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Given the changing times, would you rather live in another country?

Would you rather live in another country?

  • Yes

    Votes: 12 19.0%
  • No

    Votes: 40 63.5%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 11 17.5%

  • Total voters
    63
Unless Russia or Germany decided to invade them, they'd be ok. Germany is in a great state right now, Russia...meh, not so sure. But either way I'd take my chances if the U.S. got to a point where it was intolerable to stay and no change could be brought about by the people due to the government being too powerful.

It isn't all that unlikely. The Scandinavian countries have been marked by an acute fear that their claims to arctic territory, and their coastal peripheries will be eroded by aggressive Russian activities. Norway in particular has begun to realize the impossibility of defending its lucrative arctic claims against any other power and is relying upon Canadian and American diplomatic and military support to prevent a defacto Russian hegemony over their claimed territory. Moreover Finland has maintained an extreme high readiness military due to its fears over it's Russian neighbors and has played a delicate balancing act maintaining ties to NATO and the US over its fears of Russian retaliation in a variety of possible forms.

They wouldn't collapse without the US military umbrella, but they would see a radical shift in prescriptions for governance and foreign policy.
 
I have honestly never visited any of those countries. I have friends who live in Switzerland. Other than that, I'm basing my preferences on statistics and satisfaction rates among their populations.

And let me say this; I would like to stay here, but I feel I am powerless and the government is too powerful. There are many issues I have trouble accepting and I feel I cannot change them.
The people of those countries are (in general) less powerful than the people of the US. And the culture is far more monotonic. But, measured in the way you are using, their stats show up great. So what is it that you want more precisely stated?
 
Literacy: Norway comes in tied at the front at approximately 99.9-100%. The United States lags in the 26th spot at... 99%+.

I have a very hard time believing this, but I am willing to do so if shown the information. Could you cite a credible source? I am in disbelief because of the millions of illegal immigrants from Mexico who live and work(illegally in most cases) who do not know how to speak english, let alone read it. Also, the number of kids who drop out and are illiterate, people who are severely impoverished and do not finish school, etc. I work in a setting where the patients have extremely low literacy. I'm unsure of how the 99% figure was achieved.

Also what do we have that most of these countries don't? Immigrants. Millions and millions of them. Sure Sweden and Norway take in their share of asylum seekers, and they have done an abysmal job of integrating them. You want to see racism against minorities? Go to Malmo, go to the outskirts of Oslo. We aren't stagnating, we have new human capital, and we also happily accept the statistical skewing that results from that.

Legal immigration is one thing, however, illegal immigration, which is rampant in the U.S., is another. As liberalavenger noted, you can't just walk into the aforementioned countries. They are selective. The U.S. is a country which deserves to be picky about immigrants, why are we not? Not on the basis of race of course.
 
Palm trees may be seen along the south coasts of Ireland and England



There are four separate species of palm tree in Ireland, one of them is
Palm Trees in Ireland? | Surprising Science

Indeed. I have seen the palm trees in both countries many times. I thought about both countries when I wrote the post. I'd live in Ireland tomorrow. Cork or there abouts for me, but my wife loves dirty old Dublin. I'd settle for either or anywhere in Eire save for Limerick, which ironically is where my family is from.
 
Be the change.

I like the enthusiasm, but how do you propose I change the economic meltdown we are in? How do you supposed I change the election process, the policy making process, end the war, get us out of debt, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, improve the education system, etc? Do you suppose I lobby? Call my congressman? I have done both, to no avail, as many others have.
 
I like the enthusiasm, but how do you propose I change the economic meltdown we are in? How do you supposed I change the election process, the policy making process, end the war, get us out of debt, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, improve the education system, etc? Do you suppose I lobby? Call my congressman? I have done both, to no avail, as many others have.

I dunno how it will be for you, but I feel that my life addresses all of those issues in demonstration and not just words.
 
It isn't all that unlikely. The Scandinavian countries have been marked by an acute fear that their claims to arctic territory, and their coastal peripheries will be eroded by aggressive Russian activities. Norway in particular has begun to realize the impossibility of defending its lucrative arctic claims against any other power and is relying upon Canadian and American diplomatic and military support to prevent a defacto Russian hegemony over their claimed territory. Moreover Finland has maintained an extreme high readiness military due to its fears over it's Russian neighbors and has played a delicate balancing act maintaining ties to NATO and the US over its fears of Russian retaliation in a variety of possible forms.

