I'm glad I left....

[BooScout]

4 Years ago I packed my bags and upped sticks to the UK. It was part of a long range plan that my husband and I made to live and retire in the UK. I confess that part of our reasoning for leaving then was political, while we always planned to settle in the UK since my husband is English.....we did move our timetable up by a few years because the timing was opportune for us and both of us had had a gut full of Bush et al.

No country is perfect. In fact, most countries are far from perfect. But I have to say, the polarization I am seeing now over universal health care and now something so innocuous as the President of the United States of America giving a speech to the nation's school children and encouraging them to work hard and stay in school makes me so wonder if there really is any hope for America.

I've got friends from the States emailing me asking me to relay any information and help I can regarding the possibility of them immigrating here to the UK or Europe. They see no hope of the Right Wing ever trying to reach any middle ground....and they speak of the Right attempting to block anything and everything that Democrats try to achieve.

Looking at it all from afar, perhaps I see things differently......but to be honest.....I can't say I'm surprised. I thought when Bush achieved a 2nd term that even if the Democrats regained control of the White House and/or Congress in a post-Bush era, it would take a miracle to get back all that was lost. I do wonder whether anyone can fix what is so broken.

I have no regrets for leaving. I love my country, but I'm glad I left.

[NYC_SKP]

1. These things are embarrassing. I am ashamed of the way our country behaves...

We are the whining spoiled ignorant rich brats among the nations on Earth.

Sad...

[olegramps]

96. I find it very sad that people are so distressed with the situation.

It is my firm belief that 90% of the dissatisfaction is directly attributable to the Republican propagandists that have spread the message of hatred that has divided the nation. What a sad day when the president of the United States can not address school children with a message of hope and encouragement.

The major news media are also the blame for not exposing these people as being in reality enemies of the Republic for their mean spirited racist hatred. I can honestly say that as I watch Republican officials not speak out condemning this that they have revealed that they are the scum of the earth. I can assure you that I wouldn't give a Republican the sweat off my balls if they were dying of thirst. I have come to the point that I hate every one of the bastards.

[Toucano]

2. I am also glad I left.

It is as if I am watching the Twilight Zone, sometimes.

[Quantess]

3. Have you been back for a visit?

I have serious designs on moving to Europe.

[BooScout]

5. Yes....

I was back a couple of years ago. It was good to see old friends but I couldn't wait to get back home again and by home, I mean the UK.

[Doctor_J]

4. Nicely done

I would be out of here tomorrow if I could find work. And I am not very picky about where I'd go. Things are going to get even worse here, because we refuse to do the things that need to be done to take the country back from Hate Radio. Look around at the Du threads and see the deep state of denial about where we're at. "Just talk calmly to them", "We can't play their game - it makes us just like them", "It's been worse", "They're entitled to terrorize Congressmen at Town Hall meetings". This country is in such deep moral decay that there is only one way out - it isn't a matter of if, just when. The only reason we may be saved from ending up like Nazi Germany is that the Reich Wing only terrorizes other Americans, so no other force will intercede on our behalf. That doesn't make it any better for those here who don't like living in Beckland.

Congrats! I wish to hell I could get out of here.

[lyonn]

25. Hell, don't plan on getting too comfy in another country

If the Reich Wing takes over no country would be safe from the RW's own personal military machine.....

Ok, so that's not so funny..... it's late and I have been on DU all day with the tv telling me things that totally drives me to drink.

[RagAss]

6. Be glad you left...we're headed for a shit storm real soon.

[DebbieCDC]

7. I'm hoping to hang on until I can retire

I'm seriously checking out expatriate enclaves in Mexico

[dgibby]

16. My nephew and his wife are moving to Mexico next month.

This is where they'll be living.

http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/155-lake-chapala-region-resource-page-ajijic-chapala-jocotepec

They can't wait to get out of the states. Told me if I ever decided to throw in the towel, they'd help me move there, too.

[Suich]

20. I'm gonna bookmark that site!!!

What are you waiting for????? I'd be moving with them!

:hi:

[dgibby]

21. I'll leave if we ever get another admin like the last one and/or

become a Theocracy.

