven't done this.

They knew several years before 9/11 that there was a real threat of terrorist hijacking a plane to crash into buildings, etc. and nothing apparently was done about it. What does that tell you?

They also knew that the Bali bombings were going to happen days before that unfortunate event. Yet they failed to warn the public. As a result hundreds of innocent holiday makers lost their lives. I think that's a crime in and of itself!

Since 9/11/2001 many laws have been rail roaded through (US) Congress and in other countries, with little or no debate under the guise of stopping terrorism. They all sound good to the general public, but in reality they're a threat to the (US) Constitution and your privacy.

If one where to read the laws enacted since 9/11, and I doubt that 99.999% of the public has; in fact I doubt that the majority of US Senators and Congress people have; but if you were to actually read those laws, nearly all of them go way beyond trying to stop terrorists. They are an outright assault on freedom and privacy.

FCP: For instance?
DWB: For example, the Patriot Act and especially the changes that since it was issued a little over a year ago. Read it and you have little or no rights more in America. Moreover, if you want a good scare so do not sleep for a couple of days, to read the laws concerning the subject of "Total Information Awareness system." That scares the hell out of you 100% sure, because I sure as heck did! If I did not know better, I believe that the Gestapo wrote these laws!

The Bush administration is requiring Internet service providers to help build a centralized system to allow a large Internet monitoring and surveillance of its users.

It's called "The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace," and is scheduled for release early this year (2003). It is a component of the effort to increase national security after the September 11 attacks, but in reality is nothing but outright and * TOTAL * Internet Surveillance of individuals.

Martial law can be declared at any time at the drop of a hat and for any reason or perceived threat. The Department of Defense has authorized the use of spy planes for a (US) national criminal investigation, namely the Washington DC sniper shooting in October. This was done by the Secretary of Defense, an unelected official, simply by signing "temporary authority" to use for the local police, despite the fact that the US Constitution forbids and prohibits the use of spy planes in national surveys of each kind! I have not read a single US newspaper complaining about this terrible violation of the law. People do not care because they just wanted the sniper to be captured, and then have their rights under their constitution in the process. Once you've given those rights, not likely to get it back! So much for the law and the Constitution of the United States.

The Office of Homeland Security is the third largest bureaucracy, the United States and the fifth largest in the world. This was set up almost all night to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, an almost unbelievable number of employees. Talk about bloated government!

Governments, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and most of Western Europe, plus Australia, can force you against your will be injected with smallpox vaccinations, etc. Get it, against your will, mind you! If you refuse to pay six crime (in the US), with imprisonment of five years and forced injection. And 'the law and the Patriot Act changed. Worse if something goes wrong with the injections or have a negative reaction to it, the Patriot Act and its amendments leaves pharmaceutical and everyone out of trouble for negligence. In other words you do not have any recourse if the child dies due to injection, that could happen and that's exactly the reason drug companies had Congress insert that escape clause in the so-called Patriot Act. Good work is not it?

The US government has a database, which is top secret, which is secretly collecting data on every citizen resident in America and according to their social security number. They, the government, are going through checking each database in the country, government and private, to collect information on the number of SS. This is one hell of a scary thing, if you think about it. The real question is why?

Wiretapping and eavesdropping do not require more mandates in the United States and many other countries. American citizens and other nationals are detained in prisons isolated without the right to a lawyer or a fair trial. Attorney client privilege no longer exists. In other words, the private conversations between a prisoner and their lawyer are monitored! Phone, Internet service providers, mobile phone companies, etc. must keep a record of all communications for years. One is prone to be on Candid Camera (tens of CCTV), perhaps hundreds of times a day, even in parking lots. Merchants are demanding, especially in America, a thumb or finger print when you pay for anything by check. Yet, if you pay for the product in cash, are subject to being coined a "criminal" with a SAR (SARs) filed on you! Yes it is true. One of my clients, an American, shopped at the store a unique man, had done for years, and paid for his product in cash, about US $ 1,500. The shop has presented SAR on him, which caused him considerable pain when the investigation came to light about 10 months later. It's getting ridiculous. You are guilty until you can prove yourself innocent and how do you prove yourself innocent when you do not even know a SAR or some other law disbelief was imposed on you and does not want to unknowingly?

Recent laws have made hacking a (US) federal offense, but fine for the FBI to place key logger Trojan horses, better known as Magic Lantern, on the PC without a warrant and to draw on the computer Russians abroad in their research to show the Americans "who are doing something" to fight crime or terrorism.

America used to be called the "land of the free!" America today call "The land of the not so free! America is in the early stages of becoming a police state horrible that most American of regret because they refuse to deal with the handwriting on the wall and take action to stop it NOW!

But do not limit the guilty recently in the United States. The UK is almost a mirror image of the US, maybe worse in some respects, in many so-called laws to protect one yourself. Ditto for Australia and New Zealand.

In Russia, the FSA, formerly known as the KGB, deaths and serious injuries 300 innocent victims hostage during the Moscow theater hostage resume in October with the army released as nerve gas. They killed more innocent people that the terrorist has done and would not even tell the doctors what kind of gas they used so that the Russian doctors could adequately treat the innocent victims doctor with the antidote right, if any.

Heck in Germany, Austria and Switzerland is a crime to sell and their credit or debit cards or anonymous. Recent laws have seen this. Think about it. Austria has been the home of the famous (former) Sparbuch! Driving in or out of Germany, if your license has expired, or for any reason for this, you are subject to having all your cash confiscated and never returned. Hell Gestapo is alive and thriving on innocent victims again as usual.

