Come on, if you could afford it you MIGHT consider leaving, right?

[elehhhhna]

Look, the rules let you stay in the US for like 130 days per year and still maintain foreign residency. It's not like you can't visit...even own a second home...

What if there were tax advantages, or better educational opportunities, better climate, cheaper medicine, more affordable housing...?

What if this joint goes totally fascist and/or there's a draft?

IF YOU COULD AFFORD IT, would you at least consider leaving the U.S. ?

[Thtwudbeme]

1. MIGHT?

Fuck me, I would walk out the door right the hell now.

[LiberalEsto]

2. I'd go back to the old country

where my parents came from, since I speak the language and have relatives there. I'm even eligible for Estonian citizenship if I want it. But my husband and daughters don't speak it, so we would probably try to go to Ireland.

[eleny]

4. Lithuanian heritage here

:hi: My dad and all my grandparents were born there.

[LiberalEsto]

5. Would you go back there?

And do you speak Lithuanian?

[eleny]

8. It was my first language

But I've forgotten a lot. Nevertheless, I could pick it up in time.

About going to live there - I don't think so. Health care is not very good at all. They have a long way to go. They do love our culture and I'm sure that I'd feel at home since I have relatives there that I could be around.

But I would have a hard time leaving America unless I was running to save my skin. Can you imagine having to do what some of our relatives did when they left the Baltics?

[NervousRex]

15. Me too...

can only speak a few words...but have a passport waiting if I wanna go through the shit. The current government in Estonia supports Bush...so I am in no hurry to pack-up my life to move there. Hatred for the Russians pushed our people to the Nazis and, now,the Bush-American nazi-wannabes...

[LiberalEsto]

43. The cold, dark winters are what I dread

I don't know how our ancestors coped. I guess they spent a lot of time in their steamy saunas.

Are you another Esto?

I was born in NYC and spoke only Estonian until I was 5. My parents spoke Estonian, English, German and Russian fluently, but they wanted me to learn Estonian first so I wouldn't forget it.

I also had years in Estonian school, camp, scouts & folkdancing in New Jersey and Manhattan.

I'm not crazy about the politics of most Estonian-Americans, but there's a small network of liberals among us.

[seriousstan]

3. Nope, never. I am not a quiter.

[Karenina]

14. What's a quiter?

:shrug:

[godhatesrepublicans]

6. My ancestors came here from Ireland to flee oppression...

...and if I could afford to move, I'd go to Ireland for the same reason. Let's not kid ourselves, this country was founded by people who said, "screw this, I'm leaving."

[helderheid]

24. They were quiters!

:sarcasm:

[elehhhhna]

26. Quite. They should shuddup & be quite.

[helderheid]

41. oh dayum. hhehehehehe OOPS!

[davidthegnome]

7. Absolutely

If I could afford it, and if my son wasn't living in South Dakota with his mother, I'd definitely be booking the next flight to Japan.

[mcscajun]

9. If I could get into Ireland, I'd consider it.

As it is, they won't take me without OODLES of investable cash. Which I ain't got. :)

Or if one of my grandparents was born there, which they weren't. My ancestry goes a couple of generations back, unfortunately.

[scarlet_owl]

10. If I could afford it, sure.

But I can't, so that's that.

[NanceGreggs]

11. I'm already GONE!!!

I moved to Canada with my first husband (career move for him), and re-married immediately after that divorce to an Englishman. He didn't want to live in the States, and I didn't want to live in England. So I stayed here, even though I was DESPERATE to go back home to NY.

Here I am, some thirty years later, married to a fellow American. We talked for years about moving back to the States together - and then Bush happened.

Now, no way! Besides, the older we get, the more important our free health care and low-cost prescription drugs will be.

I spoke to an old friend from Long Island last week - a very upbeat, energetic guy I've known forever. He said, "Nance, you have no idea how bad it is down here." When I asked him about it, he said that there was such a pervading sense of depression and gloom. He travels a lot, and notices it when he gets back from his out-of-country trips most of all.

He said that all of his neighbours, friends and family members are living with this cloud over their heads, wondering if they'll lose their jobs, their homes, their savings - and those with younger kids are really scared of what kind of country and world their kids will be inheriting thanks to BushCo.

I honestly never thought I'd live to see the day when people from my own country felt like that ...

[Joe Fields]

12. Not only yes, but Fuck yes! Although no one would have me.

[BeTheChange]

13. We can and NO.

My husband and I both telecommute and could live anywhere in the world.

[Karenina]

16. Have you ever lived in another country

for an extended period of time? Do you speak another language? Just wondering.

[BeTheChange]

22. When I was a child...

I lived in Canada for 2 years... and my step father dragged us around the middle east a bit. I love Canada, perhaps that is why I moved as close as I could to it without leaving the country :) Canadians are wonderful people and before I became an adult I always wanted to go back there to live permanently. But after I got out of college and travelled around the US and the world for my job I honestly came to love America.

I love New York City during the Holiday seasons. I love slam poets at the Nuyorkian and Sausage and pepper sandwiches during the San Gennaro festival. I love upstate during August and how queen anne's lace and blackberries smell after a summer afternoon rain shower.. I love the mountains of Oklahoma in the early summer when the lightning bugs captivate the air.. I love that there is a Woody Guthrie festival there every year. I love the coast of Humbolt county and the mountains of the the Cascades and the Sierras.. I love the lush green spring of the Austin Hill country and the salty humidity of a Key West sunset. I love TN blue grass and sitting on a porch eating wonderful low country cuisine in Savannah by candle light. I love the red rocks of New Mexico and the yuppie wonder of Boulder. I love Seattle with its beauty and attitude.. it's freshness. I could go on and on. Ive been all over the world, but Im very thankful that I get to call this place home despite what the cabal is trying to do to tarnish it. I couldnt imagine living anywhere else.