I have too many pets and too much family to leave right now, plus I'd have to drive it, 'cause I don't fly.

It is beautiful there, though, isn't it? They love it there. Can't wait to get out of Chicago. He said if he never shoveled snow again, it would be too soon!:hi:

[Creena]

8. I offered to pay my friend in Ireland if he'd marry me.

He didn't take me up on my offer. Maybe because I only had $15 and no college degree.

I still want to move from the States, but it must be with my disabled mother. Most countries don't like accepting immigrants without a means of giving back to the economy through work or private funds, neither of which my mom can provide.

[redqueen]

10. I wish I could do that...

offer to pay my friend in Ireland to marry me, I mean.

As it is I'll just have to try to tough it out till I can get a degree that allows me to emigrate.

Good luck...

[Creena]

12. I still need that degree.

I'm looking at a double major in History and Religion, but the lack of job opportunities scare me. I always enjoy the thought of working with animals and possibly attending veterinary school, but the zillions of science courses, especially organic chemistry, scare me.

[peace13]

9. 'Achieved a 2nd term' is a clever way to put it.

You do know that some of us out here are working our asses off to try and save this country! Two stolen elections later we are picking up the pieces. It doesn't help that our right wing media is stirring up those crazy fools. Don't get too comfortable where you are at because the UK and the US are sisters in war and led by the same insanity. Those of us trying to put this beast back in the box instead of putting our heads in the sand will be owed a thank you some day! As our world goes so goes yours....in time.

[BooScout]

15. Save it for someone who cares.....

I've been down the road of "we're working our asses off and you left" accusations/innuendo before. Moving here was always our plan, had you bothered to read and comprehend my OP. I've not stuck my head in the sand, far from it. And to be honest, anyone who feels the need to brag about working their ass off to save the country is a wee bit suspect of being an armchair warrior if you ask me.

Have you ever lived in the UK? It's nothing like the US......and for all it's faults there is nothing like the polarization I'm seeing and hearing about in the States.

[peace13]

17. Nice!.

It is always good to have a plan! Be aware that if the polarization becomes complete the nuclear arms that are here in this country will be in the hands of the bat shit crazy and there will be no place to hide on this planet. What part of Tony and * did you miss. I think that the UK is pretty much an accomplice in this Middle East fiasco. I am also aware that Muslims in your country may have a different song to sing. Just saying!

[BooScout]

22. You really don't get it do you?

I never said the UK was perfect, in fact I stated no country was perfect. It was you and your attitude flung in my face which I took exception to. Neither did I deny blame for whatever role the UK played in anything on whatever the hell your agenda is. If you want to have a go at the UK then go for it. You've obviously never lived here, but seem to consider yourself an expert on assessing blame for the various ills we've caused the world.

My OP was about my dismay on the polarizaion of my native country. My OP was about the fact that I love my country and that even though I love my country I'm glad I left because I honestly don't know if it can be saved from itself. My OP was not a comparision or a pissing match as to what country was better than the other or which country has done the most damage to the world or who is going to be fucked first in the nuclear holocaust to end all holocausts.

So if it pleases you to jump all over me without reading or comprehending what my OP was about then go for it all you want.... Then ask yourself again what the hell polarization is.

[peace13]

26. It is you who do not get it.

Even the UK is is polarized as I stated. Believe what you like. Enjoy each day. It is all that we have.

[BooScout]

37. It's not a contest you know?

But apparently you won't be happy unless someone else can be in misery with you.....so you win.....or rather in the end.....lose.

[Joe Chi Minh]

65. No. It's not. By European standards, somewhat. To me, the UK is an utter

madhouse, because I can remember what it was like until the evil ministrations of La Thatcher and the right (Tory and NuLab).

One thing that strikes me as illustrative of the difference between the respective, political milieux is that the leader of the far right here in the UK, i.e. the Tories, bends over backwards to give the impression that his progressive credentials are unimpeccable. At times, he even sounds like one of the giants of Old Labour.

