Given what's going on in the US now and possibly in the future; what other country would you consider moving to and why?

I think i’d probably do alright in mexico, I’m pretty much already there, seriously, all of my mail is in Spanish….

Ecuador , you can live on both sides of the globe. Anyways, I’ve heard it’s the most easiest to be living there of all countries.

Ireland. Wonderful people who speak English, beautiful scenery, and great pubs! My wife still has some distant relatives there, but even being a distant cousin makes you family to these people. I adore them.

Denmark.

If it was good enough for Victor Børge and Garrison Keillor, then it is “OK” for me.

I’d love to live in any nation where there is no censorship of pornography.

France has always had draw for me. Socialized health care. Beautiful countryside. Delicious cheese. What else could I want‽

The Czech Republic because I love it and have wanted to move there since studying there one summer. The language is easy to pick up and all of the people I interacted with were very nice and patient about helping me learn. Plus… the beer. It’s great. I mean delicious. Amazing even. Best in the world.

I don’t know about everyone else, but it makes me kinda sad that I think, for the first time ever, ppl are thinking about living outside the US.
I’m not sure where I’d go. Having been lucky enough to travel to the UK, Mexico and Europe—I’ve always appreciated the US even more when I came home.
That’s actually why I’m asking the question…I want another place to consider. Though I just can’t ever imagine leaving.

I don’t want to leave I want to keep this country great.

I’ll defend it with my life if need be because my pastures of plenty must always be free
-Woody Guthrie

This land is your land this land is my land from California to the New York Island
-Woody Guthrie

People always talk about leaving the US around the time of a Presidential election if their candidate doesn’t win. The same thing happened the last election cycle. It is all drama and bravado.

There are other countries that do certain things better….but I am confident that there are complaints against every government that there is….the grass is always greener elsewhere.

For me, give me the good ol’ USA. You can’t help to change what you feel is wrong w/ the USA living outside its borders.

If I had the financial means to just go somewhere and exist (i.e. not have to worry about translating my job skills, immediately learning the language, etc.) I’d move to Italy, of all the places I’ve been it’s hands down my favorite place.

But if the country ever reached the point where I didn’t think it was salvagable, and I still had to find a way to support myself, I don’t really see anyplace I could go besides Canada.

I love their politics, but hate their weather, and find the country to be way too sparse…but I suppose there is probably at least one major metropolitan area in Canada where the weather is by and large as decent as here in Minnesota, so I’d find a way to make it work…at least I wouldn’t have to worry about health care, and the draconian laws about drug use and who it’s acceptable to have sex with like we do here (not that either affects me personally, it just bothers me on a moralistic level that government can’t let you be yourself).

@ snoopy I agree; tho this is the first time I can remember about ppl actually being serious about relocating. I’d really never leave either…but, many ppl are considering it. Especially younger ppl.

@dalepetrie Yeah, Canada would be my fisrt choice. Italy’s beautiful, but too religious for me. Freaking nuns everywhere!!!

Personally I would love to visit a number of countries, but I still have teo states to see in the US. Besides my mortgage is paid off, both the car and the truck are paid off and functional, and most of my money is in a credit union.

People were serious about relocating during the Vietnam War. Many did, and some have never come back.

At times it seems that America is like my Grumpy old grandfather who says and does what ever he wants and all of us our embarrassed to take him anywhere but we still love him. He is halfway blind, goes to the bathroom on himself and curses at the nurse who comes by the house to take care of him but he still gets the honorary seat at the dinner table because he is our history and he is family.

@Gambit and Darwin I feel the same way. I hope to never see the day when I pack up and leave this country. I would only do so in desperation.

My point in asking the question was to see what other people were feeling and what options they would even consider.

@deaddolly it is a good question and a fair one to ask.

deaddolly, remember though…where there is too much religion, there is also an outsized representation of the dark side…you must have the yang if you have the ying.

My thoughts on Italy are, I’d locate in the countryside of Tuscany, somewhere that I could get internet access and satellite TV. I’d live a fairly simple life and stay connected to the world, and I’d travel all over Europe (by rail) any chance I got.

All those countries are great, amazing (some I have even visited), particulalrly
for tourist visits, as summer homes and some even to retire to, but
thank goodness it would take heck more to make many of us think of
leaving this great land of ours, so for me, I’ll be the last one here, holding the flag,
even if the Bronx is burning!

Moving to another nation would not “end” your American citizenship, you know. You would be living on foreign soil, but you would still have obligations to the country where your citizenship was claimed.

This would include the payment of federal income taxes, which cover all income, worldwide.

@dalepetrie…that sounds like nirvana!

@Jack, never knew that. Sucks about the income tax.

That’s why it should be eliminated, forever.

I’m sticking here. I’ve always said the grass is usually greener because the septic tank leaks.

Where I’m at in this country, things don’t look so bad. Prices are decent, my life quality is good, and I don’t have any complaints. I’m living within my means. Yes, I’m not rolling in money, but I’m also not drowning in debt.