The fees are so repressive in most of the world, that tax evasion (which is illegal) is running at epidemic proportions and is getting worse. In fact the problem is so widespread and unsustainable for the tax authorities there is nothing they can do about it, except to stop and put on trial for high profile people like Boris Becker recently or people like Leona Hemsley by the then office in search US Attorney Rudolph Giuliani in the hope of forcing the public accordingly.

In the United States (A) outgoing IRS Commissioner admitted it was impossible to stop tax evaders. Prevention is legal while tax evasion is a crime in America. In Germany there is a hit record on Schroder and his ways outrageous taxation. Taxes and fiscal policies are so bad that even the Bundesbank in Germany (Reserve Bank of Germany) is openly condemning their leader! In fact the newspapers more German leaders are openly attacking the policies of Schroder as exactly as those that led to the hyper inflation in 1930 and the rise of Hitler et al!

The United States has passed laws recently that taxes people born outside America to American parents or residents! They (the US authorities) are getting so desperate that they rammed the throats of Sovereign banks with US branches, the draconian laws that require banks to report any depositors born in the US, even if (depositors) have opened the account with a non-US passport.

I have a little 'analogy privacy, taxes and freedom, especially for Americans. It 'a bit' as the largest ship of its time, the Titanic.

There were clear warnings of icebergs to the captain and crew (think government officials elected). Yet the captain (leader) ignored warnings and was full steam ahead.

Then the ship struck an iceberg and most of the people have been misled or lied about the danger because there were not enough lifeboats for everyone. Most went down with the ship or frozen to death in the icy waters, which turned out to be the greatest maritime disaster of its time.

However those who have attention of danger early enough to get their loved ones and on a lifeboat survived and continued to thrive.

I think the same is true today with a loss of privacy, freedom and taxes devastating. Those who are dumb about what is happening to their freedom will go down with the ship, and will go down one day. Sooner or later, like every great civilization, America will cease to be the great power that it is today.

If you are stupid enough, like the people who believed the captain of the Titanic, to trust and believe your government, then you deserve what happens to you!

However those who are judicious and pay attention to the warnings "Iceberg" in the world today, will be or are already fully prepared for what lays ahead in less than today that the free world.

So what I'm saying is that in force, if you happen to be a stander bye innocent caught in the crosshairs of a terrorist or an agency of government, so its bye bye car and goods. Of course, the odds favor're getting taken as government's goal ... not a terrorist. With the current state of hysteria in the world with regard to terrorism, everything is possible and it is becoming increasingly likely with the laws issued weekly close to 'protect' us from ourselves!

FCP: Speaking of taxes, isn't a good tax accountant or lawyer going to help one arrange their affairs in such a manner as to legally avoid taxes or having tax related problems, i.e. being charged with an offense?
DWB: Want to tell me that Boris Becker, Luciano Pavarotti, Sophia Loren, Leona Hemsley and thousands of others did not have the best professionals available to help them? Of course they did. But once they are targeted by the authorities is bye bye ass and activities in most cases. If Becker has cut a deal, which saved him from going to jail instead of ridiculous fines, etc. However, the authorities have got what they wanted; a high-profile case that has led the German authorities world wide attention for their cause. This showed the public are tuff on the tax system. You can bet that this fear be the Jesus of tens of thousands of Germans in accordance with their taxes, or at least not as bad as cheating would normally have had the German authorities made a high-profile case of Becker.

In most instances the accountants and lawyers are part of the problem. Look at the accounting firms that crooked Momentum Enron and many other public companies. They cost shareholders billions of dollars. So the lawyers are nothing but a bunch of scum bags, for me. Never forget, the lawyers of the United States is always the first and the officers of the court, even if people are led to believe that they defend themselves!

Whenever federal tax change, and this is, every year, the accountants and lawyers love. Why? Since the goal posts have been moved once again, so the new board, facilities, etc. are needed for their clients. A US $ 350 to $ 500 per hour, why would not they love the changes in tax laws?

One of the worst examples of wasteful litigation is the recent case of tobacco class action. How can you justify the lawyers of the plaintiffs receiving more than $ 650 million in legal fees as part of the settlement? No one under any circumstances can justify such taxes incredulous. Tax laws and ruinous lawsuits and outrageous settlements caused damage far superior to what is right and fair.

In the United States and also the United Kingdom, the state-sponsored pension system is on the brink of bankruptcy. It 'so bad in the UK, that people are forced to work until they are 70 before they can begin receiving their pensions. Talk about outright thief!

In the United Kingdom have passed legislation to eliminate the law "double jeopardy". In other words, if you are acquitted of murder, that have proven innocent; it can be repeated for the same very offended. This is a very scary and dangerous precedent.

The bottom line in today's world is that those who succeed is a goal to be lawyers, an ex-spouse or especially the authorities. If the authorities do not like what you do, then they go after a second, third or even a fourth time! Once the authorities have targeted, they will never allow to remain or be successful again!

FCP: Sounds like you dislike accountants and lawyers!
DWB: Dislike is not the proper word. I hate the bastards. Remember most (US) congress people and politicians are lawyers!

FCP: That's an understatement. What else should our readers look out for?
DWB: I'm afraid we do not have enough time to list everything. But I do my best to highlight important issues, which I think are important "do" and "do" things in the world today:

If you have a problem, do not screw anyone who helps! An associate had a client who had a particular problem; was wanted by the authorities for various tax offenses. The client screwed investee after the associate helped him. E 'was incredibly stupid.

You never screw someone helps you, especially when that someone knows you have a problem. The customer eventually coughed up the money owed.