But we all KNOW what they're like. And we can't fail to, because their knuckle-dragger base is always mouthing off about the NHS "not being able to stay in its present form", cutting expenditures, etc. Cameron will never be able to square the circle, and we've learnt the lessons Thatcher's spawn taught us indelibly.

But, incredible as it seems, incredible as it IS, compared to the US, the UK is still an oasis of sanity. You really have no conception of the madness your right wing has brought about in your country. No idea. You think you do. You don't.

[BooScout]

72. Thank you...

A voice of reason!

[lunatica]

59. Uber patriotism is one of the symptoms of jingoism

Like the US somehow is better than any other country. Yeah, sure. Do you think Americans are also superior just for being born in this part of the planet? Does god love us best?

[GCP]

11. Me and husband are planning on moving back

Even though our kids are grown up here and settled.
I can't take the division and hatred any more. It's becoming like Nazi Germany all over again.

[girl gone mad]

27. I think that's going too far.

Unlike Nazi Germany, America is currently a very diverse society. We have a vocal minority of extremist RWers, and two political parties that are both essentially pseudo-fascist/corporatist, but the majority of people in this country are open minded and tolerant, particularly the young people. That was not the case in Germany.

[GCP]

31. People in Germany started feeling desperate as the economy failed

Hitler came along and told them it wan't their fault it was the fault of 'them' - the signers of the Versaille Treaty - and the Jews.
Now we have nutcases on the right fomenting hatred of liberals, and suddenly we have gun-toting whackjobs at town hall meetings.
Germany was mainly open minded and tolerant until a charismatic megalomaniac basically staged a coup.

[Mixopterus]

64. Even shortly before and during the war

His support was mostly an illusion. The Nazi Party was against pretty much every traditional German value save maybe the Prussian value of a strong military, and even more against the progressive German values that had begun to very quickly take root in the Weimar Republic. That didn't stop the Nazis though, whoever couldn't be convinced could be tricked, and whoever couldn't be tricked could be coerced. There is nothing peculiar to the German character that lead to the rise of Nazi Germany, there is, however, something peculiar to the human psychology that lead to this.

Just look back at how quickly people craved blood after 9/11 and before the Iraq War, that is just a small taste of the forces at work.

[Joe Chi Minh]

67. It was originally, ggm. Then the monied classes go to work.

[Mixopterus]

71. Agreed

It was mostly the upper class manufacturing consent. The "fanatical German soldier" has always been a minority and a member of the political wings of the Nazi party.

People forget the vast majority of the German Wehrmacht were scared kids led by madmen, and the exact same phenomenon can happen anywhere, including here.

[Raine]

13. You did the wise thing

I wish I had left. :-(

[d_b]

14. how may i join you?

time to start trolling facebook for single british gals...

[progressoid]

18. I had hoped things would get better.

Sadly, I was mistaken. I'm more ashamed of my country than ever.

[Arugula Latte]

28. Me too.

It's hitting me hard this week.

I thought we'd won. :(

[BooScout]

38. Exactly.....

It's very disheartening to see the amount of hate leveled at someone for the mere thought of the President of the United States encouraging school children to work hard and stay in school. When so many people think there is spmething so subversive about that I have to wonder whether it will ever all work itself out.

[Joe Chi Minh]

69. I fear that I really would end up convinced that the Republican rump

really are a sub-species of mankind; maybe of primates.

[SammyWinstonJack]

Same here. I'd leave if I had the means too do so.

x(

[treestar]

63. You've got to be kidding

:wtf:

[MissDeeds]

19. So glad you got out

After the second Bush "win", I knew the fix was in and this country was lost - unless a strong and dynamic leader emerged to get it back on track. I have seen my hopes dwindle as the promise of change is becoming less and less of a reality. I love this country, and it hurts to see it slowly but surely becoming something unrecognizable.

My husband was offered a position in Europe a year and a half ago. I was thrilled beyond words with the prospect of getting out, even though it meant leaving my family in the US. Regrettably, after much thought, he decided not to take the position. Honestly, I was shocked by how disappointed I was, and still am. I used to be fiercely patriotic, but now, I just feel disillusioned. I never would have thought I could feel this way. I want my country back. I want to love it and believe that it is the greatest country and most steadfast democracy in the world. I want the change we were promised.

