traveling open your eyes to how terrible the US is in many ways?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Recently went to Taiwan, where they rank higher on the freedom index than even the US. It's amazing how things function when everyone obeys the law and it is clean everywhere. Never worried about crimes and guns anywhere. Public transport? Amazing. Regional railways that took over one hour long cost a grand total of about $2.80 FOR TWO TICKETS. Amazing when infrastructure is not built around cars and catering to car culture. Food, much higher quality. Next stop was in Thailand, where one in our party got sick. Went to the hospital and was seen immediately. Got checked out by the attending physician, took a stool sample to determine if there was an infection, and had the results in less than one hour. All of this without using insurance cost a grand whopping total of $83. Imagine how terrible it'd be in the US. Probably at least over $2000 for the same treatment and it'd take triple the amount of time. Even Thailand is so much safer with respect to gun violence and crime. Traveling really opens your eyes to how terrible the US has gotten. I honestly think we are borderline 2nd world. We aren't really that free, healthcare is unaffordable, zero guaranteed vacations, high cost of living, toxic food, terrible infrastructure, severely obese population, and out of control crime and gun problems.

Went to Denmark in September and had same impression. US has become a dump after letting millions of new immigrants in

We should focus on helping our own citizens first.

But both parties are in collusion to bring in cheap labor, and the middle class gets screwed. Housing more expensive , health care explodes

We need to stop all immigration now

OP is sitting around thinking of an excuse to use to tell us that we need immigrants and how our country is so bad because we have not let in more. If he were so concerned about schools and infrastructure he would acknowledge that increasing our population by 100+ over the last few decades was a poor idea. Also lots of immigration is a hamper to collectivism and social cohesion, which he loves. But he won't admit that. This is why he has been silent for a few minutes, he doesn't know what to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, join expat forums if you really want to know what it's like. There's a reason people don't leave the US in droves.

1) We don't speak the language
2) There are few pathways for an American to become a permanent resident let alone a citizen in most desirable countries

That's it. That's the only thing stopping a mass exodus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, join expat forums if you really want to know what it's like. There's a reason people don't leave the US in droves.

1) We don't speak the language
2) There are few pathways for an American to become a permanent resident let alone a citizen in most desirable countries

That's it. That's the only thing stopping a mass exodus.

We don't want to leave

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, join expat forums if you really want to know what it's like. There's a reason people don't leave the US in droves.

1) We don't speak the language
2) There are few pathways for an American to become a permanent resident let alone a citizen in most desirable countries

That's it. That's the only thing stopping a mass exodus.

We don't want to leave

I sure do. Speak for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, join expat forums if you really want to know what it's like. There's a reason people don't leave the US in droves.

1) We don't speak the language
2) There are few pathways for an American to become a permanent resident let alone a citizen in most desirable countries

That's it. That's the only thing stopping a mass exodus.

We don't want to leave

I sure do. Speak for yourself.

Likewise, speak for yourself--don't assume all of us are as unhappy with the country as you are.

[Anonymous]

Go ahead, move to Taiwan. Be sure to learn Mandarin Chinese.

[Anonymous]

The U.S. may be imperfect in some ways, but whether the alternatives are superior depends on your perspective and position in society. If you'd like the government to take care of you, you'd be better off in a society where incomes are relatively low, taxes are high, and standards of living are relatively uniform, typically lower middle class relative to the U.S. If you prefer lower taxes, incentives for hard work, and are ok with widely unequal outcomes because people are unequal in their ambitions, intelligence, levels of effort, and personal characteristics, the U.S. is the place to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The U.S. may be imperfect in some ways, but whether the alternatives are superior depends on your perspective and position in society. If you'd like the government to take care of you, you'd be better off in a society where incomes are relatively low, taxes are high, and standards of living are relatively uniform, typically lower middle class relative to the U.S. If you prefer lower taxes, incentives for hard work, and are ok with widely unequal outcomes because people are unequal in their ambitions, intelligence, levels of effort, and personal characteristics, the U.S. is the place to be.

