Are you sure these other counties welcome the 'American attitude' to beaurocracy?
We already have that infection in the UK and I have to say it is not helpful nor does it bring growth. We don't need more folk whose idea of growth is dismantling safety, healthcare avoiding taxes etc.
Americans will be welcome but as with all immigrants they will be expected to adapt to our ways ... to some extent and pay their way through taxes.
Before I retired we had had an American CEO for decades. Over that time he stopped imposing US ideas, adapted to UK practices, and was surprised to find that the amalgam improved profitability.
His trousers gradually became the correct length so when he went back to the US he was accused of going native. His riposte? Look at my bottom line.
It is never a good idea for an immigrant to assume they will change their host country, whose ways the immigrant thinks are wrong .
Come bringing skills and energy and a willingness to learn and adapt.
I read you as saying a US diaspora would benefit the rest of the world ... Ie we will be lucky to have you grace us. Which is not the same thing at all.
Great, we're going to export the neoliberal foolishness that literally destroyed our own country.
What we should be trying is a new economic system that doesn't pillage the labor value of half the humans on the planet and exploit every last hectare of nature.
I agree: we're good at trying new things and thinking outside the box. Let's SOLVE the problem of capitalism eventually reaching oligarchy and manifesting itself as feudalism v2.0
Let's do it at home and bring the world a new model to follow: one that is egalitarian, sustainable, and less greedy
I wish you well. Knocking on 80's door, I am very concerned about what is happening to my country but am also dedicated to doing whatever I can do, in my small way, to fight for it. It is my country, warts and all, and I believe in its promise, as well as the young people out there standing up and working for change.
I hear you feel excited about the possibilities of US citizens bringing gifts to other countries despite the loss of having to flee your country. Two things come up for me, one that it is a privilege to be able to move away.
Second, perhaps some of the problem with the US and modernity anywhere, is that attitude of being superior, and worship of doing. What seems like a problem of unefficiency perhaps have other benefits like the example of village where the women washed clothes in the river and when they were given washing machines they got depressed cause they did not meet at the river together anymore. Or the efficient idea to let babies cry themselves to sleep. Or to put Indigenous kids in residential schools so they can learn manners. Well-intended projects without reflecting on the underlying assumptions. It seems contra intuitive to the paradigm of Western civilization so I leave it to professor Vanessa Andreotti to explain in detail which she does in her book Hospicing modernity.
Wishes to you to sit with the discomfort, uncertainty and urge to fix. I struggle with that too. I am wondering if grief, questioning and being are needed medicines to the story of disconnection.
As a foreigner in the US who now wants to go back home this resonates. But I also have the perspective of my country where US citizens have been flocking to for a while. There are 2 things that I don't see here:
- People leaving the US need to understand themselves as immigrants, not exilees, not expats, not nomads. It is not about humilty (which I did see in the article). It's about not bringing the exceptionalism myth over with you and seeing clearly that you are fleeing an unstable situation just as millions of other immigrants do around the world. Because a) the myth is clearly wrong given everything happening right now, but b) the myth of exceptionalism, of I know better, my way is better is the reason US travelers and immigrants are resented.
- Also understand that your presence elsewhere can become a tool for the US to meddle in other countries' affairs to protect their citizens and their economic interest (aka any enterprise you might start there) whether you want to or not.
As an American that has been trying to leave for more than a decade I can confidently say the world does not need more of our BS. The move fast and break things attitude and the obsessive individualism are what has brought tis country to its knees.
What people do admire about americans is their cheerfulness and positive attitude but that's probably because they don't know most of us aren't very genuine about it.
Honestly it'll probably serve you better to realize you have a lot to learn from them and that we are behind them in most aspects. We don't even teach valid history courses until college and most of our education is focused on how cool the US is and why its the best. Most of us don't even know our country was founded by a bunch wife beating puritans who left because they were being "Persecuted" because England was throwing them in jail for physically abusing their families. We have been this kind of garbage from the beginning... the world doesn't need more of it.
I wish you all the best, Mr. Finnegan. If I had the financial resources and were 25 years younger, I would definitely be considering it. I’d love to live in a Scottish village/small town or city since my dad came to the US from Scotland in 1926. Now, I don’t have the financial resources (retired public school teachers definitely don’t have financial resources) plus I doubt they would grant me a visa since I’m old with chronic health conditions and documented mental health issues. As good as their healthcare might be, they would see me a too much of a potential drain on their public health services. I do hope you will continue to publish on Substack and welcome those of us who are at home, resisting in our own small ways.
