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Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

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Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#11
post #4

I once dreamed of immigrating to the US and working in the Bay Area... but it's become apparent to me now that there's something inherently wrong with that country. I guess I'll go to Australia or Canada instead.

Canada is cold. Australia is expensive and its government is corrupt.

But getting to the point, you really shouldn't allow isolated acts like this to influence you.

You're much more likely to be killed by the next earthquake in the Bay area then you are to be killed by dopey police officer.

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#12
Wow, I am really looking forward to finding g out more about this. What agency were they with? How often do they do this? Was it random or targeted, and if the latter at the person or device?

Side note - he wasn't arrested, he was handcuffed, had a weapon stuck in his back, was detained, had an illegal search performed on his possessions, and all by purported law enforcement officers who refused to identify themselves. In many ways this is worse than being arrested - with an arrest there are other layers of law enforcement to appeal to and receive justice. With an arrest at least we would have officers names, charges, etc, which if faked could theoretically result in discipline or firing of the officer. I know it doesn't always work that way, but at least the checks and balances exist.

With this kind of officer-level illegal search and detainment, there is very very little that can be done to seek any sort of justice. If this kids mom wasn't a reporter, nobody would have heard or believed the story.

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Come to Australia! We need as many skilled workers as possible.

Ease of receiving an Australian work permit/visa as a US citizen tech worker? Definitely interested in working outside of the US.

You can self sponsor with this https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189- bit of mucking about to get but once you have it you can work for any company. Otherwise company will need a company to sponsor you on https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/457- which is not hard to get but does limit the companies you can work for as not all will know how to do it.

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ease of receiving an Australian work permit/visa as a US citizen tech worker? Definitely interested in working outside of the US.

You can self sponsor with this https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189- bit of mucking about to get but once you have it you can work for any company. Otherwise company will need a company to sponsor you on https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/457- which is not hard to get but does limit the companies you can work for as not all will know how to do it.

Thank you!

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#15
post #11
post #4

I once dreamed of immigrating to the US and working in the Bay Area... but it's become apparent to me now that there's something inherently wrong with that country. I guess I'll go to Australia or Canada instead.

Canada is cold. Australia is expensive and its government is corrupt. But getting to the point, you really shouldn't allow isolated acts like this to influence you. You're much more likely to be killed by the next earthquake in the Bay area then you are to be killed by dopey police officer.

You're much more likely to be killed by the next earthquake in the Bay area then you are to be killed by dopey police officer.

What makes you assume he/she would base this decision on simple self-interest rather than principles?

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Come to Australia! We need as many skilled workers as possible.

Ease of receiving an Australian work permit/visa as a US citizen tech worker? Definitely interested in working outside of the US.

https://www.border.gov.au/. I don't know the details of the process though - I am a New Zealander, and I get right of residence automatically. There is always New Zealand of course, so you can live and travel between the two countries without hindrance once you get a passport in either.

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ease of receiving an Australian work permit/visa as a US citizen tech worker? Definitely interested in working outside of the US.

https://www.border.gov.au/ . I don't know the details of the process though - I am a New Zealander, and I get right of residence automatically. There is always New Zealand of course, so you can live and travel between the two countries without hindrance once you get a passport in either.

Thank you for the reply!

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#18
post #11
post #4

I once dreamed of immigrating to the US and working in the Bay Area... but it's become apparent to me now that there's something inherently wrong with that country. I guess I'll go to Australia or Canada instead.

Canada is cold. Australia is expensive and its government is corrupt. But getting to the point, you really shouldn't allow isolated acts like this to influence you. You're much more likely to be killed by the next earthquake in the Bay area then you are to be killed by dopey police officer.

Australia is corrupt? Compared to where?

I immigrated here from the U.S. and the only contact I have with the "government" is my annual tax filing.

Where previously I had nearly 6-monthly encounters with police just for (I guess) being a black/Muslim man. "Random" traffic stops escalating to inquiries into everything about my life.

Long live Australia.

[Edit: I DO routinely run into my neighborhood Australian police on Fridays, that's because we frequent the same local bar and catch up for drinks and games of pool.]

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#19
post #11
post #4

I once dreamed of immigrating to the US and working in the Bay Area... but it's become apparent to me now that there's something inherently wrong with that country. I guess I'll go to Australia or Canada instead.

Canada is cold. Australia is expensive and its government is corrupt. But getting to the point, you really shouldn't allow isolated acts like this to influence you. You're much more likely to be killed by the next earthquake in the Bay area then you are to be killed by dopey police officer.

Corrupt? Not that bad according to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

Re: Arrested by Undercover Officers After Trying to Sell His Laptop Online

#20
post #11
post #4

I once dreamed of immigrating to the US and working in the Bay Area... but it's become apparent to me now that there's something inherently wrong with that country. I guess I'll go to Australia or Canada instead.

Canada is cold. Australia is expensive and its government is corrupt. But getting to the point, you really shouldn't allow isolated acts like this to influence you. You're much more likely to be killed by the next earthquake in the Bay area then you are to be killed by dopey police officer.

According to this: http://www.transparency.org/cpi2015 Australia does not fare too badly (13th overall).
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