If you could, would you immigrate to America and take citizenship there?

[Divinus Arma]

Woudl you want to immigrate to the States?

[Kanamori]

Are you offering me a way to get across before they crack down on the tunnels? I'll give you $2000 or the equivilant in work, if you help me across.

[Red Peasant]

No, I'm British and everyone else in the world will forever be foreigners, even Americans, who despite what you may assume of me, I generally hold in high esteem.

civis Britannicus sum

[Kralizec]

The title should be "If you could, would you emigrate to America..." ~;)

Right now, I wouldn't. I'm happy here. Some time? Dunno, the USA is pretty far away. However there are plenty of places in the USA where I wouldn't mind living. For one thing I don't have to learn a new language, unless the Mexicans really take over :oops:

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

No. I have a good life, a good education, and, most of all, I am proud of my nation and heritage. I would rather die in Germany then live in America, or most other places in the world, for that matter.

Canada I can live with. :2thumbsup:

[sharrukin]

I respect Americans but I have no wish to be one!

[Csargo]

I wish I was Canadian.

[Strike For The South]

A Texan I was born A Texan I shall die.

[GoreBag]

Nah.

[Mooks]

I see theres not a very big mexican population on this forum.

:laugh4:

[Strike For The South]

fuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnny guy

[CountArach]

I'm happy in Australia.

[IrishArmenian]

I am very happy here. If I moved to America, I wood be out of a job. Now I could move to LA and join the Armenian crime sindicates, but I wood be braking the law. I wood have probably hie pay, but I wood catch so many Irish Stereotypes there. Anyway, I have a new promoshun, a wee one on the way, and I am recently married. Why wood I chanje now?

[Strike For The South]

ust move to south Boston. Its like Ierland except the isle is more sober

[InsaneApache]

Do you have black puddings and pie and peas?

[AntiochusIII]

Where is the choice "you've already immigrated here but doesn't hold the citizenship yet?"

I'm just curious. All the illegal immigration scare seems to set back a general citizenship-receiving date for us legals from 2 years to five, which means I won't be voting for the Communist Party anytime soon.

:2thumbsup:

[Samurai Waki]

Born in the USA, Hold US Citizenship. I Like the US, but I'm kind of a restless person and I need to be able to move on the fly (which is harder considering I've got a family on the way). I've considered moving to either Ireland, Germany, or Japan (the three places I think I've enjoyed the most in my various travels).

[Tribesman]

It is just another country and another citizenship .:shrug:

[Sjakihata]

Never would I leave my lovely scandinavian welfare state for the 'american model'. However, I plan taking a semester in the states, combined with a lot of trekking and fishing.

[Ronin]

I´m doing good right here....

so thanks....but..no thanks...:laugh4:

[InsaneApache]

So far the nays have it.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Now this is a difficult one, DA. I voted yes, but it's a very conditional answer.

I think most people know that I have an enduring admiration and respect for the institutions of the USA, and I like most of the people I have met over there. It's a wonderfully diverse country, and I love diversity.

I lived there for a couple of years at high school age when my father was working near Pittsburgh, and went back to work in my first marketing job after I left the army - and did my MBA there too. I found Pennsylvania a very enjoyable place to live, and even its seventies decline, Pitt was a great place to live.

I've spent much less time in Boulder, Boston, and Phoenix (an old friend of mine lives in Scottsdale, so we visit often). I've travelled a lot in the mid-west and south - and even got stuck in Texas for a couple of days, where I was royally treated by complete strangers.

In many ways, therefore, I could see myself living there.

My caveat is that I have seen such a change come over the ordinary people I know since the Bush administration - no, perhaps even before that. I was very privileged to meet President Clinton and make a presentation at the White House, and found him an inspirational man. I would have liked to live in the America he was leading.

But the witch hunt against him seemed to start the poisoning of the American psyche that has led to an unpleasant cynicism, especially amongst my 'intellectual' east coast friends - made very much worse by the decisions of President Bush and the atmosphere of terror that 9-11 brought, and IMO, that the administration has fostered for it's own gain. Other friends and acquaintances have become much warier, much more scathing of strangers, much more dismissive - not more insular, but more prone to throwaway remarks that dismiss the rest of the world and their opinions - what I would call 'the imperial mindset'. Seamus noted in another thread that responses to Iran may be born out of fear, and I think this is at the root. My American friends all appear to be really afraid, despite their power, and this fear has somehow diminished the country.