[cutlassmama]

23. My sister lives in the UK

The health care is good there, but she's had a heck of a time getting a job. She finally got a good one, but it took her two years. They don't like to hire Americans. Their economy is not doing so well either (from what she says).

[bigwillq]

24. So glad I'm staying.

I will continue to fight.

[MellowDem]

29. I'm glad you left too...

you and everyone else on here who has stated their "relief". I'm glad you can only "look from afar" because I don't want debbie downers and quitters getting in the way of reforming this country. The very fact that you have to come back and tell everyone else how glad and lucky you are to have quit the good fight says all I need to know about you and others like you. If I *had* to move to another country because of work, family, etc., I would be damn sad and ashamed to be missing out and feeling pretty damn helpless to not do anything to reform this country. And I would miss all the good people of this country, my friends who fight with me and deserve so much better. I would never abandon them willingly.

I don't know why you even continue posting on this site if all you said is true. What's the point? To spread your bullshit "the end is nigh and I got outta hear suckas!" melancholy around? Spare me, please. I've got real work to do, why don't you go have some tea?

[GCP]

32. Not that mellow n/t

[MellowDem]

75. No exclamation points...

you can be mellow and still have an opinion :)

[Mudoria]

35. Nicely said...

[BooScout]

39. Oh yes another message board desk jockey....

Accusing others who you know nothing about of not doing enough and bragging how much work you've done. Spare us all the sob story of how you've saved the world .....most of us clued in a long time ago that you probably haven't done squat other than sit on a message board and judge others.

The quip about me having some tea was a good try, but rather pathetic.

[depakid]

42. As America slides into third world status- those of us had the foresight to get out

can take a little schadenfreude with respect to certain sorts of folks.

[MellowDem]

86. So your sole purpose of being here...

is to simply comment on America's slide and take pleasure in watching it happen to your fellow progressives who live here, because those stupid fuckers didn't have the "foresight" like you did. We really don't need cheerleaders of doom here right now. And you've got a pretty cruel attitude.

[MellowDem]

76. Never said I saved the world...

or bragged about anything really. That would be you projecting sense you are on here to tell all of us "poor" DUers still trapped in America how lucky you are and how pitiful the rest of us are for not getting out.

[BooScout]

79. Go back and read the OP.....

And try to comprehend what I actually wrote instead of jumping to conclusions and making up shit that pops out of your head.

[MellowDem]

84. An OP titled "I'm glad I left"

What is the point of your OP? Seriously? The only point I can come up with after reading the whole thing is you wanted to let us all know how happy you are to be outta here and how you don't see it ever getting better here. Am I wrong? Because it's hard to see any other main point in the entire passage.

Really, we don't need this right now. It gets crazy enough around here without people basically encouraging others to abandon all hope and leave the country.

[BooScout]

89. Are you wrong?

In a word........Yes.

But then again you apparently have no skill other than to make up your own little scenario as you go along. Keep on alienating everyone with viewpoints different than your own........soon you'll be standing all by yourself.

[MellowDem]

90. If I'm wrong...

you would've had something to say. What's the main point of your OP? Since I'm wrong, you'll have to correct me.

Who am I alienating anyways? Those whose view it is that America is a goner no matter what? If that's who I'm alienating, then what difference does it make? You've already made it clear that those of us left here are "standing all by ourselves".

[krabigirl]

51. Give me a break. There's always been an exodus of Americans during times like this.

Many left during prohibition, the McCarthy years, etc.

[MellowDem]

80. Didn't say it's not unusual...

though in all honesty, this isn't prohibition nor the McCarthy years. We just elected Obama yet no matter what progress is made for some it is always Apocalypse Now. I just tried to see the logic beyond pure selfish interests to get out of the country for political reasons only. The truth hurts for some I guess.

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. Why so hostile?

:shrug: Mellow? :silly:

[MellowDem]

78. Haha...

Overall I'm pretty mellow, but it doesn't mean sometimes I don't get riled up after endless doom-saying and "screw it all" posts.