In the US the payment in cash for almost anything can cause a suspicious activity report (SAR) on you and you will not even know it. This can be for a minimum of $ 500 in cash to pay for a plane ticket or make a deposit or withdrawal to your time bank established. You are at the mercy of a few minions minimum wage to a bank or airline.

Certainly not pay cash for a ticket last minute plane at the airport, although in Europe and much of Asia to pay for a ticket in cash at a travel agency, is or should not be a problem. On flights out of the United States, at the boarding ramp, have sniffer dogs that sniff for cash. People are subject to being stopped OUTBOUND for cash, even if it is lower than the reporting limit $ 10,000. Yes, you heard me correctly. The (US) people customs confiscated cash in amounts less, sometimes much less, than the reporting obligation is $ 10,000; if the person did not have a damn good reason to bring what the authorities consider a large amount of cash.

And '' mentality that only criminals bring money and that 'the authorities good citizens use credit cards, bank checks and travelers checks! In other words, all that can be tracked easily.

I'd also be very careful to travel with too much money, anywhere in the world. In addition you can get an ATM card and load it with as much money as you need and pull from a hole in the wall anywhere, at any time even if you lose 5% and 8% in taxes that they do so. But at least it's better than having your money stolen or confiscated if stopped and questioned because you are carrying a large amount of it. The unnamed ATM card you sell is an excellent product and I highly recommend it as I use one myself!

One caveat. The authorities are so crazy in the states now, which is possible if you are stopped and searched entering or departing the United States, the authorities could consider the paper of "No Name ATM" a tool "bearer share" and therefore should be included in their "TCR", that of a Treasury report currency. Of course as to show how much money you have on paper, is not the point. Those crazy and can do what they want, and things will get worse, so be aware that my Yankee friends.

And another very important point: I would be very careful about your medical history, especially if you are in the United States. Six DNA and other vital information is subject to be given out without your permission for a number of reasons for the credit companies and other agencies or insurance known or unknown. I think the privacy factor, or rather the lack of your privacy regarding your medical history is just the tip of the iceberg in the latest round of privacy steal underway.

FCP: When you say don't carry too much cash with you, how much money is a lot?
DWB: Outside the US anything more than Euro (USD) 9,000. And you better have a damn good reason to have such a large sum of money on you in the event you are stopped and searched. Like I said, the authorities believe that only criminals have the need to carry cash in today's world. In France it is an offense to bring into or out of the country Euro 10,000 without declaring it. However, unlike in America, it is nearly impossible for the French authorities to police that law effectively. But I certainly wouldn't try crossing the French border into Geneva (Switzerland) trying it.

FCP: What else?
DWB: I wouldn't travel with or use camouflage documents or camouflage ID any longer. If you were stopped and searched at customs, anywhere, you'd have a hell of a lot of explaining to do and would probably be placed on some watch list database forever. Think I'm kidding? Then just try it!

For example, what if you checked into a hotel or motel, say a Motel 6 and you used a camouflage dl or passport to check in. You pay by cash and do absolutely nothing wrong. However some ass hole down the hall from you commits some crime or is a suspect in a shooting or murder. The authorities check all the motel/hotel registrations and bingo, they find you! What the heck do you think is going to happen to you? At the very least you'll have a hell of a lot of explaining to do and more likely than not be placed on a watch list. This is exactly what happened to one of my clients.

In his case he was having a little glandular activity, i.e. a rendezvous with a girl friend that he didn't want his wife to know about. He was interviewed, fingerprinted and photographed, though NOT charged with any offense. His camouflage DL was confiscated and he was placed on a watch list forever.

Naturally he got taken to the cleaners when his spouse divorced him. Some would say rightly so, but it's not my job to judge my clients, only to help them.

Another gentleman in Scandinavia purchased a camouflage passport and customs opened it (in the mail) incoming to Norway. This caused him all kinds of grief; they confiscated it and every time he leaves or enters Norway he is subject to a lot of questions along with a thorough search and going over.

In America today, if you're a high income earner or successful in your field, you're a target 100% for sure. There is a high probability that you'll be sued, divorced, arrested, put on trial and or imprisoned at some point in your life. Nine out of ten law suits filed each year worldwide are in the USA. Need I remind you that there are more lawyers in the US than the entire rest of the world combined although the US has less than 5% of the world's population? Add it up. Those aren't very good odds are they?

FCP: Indeed not! But what can one do about it?
DWB: I realize what I am going to say may be contrary to some of your reader's philosophy, but you asked, so here it goes.

Stop acting like a EM. Understand me now, I am not saying not to be a EM, just stop acting like one! Don't use inferior camouflage documents or such. In fact unless you have a genuine first world passport, I would forget about using any third world passport or such. That is unless you read and write the local lingo perfectly, or you'll likely end up in serious hot water!

Stay squeaky clean. Don't break any laws. If you are doing something naughty, stop. If you are doing anything to draw attention to yourself, stop or at the minimum reassess your activities and lower your profile as best as possible. If you are staying at a house or apartment for any period of time, be friendly to your neighbors. You don't need to bring attention to yourself because the neighbor's dog takes a shat on your lawn! If it does, let it go and move. You don't want the neighbors calling the authorities because of your complaining about the dog or you parked too close to their car or parking space. And believe you me; this has happened many a time to my clients. Nosey and vindictive neighbors can be the source of big trouble for you.

