From: nospam@example.net   
      
   On Tue, 7 May 2024, oldernow wrote:   
      
   > On 2024-05-06, D  wrote:   
   >   
   >>>> Speaking polarization and US politics... yesterday I met   
   >>>> a lesbian woman from Georgia who left the US for spain   
   >>>> due to not liking the political atmosphere there.   
   >>>   
   >>> I rather appreciate when people openly identify themselves   
   >>> as the kind that run from problems.   
   >>   
   >> Well, it is a valid strategy. If you don't like where you   
   >> are, move somewhere else. I did it. Didn't like sweden,   
   >> moved somewhere else, like it much better.   
   >>   
   >> I think if more people did this, we'd have less conflict   
   >> and a generally happier population. =)   
   >   
   > You convinced me!   
      
   Whoa!! This is the usenet you know... no one should ever have to say   
   that they were convinced!! ;)   
      
   > In my defense (in a weird way) for being so derisive, I've   
   > heard most of my life that the United States is the creme   
   > de la creme of places to live. I've no hard evidence that's   
   > true, but you hear something for sixty years, and it tends   
   > to seem real.   
      
   This is a very interesting question. I have lived in 6 countries so far,   
   throughout my life, and what you have heard, every citizen of every   
   western european country hears. I think, being conspiratorially minded,   
   that it is by design. Politicians want their citizens to believe that   
   their country is unique, worth more, more sofisticated, the best etc.   
   Imagine what would happen otherwise? Everyone would leave and the   
   politicians would be kings over a waste land.   
      
   Based on my subjective experience of having lived in 6 countries, I have   
   discovered that there is no perfect country. Every country has its   
   strength and weaknesses.   
      
   Sweden: Move there if you are a lesbian socialist. You will be at the   
   top of society. Also, if you don't like to work and enjoy living of the   
   government, there's plenty of opportunity in sweden.   
      
   Norway: Like sweden, but with higher salaries and more time off. I call   
   it the laziest country in the world. Without their oil, the country   
   would collapse.   
      
   Switzerland: Europes libertarian little utopia for the masses (that   
   means you're not wealthy enough to move to Monaco). But very culturally   
   conservative, and very closed to foreigners, so for me it was the most   
   boring country I ever lived in.   
      
   USA (Chicago): Since I was studying and working illegally on the side it   
   is difficult to compare with the others where I have worked and not   
   studied. But I'd say that it felt like a Switzerland (very conservative   
   compared with europe) but with higher taxes than switzerland but more   
   fun and open people. About the people though, the problem was that it   
   was very easy to superficially get to know someone. You could go to a   
   bar and talk with people and they didn't think you were crazy (in sweden   
   you don't talk to strangers in a bar, they will think you are crazy) but   
   it was very difficult to "get under the skin" of an american and get to   
   know them on a personal level.   
      
   So those are some of my examples. Currently, as regular readers of my   
   texts might know, I'm thinking of moving either to the US, Bahamas,   
   southern switzerland or perhaps one of the channel islands. The idea is   
   to move within 5 to 10 years or so and semi-retire.   
      
   > In that context, people leaving for political reasons   
   > seems like evidence of idiocy, because whereas "political   
   > reasons" are essentially nothing but words (and, so, if   
   > you want, you ignore them, and they're essentially gone   
      
   That is a strong point in your favour. If you're a lesbian american, you   
   don't _have_ to socialize with Trump supporters or fundamentalist   
   christians. I am certain that in a country of 300+ million you would be   
   able to find a community where you would be welcomed and feel at home.   
      
   > (of course, that presumes not listening to a "new media"   
   > that sees the end of democracy - if not the world! - in   
   > a candidate they don't like)), things like the economy,   
      
   It will be hilairous when Trump wins, and the world wakes up the day   
   after and the world is still there and not burning! Talk about most   
   media being completely wrong! Or... Trump might jump up in the saddle of   
   his horse, along with his 3 vice presidents, and ride all over the world   
   setting it all on fire! ;)   
      
   > natural resources, climate... I dunno: I just can't imagine   
   > it being as good elsewhere, and would only move if I   
   > became convinced it were better on most fronts elsewhere,   
   > not merely "politically less worse" - especially knowing   
   > what a dumpster of fiction "The News" has become.   
      
   Also remember the friends and family bonus. If you have friends and   
   family in a country, it is much harder to leave them and move somewhere   
   else.   
      
   That's the reason I'm not yet ready to move to the US. Being at least an   
   8 hours flight away from my elderly father is not something I'd like to   
   be. Now I'm 1 hour away by plane, and even that sometimes gives me a bad   
   conscience.   
      
   I actually am thinking about what to do with him if he would ever need   
   serious constant medical care, and I don't know. I do know that elderly   
   (and no we're talking 80+ here) seem to like being treated by people who   
   speak their native language and not a second language, so that would be   
   a reason against moving him to me, but boy would it be unpleasant having   
   to move back to sweden for that. Well, time will tell, that is 100%   
   certain. ;)   
      
   >>> This also looks like a case of intolerance - aka NATURAL   
   >>> SELECTION (you know, the notion that deity-haters clung to   
   >>> for a few decades as proof of their atheist superiority,   
   >>> until suddenly realizing it brought with it unintended   
   >>> logical consequences that are contrary to their "evolving   
   >>> to perpetually be seen to be the most self-righteously   
   >>> politically correct" position) - working.   
   >>>   
   >>> And the funniest part is it's clearly *her* intolerance   
   >>> motivating a ridiculous amount of effort to escape others.   
   >>   
   >> Well, the downside is that some democrats move to sweden,   
   >> thus reinforcing the socialist values there to my big pain,   
   >> causing me to move to another country, reinforcing (well,   
   >> actually the way things are going I might have to move   
   >> again) the low-tax politics of that place, thus, forcing   
   >> the socialists there, to move to sweden. Ping-pong is the   
   >> name of the game! ;)   
   >   
   > FWIW, you don't want to play me in ping pong. It's been   
   > decades, but I've "The Inner Game" grounded muscle memory   
   > that'll make you wish you'd emigrated to Spain! ;-)   
      
   Oh dear! I did play a few pings and pongs in my youth, but I was never   
   part of the elite. I beleive you!   
      
   >> But we'll see... I'm pretty certain they will increase the   
   >> taxes over time, so in 5-10 years or so, it is probably   
   >> time to move again.   
   >   
   > Is your middle name 'Strategy' by any chance?   
      
   You wouldn't be the first person to call me by that name. ;) Some people   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)