In fact, though I obviously don't know you in reality, you DA are a good example of my frustrations. You appear to be a brave, articulate, intelligent and warm family man, with whom, should we meet, I would hope to share a beer or three and have a very good time. You remind me a lot of my friend in Arizona; conservative, honest, clear-thinking, straight-down-the-line, top man to have at your back. He and I used to be able to discuss world affairs reasonably, with hugely different viewpoints yes, but intelligently and with good humour, eventually agreeing to disagree and break open another beer and watch the sunset.

Now we can't. When we meet, politics is right off the agenda, because he presents the same caricature as you do here. Suddenly, a thoughtful man starts spouting stuff about Liberal Elites and media manipulation (no, you aren't the only one) and world-wide conspiracies etc. There's no discussing, just haranguing. I'm actually not sure that he trusts me anymore, as if by holding differing views and having travelled the world, I may be a fifth columnist. It's sad, not because all I want to talk about with people is politics, but because it reveals an unthinking atavistic side to people than makes me very uncomfortable. Suddenly, diversity is no longer a warm thing. This is almost certainly my problem, but it is different - so much has changed - and he's not the only one of my acquaintances. There is a very discernable divide in the country with a nastier edge than before.

So at present, until the States regains its warm common sense, I don't want to live there - and you probably don't want me, either. :smile: But maybe in the future, when the world turns again as it always will, I would feel privileged to visit and maybe live in that great country.

:shrug:

I want to make it very, very clear that none of this is intended as a personal attack or slander on anyone, least of all DA. It is meant to be a personal musing, not even a political polemic - my views and opinions are emotional things, and I am writing here out of emotion, not argument. If anyone feels angered or upset at my thoughts, or a moderator deems them unwise, then I shall delete the post immediately and I apologise in advance if I cause any offence here.

The poll inspired me to think out loud about these things, since these impressions have affected me quite deeply and in my self-absorbtion, I imagine that there may be some insight for posters from the US as to why some of us feel the way we do.

Again, if anyone feels aggrieved, let me know and I'll delete.

:bow:

[Keba]

Gah ... not that I doubt that I could, it's that I just don't know what will happen with my life after I finish my education. I might go there, I might not, but there is no real desire to live in the US. I've been there, and I will tell you right out that I have absolutely no desire to live in it.

It's not that I can't, I can and probably without much trouble or fuss, it's that I don't know if I want to.

[Duke Malcolm]

I would not like to move there, I would prefer to go to some place not foreign, such as a Commonwealth Realm. it is a nice place for a holiday, though.

[Husar]

I voted gah! because I am too unsure to vote any of the other options.
It depends on so many factors like my job and chances to get one here or elsewhere, my future wife(I hope there will be one...), the way the USA will develop(see Banquo's great post) and what other nice countries are available.
I thought about it but until I at least finished studying I cannot really tell.:shrug:

[Ignoramus]

No, Australia is far better.

[Quid]

Voted gah as there wasn't a 'I don't know'. I am equally unsure about the whole concept for many reasons BG has stated (congratulation on a most splendid post). I find the whole situation and mindset of some, presently, quite frankly, uninviting.

I have stopped to apply for a Green Card for exactly that reason. Perhaps, in the future I will reconsider as the US is a very beautiful country indeed with so much potential for diversity.

As for now, I am quite happy to be living in Switzerland again (after a 10 year stint in the UK and a 2 year stint in Japan).

Quid

[Beirut]

:canada: Better beer, more land, more water, more calm, more freedom, hotter women.

I'm staying right here. :yes:

[macsen rufus]

Nah, Canada's as close as you'll get me .... for pretty much the reasons Beirut gave :laugh4:

[InsaneApache]

The beers a very good reason.

[Al Khalifah]

I'm still in the process of trying too.

[rory_20_uk]

Tempted to live there for the low tax.

I'd have to live in the New York area, as at least then there's a chance that people can annunciate the language properly.

I can't alter the fact I'm British. I might dislike what direction my country is going, but I can't convert merely because of this - my nationality is more immovable than Tony's religion.

~:smoking:

[yesdachi]

Fun thread! Nice post Banquo’s I like the honesty and agree with some of the sentiment (but not all). It is good to see a post with more than a few lines that is not a wild rant. ~D

I of course live in the US and cant imaging being happy anywhere else although I wouldn’t mind traveling a bit more than I have.

I think the responses to the poll are representative of the people at the org (mostly successful where they are) and if the same question was given to a group of people less successful where they are there would be more wanting to jump the fence.

