Neoliberalism Will Soon Force Americans to Leave the United States

[marmar]

Neoliberal economic policy will eventually pressure U.S. citizens to emigrate just as it caused millions to leave Russia, the Baltic States and now Greece in search of a better life, economist Michael Hudson tells The Real News Network’s Sharmini Peries.

—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.


http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/neoliberalism_will_soon_force_americans_to_leave_the_united_states_20160618

[leveymg]

1. Many of us have already been driven out of Manhattan and SF. Why not sell the whole damn country?

[rhett o rick]

5. The country is being sold piece by piece. The enormous debt we owe China and Saudi Arabia

is being used to buy corporations and property in this country.

[A HERETIC I AM]

23. You know, the idea that we "owe" money to China or anyone else is a misnomer.

Countries buy our bonds voluntarily. No one went to the Chinese central bank, hat in hand and asked for a trillion dollars (or whatever)

Those countries bought bonds of their own volition. No one held a gun to their heads. It doesn't matter who holds them either, as they pay regular interest payments to the holder and are redeemed in full when they mature.

[leveymg]

45. Not talking about sovereign debt. It's the export of jobs and the securitization of real estate

that has a lot of people upset because of declining real wages relative to cost of housing and other essentials. The Chinese can buy all the T-bills they want, so long as they aren't used to greenmail us, as the Saudis have been doing. The trade imbalance, particularly vis-a-vis China, means less US jobs and declining real wages in America except for the top 1%.

[A Simple Game]

59. Yes we do "owe" money to China and others. That's what selling bonds means.

But that's not the problem, we will pay back our debt to China and most others.

The problem is that our government doesn't want to pay back their debt to you, me and most other Americans for the funds they "borrowed" from Social Security. This lending of my Social Security money to the government by the way did not have "my" approval.

[A HERETIC I AM]

74. And China is free to sell those bonds on the open market.

The US Treasury is obligated to satisfy the terms of the bond indenture.

It doesn't matter who holds the bonds. It just so happens that China and Japan have a whole lot of them, but that could change tomorrow if they decided to sell them.

[JonLeibowitz]

76. And in fact the demand of China and Japan for US Treasury bonds is a good thing

Extra demand for the bonds means the prices go up and yields are lower (less interest to pay)

[A HERETIC I AM]

79. Precisely

Bonds issued by the US Treasury are seen the world over as the safest investment security. The worldwide standard for the "Risk Free Security" is in fact, the Ten Year Note.

[A Simple Game]

87. Yet here I am doubting the will of the American Government to repay it's debt to the

Social Security fund when it is needed. Indeed they seem to even deny that the government owes the fund any money.

[greiner3]

66. WTF

[KPN]

18. And its happening in Portland OR right now.

People who have lived there their whole lives are being forced to relocate as out of state investors have driven up the cost of residential real estate such that realtors are advising as the rule of thumb is "your rent should be no more than 40% of your net income." That's just nuts!!! It used to be 20-25%!!!!!!!!!

The neo-lib message: embrace poverty, it becomes you!

[PasadenaTrudy]

39. Sadly

that is how SoCal has been for decades. Lots of us have moved to OR and WA too.

[Juicy_Bellows]

77. It absoultely is - Real estate is getting nutty out here.

Then they get rid of Mike and Mike! WTH is going on?!

[McKim]

120. Investors from China and Developers Have Ruined Our City

Yes, Portland has been ruined by developers with the full cooperation of the current mayor and withe investors from China driving up the cost of real estate and rents. I refuse to participate and keep he rent at my rental rowhouse lower than market value. The city is filling up with obnoxiously wealthy people who flaunt their wealth, have bad manners and only care about themselves. The Oregon and Portland values are being swallowed up by greed.