It’s not the country that’s bad, it’s the people. And we all helped, in some way or another, to put them there.

Can you not expatriate (i.e. renounce your US citizenship), thus avoiding taxes? I think it’s a citizenship issue.

You can renounce your citizenship and become a citizen of the country to which you move (if they will have you), but I’d advise against it, simply because the day may come when you will want to return to the USA, if for no other reason, than to have a Chicago-style deep dish pizza.

True, it’s not easy to fully immigrate and naturalize to ANY country, and by renouncing your citizenship, you make it much harder to ever move back. But then again, if you have a passport, you can always find your way to Giordano’s (my personal favorite).

ooh. yum. Giordano’s!!!

Gino’s is a close second though!

@Dale: Gino’s is my #1!

i don’t think i could ever bring myself to give up US citizenship.

@deaddolly, you would not have to. You can become a resident alien in another country without losing your U.S. citizenship. You can even take dual citizenship if you want to, in most cases.

@ich Thanks! That makes me feel better!

My hubby has tried to get me to move to germany. It’s beautiful, but COLD! (I love California) and my grandkids are here, so I guess I’ll have to stay here nad try to be part of the solution.

Here’s our plan: Move to Canada, around a large body of fresh water, as far inland, as far north, and as high an elevation as possible. Then, when the world is a flooded, sweltering ruin, I’ll still have good weather, clean water, and solitude. Ahh…..

Empress – have you had Giordano’s? Gino’s was my favorit until I did. Not to continue to hijack the thread…just curious!

To bring it back on track somewhat in response to tinyfaery, one benefit to Minnesota is that there are no earthquakes, and we’re pretty much smack dab in the center of North America, so if the ice caps melt and the oceans rise, I might have oceanfront property, but at least I won’t be in the water!

Dale, I have. Too much cheese! It was all rubbery. Not delicious at all. I took an out of town visitor friend there and it was such a disappointment! Perhaps a bad day? I haven’t been back…

Must have been a bad day…I thought the cheese was just right and gooey! And the non pizza items on their menu were also all fantastic. And there are 8 locations, go to the flagship, in downtown for the best quality and service.

Gosh, I don’t know. England and Canada are two countries I know and love, but they are feeling the financial pinch, too, so I might as well stay here. You can run, but you can’t hide.

England is too bloody expensive, guvnah.

Denmark
or
Spain
Hey Deaddolly,
Good Q: I caught an episode on Denmark earlier this year
It was great!
Women leave their carriage like strollers (w/ baby in it) outside while they shop in the grocery store.
Citizens work jobs they actually like. (more so than we do here in the states)
PBS later covered a Heathy lifestyle & their seasons-climate.
PBS, Nat’l Georaphic, Nature, Nova, They air some strikingly informative/ interseting shows. Huh?

Next stop, ‘passport’!

if i wanted proximity to the US i would move to canada. if i wanted to be far away, like if there was a war, i would choose ireland. i’ve been there 3 times, (and no, i’m not irish) and it was quaint, walkable, clean, nice people, good food.

Canadain, eh?
I’d add it to the list

@deaddolly,
dual citizenship or resident alien status won’t get you out of US income taxes…you’re still an American citizen.

When we (US citizens) lived in Venezuela we had a choice: to pay US taxes (and be paid in dollars) or to pay Venezuelan taxes (and be paid in Bolivares). For a variety of reasons it was better for us at that time to pay US taxes. Now that we live back in the US, it is, of course, US taxes we have to pay.

I also discovered that, after I left Arizona, you owe Arizona state taxes no matter where you live as long as you have anything at all left behind in the state. They even called me for jury duty three years after I left the state and had registered to vote in another state, and were perturbed when I sent the excuse back that I was no longer an Arizona resident.

Arizona is screwed up in many ways.

They issue driver licenses that are valid for 20 years…

And annual vehicle registration in Arizona is based on Blue Book value, so my doddering Nissan Sentra cost $250 to register.

all these things about arizona are crazy. i don’t doubt them, i just think they’re crazy.

To further illustrate how “crazy” Arizona can sometimes get, they once had a racist Mormon governor, Evan Meacham, and from that article, I quote verbatim:

While governor, Mecham became known for statements and actions that were widely perceived as insensitive to minorities. Among these actions were the cancellation of the state’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, attributing high divorce rates to working women, and his defense of the word “pickaninny.” In reaction to these events, a boycott of Arizona was organized, damaging the state’s tourism industry by the cancellation of multiple conventions.

Another story is told (but not proven) about the time that former governor Raul Hector Castro had decided that he needed some exercise, grabbed the manual lawnmower and started mowing the lawn outside the governor’s mansion.

Two incredibly stupid Arizona Highway Patrol officers saw him doing this, and not recognizing him, approached him to inquire if he had a Green Card to be working in the USA legally.

Those two idiots were reassigned to another patrol post, and were never heard from, again.

