This seems to be a common myopic, ethnocentric view many Yanks have of themselves; borne it seems out of naivety. Indeed a lot of folks are trying to enter the US -- mostly economic refuges or persons seeking a few extra dollars they can send home to their families until they too can return to their home country. Yes, there are many countries that are worse off -- often times due to the hegemonic US policies. An easy read, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins will give you some insight; IMF and World Bank history too will add a lot of scope. Far too much of the USA's allure is comes from an immoral use of weapons, power, and inequity--hardly decent reasons to be proud. Many arriving at the US borders are poorly informed, desperate, and believe the myths of streets paved with gold.Post by oldsalt1 » Tue Jun 16, 2020 11:09 am
First sinned you feel sorry for those who have to live here. Boy for such a bad place there sure are a hell of a lot of people trying to get in
Moon unlike other countries you can leave. Pack up and get the f--k out but you wont because no matter where you went you would be worse off
What ever you feel your present circumstance is. I am sure that there are many people from other countries who would love to trade places with you.
Yes, a few countries, not many may impose restrictions upon leaving. Withholding visas, high passport costs, economic impoverishment, and family obligations add difficulty to immigration be it from the US or Haiti, or.... As noted by others, many would or have tried to enter other countries to be turned away due to age, health, lack of wealth, or skills -- it is not easy, but not impossible. Personally, I'd be living in NZ if my pockets were deep enough to be granted residency. There are many places one would be "better" off -- not necessarily worse -- this is one of the huge blind spots of many in the US -- thinking they are exceptional in all ways -- but in some ways they are exceptionally lousy.
Certainly the grass may seem "greener on the other side of the fence" (from either side of it) and folks might think they would like to trade places -- but that does not mean the country is better by a moral, ethical, legal, educational, environmental, economic, health or happiness standard. So far as I can determine, there are no perfect countries -- most have many flaws, just a different mix of flaws. I think it is good that some countries "permit" folks to to complain and agitate for improvements in theirs, or others. This should not be viewed as a crime, but honored as caring, often despite some real risk. The blind acceptance of one's "leaders" is foolishness that leads to fascism. Sadly, in the US today much of the moral certitude has disappeared, and Trump makes a mockery of honorable leadership -- the US has become the laughing stock of most of the world save those who also seek to live by an iron fist backed up with weapons and the economic clout borne of theft and horrendous debt. Of course, you need to read beyond Fox News to begin to see the US from other than its typically ethnocentric belly gazing. And Old Salt, I say this as one who spent several years in the USMC; working with a Faith based lobby on the Hill for policy changes, as well as having had the privilege of observing the US from living abroad.