[Mixopterus]

66. Bawww some more

Nice reform you are working at, yep. Sure seems like you are getting somewhere with that.

[MellowDem]

77. We are getting somewhere...

despite people like you around who droll on and on about how we are all screwed no matter what.

[Mixopterus]

83. Maybe we are screwed no matter what?

The historical record is showing that things are getting worse, not better.

But just cling on to that shallow hope that because you helped get a corporatist politician in office that he will "reform" the United States. Has Obama done anything so far that even hints at reform?

The historical record also shows that nations on the decay will continue to decay no matter how much energy you invest into it. There really is such a thing as the inevitable, you know. It is not outside of the realm of possibility that the United States as a political entity is untenable and will go away just like every other political entity in time. It is also not outside of the realm of possibility that reform of said political entity may be impossible at this point, as we may have gone beyond an event horizon in terms of how the political structure and economy is organized. It may also be possible that change would only come through a total revision of what we think as a distinct political entity or the possible fragmentation into several distinct political entities over the ultra long term. I, and you, cannot fault anyone for wanting to escape these possibilities through a change in location. I am particularly sympathetic to those who do not want their children or grandchildren to live these possibilities.

[MellowDem]

88. There's always hope...

nobody can predict what will happen. So to live on the presumption that everything is going to hell has to be the worst way to live. I never have said I think it will all be rosy, but of course things can turn around. We've been through much worse before and there is no reason we can't get through this.

Obama has done a lot of things that point quite grandly towards reform. Many people just expect the reform to be coming much faster, but the reality is we've had almost 40 years of this country being in the grips of the conservative ideology, and it will take more than even a two term president to turn everything around.

And the historical record you reference doesn't always hold true. After all, Great Britain lost its empire but is still a nation in existence, one that is among the wealthiest, most progressive in the world. The destruction of the US is not inevitable. We can make it sustainable.

[Mixopterus]

91. No, you are incorrect

All nations are destroyed in the end, some just sooner than others. The only reason Great Britain didn't succumb to this was a nice stretch of water saving them from the Germans twice, and a relatively stable situation back at home. They didn't have to contend with home country that is an empire unto itself with multiple regions that have a dramatically different perspective on government. Oh, they also had a pretty solid national identity with most of the regionalism beaten out of their subject states. Even then, eventually the political entity known as the United Kingdom will cease to be. It will turn to something else or be absorbed by something.

The United States shares almost none of the characteristics as Great Britain. We have a massive country that is effectively an empire all of its own, not unlike Russia or China, rampant regionalism without the good foresight of an immensely strong central government (the only reason Russia and China are still coherent civilizations today), fractured political landscape that matches this regionalism almost perfectly, a balance of power between two forces (government vs. corporations) that is totally out of whack, and a military build up like the world has never seen before.

Can't you see this is a recipe for disaster? No nation can survive that formula, and we are no exception. The American people will survive in one form or many, but the nation is not a sustainable entity.

There is NO coherent picture of an "American" civilization or people. It's a worthless term for the reasons above. My vision of how the United States should be as a person born and raised in New England is dramatically different from many in the south. There is no dialogue any more, and there hasn't been for decades. It is an unstable structure.

[MellowDem]

92. In the end...

all nations will cease to exist of course. But countries are changing all the time, and that rate of change has only in increased with the technology currently available. I don't really think there is a truly fractured political landscape or even rampant regionalism today in the US. Even in the South, often considered the most "regionalist" part of the country, things are changing and will continue to. The country is still exceedingly moderate, it's just that the Republican Party has shrank to its extremist base. To me, I see apathy and lack of political awareness, two things that stop a fractured political landscape in the first place. Too few people care for much "fracturing" to be going on. I think these are the real problems we are facing, but they are not unheard of or impossible to overcome. It's what allows extremists like the Republican Party to wield power beyond their numbers.

There's also no reason to believe that the balance of power between government and corporations won't change; it has done so multiple times within this century. The military buildup has little to do with dreams of conquering Canada and everything to do with an outdated approach to security in the 21st century, with a helpful dose of lobbying from defense contracters. It's not all that diabolical really, but it is extremely harmful to us and is hurting is every year. But the pendulum is starting to swing.