[elljay]

136. Same here in Silicon Valley

My neighborhood used to be a mix of blue and white collar middle to upper middle class. Now, Chinese and non-resident investors have pushed up prices so much that the older residents are taking the opportunity to sell. I now live next door to a 2+million dollar rental house with more coming up and down the block. I used to know my neighbors and we watched out for each other. Now the homes are owned by absentee landlords and temporary residents who don't spend a penny to maintain them and have no interest in developing neighborhood ties. I can't sell because I can't afford to buy anything else. Let's see what happens when the economy has its next downturn and there are lots of layoffs. There will be a lot of people who can no longer pay the 5k per month rentals. http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2007/09/hillarys-prayer-hillary-clintons-religion-and-politics?page=2

[Aerows]

2. Canada, New Zealand and Australia

are on my research list. Apparently, the US doesn't need sane, humane decent people anymore. I'm just not cut throat enough to function in a sick society.

[notadmblnd]

4. There will be nowhere to hide

It doesn't matter where one goes, I believe the goal is to unleash misery globally. The only ones that will have opportunity for decent quality of life will be them and theirs.

Their plan to save the planet is to depopulate it. They'll only be to happy to watch us all eat dirt and die.

[Aerows]

8. Well, that was what Kissinger advocated.

Reduce the world population to 500,000 people.

And folks wonder why I look at Hillary with a damn dubious eye.

[notadmblnd]

9. Yes, I understand she admires him greatly

[Aerows]

10. If that doesn't raise an eyebrow

Pretty much nothing will.

[notadmblnd]

12. For those whos heads are not turned by her celebrity- it does.

Others? They're lost.

[Aerows]

13. Getting lots of money from a campaign

will do that to you.

You will sell your own children down the river without realizing that you are doing exactly that for short term gain.

[Jackilope]

16. Sadly, here at DU it also raises alerts.

Here the Hillary supporters would rather not hear, read, or see anything truthful or flag raising about HRC.

[Aerows]

21. Our country is going to rue the day

that we got stuck with Trump vs. Clinton.

[Jackilope]

35. It is like watching a trainwreck. We are sheep being led to the slaughterhouse.

The choice is the direct route or the meanderig, triangulating path.

Meanwhile, the border collie the alerted wolves is getting "promoted" to live in the house. Works well for the wolves...

[leveymg]

46. We are sheep caught in a trainwreck that was headed for the slaughterhouse.

As for the border collie, we love ourz puppies. We know who's really in charge, right?

[840high]

110. Bet on it.

[CrawlingChaos]

92. Agreed!!!!

Mass-murdering psychopathic scum Henry Fucking Kissinger...

Honestly.. words fail me.

[appalachiablue]

80. Years ago I read that Kissinger was the first Jew admitted to Chevy Chase

Country Club in the older, well known high end community adjacent to the DC line. How twisted is that.

[elljay]

138. He married non-Jews

and never really had anything to do with our community. Henry was always mingling with and trying to be a part of the WASP upper crust. He was, and is a Court Jew, our equivalent of an Uncle Tom, someone who steps on his people while groveling to their oppressors. Here's an article that gives the Jewish perspective on Henry:

http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/132819/happy-birthday-mr-kissinger

[appalachiablue]

141. Knew he was in those circles; I'd never heard the phrase a Court Jew.

The useful insider or local, happens in many realms as we know from life and history.
Bill Paley of CBS was turned down for property ownership on Long Island, the Hamptons I believe. Later he and Babe had a home there. What a bigoted, Anglo-white and mostly privileged society we had which after important strides, seems to be reverting. Hope that's wrong.

I'll take a look at the article, thank you.

[appalachiablue]

42. Incredible, 500,000 people. Delaware's population is around 820,000,

Unfairfax Co., VA is 1.5 million+ and California almost 40 million.

Kissinger was a principal user of the ugly expression 'useless eaters' I believe.

[Aerows]

43. Indeed he did.

And again, no wonder why I don't particularly like the person he "mentored".

[shanti]

47. useless eaters

it doesn't even sound human.

[LarryNM]

67. Obvious who the Truly useless eaters and breathers are. eom

[AntiBank]

68. I think it was 500 million, not thousand

[appalachiablue]

73. That sounds more likely, though still awful for the surplus billions of people on earth.

Don't suppose they'll ever permit humane euthanasia, at least until all valuables are stripped by predators.

