Well, I've lived in various parts of England...!
I'm Scots. I don't want to be anything else.
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Well, I've lived in various parts of England...!
I'm Scots. I don't want to be anything else.
All this talk about I would move to x country makes me wonder how many countries want any more people knocking at their door. If you have something to offer, such as large sums of money to bring with you, a highly specialized and in demand skill (physician, nurse, engineer, computer expertise for example) are two reasons you might be allowed in on a more than temporary basis. People who will give socially and economically to the country of their desires and make the country stronger. Speaking their language fluently, knowing their history and culture, and abiding by their customs would be huge pluses along with whatever else you can bring. . Dealing with their quota of refugees is more than most can handle right now.
Remember the girl who wanted desperately to move to New Zealand. She and her son (he had a name like hawk) and husband moved there. She had a yoga business and he worked too. After several years their visa was not renewed. It seemed from her reports i that they were hard working contributors who were not looking for benefits, did not want to have a bunch of kids off the government dime, but they were told goodbye.
It it is like everything in life. You get out of it what you put into it. I myself love America, but I don't like everything about it. I have travelled all over the world and although Western Europe and Australia are lovely, I have no desire to move there. This is my home. I can crab about what I don't like, or ignore it, or try to improve it. I choose the third option. To the best of my ability.
You get a lot of good stuff in those places, but you do have to take some real initiative and put in the effort. Learning the language would probably be high on the list of to-dos.Quote:
Originally Posted by bae
But would they take you?Quote:
Originally Posted by IshbelRobertson
put in effort yea, but of course those who do the worst in the American system (the poor) are those least ABLE to put in the effort most of the time. They simply lack the resources in every sense of the word (yes money but not just money, but things like time - a very important resource, things like hope after being ground down by poverty, even things like knowledge and exposure to different possibilities etc., sometimes even health). So it becomes those who can easily escape (and if we're honest this is probably the top 20% of income earners that have the easiest path out) have no real pressing NEED to as they will probably be ok regardless (but might still get some additional benefits from leaving - more generous retirement system etc.).
It may not just be an American problem though, I've heard that even most of Syrians who made it to Europe were often middle class and up. The poorer Syrians even if they escaped Syria may not have escaped the middle east (a lot of middle east countries took in a ton of Syrians).
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tradd
We thought about trying to go to Canada because of friends in Newfoundland, but I don't think they would want us at this point because we don't have stellar health and we're over 50. Admittedly, it was a romantic idea having to do with land prices and the glories of universal health care. Unfortunately, I think it's like a loan, if you need one, you don't qualify.
The few times I have been to Canada it has seemed like the people are extraordinarily nice, and culturally like a good fit, plus the beauty of the country, the clean air--anyway, that is where I would go, but it's too far of a drive to the grandchildren, too. I did have one ancestor who died in a Canadian prison camp back in the Revolutionary War, and I found one great-great grandmother who was French Canadian and then adopted by a family in New York after her parents died. That's about it for me and Canada.
We have lots of family there and are financially attractive to Aus. I wouldn't want to move there permanently as I am a typical red-haired, peely-wally skinned Celt. The sun and I prefer to be only nodding acquaintances!
I'm told that Australia took several of my ancestors some time ago, and they didn't even want to go.
LDAL Pretty good! Made me laugh.
The witnesses at my wedding sum up Australia to me. The female: Greek, aged six when her family emigrated from Corinth. Her parents opened Greek restaurants in Adelaide at a time when Aussie cuisine consisted of a T-bone steak topped with a fried egg as breakfast; husband... Well the manacle scars from his ancestors were still fresh in his family lore... As Aussies say ... They live in 'God's Own Country'! Both highly successful, I met them when we all worked in London. We're still friends, decades later.Quote:
Originally Posted by LDAHL
Right after I graduated college, Australia was offering great deals to American immigrants with technical skills, but when I investigated, the sexist and racial issues there led me to setting elsewhere. I'm hoping this has improved over the past few decades?
Let's just say there is room for improvement, but the racism is less overt... Ditto sexism.
No country is perfect, including my own!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg6CTFwOalcQuote:
Originally Posted by IshbelRobertson
I remember him saying that and how you all are doing fine in Ireland, with a north and south fighting each other, without anybody of color involved.:laff:
One of my favourite comedians, appearing on one of my favourite programmes HIGNFY.