[Fragony]

Just might one day, it has space. Would miss the netherlands terribly though, the rest of the world just don't party like we do ~;)

[rory_20_uk]

I think the responses to the poll are representative of the people at the org (mostly successful where they are) and if the same question was given to a group of people less successful where they are there would be more wanting to jump the fence.

Is that because they genuinely have a better chance of a higher chance of succeeding in the US, or merely that this is the perception?

Unemployed in most of Europe get a hell of a lot more for doing essentially nothing that they would in the USA. And there's not the view there that everyone is to blame except the individual without a job.

~:smoking:

[yesdachi]

Is that because they genuinely have a better chance of a higher chance of succeeding in the US, or merely that this is the perception?

Unemployed in most of Europe get a hell of a lot more for doing essentially nothing that they would in the USA. And there's not the view there that everyone is to blame except the individual without a job.

~:smoking:
It has been my (limited) experience that downtrodden people (who don’t want to behead us) all across the world still think of the US as a land of opportunity.

My Bosnian neighbors come to mind, they were far more excited that they would be able to come here and work and learn rather than be cared for by a nanny.

[Xiahou]

:canada: Better beer, more land, more water, more calm, more freedom, hotter women.

I'm staying right here. :yes:
Wait a second.... I thought we granted Canada statehood a while back? ~:confused:

[Dutch_guy]

I already hold U.S. Citizenship, but living in Holland suits me - so I'm not moving over to the States anytime soon. Besides, our parties are indeed better as Frag already stated ~;)

:balloon2:

[yesdachi]

I think the thread would be more fun if the title were “If you had to immigrate to America what 3 items would you bring?” :laugh4:

[GoreBag]

I think the thread would be more fun if the title were “If you had to immigrate to America what 3 items would you bring?” :laugh4:

Well, I can just buy the guns when I get there...tough question.

[Pannonian]

I think the thread would be more fun if the title were “If you had to immigrate to America what 3 items would you bring?” :laugh4:
A return ticket.

[Masy]

I kinda feel like we all live in America as it is...

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I kinda feel like we all live in America as it is...

We're all living in America,
America ist wunderbar.
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.
We're all living in America,
Coca-Cola, Wonderbra,
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.

:2thumbsup:

[Justiciar]

Without reason? No. I have no intention of leaving the UK permenantly, and if I did there are plenty of places I'd rather be than the US. Don't take that as a slur against the States.. it's just a question of personal tastes.

[Scurvy]

If i wanted to go to america i would migrate illegally, much cheaper and quicker (having said that i dont, happy as a UK citizen) - wouldnt dream of moving anywhere else... :2thumbsup:

[AntiochusIII]

My Bosnian neighbors come to mind, they were far more excited that they would be able to come here and work and learn rather than be cared for by a nanny.So it is, but my family, in general, was also very excited to actually have something of a social safety net in place; namely, the medical insurance. The viciously oppressive price of an everyday medical service in America means you either are very rich and can bring out a big buck in an hour of need or you have the insurance.

Bar that = you're screwed.

Not that we don't also hate car insurance to the core. Expensive and mandatory; worse yet, cars are essential in most American cities. You don't go anywhere without cars. No tubes, no TGV's, no Shinkansens, no good buses, no metros, nor those shiny new magnet trains for you here.

It's not right to just dismiss the good effects of social safety nets just like that. The world without any such guarantees wouldn't be very nice for the sick, the old, the poor, and the unfortunate. It wasn't during Victorian times, for sure.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I think I actually could if I would, so no I wouldn't if I could. Yesdachi is right, most of the non-Americans here are West-Europeans of good education. We have little incentive in general to move to the US. No more than Americans have to move to Europe, or Australia, or Canada.

I wouldn't think twice though if I was ever offered a good incentive in particular. America, for all the passion it may arouse, is to me just one of a dozen or so countries I could envision myself mind living in. No more, but also no less than say Québec, Italy, or Germany.

If there is one thing that sets apart America from the other options, it is that both its strenghts and its flaws are so exaggerated. In what it does well, it far surpasses anything the rest of the world has to offer. ~:eek:
Unfortunately, its weaknesses are beyond anything you see in the civilised world too.

Still, I do love the place. It was my parents favourite holiday destination when I was young, so visited it quite often. My head is full of images, smells and sounds of America from my childhood. Maybe that's why I have never learned how to properly dislike America. Au contraire. Because I've never visited America as an adult, I still have an almost childlike affection for it, carried over straight from when I was a wee Louis.