This is sensible, but OP won't like this, because you are not in despair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently went to Taiwan, where they rank higher on the freedom index than even the US. It's amazing how things function when everyone obeys the law and it is clean everywhere. Never worried about crimes and guns anywhere. Public transport? Amazing. Regional railways that took over one hour long cost a grand total of about $2.80 FOR TWO TICKETS. Amazing when infrastructure is not built around cars and catering to car culture. Food, much higher quality. Next stop was in Thailand, where one in our party got sick. Went to the hospital and was seen immediately. Got checked out by the attending physician, took a stool sample to determine if there was an infection, and had the results in less than one hour. All of this without using insurance cost a grand whopping total of $83. Imagine how terrible it'd be in the US. Probably at least over $2000 for the same treatment and it'd take triple the amount of time. Even Thailand is so much safer with respect to gun violence and crime. Traveling really opens your eyes to how terrible the US has gotten. I honestly think we are borderline 2nd world. We aren't really that free, healthcare is unaffordable, zero guaranteed vacations, high cost of living, toxic food, terrible infrastructure, severely obese population, and out of control crime and gun problems.

They need some of our strengthening diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Recently went to Taiwan, where they rank higher on the freedom index than even the US. It's amazing how things function when everyone obeys the law and it is clean everywhere. Never worried about crimes and guns anywhere. Public transport? Amazing. Regional railways that took over one hour long cost a grand total of about $2.80 FOR TWO TICKETS. Amazing when infrastructure is not built around cars and catering to car culture. Food, much higher quality. Next stop was in Thailand, where one in our party got sick. Went to the hospital and was seen immediately. Got checked out by the attending physician, took a stool sample to determine if there was an infection, and had the results in less than one hour. All of this without using insurance cost a grand whopping total of $83. Imagine how terrible it'd be in the US. Probably at least over $2000 for the same treatment and it'd take triple the amount of time. Even Thailand is so much safer with respect to gun violence and crime. Traveling really opens your eyes to how terrible the US has gotten. I honestly think we are borderline 2nd world. We aren't really that free, healthcare is unaffordable, zero guaranteed vacations, high cost of living, toxic food, terrible infrastructure, severely obese population, and out of control crime and gun problems.

Went to Denmark in September and had same impression. US has become a dump after letting millions of new immigrants in

We should focus on helping our own citizens first.

But both parties are in collusion to bring in cheap labor, and the middle class gets screwed. Housing more expensive , health care explodes

We need to stop all immigration now

Nope, not the immigrants fault.

And the issue is not a "both sides" one at all. Only one side killed their own immigration bill and it wasn't the dems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The U.S. may be imperfect in some ways, but whether the alternatives are superior depends on your perspective and position in society. If you'd like the government to take care of you, you'd be better off in a society where incomes are relatively low, taxes are high, and standards of living are relatively uniform, typically lower middle class relative to the U.S. If you prefer lower taxes, incentives for hard work, and are ok with widely unequal outcomes because people are unequal in their ambitions, intelligence, levels of effort, and personal characteristics, the U.S. is the place to be.

So inherited wealth makes one "better" in a capitalist society? People born on third base or who have generational wealth such that they never have to work are at the top of the ladder, and the only thing they did to get there was be born to the right parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ half are suicides

I find it so strange when people say “half are suicides” as if having tens of thousands of people blowing themselves away with guns isn’t a deeply concerning national problem that is a totally needed part of the gun discussion.

Without easily accessible guns, many of these people would be alive. And they aren’t less important because they had depression. Sheesh.

Show us the stats saying they would be alive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The U.S. may be imperfect in some ways, but whether the alternatives are superior depends on your perspective and position in society. If you'd like the government to take care of you, you'd be better off in a society where incomes are relatively low, taxes are high, and standards of living are relatively uniform, typically lower middle class relative to the U.S. If you prefer lower taxes, incentives for hard work, and are ok with widely unequal outcomes because people are unequal in their ambitions, intelligence, levels of effort, and personal characteristics, the U.S. is the place to be.

Bingo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, join expat forums if you really want to know what it's like. There's a reason people don't leave the US in droves.

1) We don't speak the language
2) There are few pathways for an American to become a permanent resident let alone a citizen in most desirable countries

That's it. That's the only thing stopping a mass exodus.

What is a desirable country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, join expat forums if you really want to know what it's like. There's a reason people don't leave the US in droves.

1) We don't speak the language
2) There are few pathways for an American to become a permanent resident let alone a citizen in most desirable countries

That's it. That's the only thing stopping a mass exodus.

What is a desirable country?

New Zealand.