Don't be clever. A former infamous author thought he was the smartest person in the world and ended up in a world of shit because of his arrogance. In fact he was arrested and nearly returned to America to spend the rest of his life in a small room with a tiny window. That's not being smart. People like that have such a large ego they HAVE to get themselves into trouble one way or another. A psychotherapist who knew him told me he had "infantile delusions of omnipotence." I call it being a dumb ass. Only a huge bribe got him off they hook and saved his ass from being sent back to America in shackles!

If you are young, say under 40, then you better have a very good reason, i.e. job, that requires you to travel often. If you're in your late 50's plus, then you're being retired *may* be acceptable but I have heard from several of my clients that they have been questioned at immigration and customs in various countries about their means for their retirement. In spite of that being none of the authorities business, one would be wise NOT to tell them off and just provide a simple explanation, i.e. my father passed away and left me a small inheritance, etc.

Being a EM can bring unwanted attention to yourself unless you conduct yourself in a normal Tom, Dick and Harry like appropriate manner nowadays.

FCP How can a EM can bring unwanted attention to them self?
DWB: Let's say you live in ABC land. You have and use a mail drop and don't get any mail where you live. You're not registered at the local voting district or with the local tax people. You are liable to be checked out for not being registered with the local authorities, which is required in most countries of the world. So the fact that being and living the life of a EM can bring you unwanted attention.

FCP: What do you do then?
DWB: Basically reevaluate your life and modus operandi in everything you do. Try to appear as much like every Tom, Dick and Harry you can. I believe that is the message that was or should have been sent to every privacy seeker after 9/11/2001 and the new anti privacy laws implemented as a result thereof.

Living two or three months here and there is simply not practical for most people, even EM's. Most people need a base of operations and they need to be very careful where they choose to live in today's new world.

Personally I spend my time between France, parts of North America, South Africa, Australia, Costa Rica and Asia. But I'm flexible and I do vary it from year to year.

FCP: You do have contrary views, that's for sure.
DWB: I don't expect everyone to take all of my advice. But I do have something valid to say and you asked me for an interview, so here we are. Whether or not anyone takes my advice is up to them. I'm not selling anything so people can proceed based their own analysis on my thoughts, comments and act accordingly.

FCP: What about you're consulting services?
DWB: I'm basically semi-retired now. I don't actively seek new clients, though I accept referrals now and then, especially if their case looks interesting. I've positioned myself so that I can accept or decline new referrals. I prefer my life that way. In fact if I am not mistaken, you were a little ticked off at me after my last article for you a few years back, the one about making a lot of money tax free. You referred a couple of dozen consulting clients my way, but I turned down a good number of them.

I realize you receive a fee from those referrals and that's part of how you make your money. You're certainly entitled to every Euro you make. But for myself I don't need the stress of having to deal with and help dozens of new clients. Two or three a year is just fine with me. Like I said, I do it more on a case by case basis. The more interesting and challenging, the better chance I'll accept the person as a client.

FCP: What about the world economy?
DWB: I'm no Alan Greenspan, but the economy isn't in great shape, that's for sure. I do, however, believe that it would behoove your readers to get a trade or occupation that is portable; one where they could work anywhere in the world from a laptop computer or a cyber cafe. In other words, be self sufficient. That's probably the best financial advice I could give anyone.

The next best (financial) advice would be to be debt free. Don't owe anyone; don't have a mortgage, credit cards debts, etc. Be debt free and have a year's worth of cash stashed away for a rainy day. If you do own a house and have a mortgage on it, then get the largest possible mortgage and second mortgage you possibly can so that there is no equity in your home.

Japan is in the pits with ten year's of deflation with no let up in sight! Ditto for Singapore and Hong Kong, two very powerful Asian economies. Singapore and Hong Kong have deflation, which is not broadly mentioned in the main stream press, and is quite alarming if I say so myself.

Frankly, I'd expect to see that (deflation) spread elsewhere around the world. Brazil recently installed a Marxist as president. The Brazilian Real has lost a large percentage of its value recently and with the mind set of the new president there, I'd expect business to get worse, very much worse indeed there.

Venezuela is a nightmare with strikes, muggings, kidnappings as a daily occurrence. I'd expect their Marxist President to be thrown out or resign shortly. The CIA got him thrown out some months back, but only for a few days. So this time I'd think he will go for good.

In South East Asia, things aren't much better. The Philippine peso is in a slow descent into worthlessness. Because the Philippines haven't given in to FATF, (Financial Action Task Force) they are still blacklisted because they refuse to lower their reporting requirements to US$10,000 from around $50k currently. As a result, the Philippines are being murdered economically from the western world. Wire transfers into and out of the country are being delayed by weeks, and in some cases, even months as a form of 'punishment'. Sooner or later like all countries, they'll cave in and reduce their reporting limit, they'll have to!

Ditto for the other Asian currencies, though I believe it will take them somewhat longer to lose much of their value. The 1997 Asian financial debacle killed the business and financial markets there. In Thailand the strong tourist industry keeps the economy afloat.

A lot of expats own beautiful homes in the Bali area only to have seen their value plummeted by more than 50% after the bombings. One associate can't give his property away and he spent a fortune on it as his dream home. So be careful where you purchase any property. Ask yourself, do you really need to buy? Renting is probably a much better option for most privacy seekers, at least for the first year or two after making your exodus.

Most countries in Central and South America I'd personally stay away from, at least for anything other than a short visit, with Costa Rica being a possible exception. Kidnappings of regular hard working people are taking place even in countries like Argentina now! I read of a recent report where ordinary people are being kidnapped and returned for a few thousand dollars, things have gotten so bad there!

Gold is up around 25% or more from a year ago. So gold has been a decent performer, while stocks have taken a nose dive by 60% or more in many cases.