Like a Pavlov-reaction, hearing an American accent still instantly brings a smile on my face.

I can't help it.

No really, I can't. :wall:

There must be some freak psychology at work there. Holidays are a happy time, your family is happy, you're out and about, you only get to see the nice aspects of something. America is like a zoo your parents used to take you to when you where young. When you're young you're enchanted by all those cute animals. 'Mommy, mommy, can we go see Dumbo again!?'
Then by the time you're old enough to realize that cute little Dumbo lives in a crappy cage behind the scenes you have also developed the nostalgic longing for simpler times that adulthood brings. Melancholy steps in. No matter how much your better judgement may tell you otherwise, forever reality won't be the daily behind-the-scenes facts, but cute and happy Dumbo.


Returning to topic and leaving aside that obscure zoo-analogy that turned out to be nowhere near as good as I initially hoped, yes I could live in America but I don't feel any particular urge to do so. At their best, Americans are a kind, polite, curious and optimistic bunch. Drop me in San Francisco or the East Coast I'd blend in effortlessly.

In no time, I'd be a perfectly happy, obese Lewis.

[Strike For The South]

awwwwww. Did you go to TEXAS!

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

While I have great respect for Americans here, I have to say:

No way in hell, you couldn't pay me enough to become American.

For one you have to pay for healthcare! Thats like paying the Police to solve a crime for you, or the Firemen to put out your house.

[Soulforged]

Woudl you want to immigrate to the States?
Yes, but only if I've a certain position for a job, I won't go to the States only to wash dishes. I've known many people, however, who did that and ended pretty well anyway, but I won't risk my life over a single opportunity.

[Orb]

Sicily for me...

*dreams on*

[Strike For The South]

Yes, but only if I've a certain position for a job, I won't go to the States only to wash dishes. I've known many people, however, who did that and ended pretty well anyway, but I won't risk my life over a single opportunity.

you could play basketball

[Seamus Fermanagh]

For one you have to pay for healthcare! Thats like paying the Police to solve a crime for you, or the Firemen to put out your house.

They do that gratis where you're from? Wow! Here we pay a measurable chunk of our tax dollars to fund these services. How'd your community get that setup going?

~:rolleyes:


Please, take the next step and try to convince Div to continue fighting fires but to turn back his paycheck and other compensation.

[Vladimir]

Yes.

[rotorgun]

Shouldn't this thread really be entitled If you were from (insert the name of any Third World country or place that suffers from oppression) and you could, would you immigrate to The United States? (After all, America is actually two continents made up of many countries) I mean it really doesn't apply that much to people from the developed and civilized countries IMO. They are really doing pretty well.

I always like to ask those who do live here that complain about things being so screwed up, why don't you move to Zimbabwe or Rhodesia? Perhaps you might like a totalitarian theocracy like Iran. Maybe you should prefer a stay in Saudi Arabia where you can be shunned for not believing in Mohammed. Then there is always having 50% of your income being used to subsidise everyone else's problems as in some socialist contries? Not appealing? :juggle2:

I guess my country can't be all that bad now is it? :inquisitive:

Cordially yours,

[Byzantine Prince]

America sucks... except for hollywood.

Canada is teh kewlest.

[Ice]

Shouldn't this thread really be entitled If you were from (insert the name of any Third World country or place that suffers from oppression) and you could, would you immigrate to The United States? (After all, America is actually two continents made up of many countries) I mean it really doesn't apply that much to people from the developed and civilized countries IMO. They are really doing pretty well.

I always like to ask those who do live here that complain about things being so screwed up, why don't you move to Zimbabwe or Rhodesia? Perhaps you might like a totalitarian theocracy like Iran. Maybe you should prefer a stay in Saudi Arabia where you can be shunned for not believing in Mohammed. Then there is always having 50% of your income being used to subsidise everyone else's problems as in some socialist contries? Not appealing? :juggle2:

I guess my country can't be all that bad now is it? :inquisitive:

Cordially yours,

That sounds a lot like "If you don't totally agree with me, then get the out". That's really logical.

[Ice]

America sucks... except for hollywood.

Canada is teh kewlest.

Exactly. I'll now move to the intellectual level being discussed here:

Ah Gah Amerika ROxors!

[Ja'chyra]

Not for me, I think the cons outweigh the pro's.

Canada, on the other hand, I have considered in the past and would do so again.

[doc_bean]

No.

