I am not the throw up your hands and give up kind of person, BUT...

[Pacifist Patriot]

If my husband's company offered a transfer to Sweden or Spain (he works for a European company)....I would beg him to take it. I'm tired of living in a dictatorship and my life isn't even being threatened yet. *sigh* I never thought I'd be willing to leave the United States. I'd rather fight for it. But some days it's mentally overwhelming. I'll bounce back I'm sure. Why, oh why couldn't Prescott be sterile???? Ugly thought, but it keeps cropping back into my head.

[endarkenment]

1. you are not alone

A lot of us feel the same way. I have family living in Europe and as things get darker and darker here the same 'is it time to pack up and go' thoughts occur to me to. The folks who fled Germany in the early 30's when they could were the lucky ones, the smart ones.

[AlienGirl]

5. Many more would have fled, had they been able

Those who got out of Germany (and France, and don't forget Poland, and a bunch of other countries) were not only smart and lucky, they also had the resources to get out and countries that would take them in.

Then, as now, many more would have gone, had there been somewhere to go and had they been able to afford it.

Tucker

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. Too true.

If I had the resources and somewhere to go it would make all the difference in the world.

[Glenda]

2. Today marks the day for me that Democracy is dead

in the US.

[donco6]

3. If I were closer to retirement I would

My friend has a home in Portugal he's thinking about selling.

[pstans]

4. I am with you

Some days I think that Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Austrailia, Germany, Ireland are looking pretty nice. I could take a long vacation there and leave this crap behind.

[blondeatlast]

6. My hubby's work takes him to Prague and Kuala Lumpur quite often.

He loves KL, and I'd go there in a heartbeat if the call came. He's considering asking them if he could relocate; his position was originally supposed to be located in KL.

I'm serious--given half a chance, I'm outta here.

[1democracy]

8. Yes, it would be nice, but...

Think how you'll feel when BushCo* comes to take your new country or has destroyed the earth with non action on Global Warming or tactical nuclear weapons and sowing discord worldwide. When is it time to stay and fight to the end for what you believe? Where could we go that would be far enough that the resources wouldn't be coveted for something? I think we have to just admit this is 'Hell' and work to change it in every way we can. We were living in a bubble for the last 50 years- we are fighting an enemy and it is 'us'.

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. That is what keeps me going on here.

Not only am I fighting to protect Americans and our form of government, I am fighting to protect the rest of the world from us.

[blondeatlast]

14. I intend to remain an american citizen. In no way will I let them

have that.

I'll vote, I'll donate, I'll volunteer, but my health and well-being may depend on an alternative.

[Guaranteed]

7. Girlfriend's been trying to get transferred to Belgium.

Probably not going to happen, though.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. Who wouldn't take that offer?

I would! I'd take it even if things weren't as screwed up in this Country as they currently are. Sweden or Spain? What a great opportunity that would be, regardless of the circumstances, making you want to now leave the U.S.

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. True

I lived in Europe for four years of my childhood. Priceless experience I would love to give my own children.

[Lannes]

13. I was on another board last year

And asked the question as to whether there are some that would consider leaving the country if things got bad enough.One poster told me I was a coward and she would fight with her last breath if this country did away
with the constitution.

I responded if thats how you feel more power to you,but until you actually fight,and Im not talking about a nasty LTTE you have no business telling people that they shouldnt leave if we get close to the point of no return.A person like that is no better than a chickenhawk.

You can implore someone to stay and fight(non violently I hope)but to imply cowardice is BS.

Im seriously considering leaving myself.Im waiting to see what happens in 06'.Before I make my decision.But I am keeping my options open.If they keep far right in office then this country is getting what it deserves and I dont want any part of it if I dont have to.

edit for spelling

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. That is one of the reasons I am loathe to admit my thoughts

sometimes. I've seen the accusations of cowardice and treason fly as well.

As a purely hypothetical mental exercise, I do wonder what kind of "strong" nation the U.S. would be if every last non-neocon up and left. If we took the keys to the missile silos with us I suspect the remaining handful of American neocon sycophants couldn't build a paper airplane together let alone invade a foreign country.

[1democracy]

16. Wherever you go, there you are...

We are part of the problem, even if we detest everything that's happened. How did it get so bad, so fast? If we don't figure it out, the same forces (some of which are within ourselves) will cause it to happen again. Right now we're in the middle of it, so close we can't see it for what it is.
Just some random musings- I don't have answers-I'm stuck in it , too- Have we lost our inner compass, have we been seduced by the media and become too involved in "consuming" (food, resources, entertainment, the internet, drugs, alcohol, TV), to dull the loneliness of that inner center that is the basis for who we are?
Are we fear- driven at core, afraid of what we really are and afraid to face our future (decrepitude and death)?
Have we replaced spirituality with exterior religion, just another membership in an exclusive club that makes us feel better temporarily?
Until we confront ourselves head-on, we can't really recognize ourselves in others and we will not be able to understand and transform them, because that's what it will take, transformation of ourselves and the others, to take back our country. While we continue to operate in this single dimension defined by others, there is no way out. We must change the frame, change the dimension, to change our world. Our multi-dimensional world has been shrunk to fit those in power. We must take back those parts outside the paradigm, and force a shift in consciousness. For example, if we abhor torture, we must find a way to argue against it (WWJD?) that changes others. Perhaps the release of those photos will do it...
This is a struggle going on at the level of human consciousness.
I do know, from experience, when I've tried to run away, it will come right back to your doorstep, no matter where you go, and it always escalates a notch. You can deal with it now or you can deal with it later when it's worse. It's some law of the cosmos.

[wli]

17. my significant other has vetoed my desire to emigrate for 5 years

This regime is getting so dangerous with disappearings, fake "terrorist attacks," numerous apparent assassinations, police running amok, and some rather strong hints of intentions toward their own citizens that are unfathomably evil even beyond all they've done thus far, that it's getting to the point where getting out of this country is a matter of life and death.

The fact there isn't a physical gun in your face does not make Bushler's machinations any less life-threatening.

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. My husband does not recognize the situation to be as

dire as I believe it to be. I'm working on that.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Do you need someone to carry your bags?

Actually, we'd be outta here in a flash if we could afford it. Alas, being 61, retired, and not a millionaire cuts the possible destinations drastically.