Dont forget about Sheriff Joe Arpaio…

He ain’t crazy. He just walks on water.

Probably because he’s just too cheap to buy a boat

Anyone remember where McCain is from? (Sorry if you are a supporter).

Yes, Arizona.

That explains things…

I’m beginning to think that he picked Palin, simply because her state also begins with the letter A.

@dd – Italy is less religious than you think. If I had to compare, I’d say the U.S. is more religious than Italy. Yeah, they have a long tradition of Catholicism and the Church was the government for a while, but times have changed. Most Italians I’ve met don’t hold a candle to some of the U.S. Christians I’ve met. The Italians are a lot more accepting than you’d think (actually, that’s not a huge surprise, Europe has far surpassed us in terms of progressiveness). My mom’s lived there for like 12 years, I’ve been several times and lived there for 6 months. Amazingly, I feel more free to be out in Italy than I do, say, in the South here.

I am seriously considering leaving the U.S. if McCain-Palin get elected. Not just talking about it like a blowhard making a point, but seriously considering it. I’ve worked hard to fight the Bush administration on many things I think are messed up and totally wrong. Many people have, but half the country likes being willfully ignorant sheep and doing what they’re told. I hate to say it, but our country is pretty f-ed up right now and it doesn’t show any immediate signs of improving, especially if McCain wins the election.

If he wins, I will be around for another year or so because I have to finish my degree, then I am OUT. I’ve had enough. I know everywhere has its own problems, but it’s hard to live in a place that doesn’t really represent who you are and to have to live with terrible decisions that affect the whole world. I feel more in tune with Europe than I do the U.S., in terms of my values and beliefs.

Every time I have traveled abroad over the past few years, the first question people ask me when they find out I’m American is, “Do you like Bush??” When I say no, they say, “Oh, thank God! I’m so glad to meet an American who disagrees with him.”

No joke.. every time.

So.. I would look into moving to Canada, which I dig a lot and would be a great place for me to work in my field. I like the people, I like the natural resources, I totally could get down with living in a place with legalized marijuana and gay marriage. Also, my absolute dream of dreams would be to move to the Netherlands for at least a couple of years. I’ve never been to any other place that is SO absolutely me. I’m in love with the Dutch and their culture. I’d love to live in a place where sex isn’t demonized, tolerance is freely given, artistic expression is celebrated, and the people are generally friendly and happy.

@AlenaD Funny, when we were in Rome last summer, we ran smack into the middle of the Gay Pride Parade, who were marching to the Vatican in support of Gay marriage. It was the most fun I had the entire time in Rome! Tourists were aghast, but I felt right at home and I’m not even gay! It’s just the aura you get about the freedom to be yourself.

Haha.. that’s funny and sounds like a great time!

Canada, Ireland, New Zealand…

There are quite a few places I’d consider moving to.

@Alena You said ”....half the country likes being willfully ignorant sheep and doing what they’re told….”

While I respect your opinon, I seriously doubt that characterizing people w/ whom you disagree in this fashion is the quickest way to get them to change to your point of view. Or to get them to vote for Obama.

I need to add Belize to my list, I guess.

I think there are more sheeple voting for Obama, to be honest with you…

I love you using the word “sheeple”!

A GA and lurves to you! Brilliant!

We know there are no sheeple voting for McCain/Palin, my friends™. Their voters recognize that McCain’s a real maverick reformer™ on a team of mavericks™, which includes a folksy™ hockey mom™, who is just like a pitbull with lipstick™. She after all said “thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere™” up there in Alaska™ which is only separated from Russia by a small strip of water™. She also has more executive experience™ than anyone on either ticket, and she’s not afraid to stand up to the big oil companies™. We know he’ll drive that straight talk express™ straight to Warshington™ and have the courage to stand up to members of his own party™. And we know we can trust him because he’s a war hero™.

And who knowing ALL THAT about their positions could possibly not see the logic in voting for them?

^^^^^ A thousand lurve for this piece of pure genius. I’m still laughing.

Look, I am not trying to convince anyone or turn people into Obama lovers. If you want to know the truth, Obama for me is not the perfect candidate. Basically, I disagree with a lot of people, Obama lovers included. I just call things like I see them. Based on my time living in this country and observing things, I’d say 80%-90% of Americans are content to follow, to not think for themselves, to buy the party line, and to do and believe what they’re told. It has nothing to do with being Democrat or Republican, and all about sitting on one’s proverbial fat ass while things keep heading down the tubes.

The UK,

can you think of something funnier than living out a Guy Ritchie movie while having government-sponsored healthcare?

@dale

U never cease to amaze, lol!

Brilliant!

Thanks TaoSan!

I’d like to move to another country that’s native language is also English. Somewhere warm too, like…Australia, I hear there is a huge ratio for women to men too =)

@lapilofu
“France has always had draw for me. Socialized health care. Beautiful countryside. Delicious cheese. What else could I want‽”
ABSOLUTELY! Ditto!!!