I'd consider living there for a few years just to check it out, but i can't imagine me wanting to stay...

[Uesugi Kenshin]

America sucks... except for hollywood.

Canada is teh kewlest.


Vermont is pretty cool, though I suppose it is close enough to being a part of Canada that I really don't need to comment on what you said.

[rotorgun]

That sounds a lot like "If you don't totally agree with me, then get the out". That's really logical.

What I am really trying to say is that if you don't agree with the pluralistic, democratic, and capitalistic lifestyle that we have in the US, then perhaps you might move to some of the more savory countries were these are not practiced.

You, and anyone else is free to disagree with me at any time, which is one of the better attitudes of many US citizens IMO. It is people who cannot abide any other opinion than their own who I highly recommend trying such a place as Iran, where the Mullahs will tell you what to believe. Than perhaps they will come to appreciate what such freedoms mean.

Cordially,

PS: Unfortunately, the United States is full of these highly opinionated types, which is why a good
many people from other countries find it less than desirable to move here. There is a certain arrogance I have noticed among many of my fellow countrymen that is highly unattractive.

[King Henry V]

Damn, I voted for the wrong option. I should have voted no. This is why you did badly in the physics test, you idiot, you didn't read the question properly.:wall:

[ajaxfetish]

Already a US citizen and living here, and this is where I want to stay in the long run, but I would certainly like to live temporarily (say a few years at a time) in other countries, especially Germany or Britain (Wales I think would be especially nice if I could find good work).

About 150 years ago, though, my family certainly would immigrate into America if they could, seeing as how they did.

Ajax

[IrishArmenian]

What I am really trying to say is that if you don't agree with the pluralistic, democratic, and capitalistic lifestyle that we have in the US, then perhaps you might move to some of the more savory countries were these are not practiced.

You, and anyone else is free to disagree with me at any time, which is one of the better attitudes of many US citizens IMO. It is people who cannot abide any other opinion than their own who I highly recommend trying such a place as Iran, where the Mullahs will tell you what to believe. Than perhaps they will come to appreciate what such freedoms mean.

Cordially,

PS: Unfortunately, the United States is full of these highly opinionated types, which is why a good
many people from other countries find it less than desirable to move here. There is a certain arrogance I have noticed among many of my fellow countrymen that is highly unattractive.
Rotorgun, countless countries now do practice such values. My desishun is abowt the positive aspecks of my country. I am happy and content where I am. I wood piss away a job as a CO, my family, me wife and all my frends for a mere chanje of sorrowndings. My desishun is postitive for Armenia, not negative for the U.S.

[Soulforged]

you could play basketball
LOL :laugh4: I could give the Wizards a hand...:laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
Poor, poor team...:no: Sorry if there's a Wizards fan here...

[Claudius the God]

no I wouldn't want to live in the USA... it isn't democratic enough...

[Justiciar]

What I am really trying to say is that if you don't agree with the pluralistic, democratic, and capitalistic lifestyle that we have in the US, then perhaps you might move to some of the more savory countries were these are not practiced.
Boasting aside, there's nothing unique in that. There are many other countries that practice a typically "pluralistic, democratic, and capitalistic lifestyle". The No's can be attributed to the USA's image, not it's nature.

[rotorgun]

Rotorgun, countless countries now do practice such values. My desishun is abowt the positive aspecks of my country. I am happy and content where I am. I wood piss away a job as a CO, my family, me wife and all my frends for a mere chanje of sorrowndings. My desishun is postitive for Armenia, not negative for the U.S.

Congratulations on your excellent decision. I was not trying to imply that anyone's choice to not move here was a negative attack on the US. I probably shouldn't have taken this line of argument in this thread. It just seemed to come up in my mind that there are many in my country who don't appreciate it as you do yours. I would love to visit Armenia someday.

Sincerly,

[rotorgun]

Boasting aside, there's nothing unique in that. There are many other countries that practice a typically "pluralistic, democratic, and capitalistic lifestyle". The No's can be attributed to the USA's image, not it's nature.

Agreed. I just wish that some Americans would be less shallow in thier thinking that everyone else wants to come here. I also wish that more Americans would stop complaining so much about how bad it is here. It's not the best country in the world sometimes, but I can think of places far worse-
Somalia for one, or let's say Ethiopia.