You see I don't have any secrets to reveal; there's no rocket scientist material here. Rather it's straight ahead, no nonsense commonsense that I believe in and preach. I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I'm no idiot either. I've been around long enough to know where to go, what to do and how to do it to help my clients and myself. I have an extensive list of insider contacts that serve my clients and myself to achieve our objective and that's what counts! Getting the results is what matters and I get the results.

FCP: Indeed you do!
DWB: If you can legally make a thousand dollars (a week, a month, etc.) and live off $250 of it, that's an ideal situation isn't it? So put yourself first by not spending everything you make. Develop the habit of saving money, not spending everything you receive. That money adds up quickly and will give you the freedom everyone normally seeks.

While most investors have seen their investments go down 60% recently, mine have gone UP 60%! I was astute enough to see the top of the market and cashed in. Plus I purchased a few rental properties at the beginning of the dot com boom. Why? I'm a contrarian investor. When everyone was buying stocks, I knew that the stock bubble wouldn't last and that when it burst, as it has, those funds would flow into real estate. Property in the US, UK and even in parts of Australia and New Zealand have done very well indeed over the past few years.

My mother always said, "Possessions possess you." So don't allow your creature comforts to trap you into a lifestyle that may be less than free and restricts your movements. Having ready cash and a few places to visit around the world won't hurt anyone!

EM: Speaking of movements, you mentioned earlier about traveling and not being a EM. Do you mean to say one shouldn't travel any longer? Please clarify this.
DWB: What I said was to warn everyone about the new risks of traveling, especially if one is carrying those camouflage products and large amounts of cash. It's bad enough that there are terrorist out there willing to kill themselves and possibly you when traveling, for instance going to Bali on a holiday, etc. However 99.999% of the public has a far greater chance of having some problem occur being stopped and questioned by the authorities when traveling than by any terrorist. This is especially true traveling by airplane or by driving an automobile into another country. Because of some stupid product they purchased that they thought they'd be cute with, i.e. a camouflage passport, or worse, traveling on some third world document that is in a native language other than your own; it could very well cause them considerable harm and problems.

I believe the risk of being stopped with those items nowadays is far greater than the benefits of having and using them. That wasn't necessarily the case a few years ago. However in today's world it's a different ball game altogether.

As I said previously carrying cash could lead to more trouble than its worth, especially if you travel abroad and you are an American. Having the wrong passport can be very dangerous to your health as well. The US authorities have closed just about every loophole there is and with their punitive sentencing guidelines is it really worth a 25-year sentence for carrying too much cash or the wrong document? I think not!

FCP: How do you get around this?
DWB: You don't. You comply with your governments regulations and do things legally. Then you leave your home country, at least for most of the time, only to return to visit friends and relatives, etc. If you don't break any laws, leave clean and safe like, then you can always return for short visits to friends and relatives. Doesn't that make sense?

FCP: Indeed it does!
DWB: And I'm not talking just about Americans. I'm talking about anyone, from any country in the world today who is serious about protecting what's left of their privacy and freedoms.

There are no laws (other than for Americans,) saying you can't have an offshore debit or credit card. Americans are suppose to report offshore accounts and now credit cards on their tax returns. New (US) laws are pending that will criminalize ownership of offshore debit -credit cards for Americans who don't report them. If you pay taxes on your money, then send your money offshore onto your card, there's nothing illegal about that. But if you're an American you are going to have to report it.

Other nationalities don't have to file those crazy reporting requirements. So what does that tell you?

FCP: Get another nationality?
DWB: Right. But that isn't so easy nowadays. In fact almost all the instant nationality for investment programs have been shut down since 9/11/2001. Other than being entitled to citizenship through ancestry, i.e. parents or grandparents, the best route, IMHO, is for one to become a legal resident in a country of their choice and obtain citizenship though naturalization in a few years time, normally five years. Canada is an exception, as it takes just three years there.

FCP: Where's the best and easiest place to do that?
DWB: Heck if you are from some rotten third world hole, people are flocking to America. On the other hand if you are a high income earner or an American concerned about their privacy or what's left of their rights, they're leaving America by the thousands. So it's really a very personal thing based on your current nationality and country of residence.

As I said it only takes three years to become naturalized in Canada. If you're not an America that may be an attractive place for you until you receive citizenship, then you can move and live elsewhere.

Other than that, I'd recommend you travel around a bit, find a place you like and settle there for five years. Put your legal time (residency) in and become naturalized after the five year period. Probably somewhere in Western Europe would be ideal for that. After five years and with a western European (EU) passport in hand, you can travel just about anywhere in the world without the need of visas.

Other than Costa Rica, I'm not crazy about Central or South America as a place for legal residency. There's too much crime, kidnapping, etc. and traveling on those types of third world documents is just not low profile. And recently Costa Rica allowed a former US citizen who had obtained Costa Rican nationality through naturalization, to be returned to the US on an extradition request. That should cause considerable consternation to anyone who currently has or is thinking about getting a third world citizenship!

Australia and/or New Zealand are another option, but Australia tends to be very authoritarian. Both are islands and have very strict immigration controls so they may not be for everyone. However a good many of my South African clients are migrating there (Oz) so that is an ideal place for many.

However be advised that in Oz (Australia) departing Aussie's are subject to incredulous and invasive questions, under penalty, on written forms.

FCP: Such as?
DWB: Such as being asked where they are going, who they are going to visit, their job, address, how much money they are taking with them, contacts details of persons they're visiting abroad, have they paid their taxes, plus many more invasive privacy related questions and information all asked in writing and under penalty. Its a sad day for privacy in Australia.

