Does everyone want to live in the US?

[AteRiri]

I was talking to an American friend and he made this blanket statement, "Everyone wants to come here!"

Is this true?

DixieWishbone - whilst I do think Araminta99's post was a sweeping generalisation about Americans, I don't understand how her post says 'a lot' about her family? What does it say about them?

UsedToBe Don't your PILs have Medicare?

Wow, what is it with the spate of anti-American threads on MN these days?

Saying why you don't want to live in a place isn't anti-American. I have nothing against US citizens but I would not want to live there.

Other parts of America, maybe, I like Argentina and Uruguay.

No way, I get 28 days holiday a year plus bank holidays, I couldn't cope with the average 10 in America. Or the cost disparity of fresh fruit/veg/healthy food vs unhealthy convenience food.
Love visiting but couldn't live there full time.

I'm new here and must admit I'm a little taken aback at how negatively America/Americans seem to be regarded. How strong the sentiment is, I mean. Feeling a bit self-conscious! And kind of hesitant, now, if I'm being honest.

I mean, I know not everyone thinks America is as great as the international media apparently presents all Americans as believing. I just didn't know it was so actively disliked.

-looks around nervously-

I struggle with the gun laws, the level of materialism and unfounded confidence.

New york could be interesting art wise.

No chance.

I do know some lovely Americans and they are quite reserved and quietly spoken. Xx

Pityless no, If you had read my thread more carefully you would note I said I was in the Mission District 2 years ago, not 30. I didn't note the hipster shops - we were at Goodwill, looking at second hand clothing.
I don't get the snobbery bit; the point I was making about drugs is the meth/OxyContin crisis is widespread, and can be found outside of the stereotype that is often reported in the news.

I've lived there and my kids are us citizens. I now live in Europe and I prefer it here. I loved the us but there were things which bothered me. I think there are other places which do it better overall.

But, yes, it's a common us attitude that it's the best place in the world...

But if you're from the middle of the US, and find yourself in London, and you've always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower it would be relatively easy to do so.....

Actually I'd love to try living in New York or Santa Monica I'm sure both places are great if you have enough ££££

I lived in New Jersey and New York and never once saw a gun other than on a police officer.

The us is a huge place with mora than 300 million people. Some places are pretty awful but some are fantastic. It's a bit like comparing Romania and Sweden! It's all Europe...

But the question was not ' do you have good & valid reasons for not wanting to live in the US
It was just whether or not 'everyone ' wanted to live there
And the answer is clearly a resounding no

I do think that a much higher proportion of US citizens think everyone wants to live in their country than the citizens of any other country do

I thing it's partly because their ancestors left various countries decades ago and did achieve a better life, at that time

But if they do ever travel back to 'the old country ' they are often amazed to find out that things have moved on and some aspects of life in that country are now better than life in the US ( and some worse)

I would like to. But the healthcare aspect i find very unappealing.
Guns... I'd love them

My 3 English/ American children who have grown up here all agree that people in the US love them because they are English and people in the UK are prejudiced against them because they are American.

There is so much narrow minded prejudice and ignorance on this thread.

In the US, the healthcare, food, education, working conditions, culture, and open-minded attitude can be absolutely amazing, but can also be appalling.

I agree that there are HUGE problems with US healthcare, but something to think about- with a population of 320 million to Europe's 500 million, the US spends a lot more on medical research. One reason the NHS is so good is that it benefits from US healthcare advances. Also poor people and old people get coverage in the US from Medicare and Medicaid.

By grown up "here", I mean grown up in the UK.

Never!

Also I don't know any Americans who think everyone wants to live there; most people I know are deeply critical of the US's many problems.

I don't know anyone who owns a gun.

It depends where you live and who yu hang around with...

Seneca I'm not sure what the medical insurance they have is. They moved there in 1998 so FIL would have been about 66 and MiL 65. So I imagine that meant they couldn't get cheaper medical insurance.

Claraschu:I think.there's a difference between people who own handguns (for "self defence") and those who mown hunting rifles. My PiL live in rural PA and loads of people have hunting rifles, most of the local. Kids go hunting. I don't know how many have handguns, hopefully not so many. But in rural PA the gun is everywhere.

God, no
I have never had any desire to visit America
I definitely wouldn't choose to go there to live

I wouldn't want to live there. The thought of even visiting frightens me a little.

I lived in a Communist dictatorship for a decade, and I'd rather go back there, to be honest.

I think there's a big difference between "wanting to live in the US" as in I'd jump at the chance, and I wouldn't want to live there
I answered earlier that I didn't want to live in the US, but it's not that I wouldn't live there. I just prefer living where I am.

It's just the idea that everyone wants it, as in it's their dream, that's laughable.

Yes i would. I'd love to live there.