Land Of The Taxed Poem by Nika McGuin

I agree with your sentiments, and your record of history. The forgotten sin of the Manifest Destiny concept was black slavery. It must be emphasized again and again the issue is not slavery, it is black slavery, and to deny that or ignore it is to perpetuate the ingrained racism of America. Nation-states have only existed for, say,500 years but all of them are conceived in sin, as the Israeli historian David Gotlieb puts it. We know what America's sin is and we know the workings of karma. I spell this out because I want to be on the side of the angels with you Your poem has a winning conversational tone. It seems to be spoken in an atmosphere which is supportive of your words. No political adversaries present, but rather people willing to carry that weight a long, long time...until it is finally expiated. And it may take the visionary realm you picture at the poem's end to provide the setting of such expiation. I cannot fully define expiation but it is something much larger than forgetfulnes or forgiveness. We won't know what it is until the grace of expiation descends or arises or? somehow manifests itself.

I heartily encourage you to expatriate. But I would also admonish you not to equate tax rate with freedom. Look up what nations have the highest quality of life and satisfaction ratings and how that correlates with the tax burden in those countries. But I think you're right about the fact that you can't grow orchids from nettle seeds.