They wouldn't collapse without the US military umbrella, but they would see a radical shift in prescriptions for governance and foreign policy.

The U.S. is currently funneling billions of dollars into a never-ending war. We have poor relations with most of the middle east, save a shady relationship with Israel. We are always watching our backs to make sure Russia doesn't screw around, as are they watching us. The U.S. is not viewed with high regards by the world. We are always in the foreign spotlight while our domestic issues continue to decay.
 
Ya, it is tough. I just don't want to be here if **** really hits the fan... I've read a lot about people proposing to abolish the current government, because it has become too powerful, as the constitution says to do. People are talking about "Civil War II" and I really don't want my family here if it comes to that.
Where in our constitution does it avocate rebellion if the federal government becomes too "powerful" ?
 
You cant get out of this dump anyway. Minimun amount to buy your way out is about $500k. And for the idiots with a USA only mind set. Other counties DONT ALLOW FOREIGNERS to WORK AT ALL. Other countries dont allow ANYONE in at all. Except retireees and others with MONEY. Only the US Citizen gets screwed by its own Gov this way.

The USofA is a honey trap! :shock:

To think all those ignorant Europeans who were tricked by a slogan... America, Land of Opportunity! The smucks! If they had only stayed in their native lands so their great grand kids wouldn't be trapped in so 'terrible' a nation....

Seriously???? :confused:

Most who lament the one way door nations have with us also deride those nation's for their taxes, nanny state, lack of any Bill of Rights....

When the slaves were freed there were some who wanted to send them all back to Africa.

It might be time for a send them back to Europe movement.... :2wave:

I'd say travel and see the world...then come back here and be VERY grateful your ancestors chose to leave all they knew behind for this country. :peace
 
In theory, yes, and I very nearly did.

But that was several years ago and things were different.

Question is, where the hell would you go?

Europe is scary-screwed. I've been down under, and no thanks. Germany is still ok, but with crazy on all sides, how long will that last? Canada is still holding it together -- I guess I could go there, and I might if things get bad enough, but man... the last thing I need is more cold.

I'm probably in the best place I could be right now: a relatively stable, economically viable blue state. There's still problems, but it's probably the best of all available options at the moment.
 
Who thinks that "escaping" to another country will save you, pending the failure of the US? Who thinks other countries will remain unscathed by a failure of the US? Think about it, is that even possible? By every measure of GDP, the US is either at the top or within the top 10. Per capita GDP the US is 8th; do you know what China is.......94th. So if money doesn't interest you, tell me why you would leave the US, because when the economy collapses, don't expect that your leisure cruise down the Rhine River to go unaffected.
 
No. I felt comfortable in Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK, Denmark, Poland, Estonia - and could probably live in any of these countries, no problem. But America is just more fun - more stuff happening, more things to do.
 
Being selective is what makes them great.

So then you support the European Union? Both Finland and Sweden benefit from being a EU member. Switzerland though refuses to become a member of the EU but then they dont really need to since they are a very very small state that is landlocked by countries in the EU, which means that it is highly likely that their neighbors would save their little country.

At anyrate the fact that those countries only actual let rich people move there means that it doesnt matter that they exist for you since you can never move there.
 
If there were any other countries that were better, sure. Unfortunately there aren't so I'm content to live in the best one currently available, warts and all.
 
I have a very hard time believing this, but I am willing to do so if shown the information. Could you cite a credible source? I am in disbelief because of the millions of illegal immigrants from Mexico who live and work(illegally in most cases) who do not know how to speak english, let alone read it. Also, the number of kids who drop out and are illiterate, people who are severely impoverished and do not finish school, etc. I work in a setting where the patients have extremely low literacy. I'm unsure of how the 99% figure was achieved.


