A Growing Trend of Leaving America
By some estimates 3 million citizens become expatriates a year, but most not for political reasons
Reader Comments
a US immigrant's opinion - for what it's worth
A little background:
-My father was a Philippine doctor who treated US soldiers in WW2. I am a now a US citizen who has served in US military to "payback" to the US for all the wonderful things it's done for the Philippines.
Current situation: I recently booked a "reconnaissance" trip to Panama due to this article. (so I'm ready and willing to leave the US as well)
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In a nutshell: With current economic and political situation (and reading all the comments), no wonder many suffer from "disillusionment" . But the fact remains, many native born Americans grumble and complain. As if attitude comes from the "externals" rather than the "internals". As I shake my head, it's the individual that adopts the "attitude of gratitude".
There's far too much to appreciate about the US to "bash" it.
A fantastic site, and brilliant effort.
The site very professional! Keep up the good work! Oh yes, one extra comment - maybe you could add more pictures too! So, good luck to your team!
emigration from u.s.
I praise u.s. news and world report for this report.
Having searched libraries, when i was working there was
never any information on emigration out of the u.s.
I, being 63, with 5 children, retired on medium income
with the HMO's premiums for all of us totalling $2500 a month,
all of us in good health was impossible. We went to SOMA in South Omaha, where G.W. Bush flew twice to meet illegals and
we were not able to get the heath care illegals did as we were
charged by income, which is legal under the state statues although that violates article 4 on the u.s. consistution guaranteeing the privleges of citizenship. Just last year
a Nebraska city voted to keep the illegals, when all the
state law enforcement was there to keep civil strife, but under the law they were required to arrest the illegals.
We flew to the Republic of The Philippines and indeed we lost
the social and physical infrastructure i'd paid all my life
thru taxes which we cannot enjoy, but the illegals are given a status the arians under Hitler never reached. I have no racism against Mexicans as they serve in the u.s. military, I've worked with them and really have nothing against their race,
however, any race which our government give special treatment over all other races defines racism as the nations of the world would see it. So, it is what Adolf Hitler could not accomplish our political system has done. I still remember Sen. Byrd on CSPAN nearly in tears over his deception to vote for nafta
holding the bible in one hand and the constitution in the other hand. It seems Mr. Greenspan, the top economists knew nothing about the fnancial crisis, when Arthur Levitt, SEC cheif for 20 years wrote a book about it. That to me seems very strange the the FED, being highly educated was ignorant when even I could watch SCPAN and Larry King with Arthur Levitt who suggested that
the administration told him to look the other way. Now I hope more attention could be given to emigrants, especially native born who have children facing the challenges of culture shock and the norms of differant cultures whose infrastructuve is not so polite as our teachers in Nebraska were. Its a very costly
adjustment but being one of millions being exasperiated with valid worry, I'm was tired of being worried all the time as we notice in other cultures people do not worry so much. It seems the populaton in the u.s. is under a wand of fear, always being threated by the merchant group whose legislatures give them the advantage to cheat and swindle. Even paid medical bills can result in a credit bureau coming against someone, and I was an mmmaculate record keeper, spending much time and money defending my paid bills with 100% health care until I was 65.
Even at that under the terms of the policy, which the HMO swindled us $1400. Having health insurance in the u.s. doesn't
necessarily mean any more than home insurance which its like
trying to press oil out of a rock to collect. Hope to see more.
Escaping bad American TV/Movies
I just hope the American ex pats in Panama and other places aren't forced to watch terrible, lying PC American TV, vulgar stupid American movies.
Or worse, i hope the fleeing Americans don't bring the plague of terrible American TV/Movies/music to formerly unspoiled places.
Do others have a dream get away?
I think Chile - sounds good.
The women in Chile have a great reputation, very attractive, but also supportive of men, not American feminists.
Is there a single male on this planet who likes American feminists?
Racial minorities leaving America
As a racial minority I wonder what are the experiences of minorities leaving abroad. Historically, they have experienced more opportunity and were more accepted. Any comments from minorities leaving abroad ?
Racism
Well, many also left Nazi Germany, for similar reasons.
As for racism, I think the prerequisite is to be missing most
of your grey cells. Anyone outside the U.S. knows that people
who have the misfortune to be non-white have a rough time there,
just a historical and political fact.
to the idiot who wrote about racism
You are truly a schumk.... please leave this country. People treat you badly here, not because you are a minority, but probably because you are a complete idiot.. which I hate to break to you, many more people will treat you like.
