If you had the chance to move to the USA right now, would you?

[HiddenGiraffes]

Context is it's a major city we've lived in before and liked, and we're currently in London, and like the area we live too. Some family in both countries.

I'm just curious if, given the opportunity to get out of the UK right now, people would consider the US a superior alternative.

Never.
Guns. Rudeness. Big- headedness. Ignorance. All these things put me off America.

No. Unless we didn't have kids and money wasn't an issue, in which case I might consider New York.

There's a reasonable amount of truth to it actually! Although the UK has quite cheap food despite inflation, which causes some problems in itself because of the ways we make it cheap.

But it would still be a no from me despite these substantial faults, and not just because some of them also apply and indeed are worse in the US.

Something we are actively considering atm - so yes I would.

It’s a massive place though and I’d pick my state carefully. I wouldn’t move for a Southern Republican state.

The gun obsession is odd. Roe vs Wade is a travesty. The medical system is bizarre, expensive and doesn’t produce better outcomes.

BUT - the UK is far from perfect - and it’s in a seriously bad place right now. And it’s not changing anytime soon. You’ve already mentioned about our own dire healthcare, the NHS is on its knees, schools can’t cope and many children start secondary school not being able to read. My generation won’t be getting a state pension. I could go on. I can’t say I see a bright future for my kids here. We aren’t a rich nation - we need to wake up to that.

The US is a deeply divided, unfair society. But so are we in the UK (rise in food banks etc) so we can’t take the moral high ground on that.

At least in the US you could live in an area with high property tax and have decent schools, and pay healthcare and know you’ll be seen. If you’ve got the money to create your own safety net you’ll have a nice life in your bubble. You can’t have that in the UK - you can’t pay for a private ambulance or private A&E- it doesn’t exist.

Get out while you can. You don’t want your kids paying off the covid debt and everything else with nothing for themselves to show for it at the end.

There's quite a few countries I'd happily move to from the U.K., but the US is definitely not one of them I afraid

Hell no!

The US is huge, I'm quite sure there are at least a few places there I could happily live.
Like a previous poster said as someone outside the UK the UK looks like a less than desirable place to live too but some of you are managing happily. It's just about finding the right place for you.

The UK is not the best place to live atm but it's a lot better than the USA imo. I wouldn't be able to get the healthcare there that I do here with a high risk pregnancy and dh has a lot back issues so we would be £££ in medical bills if we ever lived there

Never in a million years.

No. I think it's a beautiful and intriguing country but gun crime laws eternally turn me off.

I think you just follow your heart/instinct OP

i have lived in many different countries, some going through good times, some in crisis, and I have found it depends more on your own attitude than anything else

whether you are a glass half full or half empty person

if you go with a positive attitude and outlook, most places would work, including the US

there is no Utopia, everywhere is a mix of good and bad things.

I live in NYC and am ambivalent. There is a lot to love, but also it's filthy and the subway is dreadful - it is disgusting, badly maintained and unreliable - whenever I go to catch a train there is like a 50% chance it is running, and evenings and weekends you're looking at a 20-min wait if they haven't stopped weekend service entirely, and you run into a crazy (often threatening) every journey. Groceries all seem to cost $8.99 (frozen pizza? $8.99. ravioli? cheddar? veggie sausages? Carton of fresh soup? Blueberries? $8.99 etc), Phone plans close to $100. There are dangerous areas you just wouldn't go (unlike in London), police are useless, pay $3.5k in rent in a less chic part of Brooklyn, and you're expected to tip min 20% on pretty much everything. The gaps in people's knowledge can be quite astounding (even for supposedly "educated" people) and I miss the ability of Brits to banter, detect sarcasm and face life with humour. Homelessness is way our of control and support for the mentally unwell is woefully inadequate. Plus systemic racism is quite obvious and the country in general feels pretty segregated (people often tend to only have friends who look like them).

Saying that, Americans are friendly, warm and welcoming - and supportive of success - NYC is never dull, it attracts a wide variety of people from all over the world, there are some good restaurants and museums, the weather is probably better and in theory I can access decent healthcare ("free" once I've paid the $7,000 annual excess fee and hundreds of dollars monthly on top of that.) The country offers a variety of stunning landscapes and travel opportunities. If you are rich, you can have a great life here (if you are poor, woebetide you!).