Another route as a shortcut to second citizenship is through marriage. For instance you marry a person from another country, you may be entitled to citizenship after a few years. In fact even if you, your parents or grandparents are NOT Irish, if your SPOUSE'S parent's or grandparents were, your spouse could become Irish, then you in turn, subject to the two of you being legally married for seven years if I am not mistaken. Now get this, this is regardless WHERE in the world you reside! That's a hot tip that few people know about.

Those years come and go fairly fast. At the moment there aren't too many countries that restrict the right to have a second nationality. If I'm not mistaken there are 86 countries worldwide that legally allow for second citizenships and passports. However a few more terrorist attacks and I believe we'll see those laws change. So time is of the essence. Get started with your legal residency now.

FCP: What about banking? Where do you recommend?
DWB: The banking situation is getting worse, very much worse. My best advice would be to get a good managed account in Switzerland, Austria or Luxembourg if you are not an American. Depending on how much assets you have, you should have two or three different bank accounts in different countries and see who handles your money best. After a few years dump the one that earns you the least amount of money and move it (if you can,) to another bank in yet another jurisdiction.

Singapore offers decent banking believe it or not, as does Austria. But you are looking at serious money to open an account. So anyone with less than a quarter million US dollars shouldn't be wasting their time wondering where to put their money, other than getting it offshore and out of the countries grip where they reside, especially if that country is America. If you are an America citizen or resident you really need to start rethinking everything and possibly change your modus operandi.

FCP: Is there any one reoccurring problem that your clients have?
DWB: Each and every client is different with a different and unique set of circumstances. That's why I enjoy the challenge of helping them so much.

That said tax problems are right up there at the top. Next to that getting out of the clasps of an ex-spouse and the ruinous divorce and alimony fees can't be ignored either.

If you think about it just one law suit, be it from a soon to be ex spouse; a business related matter or from any government compliance agency can become a catastrophic event. Everything you've worked for and believed in can be wiped out in a single ruinous suit. Figure into the equation that there is a 99.999% probability any successful or high income earner will get involved with a ruinous suit at some point during their life, that's not a very comfortable feeling is it?

Being wiped out financially is bad enough. But I've noticed another phenomenon over the years with my clients. The clients who suffered ruinous litigation, especially from the government, have suffered terribly mentally. In some cases the events lasted for 7 years or more before they could move on with their lives. I'm not a psychologist, but there is a pattern for sure. The scars run deep and for a long time too.

FCP: What should the average person reading this interview do to protect their privacy?
DWB: I don't believe that there is any average person reading these words. I believe that each and every person reading this interview is an individual and I respect them accordingly.

Like I said before there's no secrets to reveal, no rocket scientist material here, just plain commonsense and having the right contacts.

Lower your profile and do your best to blend in with everyone else. When traveling don't carry or use camouflage ID any longer. In America don't pay for things in cash. Don't carry large amounts of cash with you when you travel. Try your best to stay out of the cross hairs of the enemies target scope. And avoid places where lots of tourist flocks to, places like Bali, Phuket (Thailand) and similar places.

Make sure you never over stay your visa; otherwise you could be subject to being denied entry into that particular country for three years or more you're next visit. Don't carry anything into or out of a country that is against local laws. If in doubt, check the countries web site or better yet contact the nearest consulate to you.

If possible try to avoid driving an automobile in a Sovereign country. In the event of an accident you, the Sovereigner, will more likely than not be accused as the guilty party.

Have health insurance that is valid in the countries you are going to travel to. If you get sick in America, Japan and many parts of Western Europe it can be a very expensive and an unpleasant experience.

In Asia and Eastern Europe stay away from underage children. Make 100% sure you know what the legal age of majority is in the country you choose to have sexual partners in. In most countries that age is now 18, sometimes 16. You may run across what you think is the hottest piece you've never set your eyes upon, but if that person is under the legal age of consent you are allowing yourself to be set up for blackmail, arrest or worse.

Stay the hell away from Columbia and other dangerous countries in South America. One you are subject to being mugged, raped, kidnapped or murdered; two there's little or no tourism to speak of and worse having a visa stamped from Colombia and other such countries will only raise questions from immigration officials in western countries.

FCP: Anything else?
DWB: The list could go on and on, but when using e-mail use pgp (encryption) at the very least. But the key is to use it all the time and not just for sensitive mails. A good proxy server wouldn't hurt you either. There are a couple of good ones and free too. MultiProxy and A4Proxy are very good and I can recommend both. If you have to send faxes go to a cyber cafe and send it from there ISP from your laptop with no headers. Be aware that sending a fax without headers (the telephone number the fax is being sent from) in the United States and some other countries is an offense. However if you have very sensitive papers to fax, that's the only way it should be done, at least if you can avoid breaking any laws.

I don't use a mobile phone any longer and stick to pay phones and calling cards. Be advised that nearly all conversations at public phone booths in the US are recorded, so there is no privacy there either. Telephone calling cards can be purchased at any newsstand or seven/eleven like stores for a small amount of money. However if you absolutely have to use a mobile use one of those pay as you go kind and change the mobile phone and the chip every other month. And don't leave the mobile on unless you expect a call or are going to make a call ... you can easily be tracked.

Unhook your home and or office telephone line from the phone when you are not making or expecting calls, especially if you live in the United States. Technology developed several years back enables others to listen in on your conversation WITH the phone still on the hook. Warrants are no longer required or it's simply a matter of a friendly judge signing a standard form for the authorities to snoop on you.