Trump this time can carry out RIGGING all elections. His new exec order allows him to seize all voting machines. Any 2026 midterm election will go to republicans in house to certify. End all mail voting. And if any judge order moves to stop - trump & repubs will persuade a majority that the Leftists & Dems PREVENTED A FAIR election So the Dems can no longer be trusted- u must make me king of USA. This is not alarmist. This based on trump CURRENT ACTIONS and Jan 6 2021 insurrection and today /easter Sunday stated 2020 election was rigged and Biden never won R U going to be persuaded? R U going to be apathetic THIS TIME?
It's sounds like you're headed for Ireland, perhaps as an independent entrepreneur, no? If so you might find some things that surprise you. Things like inheritance tax. Like the lack of capacity in the public health system. Like the penetration of American ideas into healthcare and health insurance--you'll inevitably have private insurance in order to be able to access medical services at private clinics and hospitals, some of which are American. You'll understand that the long-standing housing crisis has been aggravated by American "vulture funds" acquiring vast tracts of property, along with lack of public policy to stimulate housing development or to protect renters. You'll also come to appreciate that the reason the E.U.'s GDPR has been somewhat ineffective is that Ireland is home to both (1) headquarters of most of the American hi-tech companies and (2) home to the E.U. Data Commissioner.
We left Ireland after a long period working there for elsewhere in the E.U. (and by the way we paid around 42 percent of income on income tax and social charges). We often spoke of how we wanted to leave the country before the Americans ruined it by being the catalyst for transforming public services into high-priced for-profit services.
I admire your courage. Many people I know say it’s time to leave. They say it longingly, because it’s not an option for most of us. Go find your brave, new world. I wish you and your family well.
Are you sure these other counties welcome the 'American attitude' to beaurocracy?
We already have that infection in the UK and I have to say it is not helpful nor does it bring growth. We don't need more folk whose idea of growth is dismantling safety, healthcare avoiding taxes etc.
Americans will be welcome but as with all immigrants they will be expected to adapt to our ways ... to some extent and pay their way through taxes.
Before I retired we had had an American CEO for decades. Over that time he stopped imposing US ideas, adapted to UK practices, and was surprised to find that the amalgam improved profitability.
His trousers gradually became the correct length so when he went back to the US he was accused of going native. His riposte? Look at my bottom line.
It is never a good idea for an immigrant to assume they will change their host country, whose ways the immigrant thinks are wrong .
Come bringing skills and energy and a willingness to learn and adapt.
I don't think I said that...
I said that a melding of American entrepreneurialism and risk-taking, combined with an assimilation, would be a boon.
If you're going to make a straw man... at least get the description right.
As your story suggests... the premise is correct.
If you meant that I agree. Apologies.
I read you as saying a US diaspora would benefit the rest of the world ... Ie we will be lucky to have you grace us. Which is not the same thing at all.
Great, we're going to export the neoliberal foolishness that literally destroyed our own country.
What we should be trying is a new economic system that doesn't pillage the labor value of half the humans on the planet and exploit every last hectare of nature.
I agree: we're good at trying new things and thinking outside the box. Let's SOLVE the problem of capitalism eventually reaching oligarchy and manifesting itself as feudalism v2.0
Let's do it at home and bring the world a new model to follow: one that is egalitarian, sustainable, and less greedy
I wish you well. Knocking on 80's door, I am very concerned about what is happening to my country but am also dedicated to doing whatever I can do, in my small way, to fight for it. It is my country, warts and all, and I believe in its promise, as well as the young people out there standing up and working for change.
I hear you feel excited about the possibilities of US citizens bringing gifts to other countries despite the loss of having to flee your country. Two things come up for me, one that it is a privilege to be able to move away.
Second, perhaps some of the problem with the US and modernity anywhere, is that attitude of being superior, and worship of doing. What seems like a problem of unefficiency perhaps have other benefits like the example of village where the women washed clothes in the river and when they were given washing machines they got depressed cause they did not meet at the river together anymore. Or the efficient idea to let babies cry themselves to sleep. Or to put Indigenous kids in residential schools so they can learn manners. Well-intended projects without reflecting on the underlying assumptions. It seems contra intuitive to the paradigm of Western civilization so I leave it to professor Vanessa Andreotti to explain in detail which she does in her book Hospicing modernity.
