I've had it, i'm getting out of the US (real estate, middle class, jobs)
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You can sell things out on the street to make money without getting in trouble.
We have a couple of streets in Orlando where a person can drink and be a hooker.......................
Seriously, you don't have to dislike the USA in order to really appreciate the lifestyle of another country. Going on an adventure is wonderful....but never forget who you are or where you come from.
The major problem in our country today is our pitiful healthcare system. It is an embarassment. Living and receiving adequate healthcare is a human right. Dying or not receiving treatment, because your pathetic insurance company refuses to cover, is a shame. We should be ashamed of our healthcare system, especially in regards to elderly people on Medicare. The riches country in the world should provide healthcare to its citizens period.
And who will pay for it all? Simply put the only way to possibly give every single person in this country the highest level of care is to create a socialist society. That's system that has proven to not work. If you think that everyone in every country with socialized medicine gets the very best of care and never dies or suffers waiting for it, you are so very wrong.
There are three things we need to do in order to fix healthcare in this country before we go any further.
The first is to stop providing any healthcare for any reason to illegals. Frankly they can pop out babies in the middle of the street, they shouldn't be getting free medical services, and their kids definitely shouldn't be getting citizenship automatically because mom managed to make it across the desert before the kid was born. Hospitals are going bankrupt because the government won't let them turn anyone away or they will lose all government payments (ie the medi's) yet won't reimburse them for care provided to illegals. If they are here illegally and can't get health care, well then that's the risk they take by committing a crime to begin with. One local hospital here now turns away anyone without insurance. The end result was a cut off of federal funds, which means they no longer accept medi's, causing those relying on the medi's to have to seek healthcare someplace further from home. People try to blame the hospital, but I see it as a problem created by the federal government.
The next thing we need to do is federalize health insurance licensing. If they are licensed to sell in one state, they should be able to sell in all. Adding competition will see rates drop like hot potatoes and service levels rise. When rates drop, a measurable percentage of the people who claim right now to not be able to afford insurance will be able to do so.
And last we need tort reform. We need to cap these HUGE amounts of money that the attorneys are walking away with, and bring pain and suffering awards into the category of reasonable. This will lower malpractice insurance rates, and for many doctors, malpractice is their #1 cost. My neighbor is an OB/Gyn, she has never had a claim, and she pays almost $80K a year in malpractice insurance. She performs a lot more C-sections than she'd like to, because she's afraid of being sued. Performing a C-section at even a hint of trouble absolves her from a lot of the "what if's" that could come up.
Her friend was sued because a couple in their mid-20's with no family history and a perfect pregnancy ended up with a baby that was blind. And this is the doctors fault because??? The insurance company will likely settle just to make it go away, so the doctor will end up with a black mark against him because of something that he had no way of preventing or even knowing about.
Before we start raising taxes to dump more dollars into the bonfire, let's fix what's really broken in the system to begin with.
The only reason why I can go over there is because I found a gig that will pay to fly me out there and set me up in a free apartment. I'm just waiting for the paperwork to go through now.
I applied at about a hundred places in the US with no luck, been unemployed for months. Then I started applying overseas and got hired within two days.
Hey, any chance I can get a gig like this? B/C that does sound like a sweet gig. Automatic pay for travel, free apartment, etc.
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Originally Posted by desertsun41
You pretty much described things right on. You said it better then I did while maintaining some degree of a pat on the back for this country which it may not deserve.
I have only lived in 2 other countries so I cant hollar the USA is the greatest because I dont know. I do know that I am old enough to remember better times in this country when we were more free from the chains of big govt with their hands in my pocket and their foot on my neck. I remember when I could afford a luxury or 2 without concern if I am wasting money on that luxury. I remember when the govt was for the people and by the people rather then the current show where the govt is for themselves or worse yet.....being appointed by the Supreme Court like the Dictator Bushy was.
I love my country like the rest of ya but lets admit it, it's not a very nice place to live anymore with so many restrictions upon us.
I agree. I mean, the USA does have some redeeming qualities to it, but I have lived in England, spent weeks throughout Canada, and have visited countries in Europe and the UK. I tend to mesh more with people in Canada and the UK than I do with people in the South. I do like the U.S., but at the same time I would love to spend a couple of years in other countries, which seems hard to do for Americans in comparison to people in countries like Australia where the Aussies can get a work holiday visa and stay in Canada for a while.
I remember when I first started college in 2004, people told me that once I get my degree I would get a great job and no longer worry about being poor like my parents because college meant a better job. Now, I find out that I'm being turned down b/c they prefer people without a degree b/c "degrees equal more money". Plus, the restrictions on travel are harsh and it's sad that I can study in England with just a passport and an acceptance letter, but goodness forbid that my British buddies come and study in America b/c they have to go to the Embassy and have a short interview, get a Visa, etc. Granted, they told me that the interviews were short, but one had to travel to London from the Northeast for his interview.