Cordially,

[Dracula(Romanian Vlad Tepes)]

1)The beer is better in germany(germany has tradition in making beer not like in America)
2)Why should i go in America,to die?The terrorist can kill me so i don't want to
go in America.Let the terrorists kill Americans not European people.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

1)The beer is better in germany(germany has tradition in making beer not like in America)
2)Why should i go in America,to die?The terrorist can kill me so i don't want to
go in America.Let the terrorists kill Americans not European people.

1) a - don't knock the USA's plentiful selection of micro-brews. Feel free to abuse Bud, Miller, and Coors.
b - by my lights, Ireland has had everyone whipped in this category since 1759.

2) death can greet you anywhere courtesy of some terror thug: on vacation in Bali, zipping around the London underground on your way to a museum, changing flights in Athens, or at your desk in New York. The USA is not the only place on their hit-list and they do not run ID checks on their targets first -- as the recap of the 9-11-02 victims below confirms.

Source: http://www.september11victims.com/september11victims/COUNTRY_CITIZENSHIP.htm

VICTIMS BY COUNTRY AND CITIZENSHIP

AS OF MOST RECENT LIST UPDATE, 09-21-2002:

Known country

Australia
3

Bermuda
1

Britain
1

Canada
5

China
2

Dominican Republic
1

El Salvador
1

England
11

Germany
6

Israel
1

Japan
3

Mexico
10

USA
2902



Known foreign citizenship

Australian
1

Belgian
1

Brazilian
3

British
67

Chinese
2

Colombian
17

Congonese 2
Ecuadorian 3
Filipino
15

French 1
German
5

Ghanaian 2
Guyanese
3

Haitian 2
Honduran 1
Indian 1
Indonesian
1

Irish
1

Israeli
2

Italian
4

Ivory Coast 1
Jamaican
16

Japanese
23

Lebanese
3

Lithuania 1
Mexican
15

Moldavian
1

Nigerian 1
Peruvian
5

Portuguese
3

Russian
1

Swedish
1

Taiwanese
1

Ukrainian 1
Uzbek 1
Venezuelan
1


That's 87 Europeans according to these numbers.

[BDC]

Probably not. The problem with being American is the only aim is to make loads of money. That's all well and good until you actually manage it, then your life becomes totally pointless and your kids have nothing to do. At least in Britain they can be socially accepted as rich drunken playboys and not looked down on morally.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Probably not. The problem with being American is the only aim is to make loads of money. That's all well and good until you actually manage it, then your life becomes totally pointless and your kids have nothing to do. At least in Britain they can be socially accepted as rich drunken playboys and not looked down on morally.

That's nonsense, perhaps meant jokingly, but in the absence of a smiley I'll take it as read.

There are huge numbers of Americans who enjoy life without the drive to make 'loadsamoney'. I've always found the 'American Dream' to be more about setting one's own goals and having the opportunity to make it happen without the historical baggage that the Old World imposes. For most, these goals are along the line of pleasant lifestyle, good friends and neighbours, a family and hope and security for your kids.

Just like in most of the rest of the world.

It's funny, the most financially obessed nationals that I have met in my travels are actually the British after Thatcher (if one is allowed to generalise).

They work stupid hours so that they can afford the gigantic mortgage on their one bedroom 'waterfront' flat, talk endlessly about how that flat is making more than they do, how they're going to renovate a farmhouse in Provence/Bulgaria and make even more money on the deal - and the only way they know to relax is to drink themselves paralytic on Friday nights or watch endless programmes on renovating houses/mortgages/debt redecoration because they can't go out that night as the credit card is maxed. [/stereotype]*

:wink:

And yes, for the cognoscenti, drink bleedin' Watney's Red Barrel before throwing up over the cuba libres... :bow:

[DukeofSerbia]

Maybe. If something don't change in my country. But I preffer more Canada.

[BDC]

Should have had a smiley... :D

I'll agree with the British mortgage thing. Property prices here = insane.

[Duke of Gloucester]

1) a - don't knock the USA's plentiful selection of micro-brews. Feel free to abuse Bud, Miller, and Coors.
b - by my lights, Ireland has had everyone whipped in this category since 1759.

Ireland may make some good stout, but their other beer is truly terrible. About as bad as Watney's Red Barrell in fact. Beer related joke: Two men drinking WRB. First man says "looks like rain today." Second replies "Yeah, taste like it too."

As for moving to the US, I am pretty confident I could get a green card, and probably US citizenship too, and the fact I am living here in wonderful Bradford tells you that, no, I would not move to the US "if I could." I have nothing against the US per se, it is just a foreign country and I am happy where I am.