[Mixopterus]

93. Evil intentions

And diabolical motives are not a nation killer, but widespread apathy, class antagonism, and regional antagonism are.

Where is this reform you are talking about? What about this "swing" in how much sway corporations have? All I see is a continuation of old policies and corporate power only getting stronger since Truman. The greatest threat to the United States is it crumbling under its own weight.

Also, fracturing doesn't have to be an overt process. People not caring and letting whatever bonds that may be dissolve will eventually cause a fracture just like overt hate and violence.

As I said, believe what you want, but don't mock people who want to jump the ship.

[azmouse]

87. I'm in complete agreement with you.

Keep up the good fight.

[Swamp Rat]

30. I'm glad I came back.... time to kick repuke ass!!!!!!!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

34. Oh Swamp Rat, that is Fantastic!

zehr gut!

Wow, do I ever wish I could put that up at work.....

[1Hippiechick]

46. Love your poster - I had to save it. OK?

[waiting for hope]

33. Hey BooScout!

Hope you are well and we miss ya! :hi:

[LynnTheDem]

36. It's an amazingly different view from a distance, isn't it!

It's unfortunate that more Americans don't have the opprtunity to see America from a distance. It's shocking how immature and ignorant far too many Americans look, when one is looking in from afar.

It's also bloody embarrassing.

[Karenina]

41. Ain't THAT the TRUTH!!!

:hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

54. I'd like to view it from a distance and it's pretty embarrassing up close too.

[dipsydoodle]

40. I'd noticed before

that were over here in Welsh Wales, as some of us call in England it, but was unaware of the background.

I hope you been made welcome here. Hugs to both of you.

BTW : "keeping children at school" fogs the unemployment situation - they do the same here.

[Joe the Liberal]

43. I dream of one day moving to Canada.....

So I don't blame you at all for leaving, the US is heading downhill really fast and to stick around on sinking ship is foolish. If I could go I would, Canada would be ideal as it is closest, Europe would be great too but it doesn't seem very realistic for me.

[JNelson6563]

44. I am very happy for you and a bit envious.

I wish you many happy years in the UK. :toast:

Julie

[wuvuj]

45. It's the cell phones...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=222&topic_id=68651&mesg_id=68723

[jimlup]

47. The right wing in the USA has always been rabid

The media is legitimizing something that has always been present. They always give any story "two sides" making for ugly displays like the anti-Obama school speech display.

[DCKit]

48. If we ALL leave, that puts even the U.K. at risk.

Imagine the kind of aggression a U.S. full of wingers might be capable of - "Yeah, we had to rescue them in WWII, we can take 'em."

You're far better off with a solid contingent here in the U.S. (as much as I'd like to join you myself).

[krabigirl]

52. LOL, good point, but this has always happened in times like this.

During the McCarthy 50s, many left. During Prohibition, many Americans settled in France (mainly artists and writers). They all returned. And most people didn't leave.

[mmonk]

49. In the United States, it's time for people that have been harmed

or attacked by people that believe the lies and hatespeech of talk radio, Fox News, and the like to start class action law suits against those that have incited the harm. It's time to stand up and say we aren't going to put up with this garbage anymore.

[krabigirl]

50. I envy you! I'm trying to convince DH to move us back to his home country (France).

He's a partial owner of his company, which is why we are stuck in Orange County (blech). He's always wanted to come back home, and we may have the chance for him to work remotely. How did the transition go when you moved?

[BooScout]

57. It was smooth as glass.....

The only difficult part of the move was bringing the dog over under the Pet Passport Scheme the UK has.......which took about 8 months prior planning to do.

It's great not to worry about health insurance and it's nice having a good social safety net should we ever need one.

DH is a happy camper being home again and I've settled in very well. I specially love the commute to work......about a mile compared to sitting an hour each way in Atlanta traffic every day.

