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You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

sam-the-man.com

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Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#121

Post by toasterlovin »

anothergoogler wrote: post #120
toasterlovin wrote: post #117

I know we’re not anywhere near this being a pressing concern, but Pax Americana is coming to an end and I think there’s something to be said for America’s physical location on the globe and relationship with it’s two neighbors. There have been lots of conflagrations in Europe in the time since the American civil war 150 years ago, but there have been essentially none in America. Meanwhile, the raw ingredients of the…

Pax Romana lasted 200 years. It's been 70 so far for Pax Americana. You seem certain that it's on the brink. Why is that?

Well, peace may continue, but it’ll be hard to attribute it to America. China’s ascendance is looming on the horizon. Unless something goes drastically wrong for them, their military and economic might will dwarf America’s. And I think there’s tons of instability on the horizon. Weird shit is happening in Europe, Russia is back as a geopolitical force, Japan is on path to militarize again, etc. These are strange times; the world order that the Soviet collapse ushered in seems to quickly be coming to an end.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#122

Post by anothergoogler »

toasterlovin wrote: post #121
anothergoogler wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pax Romana lasted 200 years. It's been 70 so far for Pax Americana. You seem certain that it's on the brink. Why is that?

Well, peace may continue, but it’ll be hard to attribute it to America. China’s ascendance is looming on the horizon. Unless something goes drastically wrong for them, their military and economic might will dwarf America’s. And I think there’s tons of instability on the horizon. Weird shit is happening in Europe, Russia is back as a geopolitical force, Japan is on path to militarize again, etc. These are strange time…

The Pax Americana has never been free of contentiousness or outright war. People (especially young people) forget how fragile things were prior to the fall of the USSR. The complete US dominance of the '90s and '00s is not the norm. And just as the Soviet house of cards collapsed, there's no guarantee that China's ascendancy is indefinite. Russia's posturing right now is a veil for its domestic strife and decrepit military, they are not much of a force.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#123

Post by dogma1138 »

fwdpropaganda wrote: post #70
Jetroid wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes quality of life terrible in London? Which part of London do you live in?

Farringdon. Apart from the obvious (weather etc), it's even hard to say. The city just feels harsh to me. One of the things that I first noticed when I moved here was how it's uncommon to find places to sit when you're out and about. If you're out all day you can't just sit in some bench and rest a bit because they're virtually non-existent. You have to go into a coffee shop. I think it's loads of tiny things like th…

There are plenty of parks and squares with benches all around the city open areas with places to sit isn’t a problem in London.

You just usually need to get off the high street.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#124

Post by ThrustVectoring »

Bombthecat wrote: post #79
ilovecars2 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, he is making 3x now, but there are a lot of people in the U.S who do not have healthcare or fall into real debt financing it. On a side note, the NHS crisis worries me a lot, but I’m thinking it must be better than no public health care at all, right?

You make three times.. until you don't.a big accident,six months out of job? Never heard working out in America. In Germany no problem...

You have own-occupation disability insurance for that. These downside risks are rather easily hedge-able. I don't quite have things set up yet, but my long-term plan involves moving to Texas, storing most of my wealth in IRAs/401(k) plans and my primary residence, and taking out own-occupation disability insurance for the time I'm still dependent on my income to make ends meet.

If something happens, my medical insurance pays for most, and then past that I spend down my emergency fund from taxable employment income and start drawing un-garnishable private disability insurance.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#125

Post by bradknowles »

astebbin wrote: post #76
pranjalv123 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of pocket maximums kick in eventually, unless you accidentally go to an out-of network provider, unless you lose your job and therefore your insurance, unless your insurance decides that a drug you need isn't covered, etc., etc., etc.

COBRA is a good option to retain your insurance for many months after leaving an employer, during which time you can (for now) pick a new lower-priced provider from your state’s Obamacare exchange.

COBRA is time-limited, and expensive. You're now paying for both the employer and the employee parts of the insurance cost.

Been there, done that.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#126

Post by [deleted] »

anothergoogler wrote: post #122
toasterlovin wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, peace may continue, but it’ll be hard to attribute it to America. China’s ascendance is looming on the horizon. Unless something goes drastically wrong for them, their military and economic might will dwarf America’s. And I think there’s tons of instability on the horizon. Weird shit is happening in Europe, Russia is back as a geopolitical force, Japan is on path to militarize again, etc. These are strange time…

The Pax Americana has never been free of contentiousness or outright war. People (especially young people) forget how fragile things were prior to the fall of the USSR. The complete US dominance of the '90s and '00s is not the norm. And just as the Soviet house of cards collapsed, there's no guarantee that China's ascendancy is indefinite. Russia's posturing right now is a veil for its domestic strife and decrepit mi…

[deleted]

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#127

Post by jjeaff »

projektir wrote: post #103
throwaway84742 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don’t lose your insurance anymore if you lose your job. You are required by law to have insurance whether you have a job or not.

Your formulation makes it sound like the government will make sure you have insurance. This is not the case. You have to make sure you have insurance or the government will fine you. But if you were unable to get insurance for whatever reason, you still don't have insurance. And Obamacare premiums are not small and the insurance is not very good.

My experience with a silver level ppo plan through the exchanges is that it is exceptionally good. But yes, I'm sure if you choose the absolute bare minimum coverages it won't be great.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#128

Post by drukenemo »

mavdi wrote: post #100
slig wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm thinking of moving from Brazil to Portugal. Is there anything special you didn't like in Lisbon? Was is too similar to London and you were looking for something different? Thanks

You'd have to try it for yourself I guess. I loved Lisbon as a place to visit, but living there was a totally different story. Sadly (and apologies to the Portuguese here) Portugal is a harsh country to immigrants, especially Brazilians from what they told me. Frankly I'd say the only thing Portugal and Brazil have in common is the language. My opinion only.

Also plan to move to Lisbon. Harsh in what way? Would you mind giving some examples?

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#129

Post by lemming »

throwaway84742 wrote: post #40

People tend to be irrational about things and this is a good illustration. As broken and expensive as US healthcare is, you’re making 3x the money here, and out of pocket maximums do kick in eventually. And the US is not the top country by far, even among developed ones, in number of mass murder victims per 100000 population. You’re vastly more likely to drown in your backyard pool than be a victim of a mass shooting…

And the US is not the top country by far, even among developed ones, in number of mass murder victims per 100000 population.

Snopes describes the report you're probably talking about as "extremely misleading": https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/united-states-lower-death-...

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#130

Post by Bombthecat »

throwaway84742 wrote: post #112
Bombthecat wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You make three times.. until you don't.a big accident,six months out of job? Never heard working out in America. In Germany no problem...

You make it sound like Germany doesn’t have poor people. That is most certainly not the case. In fact if you consider percentages, more Germans than Americans live below poverty level.

The state pop ups your income to 800€.

Which allows you to live in a small Appartement outside the city and still have like 400€.

If you are not an alcoholic or smoke you can live a good live. And. Have free and good health insurance.

Source: my mom is in exactly that situation. Pension is only 600, state ups it to 800. She needs to move to a smaller appointment to live now. But she is now some without kids and stuff. No need for a big two or three room apartment.

I know it is sad for old people to move. ( I see it with my mom)

But in live you grow and later you shrink ( home size, income etc etc) it's normal circle of life.

I bet I will be sad when I need to move out of my three room Appartement.

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