Always pay your bills and especially your rent on time and be polite to others. No need to make enemies when there are enough problems in the world.

Don't be cheap or greedy in your business dealings. Always leave something on the table for the other guy so it's a win win situation for both of you. My rule of thumb is to pay my business associates what I'd expect to be paid. You can't be any fairer than that. This has worked well for me for many years and all my associates have always made money with me!

Every single person that I've known to be cheap, greedy and never happy unless they take all the chips in a business deal, ended up with big trouble. People go out of their way to fuck those kinds of people over, so don't be any part of that!

I knew a fellow once who failed to return a $10,000 security deposit on a house he rented because he found out the renter was a drug dealer. He figured; "what's the renter going to do, go to the authorities?" Boy was that thinking a mistake. To make a long story short, the drug dealer got busted six months later and caused considerable grief telling the authorities he had the drug "kingpin" of such and such city, which caused a task force investigation into the landlord's dealings and background, etc.. In spite of the
landlord having less than nothing to do with drugs and the drug dealer making everything up, the landlord was eventually sent to jail for income tax evasion.

So the moral of the story is don't be cheap, don't be greedy; just be fair and nice to others and treat them as you would expect to be treated.

FCP: What do you perceive as the single biggest threat to one's freedom's and privacy?
DWB: Governments plain and simple. There are so many laws on the books, one is subject to waking up in the morning having committed or about to commit numerous crimes, yet you wouldn't even know it.

FCP: What can one do about it?
DWB: Like I've been saying throughout our interview, be or become squeaky clean if at all possible and keep your nose to the grindstone. If you can afford it, retire and leave the country where you reside in. If you leave the country legally and squeaky clean, there's no reason why you can't return once in a while to visit friends and family is there?

Heck as an American you can even earn around $75,000 per year and be tax exempt if you live overseas for more than a year. If you can't live on 70 grand per year tax free, then you're doing something wrong.

FCP: Is there any good news for privacy seekers?
DWB: Of course. I'm not all doom and gloom; I've just been answering your questions. The good news it has become increasingly easy over the past few years to have a portable trade, i.e. an occupation where one can earn a decent standard of living anywhere in the world operating from a laptop computer. This is probably the greatest news for privacy seekers in the last 7 or 8 years.

There are some incredible travel bargains today due to events since 9/11. Even in Paris one can rent an apartment in an excellent area for less than US$500 per month, if you know where and how to do it. I've spent the last two summers in Paris during August, when everyone goes to the south (beach areas.) Folks rent their apartments dirt cheap during the month of August in Paris. And Paris is great during August too! No crowds, no lines to the world's best restaurants and less dog shit on the streets.

In fact, go to the American Church and down in the basement they'll have hundreds of apartment for rent notices posted on a bulletin board. That's a hot tip just for your readers, so Happy New Year!

In parts of Asia, it's even cheaper, and you can enjoy a very high standard of living to boot. Australia and New Zealand are excellent areas to visit for three to six months a shot. However not everyone would want to be resident there on a permanent basis and prices aren't as cheap as they were a few years ago.

Some year's back I made a bet with myself that I would live and travel free for one year. Not only did I accomplish that, but I made some serious money and new friends to boot.

FCP: How did you accomplish that?
DWB: We covered that (in a previous article) for you previously.

FCP: Oh yes the tax free money while traveling article you wrote some while back. (Editor's note: DWB wrote a very interesting article for EM Buzz years ago about this topic, which attracted a large number of inquiries of interest. Please check our web site in the near future as this article will be posted.)

What other good news do you have for us?

DWB: Well it's getting very much easier to have and maintain good health, which is probably the most important thing for a person, especially once they hit middle age. Financial security is all fine and good, but if you don't have your health, you don't have anything.

PRS: Indeed. Go on.
DWB: Having a loving and understanding partner and family is right up there at the top. Unfortunately it has been the experience of most of my clients that their spouse or partners can't hack the privacy seekers life style so they end up in divorce or splitting up or become a privacy seeker because of a nasty divorce and or law suit.

And one of the most important things is for you to have fun and enjoy what you're doing and who you're doing it with.

The bottom line like Harry Browne wrote nearly 30 years ago in his best selling book, "How To Be Free In An Unfree World," you can be free and happy, if you set your mind to it. Just make a goal and then go for it!

FCP: What about the political arena?
DWB: You've got to give it to Bush (US President) with an outstanding victory for him in the mid term elections. Let's hope that his political agenda will be good for the Americans and the rest of us!

FCP: Do you see more or less privacy coming out of Washington D.C. now that the mid-term elections were won by the Republicans?
DWB: I'm not much of a political person. But no matter who is running the show, there is certainly going to be less privacy and freedoms for everyone. A lot less! The "Tokku" are alive and well through out the world.

[Editor's note: The "Tokku", or The Japanese Thought Police as they were known, were the equivalent of Hitler's Gestapo. In the early 1930's before WW2, the Tokku welcomed secret communications from its citizens about other citizens. They encouraged citizens to spy on each other. A web search for "Tokku" at GOOGLE will give you a lot of interesting info about the Tokku.]

DWB: Most western countries, especially the US, are turning into a Gestapo or Tokku like state, where they're encouraging its citizens to spy on their neighbors. The problem is that most people don't realize this nor can they see it. It's like trying to see the trees from the forest. If you are right in the middle of it, you're a dead duck, and nearly everyone in the states is in that situation!