I can't say that we would choose to move back to the UK for a huge number of reasons, but maybe one day. I've actually lived in several countries in my life so I feel like I can be fairly neutral with my analysis of both countries, it really depends what is important to you personally!

Oh if it’s Bethesda or Silver Spring, it’ll be lovely! I’d live there over SF, to be honest. I think you ought to do an expedition this spring/summer to both areas. I’m not a huge fan of my home state. There’s something awful about being in one of the most beautiful regions of the world yet being stuck inside a car for most of the time. The California lifestyle revolves around lots of driving. And property is obnoxiously expensive. It’s insane. SF will definitely require more funding than the DC ‘burbs in Maryland (which are also expensive but more liveable, I think??). Both areas you’re looking at are affluent and schools will be very good.

Absolutely, yes - I would leave tomorrow (could we take my Mum as well - I can't leave her here).
This country is on a decline in every way, but especially culturally. I do'nt want to watch it go any further down. I don't like the US government but the people are great. I'm in.

No.

Hi OP, how old are your girls?

My sister is a primary teacher, has taught all over the world, very down to earth woman.

She said the kids she taught were traumatised by the 'active shooter' drills that they had to do each term, and that she will never send her kids to school in the US for that reason.

So that's a consideration.

I absolutely loved the US when I visited family there at the age of 14 and really wanted to live there. Now as a much older adult with a teenage DD definitely not.

No. I love the states and have travelled there extensively, but I wouldn't raise kids there.

No chance. But Australia, yes!

I would because of our situation. I am American and British and we have lived in both places. I have a daughter with ASD and the educational system here drives me crazy. There is a lack of support and awareness and I find it very adversarial, if you want real help you end up going to tribunal and court (which we have). We have done all that as educated people and still the EHCP isn’t followed and support isn’t in place. I hate to think what people with English as a second language, and not many resources have to face. We lived in the US and immediately (within the first week) had our DD assessed by an educational psychologist and had state services in place. All of it was free. I am not saying it is like that in every state but that was our experience. However, there are horrible
bits about the US as well and everything is a trade off. I love my friends and the culture here. I just wish we could do more for our most vulnerable children. At the moment work keeps us here but I would consider it for sure.

Not even school age yet. Yes, that's a good point. I've had that thought about my niece in the past. I think what's new is I'm finding it hard to see a positive future for the UK. It just feels like locked in decline and I don't know where the floor is. Maybe I'm minimising the substantial issues with the US.

Nope. I have family there too and would not consider it. Too much gang violence and I can't get on board with the politics. The overturning of Roe Vs Wade would be the nail in the coffin for me.

It's not a country that inspires me so I wouldn't uplift my life for it.

Yeah it's round there! We did live there for a bit and it was very pleasant, we live in a pleasant bit of London too. I'm very worried about the way the UK is going, but the US is hardly issue free. One problem with going is I'd be leaving my parents here, which is no good if they need more support as they age. They're only early 60s currently.

Racism - seven times more Black people per population are in prison in the UK compared to four times more in the US

Gang crime - county lines? Our children are wrapped up in this right now!

Politics - our own government has gone against the law, been fined, had parties while were all locked at home, gave covid contracts to their mates - it’s a joke!

it’s no utopia here!!

No.

My main concern with young daughters would be school shootings and the outlawing of abortions (and yes, I know it's not banned in all states)

Of course the UK is a shit place to live in. Our health care system is failing, our government is a shower of shites who don't care, recession, overpopulation, shit wages etc etc.

But we generally don't have to worry too much about the things I've listed above.

There was a case in the US (can't remember which state) where the state would not allow a 10 year old CHILD who had been raped by a family member to have an abortion.

That's all kinds of fucked up. Thankfully, her family travelled to another state with her to have the procedure done, but imagine not having the means to do that. Imagine a 10 year old girl being forced to give birth.

That would be the deciding factor for me, absolutely not.