I speak french and spanish.. albeit, quite badly.

[Karenina]

25. BeTheChange,

You've certainly travelled! I LOVE your descriptions! What I am trying to understand from your posts is WHY you feel someone who is contemplating living elsewhere is somehow "betraying" America. I live in a FANTASTIC European city which has become my home. I can no longer imagine living anywhere else after having lived in NYC, L.A., Phoenix, Luzern and other places; I've found MY CITY. It's a perfect fit.

What is the source of the hostility to those who, at whatever point in their lives, due to whatever provocation, seek a change?

[BeTheChange]

34. Karenina,

I am not hostile and I said nothing about betrayal. Im also not all about maid's quarters and nips and tucks as I stated. Those little perks amount to nothing for the average person who is experiencing true hardship. However, you do what you have to do for yourself. It is wonderful that you have found a place to call your home.. but if you start telling me that you left here to stretch your half a million dollar nest egg and that is what makes you happy, Im going to tell you wake the fuck up and look for happiness outside of your wallet. That wouldnt be said in malice, but in reality.

But if you are a material preservationist, that is what you are.. and if you are okay with that.. fine by me. Don't frame your reasons as America's failures. Don't make it out like you are fleeing Nazi Germany and dont tell me you have done everything you can do to reverse the ills you are claiming are driving you out. Dont seek approval on a site that is about democracts fighting for change while you talk about the 8 grand you pull in a month that you are now going to take to another country and put into their economy. That is bad tact and deserves to be pointed out as such.

[Karenina]

45. Thanks for posting that

and I now do see your point of view.

[ulysses]

17. nah, probably not.

But I've learned better than to question those who wish to do so...

[leftchick]

18. Hell yes!

I am out of here as soon as I can and I am not sure if I can afford NOT to.

[Individualist]

19. I certainly would!

[porphyrian]

20. I'm not budging out of spite at this point.

Fuck them, they can move.

[nonconformist]

21. Probably, and I don't condemn anyone that has chosen to do so. nt

[MercutioATC]

23. Ten years from today...April 17, 2016.

That's the day I'm eligible to retire and I'm leaving the U.S.

Until then. I'm stuck here.

[paparush]

27. Bush - Doing the Monkey - ooh ooh ahh ahh eey eey

I think we would take our 10 year old and leave...yes. He's only 8 years away from draft age and the way these PNAC criminals are going...it won't be long till we have reinstated the draft...and he is NOT going to die in some foreign land, killing poor people, for the rich man's oil.

[cali]

28. No. I live in Vermont.

I love this place- passionately. I love its intimate landscape and its history. I love the people, both those who were born here and those, like myself, who were drawn here. I love the devotion to the land.
I feel safe here in a way that's connected to these old worn mountains and the web of relationships that hold me.

My parents chose to leave years ago. They own a home in London. My mother spends about 6 months of the year there. It's a great place, in lovely old Crescent near Hyde Park and I enjoy visiting, but it's not Vermont. When I return home after being away, my heart always lightens when I cross the border. I'm home.

[Alamom]

29. Could, but won't. eom

[Jose Diablo]

30. No, I will not leave, no matter what n/t

[Zorra]

31. I left right after the Supreme Court appointed Bu*h in 2000.

I am proud to say that not one thin dime of my money supported this fascist cabal and their insane war.

Living abroad does not mean that you are not politically active. During the 2004 election campaign I distributed political material, helped ex-pats vote absentee, and used every opportunity to convince folks to vote for John Kerry.

[Xenotime]

32. Any place is better than here...

I say let the Mexicans and Indians take back what was theirs.

[seabeyond]

38. Any place is better than here... bah hahahah, ya right n/t

[rockymountaindem]

39. Go spend a year in Zimbabwe and then say that

Some people evidently have no idea what they're talking about.

[Brigid]

33. Oh, yes!

I'd move to Canada, or maybe Ireland or Scotland. I hear that Spain is quite nice. I should think any of these countries would allow me to move there if I had lots of cash, and thus wouldn't need to take a job to support myself.

[seabeyond]

35. i can afford it and i am not leaving. i always leave all options

open. but no, i love the u.s. and i cant imagine living in any other country. i would miss it too much

[lse7581011]

36. In A Heartbeat n/t!

[Norquist Nemesis]

37. Might? More like DEFINITELY!

In a heartbeat!

[Ganja Ninja]

40. Heck yes!

I would retire to Mexico in a heart beat if I had the money. By the way, $82 million in the Florida lotto jackpot this week.

[WinkyDink]

42. No. Unless I could live exrtemely well in Lugano. Or maybe Lucerne.

[MadHound]

44. No, not at all, this is my country too, and I'm one stubborn SOB

Besides, I have friends and family who couldn't leave, and I would feel honor bound to stay and help them. In addition, I've made a life here, planted an orchard and gardens. I have worked to hard and too long to be run off by a bunch of dickless jackbooted thugs.

[Nicole]

46. No way

I can afford to leave but I choose not to. I have family and friends here that can't leave. Any benefits of living abroad would not mean a thing without them.

Visiting my loved ones, even for 130 days per year, is just not enough.

[catmandu57]

47. I'd just like to get to a bluer state

Taos would be nice, I'd just like to live somewhere the majority of people felt like do. My wifes feet are set in concrete and would never leave, and I won't live without her, so, here we are and here we'll remain until they kick the door in early some morning.

[kevinbgoode]

48. Yes I would go

borders are man-made.