FCP: Please elaborate.
DWB: Minimum wage bank tellers, airline ticket counter employees and dozens of others are turning in people for paying in cash and reporting SAR's on countless citizens for no good reason. Next door neighbors are encouraged to report anything suspicious. The worse thing of all you know it's getting very close to a Gestapo or Tokku state, when children in grade school are encouraged, if not outright bribed, to report any alleged abuse by their partners, verbal or otherwise. Heck try schooling your own kids in America and you'll likely end up in the pokey!

FCP: You make an excellent point. What else?
DWB: If the following does not drive home my point, nothing will happen!

All, or nearly all, thinks the FBI is the omnipotent eye sees in America. They believe or are led to believe that there is a satellite in the sky just looking at you, that every US resident.

In fact, the FBI's not all they're cracked up to be!

The United States has spent tens of billions of dollars and still have not caught Osama bin Laden. Hardly a word was spoken to him by US authorities last year, hoping to focus America's attention on the war in Iraq, when in fact it was Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks!

Also you have the need to seriously ask yourself why is the United States is so intent on getting Saddam Hussein, when North Korea admitted publicly that they broke their agreement nuclear weapons with the United States and have been caught shipping missiles Scuds to Yemen?

The United States, despite having only 5% of the world population, uses more than 25% of the world's oil. So there is a great point to be made about the war in Iraq really be oil! And the US is hell bent to go to war with Iraq very soon IMO.

The security guard innocent FBI twisted fingers, Richard Jewell in Atlanta Olympic bombing in 1996-7. His life has been destroyed and the FBI did not so much as apologized and compensated him. Jewell is a basket case today as a result.

Everyone believes that the FBI caught the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski.

Wrong. Kaczynski's brother turned him after reading the manifesto of his brother in the papers after 20 years of FBI trying to capture him. The government has promised the brother of Kaczynski who would not give his brother the death penalty, but of course, and, as usual, the government has broken their promise and sentenced to death Kaczynski.

Fugitive Eric Robert Rudolph accused of the deadly bombing of a Birmingham, Ala., Abortion clinic in January 1996, was also accused of the bombing in 1996 of the Olympic Park in Atlanta that killed one person and caused damage to hundreds of others. The federal authorities have begun a manhunt intense in the forests of North Carolina. Before his departure, Rudolph said a friend, "Do not worry, I have a great hideout They'll never find me.".

He was right, never. Despite being out of ten wanted list of the FBI and the FBI to spend $ 1 million a week, that's right, 1 million a week, looking for him, they have not caught him.

So much for the all-powerful, eye sees the FBI and the US authorities.

Nine out of ten cases of sets that result in an indictment are criminal by someone, usually a spouse discontent, lover, former employee or anyone turning in poor bastard who tried to beat the tax money.

Of course if you are a government employee and whistle on abuses, corruption in the (US) IRS, then you can expect the wrath of the government to fall on you, instead of being praised. Thankfully Time Magazine honored some brave women as "Women of the Year" for their courage in reporting abuse to government agencies, despite their personal difficulties from the government itself that is supposed to protect all Americans.

Remember that it is a much more likely possibility of an attack [Laws Lawsuit] by a disgruntled spouse, lover, the next ex-employees or someone that you feel you have had any harm perceived by you as a terrorist or a robber. Most of these 'victims', as they feel they will most likely not turn to big brother in order to "get even with you." This is a very dangerous situation and growth in the Western world today, especially in the states and is encouraged by the authorities. The "Tokku" are alive and well in America!

FCP: Do you have any predictions for the future?
DWB: I'm not any soothsayer, but I'd expect more of the same. Sooner or later the west, i.e. the US or the UK, will probably get hit again with another terrorist attack. This will be regrettable, but is most likely a certainty. Naturally even more repressive laws will be enacted to 'protect' the west from the bad guys.

But the really good news is that one can live a live free of government interference; be happy, make money tax free and live life to the fullest. One simply needs to apply them self, make a goal then go for it. It's big world out there and unless one gets out there and explores it, you'll never know what you're missing.

FCP: In closing if you had 10 commandments of advice for our privacy readers, what would they be?
DWB: I think we've pretty much covered them in this interview. But here they are again just not necessarily in any particular order:

1. Lower your profile.
2. Don't do, or stop doing anything naughty.
3. Be fair and always leave something on the table for the other person, i.e. in other words don't be greedy.
4. Be squeaky clean in everything you do.
5. Get a second passport, but make it a world class document if you do it at all.
6. Get or start a portable trade that you can operate anywhere in the world from a laptop.
7. Depart the country you currently reside in, but do it by not breaking any laws.
8. Be or become debt free and don't owe anyone money.
9. Always pay your obligations on time and never make enemies, if at all possible
and
10. Last but not least be happy, healthy and have a loyal, loving partner and family.

FCP: Doctor, thank you for your time and thoughts, which we very much appreciate.
DWB; You're welcome.

EM: Happy New Year!
DWB: And to you and yours as well!

- Editors Note -

Dr. Belford is an authority on beating the bureaucracy, whilst living a life free of Terrocratic interference.

Dr. Belford is converse with US, Canadian and European laws as well as those of Australian and New Zealand. A preliminary consultation may be arranged, subject to his schedule and acceptance of your case. His fee for initial consulting is just US$1,000.

The Doctor has a special Western European country that he specializes in for legal residency. He, along with the country, are accepting a few qualified applicants at this time.

If you are or want to be a serious player, get started with your preliminary consultation with Dr. Walter Belford. Contact and place "Doctor" in the subject heading for pay-in details.

Please be prepared to remit your consulting fee along with a brief outline of your needs and requirements. Your fee will be fully refunded should your case not be accepted.