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Originally Posted by observer
heydade, I agree change does take time. I am one of those that is optimistic and believe Obama is brilliant. However, over the last month I am seeing things with a little bit more of reality. Couple of things make me feel uneasy:
1) Supposedly Obama and the White House has made some kind of deal with the drug companies. I believe part of the deal is that basically the monopoly of the drug companies will continue and americans, gov., or anyone else cannot negotiate for cheaper drugs outside of the US. Not a good start. Assuring big profits for the drug companies even if some type of health reformed is passed.
2) Gradually the public option may not be considered in the health care reform. Is this our president and democrats submitting to the republicans and/or the insurance companies? Or is it that the politicians are suddenly benefitting one way or another by not providing a public option and thus continuing to let the insurance companies continue to financially rape the american people?
3) Wars seem to continue.
Many Americans voted for Obama and for change for that, CHANGE. He ran on getting out of Iraq; is he going to follow thru? well, hopefully. He ran on health care reform; he has a democratic house and senate. Can and will they succeed. hopefully. Patriot Act. I am not to optimistic about that one.
Even though I voted for a majority democrats, if I don't see substantial progress in policy and decisions made by next year, it tells me that they cannot get their acts together and I will vote against them in the mid election. As for Obama, we could see the tide turn within the next year or so, if not, then he too should be voted out in 2012. Hopefully he does have a backbone and is persistent and will continue to fight for what he has stated that he will fight for.
Like in the business world; you are hired to do a job then do it. You don't do it, pick someone else to do it.
I agree, I'm an independent and frankly I wanted more change. However, I'm starting to worry that he may not deliver b/c he's too worried about compromise. I don't know if he realizes that sometimes people will purposely fight him because they get kickbacks or out of spite.
The the original poster, I wish you the best of luck. I do have family members that came here from the Phillippines (sp?) and a friend from China. I had a friend from HK who told me she would never visit America because she thinks we're money-hungry. My friend from China wants to go back to China and she hopes to learn enough English in NYC so she can live in Beijing (supposedly it's hard to get a good business job in Beijing unless you are very fluent in English according to her). She says that she feels lonely in America, and since I live far away from her I cannot hang out with her. However, she seems to feel more at home in China.
I have to wonder about Asia though. I mean, I'm told how wonderful it is from my friends. However, I am also told about how so many of them want to send their children to international schools in Asia that teach English and such rather than sending their kids to government schools. Also, many of them tell me that their parents yell and scream at them all the time for making a 99% instead of 100% or call them stupid because they only rank 2nd in their class instead of 1st. I looked at them and said, "Wow, where I live parents are glad to see their children pass." I think each place has it's positives and negatives.
I do wish you the best of luck if you decide to move. I would love to live in England again or Canada, but only for a year or two, and that's difficult since I can't get work holiday visas and would need to apply for permanent residency in Canada (not sure about England). As one friend said to me, it's normal to want to go out and explore, travel, and live elsewhere to see what it's like. I can understand entirely about your frustration: I had the same vision of grandure coming from a low-income family in the U.S. and working my butt off just to find out that the "game" has changed and now not even work experience, eduction, etc. guarantee a job.
been there done that.
there is no place like home.
when you got money everyplace is mardi gras.
when you dont pay your bills here the credit card
company calls you on the phone and nags you.
in japan they call the yakuza.
trust me you will pay.
Beautifully put! I especially like the mardi gras part...LOL
I feel you. I was doing the same in Korea a few years ago, in Seoul, but had less of an optimal experience. Regrdless, Im considering doing it again for the same exact reasons as you. However, Id be very hesitant to do it in Korea again. Im fairly well versed in the ESL market in Asia, but would love to hear details about how you secured such a job, presumably in Japan, without being there on the ground? I was in Tokyo for a week and loved it, much more so than Seoul.. Could you PM me if you get the chance??
As for the other issues being discussed, what Ive come to realize is that yes, no country is paradise. It can be especially difficult the more alien the culture of your host country. This is one reason why many westerners have rough experiences in North Asia. However, no matter how much you love your home country, if you cant survive comfortably and have some measure of quality of life, then a job in a foreign market is an excellent second option.
The USA is at the same time one of the easiest places to live in the world, due to its relatively low rate of corruption and relatively well structured legal system, and at the same time one of the most regulated, stifled, and increasingly difficult societies in which to survive for anyone that is not upper-middle class.
Its true that 'power' behaves like a predictable animal, and will grow predictably with time. The founders of this country tried to structure the government to prevent this, but the powers that be have worked their magic to circumvent their checks and balances over the past three hundred years. The sad thing is that the actual facts of our history, and specifically the transition from our original type of libertarian non-government, to the massive federal government that we have now is increasingly being written out of the history books. You have to research books outside of what is taught in school curriculums to find out the true path of history. For instance, the true reason for the civil war comes to mind. If yous till think it was to free some slaves, then you have some reading to do. Heck, common sense would tell you differently. Do you really think that 500k white men would die for some black slaves in the 1800s?? Give me a break. To my high schools credit, "A Peoples History of The United States", by Howard Zinn, was the required AP US History reading. A good start.
