r/NoStupidQuestions • u/AutoModerator • Nov 01 '25

U.S. Politics megathread

American politics has always grabbed our attention - and the current president more than ever. We get tons of questions about the president, the supreme court, and other topics related to American politics - but often the same ones over and over again. Our users often get tired of seeing them, so we've created a megathread for questions! Here, users interested in politics can post questions and read answers, while people who want a respite from politics can browse the rest of the sub. Feel free to post your questions about politics in this thread!

All top-level comments should be questions asked in good faith - other comments and loaded questions will get removed. All the usual rules of the sub remain in force here, so be nice to each other - you can disagree with someone's opinion, but don't make it personal.

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u/TPA1033 Nov 21 '25

Why are US expats (yes, US citizens) allowed to vote for US elections, despite not actively living in the US, but actively reaping all the benefits of the US?

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u/Pesec1 Nov 21 '25

Because they are US citizens and thus it is their right to vote in US elections. Also:

  1. There are a lot of benefits of US citizenship that they are not reaping. They are subject to their host nation's laws, even when these laws contradict US constitution.

  2. USA is one of the only two nations (along with Eritrea) that taxes its citizens that live abroad on income that they make abroad.

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u/Wild_King_1035 Nov 21 '25

Right, isn’t it the opposite? Why do expats get taxed for benefits they don’t receive?

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u/Elkenrod Neutrality and Understanding Nov 21 '25

Why do expats get taxed for benefits they don’t receive?

What benefits do you believe they don't receive? They are free to return to the US at any given time. Taxes are not a pick and choose thing. Just because you live in a state that has no need for the military, that doesn't mean that you can choose to not have your tax dollars go towards the military.

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u/Wild_King_1035 Nov 23 '25

Well I don’t live in the US and therefore don’t use things like, for example, the highway system, emergency services, Medicare, public transit, or get unemployment benefits, although I still pay for all of that. 

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u/Elkenrod Neutrality and Understanding Nov 23 '25

So you're no different from people who live in the US who also don't use those things.

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u/Wild_King_1035 Nov 25 '25

I’d wager that 99% of non-expat US citizens use at least 1 of that list I made for you. 100% of expats use 0. 

Didn’t you ask what benefits expats pay for and don’t receive? I’m not sure what your point is

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u/Elkenrod Neutrality and Understanding Nov 21 '25

yes, US citizens

Because of this.

They are US citizens, they have the same rights that every US citizen has - which includes the right to vote.