Legal immigration is one thing, however, illegal immigration, which is rampant in the U.S., is another. As liberalavenger noted, you can't just walk into the aforementioned countries. They are selective. The U.S. is a country which deserves to be picky about immigrants, why are we not? Not on the basis of race of course.
Maybe we should be more "picky" about immigration.....or maybe not...
These nations with strict immigraton laws could also be, in this area anyway, police states...
Or they do NOT have the allure of our nation..
As to illiteracy...check out Craigs List.
It more like 90% at best..
Maybe no one asks the "illegals "??
 
The people of those countries are (in general) less powerful than the people of the US. And the culture is far more monotonic. But, measured in the way you are using, their stats show up great. So what is it that you want more precisely stated?

I want a safe place to start a family with a good education system, low religious population, progressive civil rights, low crime rate, stable economy. I hope this is precise enough. I know not all places can have the best of everything, but I like the idea of finding some place which comes close.
 
I like the enthusiasm, but how do you propose I change the economic meltdown we are in? How do you supposed I change the election process, the policy making process, end the war, get us out of debt, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, improve the education system, etc? Do you suppose I lobby? Call my congressman? I have done both, to no avail, as many others have.
None of those things happened overnight. The shortest was the 2008 Crash and it took three years to take full effect. Afghanistan has been just over a decade. Everything else has taken decades to get to where they are now - and it's going to take decades to get them back where they belong. You have to take it one step at a time and pass on your views of change to the following generations with hopes they'll have better lives.
 
So then you support the European Union? Both Finland and Sweden benefit from being a EU member. Switzerland though refuses to become a member of the EU but then they dont really need to since they are a very very small state that is landlocked by countries in the EU, which means that it is highly likely that their neighbors would save their little country.

At anyrate the fact that those countries only actual let rich people move there means that it doesnt matter that they exist for you since you can never move there.

As gottago said, I want to live in America, but the choice to stay is becoming increasingly difficult. You are right that the short list of successful countries do not have an open door policy, which is understandable but unfortunate. The nation is divided on most issues. I don't want to see any anarchy or revolutions. I live in the south, and people I know are SERIOUS about saying they will NOT give up their guns no matter what. I don't want to see Civil War II, right before I start my family. That's all I'm saying. I could be called paranoid I guess, but I'm trying to take precautions. I want what was afforded to my parents, and their parents before them.
 
Maybe we should be more "picky" about immigration.....or maybe not...
These nations with strict immigraton laws could also be, in this area anyway, police states...
Or they do NOT have the allure of our nation..
As to illiteracy...check out Craigs List.
It more like 90% at best..
Maybe no one asks the "illegals "??

We should be picky about immigration... why shouldn't we? Especially now with so many out of the job. Do we just want more unemployed collecting benefits?
 
None of those things happened overnight. The shortest was the 2008 Crash and it took three years to take full effect. Afghanistan has been just over a decade. Everything else has taken decades to get to where they are now - and it's going to take decades to get them back where they belong. You have to take it one step at a time and pass on your views of change to the following generations with hopes they'll have better lives.

I fear the government is becoming too powerful, to intrusive. September 11 changed a lot of things. It started a war which can never truly be won, drained trillions of dollars in the past decade, made it possible for the patriot act to be accepted by the public, etc etc.
 
I don't agree with every policy of the US gov, nor do I support all the recent cultural changes but living in another place would probably not be easy.
 
Indeed. I have seen the palm trees in both countries many times. I thought about both countries when I wrote the post. I'd live in Ireland tomorrow. Cork or there abouts for me, but my wife loves dirty old Dublin. I'd settle for either or anywhere in Eire save for Limerick, which ironically is where my family is from.

Next time you visit Eire, check out the village of Kinsale
 
Many things are changing in the United States, and many things have remained the same (war, for example). Gun policies are changing, health care is changing drastically, economy is in the dumps, etc etc. I am not deeming any of these issues negative or positive because to each, his own. I am simply curious to see how many Americans are either satisfied and want to continue living here, or are unsettled and wish to leave.

Vote and discuss.

Soon I will be retiring to Thailand. But it was the United States that made that retirement possible. Living in another country, being military I lived in many different countries, is one thing. Living in another country, certain countries to be sure it is an advantage to be an American citizen. Perhaps your question should have been would one rather live in another country and become a citizen of that country?

I can think of several other countries I would rather live in right now. But none that I would want to become a citizen of.
 
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