This country started out with almost no federal government, and very little regulatory government of any kind, and now it is ruled as a plutocracy. The rules, and more precisely the tax, banking, labor, credit, immigration and trade laws are rigged to maximize the ability of the rich to extract wealth from the lower/middle classes, and to make it difficult for everyone else to achieve upward class mobility. We are chattel in their wars, and modern serfs in times of peace, to the upper crust. One of the best ways that you can battle this is to get out of debt, and stay out of debt, at any cost.
And someone was wondering about why the Mexican border became so porous during the Bush administration? Thats easy. More labor undercuts the labor market and benefits big business in every way. Even illegal labor will cause the cost of labor, across the board, to drop. Additionally, the greater the population becomes, the less power the middle and lower classes have. This is because, in a capitalist society, an increase in population directly correlates with a decrease in income for most people, and an increase in income for the rich. It directly accelerates the concentration of wealth from the many to the few.
......The rules, and more precisely the tax, banking, labor, credit, immigration and trade laws are rigged to maximize the ability of the rich to extract wealth from the lower/middle classes, and to make it difficult for everyone else to achieve upward class mobility. We are chattel in their wars, and modern serfs in times of peace, to the upper crust. One of the best ways that you can battle this is to get out of debt,and stay out of debt, at any cost....
This is extremely important, I forgot to mention this in my earlier post to the OP. Thank you for saying it. It is the reason soooo... many of us are screwed because we chose to get credit cards and buy houses/cars we can't afford...With no job, we also have no money because instead of saving, we have been paying finance charges to CC companies, making them rich (instead of making ourselves rich). If we just stayed out of ANY debt and instead saved, then we would all be having the time of our lives when we get laid-off since we will not be trapped by bills/mortgage payments, etc.. We will have a lot of free time and money (a rare combination for many!) to explore the world and do whatever WE want.
Well I agree I do not know enough about Socialized medicine, but something needs to be done. I also agree that illegals have way too many children. I live in an area that is 85% Latino and I have yet to see anyone without three to five babies. They all go to a free clinic here and I know people who are citizens without insurance, and cannot get an appt for months. Also there is a free dental clinic the same way. I went there once and everyone was Spanish. It is crazy. I just do not know the answer to it. Check out the illegal immigration forum, you may be interested.
For example people drink alcohol in the open. They drive vehicles without having to fill out tons of paperwork and pay tons of fees.
Afoordable dental of health care is available to everyone. Not just people who have good jobs with good insurance.
You can sell things out on the street to make money without getting in trouble. Street vending is allowed much more.
The police there are much more laid back and don't hassle people for no reason. The police do not have macho complexes.
If you want to join a gym, you walk in and pay some money, they give you a card and you have a pass for a month. No paperwork, no activation fee, etc. And this is how almost everything else goes. Nice and simple with no extra fees and paperwork.
In just about every area of society, there are less fees, less taxes, less paperwork and BS to deal with.
In the US, Mega-corporations have taken over. In China, a poor guy can work hard and start up a small business and it will succeed much easier.
In just about every way. You can walk the streets with a sense of freedom. And do things with less restrictions.
China is not a good comparison though. It would be better to compare the US and South Korea since they are both capitalist democracies. And in South Korea, it is also a MUCH more free country than the US. All the things I listed about China exist in South Korea, but there is also a free press, free internet, etc.
There are almost NO freedoms we have that they don't have. The only ones I can think of are gun ownership, and more lax drug laws.
Or better yet, compare the US to South American countries like Peru or Ecuador. These countries also are truely more free, although they are also poor.
In the US, we have had a lot of our freedoms taken away, and most people just don't know any better, because they don't know any different.
I don't think I would have come back to the US the first time. I am jealous of your adventurous spirit. Wish it were me.
We have a couple of streets in Orlando where a person can drink and be a hooker.......................
Seriously, you don't have to dislike the USA in order to really appreciate the lifestyle of another country. Going on an adventure is wonderful....but never forget who you are or where you come from.
I don't think I would have come back to the US the first time. I am jealous of your adventurous spirit. Wish it were me.
Indeed, it turned out to be a mistake. I came back to the US and realized I boarded a sinking ship. And since I don't have a first class ticket, i'm left without a life jacket and it's sink or swim.
As for working in Asia. It is risky and there are a lot of companies out there that are bad to work for. There are a lot of ways you can get screwed. But if you choose your job wisely and carefully you can avoid the really bad ones. And if, and when your employer tries to *********, you just gotta be ready to deal with it very assertively and be very firm, know your rights, know how to screw them if they *********. If you go in for it prepared, you can really minimize any potential harm to yourself.
I know that many places in Asia are no paradise. In fact, lots of people leave there with a rather unsavory experience to remember. Asian cities can be very dirty, loud, insane and harsh. But i'm ready for it. You just gotta be ready for things to NOT go smoothly. It is not the USA where there are laws on every single little aspect of things.
Some of you all are asking me for advice about going there. Well. I don't have much advice. I'm just being a desperado about it and diving in head first. That's what I did last time and I learned a lot from it. I don't have any insider knowledge to speak of. My only advantage is that I have nothing to lose and i'm crazy enough for it.
So if you wanna do it. Just go over there and figure it out as it goes. It's the only way.
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