[krabigirl]

60. Sounds great. (ro)

Glad you could bring your dog, and that you got a job to boot! I think my transition may be harder with the language change..I'm slowly learning French, and I know I will master it, but I am having a hard time with it. And there's a lot more red tape there than here. But honestly, I'm not very happy here. I have lived abroad before (the UK :), on a student work visa), and I liked it. I think I'll manage ok. I've drifted away from many of my friends here anyway, and my family is not too supportive of the way we are raising our kids (ie, not Catholic), so it's not like I'll miss that badgering. :)

[Joe Chi Minh]

70. Now, France. That is special.

[TransitJohn]

53. My wife's Thai

and the plan is we'll both retire there and open a brewpub down south. Hope you and your SO are fine!

[malletgirl02]

56. Health Care Reform

Also the right's crazy reaction to Obama's very modest health care reform proposals. With the right calling Obama a socialist, when he is clearly just a moderate liberal. I wish that he would go all out an actually push socialist policies. He might as well.

[NightHawk63]

58. I so totally agree with you.

I have received my Canadian permanent residence visa and plan on moving early next year. I was wavering a little after Obama's victory about whether to really do it. But now, I have no doubts that this is the right decision for me.

[Vinca]

61. This week I sent an email to the Senator of my state who is opposing

health care reform (Judd Gregg:puke: )and told him that 35+ years ago when my husband and I were married, we had a choice of living in either the United States or Canada since my husband is a Canadian/American. I told him I never dreamed I would regret living my life in the United States, but since I'm now too wealthy for Medicaid, too poor for insurance and too young for Medicare, I'm sorry we made the choice we did. Depending on the health care vote, we may still end up in Canada.

[treestar]

62. I don't have the opportunity

No such husband, and too old for most countries' immigration programs - I could see retiring in another country, for a while, at least. But more for the experience/educational value. I don't really hate being here. Now if McPain had been elected I might feel differently.

[omega minimo]

68. The fact that too many thought things could be "fixed" after two stolen elections and no impeachment

is the problem. :evilfrown: They went along with it and didn't deal with it when it could have made a difference.

[kumbaya]

73. Can you still sail on ships to Europe? If so, count me in!

[Jennicut]

74. I don't really want to leave, I like living in New England. I would miss it too much.

But vacations to UK sound great. :)

[Juche]

85. I admire new england

Not to suck up or anything, but I do. I am from Indiana and I look at the history of New England, how it seems they have been at the forefront of progressive reform and it is impressive. New England states were abolishing slavery 100 years before the south was forced to do it at gunpoint. Now New England is leading the way on gay rights. Some of the most progressive members of congress come from there, and even the republicans from New England (Jeffords, Chafee, Snowe, Collins) are tolerably moderate. Except Romney.

[Jennicut]

95. Romney is fake as he acted like a moderate but when he ran for President

he ditched everything he used to believe in.
New England has its share of crazies (my own parents are conservatives, NH has some crazy RWers, and Glenn Beck lives in CT). But for the most part people here are reasonable and they seem to mind their own business. I have no heard one word of any crazy talk about President Obama's speech to schoolkids here in the CT town I live in. I guess its just no big deal.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

81. This thread is worthless. "I'm ok, too bad you all are still in the suck".

Pointing out something you have that others can't is nothing more then being a brag.

[espiral]

94. I was thinking the same thing.

What are readers supposed to do, congratulate you? Shower you with "I'm so jealous!" comments?

Do you just laugh at the medically indigent; or do you sometimes laugh at the hungry, too?

[Libertas1776]

98. Its kind of like

telling a very rich uncle or some relative that you're flat broke and about to be thrown out onto the street and their response is "Don't worry johnny, I still have plenty of money, I'll be just fine," at which point they proceed to tell you all the nice things they own, the Mercedes, sauna, and room for a pony, and then hang up.

Really, these rather self absorbed posts from certain persons now living abroad, constantly reminding us poor shlubs and shnooks who are left behind; stuck here come hell or high water how their new life in Shang Ri La, Xanadu, Elysium, or what have you aka: Europe is so damn splendiferous and wonderful. Thanks, I am all ready well aware. No need to remind me. I thought the name of this board was "Democratic(as in the Democratic Party of the United States of America)Underground" and not "Ex-Pat who married a European for an exit visa to Never, Never Land, complete with excellent public transportation and superior universal health care and are now card carrying members of the Social Democrat Party of said Never, Never Land, who occasionally like to log into the interweb and remind us "poor, poor Americans" how great their life is going, Underground."