I'm so sick of all the little idiots that say things taht america is still racist. Please, move the hell out of the country and see how bad the rest of the world really is. Reperations? Sure, let's give everyone a free trip back to Africa... and you can see how your own kind will really treat you.
We are Leaving
I have dual citizenship (Ireland/EU) and my husband and I are leaving this country.
leaving the states
america has lost its touch.
it has become racist, mean, and selfish
freedom is not here in the states anymore
it has become a rogue police state
here in chicago, illinois police beat and kill, civilions at record numbers
chicago has become a rogue city, where only the fittest survive racism against non-whites, including immigrants has become so pervasive in the states, that it makes me sick. the so called global "war on terror", has made our country into a very, mean, insular, restricted place. just try entering the states from abroad, and you will see the mean, racist, rude, virile treatment by the customs officers. disgusting. the economy sucks, try getting a job, but when you do, the wage is not able to keep up with the price of many day items in the states. and try paying your mortgage (if you still even have a house) or rent, with the measily pay that many companies (if they are even still in business) give out to their employees. Pathetic.
many american woman suck. don't get me wrong, not all, but quite a few. many american woman seem, annoyed, angry, agitated, prejudiced, overweight (after the age of 30) and true gold diggers, who would screw you out of all your money, and leave you in the street, and not even care. i have visited abroad a few times, and see the difference. i am asian american, so some people could see my perspective. being asian american in the states is not easy. Believe me. i was born and raised in the states, but isn't this strange, i don't feel comfortable here. I feel scared, opressed, annoyed and even angry. daily life here in the states, has become ruthless, in my opinion. i would love to leave, and live down in central america, or southeast asia, etc. where the woman are plentiful. because here in chicago, if you look minority your opportunity with woman is very, very limited. most woman here will not even give you a chance, especially caucasion woman. Google "happier abroad", This website is awesome. It will explain in more detail, why many americans of all races are leaving the states. and yes, i agree with many comments here posted. its so true.
thank you,
"Manana doesn't mean tomorrow"
My son and I have been living in Puerto Vallarta for three years, I was motivated for a number of reasons, political, economical, educational. My son attends a private school here and as with all things, there are cultural differences to accommodate, pros and cons to absorb. I maintain a vigilance over the educational progress of my son, while keeping tabs on what is happening economically here and both seem to enjoy upward growth. I love that my son is educated half the day in English by a Canadian teacher and the other half in Spanish by a local teacher. His spanish has far surpassed my south Florida high school spanish classes I took 20 years ago, and my own spanish skills have also grown, mostly by necessity.
The reason I left? I wanted out of the mortgage we had in La Jolla. We sold and bought in Puerto Vallarta.
The shadow on the horizon? Dealing with the bureaucracy in opening a business, any business. The licensing is a nightmare, it's not what you know, it's who you know, and that's not to mention the corruption and money given in "propina" that helps things move along.
I have a new appreciation for the rules, laws and regulations that are a matter of course in America that serve to protect the people, including general road rules and civility.
I'm still hanging in there, but it's not easy. I'm determined to work toward my vision of having my own business here, as several of my expats friends have strived for and successfully done here. But it's not easy and the road is fraught with frustration that challenges, sometimes daily, one's resolve.
Another issue is the feeling of alienation. I've never felt more kinship with my American roots and connections with Americans as a whole, because immersion in another culture can demonstrate quickly the differences and any idealism after a time, can become a distant memory. Ohh yeah, I remember thinking that about...fill in the blank. Reality is often different than the ideal.
Most of the problems I've had here have come from other ex-pats, believe it or not. And the Mexicanos have a saying that the "Gringos only bother other Gringos", because by and large the Mexicanos socialize and bond with Mexicanos, and the expats here have only each other to squabble with. Unfortunately, when so far away from home, rather than helping one another, there seems to be a wierd competition and who has been here longer trumps the newbies. Wierd.
Manana definitely does not mean "tomorrow" as the gentleman said, but sometime in general future. That can be one of the first hurdles to mount, when attached to standards accepted by nations born under Protestant work ethics of excellence and done in a timely fashion. Forget about it, and taking a cleansing breath. Enjoy the natural beauty and try to spend time enjoying that gift.