Ay Carumba, now it looks as if Delta has taken a page from the United Airlines playbook by kicking a family off a plane in California.....I don't know if there will be protests as the locally the big issue is Trumpcare.....but I feel guilty letting Delta slide for this heinous, evil act without a protest, it's as if I'm condoning this behavior and I don't care to live with that. Rob
You could become a pro, there's money to be made in protest.Quote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
Just ask the ringers they bused in for Trump rallies! :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
That's true. Mrs. Clinton is starting up a new "Resistance" PAC, so you know there must be good money to be made in the protest industry.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Your not the only one that has mentioned that. Although if he is good enough at it, he may end up having to pay for others with higher taxes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Once we have a guaranteed basic income in place, we'll all have plenty of time to protest as much as we want! It'll be great!Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
And think of all the time we'll save grocery shopping!
http://spotlight-z.com/wp-content/up...es-660x420.png
I've always managed to attend protests around my work schedules; snark not appreciated. >:(
when I worked in certain high profile areas, I just had to step outside as it was not infrequent occurrence. Danger there is the entire company you worked for can see you as you are right there protesting where nearly everyone in the company walks from the office to get to their car, so not without living dangerously.Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneV2.0
Alan, I really don't know how to take this comment....I really don't. Point here is that I am not after money when I protest, I am merely trying to make the world a better place by vocalizing my desire for change of some sort. There is nothing in it for me but clean and quite pure motives, nor would I want money for my protesting.....RobQuote:
Originally Posted by Alan
So you could get money for supporting causes you believe it, pay taxes on it, and then give it to causes you support or use it to support yourself.Quote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
You mentioned you were passing up an opportunity for paid employment during the hours of the protest. My thought was that if you prefer outside events over income generating activities, maybe you could combine the two. There are groups which will pay you to stand around and look angry. Seems like a win/win to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
Seems to me there would be higher bang-for-the-buck opportunities to protest just across the border in Mexico:Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries...report-mexico/
paid protest as a force for social change - those with more money than time can support those with more time than money in advocating social change -
this is can go many ways,
change doesn't happen/isn't enough:
people with money continue to financially support people with time
change happens:
time and money become more equitably distributed and people advocate only for causes that matter to them personally
People with money are happy with the new balance and protest is carried on only by those who consider it the best use of their time
people with time are happy with the new balance and stop protesting because they don't need the money
people with time are less happy and people with money are more happy with the the new balance and people with time continue protesting but against their own interests because they can't afford principles
at least one of these is bad.
edited to add - one if my daughter's friends is essentially a paid protester. She is 26 years old, her parents still support her,and she travels around protesting and getting arrested. (Her parents are also covering her fines/bail.)
I guess it's the other side of the "bought-and-paid-for politician as a force for social change" coin :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicken lady
If get paid enough as a protester, you get called a lobbyist. And you get invited to come protest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicken lady
With all due respect, I would refuse any compensation for my protesting activities other than donated food and drink.....I can't be America if I am protesting against America, you know? Not only do I deserve better but so do all the people I protest for in the 85006. Clearly you don't understand class loyalty, Alan....but to your credit I have observed that people who have been able to dodge living in fear of America don't as a rule understand class loyalty. As your President would tweet, and often has, SAD. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Basic income will have to happen eventually to keep society safe for the upper one percent.....eventually things will get to this point and if the very upper percentage has any common sense (highly debateable) there will be a basic income scheme of some kind eventually. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by bae
Same here, and I really appreciate your classy response, Jane! RobQuote:
Originally Posted by JaneV2.0
Are you sure it's class loyalty? Class is not an ideology, what you describe seems more like a celebration of perceived victimization. I find the whole concept confusing.Quote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
I find it interesting that he has been evidently raised as a victim. Is this the way those that end up in the 85006 feel. I remember at a very young age being taught that if I wanted something I needed to plan and work toward that goal. If things didn't work out it was generally from poor planing or lack of effort.
If if I wanted nice things I shouldn't expect others to give them to me.
This discussion has turned ugly and mean. and it does not need to be.
Since the Election I have been trying hard to talk to people who voted for and still support Trump. It is very difficult to keep my mouth shut and try to learn about others peoples views, no matter if I think they are wrong. If all we do is criticize and bully people who do not think like us our society is doomed.
People are raised differently. Their life experiences shape them. If we were all the same life will be dull.
Rob, I disagree with a lot of your viewpoints. I don't agree the solution is to have big lawsuit settlements. cradle to grave support by a government is not feasible or even desirable. I do believe it is wrong for the richest in our country get immensely richer, while the most vulnerable, like the sick and poor are allowed to get sicker and poorer, at the same time running up the deficit. Because cutting taxes, increasing military and infrastructure spending doesn't add up.
I still think we are the greatest country in the world. Surely we can do better in managing our money than what we do. And surely we can be a kinder, ore tolerant and civilized society as we work out our differences.
Flowers everywhere, You stated my feelings well. thanks.
Rob's interplay with Alan, bae, and sometimes LDAHL is a most interesting dynamic. It is one of my favorite parts of being on this forum.
I think that comes from radically divergent perspectives. Can access to any scarce economic resource be a "right"? I tend to think of rights in terms of areas where government is prohibited from interfering rather than areas where it is required to interfere.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
Does some people having more than others constitute an intolerably unfair situation, or does it simply reflect variations in individual talent, discipline or luck? I'm inclined toward the latter view.
Are we owed something from our countrymen, or is that a bargain we are constantly renegotiating through the political process? I'm not inclined to see "America" as a sort of entity that bears guilt requiring anyone's forgiveness.
Are we ripe for a revolution of angry zip codes? I sincerely doubt it.
It just seems like playground bullying to me, and not in the least entertaining, or an "interesting dynamic." Unless the "mean girls" is an interesting dynamic.