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To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

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Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#51

Post by fingerprinter »

dmpk2k wrote: post #46
fingerprinter wrote: post #35

I'm an American living in AU, going to move to Canada. Couple of thoughts. 1. Family was discussing where to live. US didn't really come up as an option because of healthcare and education. Things are generally cheaper in the US, but standard of living for our kids was considered more important. Canada in particular is very close, nearly as cheap and has better education and healthcare. Win-Win. 2. People in the US g…

I'm curious why you're moving from Australia to Canada? Canada has a lot going for it, and it's definitely cheaper, but in most regards I think Australia has its act together better.

Valid question because I would generally agree that AU has quite a bit going for it.

The single main reason is location. AU is FAAAAAR from things. I fly for work to the US and Europe several times a year. This gets very old very quickly in AU. To get to Singapore, which is the main hub to Europe, is 8hrs. That is already longer than the longest US flight. To get from Singapore to Europe is between 12 and 14 hrs. To get from Sydney/Melbourne to LAX is 15hrs. Do this with two kids and you'll just hate life.

Also, for the kids, the cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles all live in the US, which is a quick direct flight away. This is the single biggest factor.

This is more a huge pet peeve of mine and I wouldn't move because of this, but I hate the nanny state that is AU. The government here is very restrictive and tends to take away rights "for the kids". There is constant talk about an internet firewall and quite a few other little things that add up to "nanny state". I told my wife that if we stayed in AU it might cause me to get into politics b/c of how messed up it is. It is that bad.

And, lastly, we've had an adventure. We are looking to settle in to a place for 10-15 years or so while the kids grow up and go to school. If it wasn't for the above, AU might have been that place, but the second item makes it hard for us to be this far away.

I say about AU that if you can leave your former life and live in AU (meaning, you live, work and pretty much embrace the AU life), AU is AWESOME. They really do have quite a bit going for it, even with the nanny state item. They don't call it 'the lucky country' for nothing!

Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#52

Post by jballanc »

smsm42 wrote: post #49
jballanc wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. I've found that business in America have a tendency to try and monetize the entirety of every business transaction. For example, I used to work at Circuit City, and if you came in to buy a TV you'd be amazed how quickly the salesperson would shift the conversation onto cables, power supplies, protection plans, etc. When the end of the day rolled around, and praise was divvied out by the store managers, no one e…

Note that you are comparing a big chain store (Circuit City) with small business (a Turk). Most businesses in the US are small businesses, which behave differently than chain stores. And if you think that that the Turk wouldn't get back the price of his tea hundredfold when you buy that rug, then you're very naive :) It's just different styles of conducting business - in some cultures, the negotiations are supposed t…

Well, you're wrong about one thing: that's not just small businesses in Turkey. Even very large chain stores have the same level of hospitality. And it's not just stores. As an example, tomorrow is the start of Şeker Bayramı (literally translates as "Sugar Holiday" but is just what Turks call Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan). The holiday lasts for 3 days. I received a text from Turkcell the other day stating that they were giving everyone unlimited texting during the holiday.

Edit: Also, of course the Turkish businessman is making back the cost of the tea. It would be foolish to think otherwise. The point is that (if you want to go all Econ 101 on it...) Turks tend to think in terms of straight profit, whereas Americans are much more obsessed with opportunity cost.

Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#53

Post by uvdiv »

smsm42 wrote: post #45
stinos wrote: post #26

Just today I was reading an interview with a Belgian journalist/writer, Bjorn Soenens, who travelled through America and wrote a boook about it's current state, on all levels. His conclusions were pretty much the same as in this article, although I'd also say 'darker'. Some claims he made, which I cannot verify but would love to hear comments about [I have the impression he's rather pessimistic and mainly lifts out t…

If you think OWS came close to revolution you should switch the brand that you're smoking, it's not good for you :) OWS was completely insignificant movement without goals, purpose, ideology, leadership, ability or understanding of anything that happens in the society. It was overhyped, mostly by sensation-seeking reporters that want clicks/eyeballs to run ads and by leftist press outlets because they wanted their ow…

You've misread -- `stinos' isn't the one saying these things, he's quoting a Belgian journalist. He disclaimed that he doesn't know if these are accurate depictions and asked HN for comment.

Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#55

Post by smsm42 »

jballanc wrote: post #52
smsm42 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note that you are comparing a big chain store (Circuit City) with small business (a Turk). Most businesses in the US are small businesses, which behave differently than chain stores. And if you think that that the Turk wouldn't get back the price of his tea hundredfold when you buy that rug, then you're very naive :) It's just different styles of conducting business - in some cultures, the negotiations are supposed t…

Well, you're wrong about one thing: that's not just small businesses in Turkey. Even very large chain stores have the same level of hospitality. And it's not just stores. As an example, tomorrow is the start of Şeker Bayramı (literally translates as "Sugar Holiday" but is just what Turks call Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan). The holiday lasts for 3 days. I received a text from Turkcell the other day stating that the…

Are you saying short-term discounts and freebies are unheard of in USA? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/02/national-donut-day-... https://www.facebook.com/events/353010928105586

There are many more examples of stuff regularly given out by companies for free, it's just two things I could remember immediately due to you mentioning "sugar holiday" :)

Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#56

Post by shell0x »

sien wrote: post #4

As someone who has lived in the US, AU & the EU in a few places I'd have to say this article is great. It's something you wind up doing if you live in other places. America is #1 in quite a few things, such as software, just try naming non-US software companies that matter, it's an interesting exercise. Also the US highway system is excellent, the US's culture of entrepreneurship is also awesome. The best US colleges…

The german Autobahn is much better than the US highway system.

Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#57

Post by ams6110 »

rickmb wrote: post #22
chrischen wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes just try comparing Detroit public schools with that of the suburbs and you'll realize no one can make general statements about how crappy US schools are.

You both realize you're only emphasizing one of the main reasons why the US educations system isn't well regarded?

Everything is local.

Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#58

Post by ams6110 »

stinos wrote: post #26

Just today I was reading an interview with a Belgian journalist/writer, Bjorn Soenens, who travelled through America and wrote a boook about it's current state, on all levels. His conclusions were pretty much the same as in this article, although I'd also say 'darker'. Some claims he made, which I cannot verify but would love to hear comments about [I have the impression he's rather pessimistic and mainly lifts out t…

Sounds like the rantings of a socialist agitator.

Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#59

Post by ams6110 »

lmm wrote: post #33
temphn wrote: post #17

The fascinating thing about this article is that it legitimizes the "Atlas Shrugged" response of many entrepreneurs from a progressive perspective. While there is much to be quibbled with in his analysis [1], the simple fact that we now have rationales from both sides for leaving the US and striking out abroad is extraordinarily important. Look for more people to repeat these arguments, to flee taxes, crime, and regu…

> And is bankrupt France really a country to emulate Yes, it really is. Its people are happier, healthier, and better educated; they work less, eat better and have better relationships with their families. And are substantially less indebted than those of the US.

The French would all be speaking German today if we (USA) had emulated them in the last century.

Re: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country

#60

Post by jballanc »

smsm42 wrote: post #55
jballanc wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you're wrong about one thing: that's not just small businesses in Turkey. Even very large chain stores have the same level of hospitality. And it's not just stores. As an example, tomorrow is the start of Şeker Bayramı (literally translates as "Sugar Holiday" but is just what Turks call Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan). The holiday lasts for 3 days. I received a text from Turkcell the other day stating that the…

Are you saying short-term discounts and freebies are unheard of in USA? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/02/national-donut-day-... https://www.facebook.com/events/353010928105586 There are many more examples of stuff regularly given out by companies for free, it's just two things I could remember immediately due to you mentioning "sugar holiday" :)

Heh...you really do need to visit Turkey. Turkcell didn't advertise that they were giving everyone unlimited texts. There was no article in the national paper about Turkcell giving unlimited texts. They did it because it was proper, and hospitable. In short, Turkish hospitality is very different from the examples you gave.

Trust me, if you ever care to visit Ankara, tell me and I will show you Turkish hospitality.

(Or, as odd as it sounds, Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" episode on Istanbul does an amazingly good job of capturing the essence of modern Turkish culture...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ojatA-Xqhk)

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