Wishes to you to sit with the discomfort, uncertainty and urge to fix. I struggle with that too. I am wondering if grief, questioning and being are needed medicines to the story of disconnection.
As a foreigner in the US who now wants to go back home this resonates. But I also have the perspective of my country where US citizens have been flocking to for a while. There are 2 things that I don't see here:
- People leaving the US need to understand themselves as immigrants, not exilees, not expats, not nomads. It is not about humilty (which I did see in the article). It's about not bringing the exceptionalism myth over with you and seeing clearly that you are fleeing an unstable situation just as millions of other immigrants do around the world. Because a) the myth is clearly wrong given everything happening right now, but b) the myth of exceptionalism, of I know better, my way is better is the reason US travelers and immigrants are resented.
- Also understand that your presence elsewhere can become a tool for the US to meddle in other countries' affairs to protect their citizens and their economic interest (aka any enterprise you might start there) whether you want to or not.
As an American that has been trying to leave for more than a decade I can confidently say the world does not need more of our BS. The move fast and break things attitude and the obsessive individualism are what has brought tis country to its knees.
What people do admire about americans is their cheerfulness and positive attitude but that's probably because they don't know most of us aren't very genuine about it.
Honestly it'll probably serve you better to realize you have a lot to learn from them and that we are behind them in most aspects. We don't even teach valid history courses until college and most of our education is focused on how cool the US is and why its the best. Most of us don't even know our country was founded by a bunch wife beating puritans who left because they were being "Persecuted" because England was throwing them in jail for physically abusing their families. We have been this kind of garbage from the beginning... the world doesn't need more of it.
I wish you all the best, Mr. Finnegan. If I had the financial resources and were 25 years younger, I would definitely be considering it. I’d love to live in a Scottish village/small town or city since my dad came to the US from Scotland in 1926. Now, I don’t have the financial resources (retired public school teachers definitely don’t have financial resources) plus I doubt they would grant me a visa since I’m old with chronic health conditions and documented mental health issues. As good as their healthcare might be, they would see me a too much of a potential drain on their public health services. I do hope you will continue to publish on Substack and welcome those of us who are at home, resisting in our own small ways.
Good piece. I am thinking about it. All in all I would welcome the more measured humanistic pace of Europe and have no desire to reform or change it.
Trump this time can carry out RIGGING all elections. His new exec order allows him to seize all voting machines. Any 2026 midterm election will go to republicans in house to certify. End all mail voting. And if any judge order moves to stop - trump & repubs will persuade a majority that the Leftists & Dems PREVENTED A FAIR election So the Dems can no longer be trusted- u must make me king of USA. This is not alarmist. This based on trump CURRENT ACTIONS and Jan 6 2021 insurrection and today /easter Sunday stated 2020 election was rigged and Biden never won R U going to be persuaded? R U going to be apathetic THIS TIME?
It's sounds like you're headed for Ireland, perhaps as an independent entrepreneur, no? If so you might find some things that surprise you. Things like inheritance tax. Like the lack of capacity in the public health system. Like the penetration of American ideas into healthcare and health insurance--you'll inevitably have private insurance in order to be able to access medical services at private clinics and hospitals, some of which are American. You'll understand that the long-standing housing crisis has been aggravated by American "vulture funds" acquiring vast tracts of property, along with lack of public policy to stimulate housing development or to protect renters. You'll also come to appreciate that the reason the E.U.'s GDPR has been somewhat ineffective is that Ireland is home to both (1) headquarters of most of the American hi-tech companies and (2) home to the E.U. Data Commissioner.
We left Ireland after a long period working there for elsewhere in the E.U. (and by the way we paid around 42 percent of income on income tax and social charges). We often spoke of how we wanted to leave the country before the Americans ruined it by being the catalyst for transforming public services into high-priced for-profit services.
🤔 AMEN
OMG, so beautifully written and exactly what we’ve been feeling and trying (mostly failing) to explain to family/friends who don’t get it. Thank you.
Being retired with an investment portfolio, seems less inviting to other countries?.
Scared for ANY possibility of financial loss
I admire your courage. Many people I know say it’s time to leave. They say it longingly, because it’s not an option for most of us. Go find your brave, new world. I wish you and your family well.