To wonder why anyone would want to live in America?

[allergon842]

I follow a woman on Instagram who moved from England to the States and someone commented "America is only great if you're white, rich, and healthy".

Putting aside Trump/politics, I've always found it weird why anyone would want/would have wanted to live there. I understand if you're from a developing country, but I don't see the appeal for anyone who comes from Europe. The lower taxes and opportunities are enticing, but if you can't make it, you can fall very easy with the lack of a safety net. It seems to be only decent if you're a top earner ($100,000+).

The US has many problems but it still is probably the greatest country in the world for job opportunities. This is why so many people want to live there.

Its economy is still growing nicely compared to Europe.

Agreed that you need to earn pretty well to make it work but it’s very possible in some fields to find a job earning $200K plus or way more than this. More cash in your pocket due to lower taxes and investments aplenty.

I know a few people living the American dream. Live in huge houses, holiday homes, fancy cars, private club memberships, fancy holidays, eat out several times per week.

And America has phenomenal scenery and outdoors. You really can have it all there if things work out for you.

Forgot to add that the equivalent of SMP is for BOTH parents. If DP and I have a baby, we would get $1200 a week for 24 weeks or $2400 a week for 12 weeks, depending on how we take the leave.

Again, this surprises a lot of people (and surprised me when I found out).

I lived in New York for a few years, and absolutely loved it.

I also love spending time in California and New England.

Which areas there have you spent time in OP and what didn’t you like about them?

I follow some people on instagram and their quality of life looks great but they seem to earn a lot! 22k for property tax is what they quoted per year in CA.
I agree if you’re wealthy then you can afford to live in a big house, pool, good schools etc. I would imagine the politics don’t affect the wealthy that much. Same as here.

I lived on the 40th floor, just if Times Square, then later in a Brownstone near Central Park.

I was wonderful. The whole life was. The job, the night life, the shopping, the museums, the parks and beaches.

Going up to the Hamptons in the summer, or flying to Miami or Key West for the weekend.

What are you talking about? There's plenty of different reasons, the nature for one is extraordinary and so varied if that's your thing.

1. Better weather (Hawaii, Florida)
2. Better food (any one of a number of cities)
3. Bigger, better houses (ok not NYC)
4. Low taxes - some states have 0 purchase tax
5. Friendly, generous people
6. They admire success
7. They're not cynical
8. Good old fashioned manners (yes ma'am, no ma'am)
9. The kids In Hawaii call strangers uncle/aunty!
10. Surf in the morning, ski in the afternoon (California)
11. Mind bogglingly vast wilderness
12. No nanny state mentality
13. Freedom to live how you want (Live free or die!)
14. Not ageist, older people are respected as valuable members of society
15. Close to Mexico!
16. Close to the Caribbean
17. Freedom to practice Christianity without ridicule
18. Big trucks!
19. Largest consumer market in the world = great deals for consumers
20. Variety of lifestyles: Anyone can find their niche, somewhere in the USA

How does it feel to have lived my dream?!?! 😍😄

Did you have a doorman? Did the tower move when there was wind?

Why'd you leave? Sorry to pester you

I absolutely LOVE the United States but I also assume it's only possible to have a nice life there if you're very wealthy

And with gold-star health insurance and no existing pre-conditions.

almost all of the world's most successful companies were founded and grew there.

But that's not true.

Not even close to being true.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_companies_by_revenue

Let’s reduce knife crime in the UK by equipping everyone with a gun! Genius! 🙄

I grew up there (I’m English) and can definitely see the appeal. Current administration aside, it’s a great country, one where you can move up and prosper and you are encouraged to do so. Sure there are negatives, and I’m not talking about gun crime etc. The prevailing work ethic means many people live to work, not even taking their two weeks a year. And many are one accident or disease away from health poverty. I wouldn’t, or even couldn’t, as a type 1 diabetic and with a DD with MS (could not afford the insurance) live there now, but I love visiting.

Yes and yes. In the summer I’d go up to the roof terrace to sunbathe, or in the evening to have a drink and a cigarette.

After work I could run to and around Central Park (in the spring or sutumn) and then go to a deli or get a bagel on the walk back.

I was like the films.

My job brought me back, but I really do miss it.

Quite my son has type1 diabetes
Therre are many things wrong with the NHS but i do not have to worry about being able to afford his insulin , and Diabetic equipment unlike many of the American,s on a facebook group im on.

OP, have you ever been to the States?

I have been many times and always loved it. A vibrant, beautiful country with some wonderful people. So many great cities, art galleries, theatres, parks etc

however right now it has lost its appeal due to trump. And the fact that so many people there support him / have allowed him to be there. That’s so disturbing. If Kamala Harris was president id prob move there!

It's already in the gutter tbf

I've always dreamt of living in the US. I can't really explain it, a gut feeling. The UK is just getting more of a small, overpopulated, miserable trap of a place to live with every passing year 😢

I have three friends from uni who married Americans and have chosen to bring up their families there. One family could choose UK, Denmark or US and they chose US!

They all live in nice areas but they are moments away from areas that feel extremely sketchy to me (more so than UK, & I’ve lived in East London etc. so not a wimp). The scale of homelessness also gets to me,

Spent a lot of time visiting family who lived in Manhattan, which I know is not typical. Bad point for me is too much religion and lack of respect and suspicion of atheists. A lot of social life based on church. Averts on tv beyond annoying.
Drug problems have ruined cities like San Fran. But the gun thing would stop me and the death penalty. By our standards, huge indifference to the poor.

I'm so terrified of this. I'd like to believe liar Farage won't be voted in but I fear you're right.

It sounds like we should ditch the monarchy and become the 51st state.

It's absolutely true. You have linked to a list of top companies by revenue. The fact that you have sent me a list featuring four state owned companies (the Chinese electrical grid company and two Chinese and a Saudi petrochemical companies) just reinforces the point.

Almost all the dynamism in the private sector is in the US.

@Eggplant19guns in America are terrifying. Knife crime is an issue, yes. But the amount of people you can kill in one go is much smaller.

If this is a real post, and not just a goady one… can you really not inagine that other people might have different wants/needs than you do OP?

I suppose if you believe all the bad news stories about the US, but then if you only went by the bad news stories from the UK nobody would want to live there either.

Meanwhile there are plenty of people happily living in both places.