Seems like it’s a well known fact that being poor or even middle class (if that will even exist anymore) in the US disposes one to a very low quality of life (e.g., living in areas with higher crime rates, bad healthcare, the most obvious being cost of living, …etc)
On the flip side, what are some reasons why the top 1-5% percentile would also want to leave the US? (e.g., taxes/financial benefits, no longer aligning with the culture? I would assume mainly the former)
If you are in the top 1-5%, is living in the US still the best place to live? (as many people would like to suggest)
I’m looking to leave and I’m probably in the upper 10%. The main reason is simply that America does not support a lifestyle I want to live
99% of America is big gaudy houses connected by roads for cars and no sidewalks. It’s feels so lonely here, there’s no sense of community. Driving everywhere is just part of life. Your options for a walkable urban environment are Boston (small), Chicago (medium), NYC (big). All pretty cold, and since I want a bigger city my only option is nyc and its stupid expensive
Yet lots of people raising families in 900 sq foot apartments in European cities would love to have that big house with space around it and either own a car or own one that isn’t tiny.
It is all subjective.
Why would anyone want to raise kids in a Mcmansion, cut off from the rest of the world, with no means for the kids to grow up independently? Here in the Netherlands kids grow up in small houses but they learn how to ride a bike at age 5, and then by age 8 they are free to visit their friends and go to sports or whatever else by themselves. In the US your kids will ALWAYS be dependent on you to drive them around which means they will socialise far less. It makes kids disappear deeper into their phones, become lonely and all other problems that come with that. I believe that any parent that wants to shelter their kids in a huge suburban house is only doing that for selfish reasons.
Because a big house has more space to enjoy, and it doesn’t mean you’re cut off from the rest of the world. There are people in big houses who socialize a lot, and people in apartments who are shut ins.
Many kids in USA learn to ride bikes at a young age and are also free to visit friends. All kids in USA aren’t dependent on being driven around.
You have a lot of misconceptions and assumptions.
that’s nuts. There’s a lot predadors out there. I’d never leave my kids just like that.15-16 yes, 8… hell no.
Yeah, definitely, I’m not denying that. Im just saying it doesn’t fit my personal lifestyle goals. I definitely don’t plan to have kids
Many don’t plan on having them, but most aren’t celibate and the issue tends to arise. :)
And eat American food, dealing with a for-profit healthcare system? No thanksssssss
This is such a stupid comment. Oh my God you must suffer American BBQ and can’t go to the nearest strip mall to get Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Korean, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Peruvian, etc. you poor unimaginative sap.
I lived half of my life in North America and I would really choose Europe every day
I’ve lived in both Europe (Lyon and Zaragoza) and USA, and I can see the advantages and disadvantages of both. It really comes down to what is important to you, there is no wrong answer.
However that doesn’t make your comment about food any less stupid.
It is not a stupid comment at all. At least in Europe, the food is much healthier because of restrictions against chemical additives and heavy pesticides. And Amrican bread isn’t like real bread and tastes too sweet. So much of the food in the U.S. has too much added sugar. Try living in Eurpore for a month and you’ll see how much better the everyday food tastes and how much healthier it is, if you care about that type of thing. The groceries and fresh ingredients are higher quality.
I just told you in the last comment that I have lived in Europe. Lyon and Zaragoza. I haven’t lived in USA since 2015. Yet you are telling me I need to try living in Europe for a month to become enlightened and agree with you. You are dumb as a rock, you just pile idiotic comments on top of idiotic comments.
Even trying to roll “Europe” into one monolithic entity to declare its food tastes better is dumb. Food from Moldova is better than Louisiana? Nope. Lithuanian food better than Kansas City barbecue? Negative. You can eat healthy in USA or eat unhealthy in USA, you can eat healthy in Europe or eat unhealthy in Europe.
Stop being stupid.
“Gluck, gluck, gluck.” That’s the sound of you, deep-throating Uncle Sam’s cock. You’ve left what, like 10 comments on this post? Are you trying to convince yourself of something?
You are just rude. I overlooked the part about where you’ve lived because I was speaking to the readership and not just you perspnally-- sorry… Nevertheless, you are quite unenlightened. According to reliable data, the U.S. has some of the most unhealthy food amongst developed nations. So many countries prohibit the chemicals that are abundant in the food here. Ironically, so many people in the top percentage of earners still buy the toxic food here, while they could afford to at least buy organic, but few care to do so.
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/banned-ingredients-in-other-countries/
GMO’s are another issue. The reason GMOs are problematic isnt simply because they are genetically modified. The problem is the REASON why they are modified. Most have been developed to tolerate a much higher load of toxic chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which are mostly forever chemicals that remain in consumers’ bodies and substantially increase cancer risks over time.
The problem with the U.S. food industry is that it is improperly regulated. Food legislation in the U.S. is greatly affected by Big Farming, which contributes hefty amounts to politicians, to influence them to vote their way, so that they can continue their very toxic practices-- i.e.-- money and greed control the legislation that controls U.S. food production…
Even most of the milk in the U.S. is tainted with pesticides and hormones. I can’t understand why so many people buy milk laced with hormones while increasingly widespread precocious puberty in the U.S. has been positively linked to that.
As someone whose family and circle include many hnwi’s, I can attest that few seem to care about buying organic. And even the organic food label here let’s a lot of things slide that wouldn’t be allowed an organic label overseas.
About “Europe,” you are correct. I had in mind Western Europe, where healthy food standards are generally much higher. Certainly you are also correct that people can make unhealthy food choices anywhere. But if your food INGREDIENTS are tainted, then even those who stick to fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins will be consuming a lot of bad stuff.
“the grass is always greener on the other side”… I have relatives in Europe who would kill to live in NYC
This. The social isolation in the US. The car-centric design that makes going anywhere an extra effort.