Seven million Americans live overseas. Less than half a million of them voted in 2004 (I think I’ve got that right). Many of those who didn’t vote wanted to but found it too difficult to navigate the nightmare rules many states have on overseas voting. Those that did, other than those who were serving in the military voted Kerry around 70/30.

So take out Minnesota, put in Ohio and …

All that said they absolutely should have an opt out clause. But if they did, I’m not sure everyone should use it.

[...] Grandad got his cartoon from me only days after suggesting his name.   • Sabrina Dent has a story about the behaviour of the US Embassy in Dublin.   • Damien Mulley met [...]

Unfortunately for you, any message containing political, religious or details of national security are not exempt.

As you filled in a document that is property of the United States of America, on soil that is technically the United States of America, the laws of that land apply.

Opt-out does exist in American law, under this bill, but again, is not required if the email can be categorised under the headings I mentioned in the 2nd sentence.

I think you may have to get Jimmy Stewart on them if you want modifications to the law.

http://wikileaks.cx/wiki/Warden_system_(military)

So if all of a sudden, wild zontars from outer space decided to come down and eat Americans in Dublin, a message would go out on Warden. You should probably encourage the embassy in Eire to not use Warden for stuff like that.

Set up a rule in your email so you never see their mail as Twenty says and have a long walk and a cup of hot chocolate and fuget about it – as they say in the states.

Your getting a mortgage for petes sakes, you have enough on your plate already! ;)

The same requirement does not exist under US law – as far as I’m aware. (Although some places may provide it nonetheless).

I think it’s interesting that people complain so much about data protection laws in Europe, and yet here you have experienced an exchange where they were not in place and you seemed to show preference for the European system.

As for what you can do about it, I really have no idea other than write to them expressing your concerns and see what comes of it.

C.

On an aside, we had to go there to get Ciara’s citizenship when shewas a month old. It was the most awful experience. They had all the parents come at the same damn time (a tip I can only assume they picked up from Irish hospitals) but only had two staff to wait on them. Babies screaming, no AC, 4-5 hour wait with only travel brochures to read was not good at all. One poor woman was trying to breastfeed and they kept calling her up needlessly, wouldn’t even talk to her husband who was apprently not the citizen, even though they only wanted to hand her a form. Unbelievable!

I guess I was expecting some sort of James Bond scenario where US citizens are rushed in and treated like royalty with hot marines walking around with even hotter guns! ;-) Heh! But ya know what, compared to the INS in downtown Chicago, where you become but a cow in a herd of cattle, and are prodded and shouted at accordingly, it was a cake walk.

Good luck with your inquiries!