Originally posted by FMFIf I won the lottery I would emigrate to Sweden..
I will set this poser for you and then count myself out as I already did this myself over 20 years ago, after a fashion, anyway.
Assuming you're now in the country where you feel you belong, and something dreadful happened - politically - the "X" in the thread title - something you simply could not stand for [doesn't matter what it is, chuntering on about wh ...[text shortened]... to offer that country?
And what would you expect to be the problems you'd face there?
Pros: much more civilized degree of social responsibility i.e higher tax levels, to pay for retirement/unemployment and excellent education system, leading to a much fairer society with an improved sense of community than I feel we have here in britain.
Whats in it for them? My income tax contributions.
Cons: too much fish in the diet for my tastes, seem to have more than their fair share of depressed authors and playwrights, Would need to learn Swedish to appreciate the nuances in conversations, and not sure how well my body clock would adjust to the different daylight regime.
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Originally posted by FMFI'd also choose Canada. It just doesn't seem that different from the US. I have Canadian friends and from what i can gather, the culture in Ontario is essentially the same as it is in the northeast US, right down to the same TV stations. Moving from New York to Toronto would hardly be an adjustment at all.
I will set this poser for you and then count myself out as I already did this myself over 20 years ago, after a fashion, anyway.
Assuming you're now in the country where you feel you belong, and something dreadful happened - politically - the "X" in the thread title - something you simply could not stand for [doesn't matter what it is, chuntering on about wh to offer that country?
And what would you expect to be the problems you'd face there?
Plus, I love hockey.
Yeah, I know, you have to wait 7 months for an MRI and they have a slightly underdeveloped sense of freedom of speech. But hey, nobody's perfect, right?
What would I have to offer Canada? Well, the same thing I offer the USA. I pay my taxes, I produce, I contribute to making my community a better place and I'm an all around nice guy.
Problems? Well, the Ontario VAT would take a little getting used to. I'm also used to getting an MRI in less than 7 months. But then again, healthcare is paid for by the government, so everything is a trade-off, I guess.
If not Canada, Israel would be next on my list. I'd pick a nice American expat community where everyone speaks English and follows the NFL and again, barely miss a beat.
Next would be Britain. Hey, maybe the NHS isn't as bad as the right wingers make it out to be and, besides, the accent is cool.
Originally posted by sh76If you are a hockey fan you would love Toronto other than the fact that you will see about as many Stanley cups come to town as the cubs see championships.
I'd also choose Canada. It just doesn't seem that different from the US. I have Canadian friends and from what i can gather, the culture in Ontario is essentially the same as it is in the northeast US, right down to the same TV stations. Moving from New York to Toronto would hardly be an adjustment at all.
Plus, I love hockey.
Yeah, I know, you have to wa ...[text shortened]... NHS isn't as bad as the right wingers make it out to be and, besides, the accent is cool.
You would find out what good pouting is too!
Originally posted by FMFThis may sound odd, but I think there is an anti-totalitarian sentiment in Germany, in reaction to the Nazi era, plus that is my genetic and cultural background, and I can speak some very rusty German. Germany's economy is reasonably strong and is more self-sufficient than many. This assumes they would not have erected barriers to immigration under the pressures of the times, and it assumes I could get out with my wife and daughter.
It would be interesting to hear what actual countries you might think fit your criteria.
I'm not sure what it would take to get me to leave the U.S., because I'd more likely want to combat change for the worse than flee it. But if I left, I would first try to get into Australia. It is warmer, it has the Outback, and it has the southern stars. Canada is too cold. My foremost problem with Australia, I think, would be the whole driving on the left thing.
Originally posted by SoothfastI grew up in Britain convinced that it was the only country in the world that drove on the left [except Sweden, which I believed had gradually changed to driving on the right in the 1950s] only to then find myself living in several countries in separate parts of the world that all drove on the left and never having to drive on the right except when on holiday in Europe.
My foremost problem with Australia, I think, would be the whole driving on the left thing.
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Originally posted by whodeyYou forgot the last line. "And the local corrupt wealthy property owner will rule."
My sentiment can be best be sumed up by the song "Imagine"
Imagine there is no nanny state
Its hard if you try
No bureaucrat to dictate to us
How we should live and why
Imagine all the people, with hope for the future and not just today
Imagine there are actually soveriegn countries
It's even harder to do
There are actually things to die for
Lik one.
But I hope someday you will join me
And the world will not be forced to live as one.
By the way, a world entity is coming eventually. Where human kind works together and with individual freedom better promoted than today.
As for the country I would go, it would probably be in Europe. Not sure which country in Europe. Canada also a choice. Didn't Alec Baldwin in 2004 say he was going to Canada if Bush was reelected.
Lastly, I don't think there really is a place in the world where one could go set up a government.
Originally posted by SleepyguyHave you considered Monaco?
If they have flat income tax rates that's a plus (don't want an additional VAT though). Where can a guy go to get a flat income tax rate, a small govt that will not waste my money on corruption and other boondoggles, where by law I can keep and bear firearms for hunting and personal protection, and where the locals won't hate me for being an ugly American who doesn't know their language?
They have to want you, though.