What's next, Julia Roberts or Sally Struthers are going to start airing commercials abroad stressing the poor situation of America and how for just pennies a day, you can support a poor, helpless 'Merican.

We are well aware what a shithole this country is right now, and we (those who do not have the means or ability to up and leave) do not need constant reminders from "DUers" abroad.

[espiral]

101. Exactly, & well said NT

[Juche]

82. Sad that 20% can hold up the country

That is the % who are right wing authoritarian mindless dittoheads from what I can tell.

They are a vocal 1/5 of the country, but it sucks they get to run things like they do.

[DFW]

97. I'm split three ways on the subject

As one who has been a full-time Texas resident (officially, anyway) for over 25 years, stationed
in Europe for 30 years, and probably as fed up as anyone with the lack of our country's ability to
rid itself of the ugly and patently phony propaganda from the extremist right, I have 3 different
reactions to the theme:

1. Yeah, me too
2. I really gotta help do something, though, as America affects the world with what it does
3. Sheeeee-it, man, it's my home, and I'll be damned if I'm going to watch it go down the
tubes without a fight, even from Europe

As my children are dual nationals and are equally at home, both culturally and legally, in
both the USA and the European Union, I tend toward door number three.

Yes, I go bananas whenever I see the pure filth coming out of Fox and National Hate Radio,
but for the sake of my children, and a bit of home pride that didn't evaporate the minute
I was stationed overseas, I feel that while there is a fight left to be fought, it must be
done. From Europe, and my work situation, I have certain facts of life to respect, but I
make contributions, both in money and writing, to causes and candidates I believe in. I also
get my kicks in writing stuff for The Freedom Toast and their music CDs and their anti-Republican
humor videos (if you've seen them on youtube, I'm guilty as charged).

It's still the country I was born in, it's still the country that used to stand for hope and promise,
even if it never really fully was the place in the common dream. My wife is European. She'd understand
if I chose to chuck it. My kids are both. They'd never understand, and they're right. I'm still
a "murkin," and will remain so, no matter where I hang my hat, so as long as there are ugly Republicans
and their kin around, I consider it my duty to speak up and call a shit a shit.

[Irreverend IX]

99. Enjoy living in a surveillance camera-infested shithole.

I'd take any of the US's faults over a country where you have to show an ID to purchase kitchen knives, robberies and public violence are at higher levels than in the US because self-defense is criminalized and you can be arrested for shouting at delinquents who trespass in your yard. Not to mention the lack of a Fifth Amendment and libel courts where the truth is not an absolute defense. The UK has one of the most servile and cowardly populations in the world, and even teabaggers are more respectable than people who blithely accept a million cop cameras and "stab-proof" kitchen knives.

[BooScout]

100. Thanks for all the replies.....

I am especially am grateful for those that understand my dismay and sadness at the polarization of America. I hope with all my heart that America will heal, perhaps with many scars, but heal none the less.

To those of you who didn't bother to read or try to understand my original post and instead chose to attack me and accuse me of abandoning ship, not staying to fight the fight, running away, hating America, and other ad hominem arguments.....I can only tell you that you are wrong. As I said in the OP, my husband is British. Moving to the UK was always our plan. Personal economic circumstances at the time of our move was the deciding factor with the political climate at the time making it easier for us to take the plunge and take the next step in our lives. But you chose to ignore the reasons given and instead sit in judgment of me with a complete lack of evidence of what you accuse me of.

I can only guess that somewhere deep inside some of you there's a dark anger that causes you to lash out with hateful remarks that in some way makes you feel empowered or better than others. Well done. I hope you enjoyed yourselves. To me it just re-enforces my decision 4 years ago and yes adds to my dismay at the polarization now consuming my native country.

[tabasco]

102. I'm glad you left, too.

Still too many assholes.