Will my life be better if I move to USA?

[Yatre]

I truly hate the UK class system.

I hate the whole private school vs grammar school vs state school elitism.

I hate the Oxbridge elitism and how Oxbridge-educated people dominate public life and the arrogance many of them have.

I hate the posh Etonians and Harrovians.

I hate the elitism of the Royal Family, the British aristocracy, all those titles and landed estates, the House of Lords etc.

Just the existence of certain British politicans (regardless of their politics - because this isn’t necessarily about their political beliefs) really irks me. Think David Cameron or Boris Johnson. Both upper-class, privately-educated, Oxford/Bullingdon Club, which have given them a great sense of arrogance about their position in life.

I hate the Oxford Union and the way they all dress up in posh attire, acting all special, and thinking their oratory skills will materialise into anything of worth.

This arrogance has been talked about before with many Brits believing that these Oxbridge, privately-educated, middle and upper-class people have the arrogance to think they have the right to run the country.

They’re present everywhere. Edward Davey, Keir Starmer, Suella Braverman, Tony Blair etc. it’s not just a right-wing thing. In fat, you could argue, these days, it’s more so left-wing.

Even successful British actors like Emma Thompson, Tom Hiddleston, Eddie Redmayne etc exhibit these attributes. They

I just don’t want to have to live in the same country as these types of people or listen to their antics.

Luckily, I’m a dual UK-US citizen since I was born in the US while my parents were living there for a while, but I have never been there since my parents returned and I don’t know anyone there.

I really want to move to the US.

If you know what it’s like to live in the USA, can you just tell me whether if I moved to the USA, I wouldn’t have to come across any of those posh, aristocratic, upper/middle-class, privately-educated, titled, Oxbridge graduate snobs that I mentioned.

I would live in a much more meritocratic country where nobody would tolerate Oxford Union debaters thinking their opinion matters or privately-educated people thinking they have a right to run the country.

At least Trump’s wealth or that of the Kardashian’s isn’t offensive to me because it just feels different - it doesn’t feel as layered and it doesn’t make them act as entitled or snobbish.

So, if I move to USA will I be free from these types of people or will I still see some of them/hear from them? I’m not sure if America is dominated by middle-class or posh, Oxbridge graduates or aristocrats.

Sorry for the rant. Just felt overwhelmed.

Somehow I don't think that OP will be in that particular niche.

I looked at my own occupation. Leaving aside the question of visas/work permits (say I was a dual citizen like the OP), I would end up taking a pay cut, a cost of living increase, I would be working more hours per week, less leave and have far fewer perks.

You've done well. Lucky you. Doesn't mean that most people are in the position of being in an in-demand career.

I live in a very safe area so those things don't go through my mind everyday. Where I live is much safer than where I used to live in the UK. It's a huge country so there are PLENTY of safe places to live. Neighbors are nice, people look out for each other, people are very friendly. Hey, if I decide I don't like it anymore, I can always move back to the UK right.

That's true. I would say the majority wouldn't make as much as me. I have been very lucky in my profession and count my blessings everyday.
But there are many many people with normal jobs where you can make a very good living. For example, a store manager of Trader Joe's or any big supermarket can make well over $100,000 a year with excellent healthcare. There are simply more opportunities to reach your potential. More jobs are available, and those jobs pay more. One of the good things I like about America is how OPTIMISTIC people are and how they cheer for you when others do well. Success is encouraged and not shamed. There is no 'tall poppy syndrome' here.

100% agree.

I got a 90% pay increase for the exact same role at the same company when I emigrated from the UK in 2024, and the pay differential expands the more senior one gets in my profession, with partners in particular earning upwards of 3x more in the US. Jobs at all levels are better paid in the US, it’s just more pronounced in the professions. My nail lady makes around $400/day (tipping culture, nice salon) and can raise a family in an expensive city on her wages. There aren’t many economies in the world that would allow that.

My wife and I studied medicine at Oxford and I did postgrad at Harvard.

The range of students from poor and wealthy families - their childhood home-life, education, how the vast majority students engaged with one others from completely differing social backgrounds was

One Thousand Times More open, sensitive, thoughtful and courteous at Oxford than the diffidence, clique-like exclusion, financial exhibitionism that went on at Harvard.

With a few exceptions, the majority of students I met at Harvard behaved as though they HAD ALREADY ACHIEVED SOMETHING INCREDIBLE IN
THEIR YOUNG LIVES

I never met anyone at Oxford who regarded themselves as having won a badge of great honour, as if they were presidentially-decorated war-heroes

- whereas that affectation/ manner was prevalent at Harvard.

• Harvard was elitism personified

and, in retrospect- again with a handful of notable exceptions

       -frankly it comprised, just-above-average intellectually, spoon-fed,
	   privately educated snobs. 

..... Something tells me you've actually never actually visited a single faculty
at Oxford Uni - your post reads like a 15 year-old Tik-Tok Junkie.

I live in the north and have never given any of this a second thought. The weather just makes me want to leave

I lived in the US. It is a very rich country -unlimited supplies of gas, oil and coal. Brings in the brightest and best - eg I believe brought in the best German brains after ww2. Now brings in IT whizzes.
Hard working ethic. Huge home market to sell to. Unlimited supply of cheap labour (until now) from S America.Relaxed H&S laws compared to ours eg foreign workers repairing roads without removing the traffic.

They aren’t superior beings but they do work hard and don’t moan -though no one seemed to discuss politics then. I didn’t like having to drive everywhere. I Wasn’t religious which seemed a requirement where I was. Guns ? Well it stopped random rudeness -you never knew who had a gun in their pocket. Huge country. I’m sure you could find somewhere to suit everyone but you need high level skills to get in.

Until recently I would have really agreed with much of your post, especially the bit about drive and optimism. Those things obviously still exist but the general mood can't be ignored. It's not just the people I know (and I have friends in both blue and red states), it's a much bigger picture. I think Americans are losing that quality right now. Maybe it'll come back but they're about the most negative I've ever experienced them to be in my lifetime. This Gallup poll seems to confirm my feelings:

The percentage of U.S. adults who anticipate high-quality lives in five years declined to 59.2% in 2025, the lowest level since measurement began nearly two decades ago. Since 2020, future life ratings have fallen a total of 9.1 percentage points, projecting to an estimated 24.5 million fewer people who are optimistic about the future now versus then. Most of that decline occurred between 2021 and 2023, but the ratings dropped 3.5 points between 2024 and 2025. (Source: news.gallup.com)