[CrispyQ]

127. "...at least until all valuables are stripped by predators."

Already playing in a theater near you!

[appalachiablue]

139. Don't we know it!

[rhett o rick]

14. There is no place to hide for the world's 99% probably the 99.9%. They

have effectively stripped Greece and are working on Ireland and Spain. Look at what was done to Haiti as an example.

"Their plan to save the planet is to depopulate it. They'll only be to happy to watch us all eat dirt and die." I dont think they plan on us dying. But we have resources that they want and if we die in the process, they don't care.

[lunatica]

28. The 1% will be quite willing and happy to give us jobs

As soon as wages here become lower than they are in today's Thailand, for example.

[rhett o rick]

29. Well the problem with capitalism and it might be funny if not sad, is that after they take all our

resources they can't hurt us anymore. We won't be able to buy anything so why work for them? No one will buy anything.

[lunatica]

34. Well, there's that too

but if you ignore it and refuse to acknowledge it then it isn't there. Everyone knows that!!

[rhett o rick]

124. or smoke enough weed.

[KPN]

19. Yep, thin the herd!

[LiberalLoner]

50. This. I am convinced this is what is happening and will keep on happening.

Culling the herd.

[appalachiablue]

69. That's a lot of real estate for half a million people and their robots to keep up, just saying'.

There will be limits and overwork for robots too I reckon..

[AntiBank]

91. it was 500 million not 500 thousand and it is the Geoegia Guidestones

that say that. Kissinger called excess people "useless eaters".

Georgia Guidestones


http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20150824-one-of-the-us-greatest-mysteries

[uhnope]

131. fake quote popular among conspiracy theorists

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Depopulation_conspiracy_theory#Useless_eaters

[WhiteTara]

6. The all have strict immigration laws

in Canada you must have a few hundred thousand dollars.

[Aerows]

7. Yes. On my list.

Also have education and a sought after profession.

[KPN]

20. $600,000 to be more accurate. And it's a security deposit in exchange for

social services and health care that you didn't contribute taxes toward. I know. I looked into it several years ago. If you don't have $600,000 that you can deposit with the Canadian government, or you are not bringing in a business that will provide a certain number of jobs, or you don't have a critical skill that has unmet demand in certain professions, you can't emigrate to Canada.

I'm now looking at Ecuador.

[WhiteTara]

27. I've looked at Belize, Costa Rico, Guatamala and Ecuador

I'm still here. Each has an advantage and disadvantage. I also would love to be in Thailand.

[KPN]

52. Yeah, we're still here too ...

because we have adult children here. But it's getting more attractive all the time.

[appalachiablue]

75. What about Zika virus in the southern hemisphere, and the US too

until and if a vaccine is developed. Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Chile I've visited and am familiar with a good part of the Caribbean, Brit and French islands mainly.
Never made it to Belize or Costa Rica but friends loved their vacation time there.

[swhisper1]

82. time to harvest pregnancies and grow the fetus in labs to assure good health

my science fiction favorite

[whathehell]

116. Maybe we could just find a vaccine..

Your fantasy creeps me out.

[swhisper1]

117. sorry, I am writing a scifi book,but as a woman, it is easier on the body

[whathehell]

118. I'm a woman as well, so I can appreciate that aspect of it

but it still creeps me out.

P.S. I've never been a sci fi fan, so that might have something to do with it.

[WhiteTara]

93. I am not a mosquito magnet

and rarely if ever get bit. My honey on the other hand has type M blood that draws them like crazy. Probably why he doesn't want to move and it never occurred to me not to.

[notadmblnd]

38. What about marriage?

[KPN]

54. There's that too I guess. My spouse and I are already married to one another though.

[swhisper1]

84. marriage has become a farce, best contract every year, since its a mans world, let him

pay her for services and children. Since wives are cast aside anyway for a newer model at the rate of 80%+, we women should be paid. Several knots in that tho- like what to do with the kids.

[Warpy]

53. Ecuador is good

if only because they kicked the IMF out and sharply devalued their currency. That means the US dollar goes a very long way. They've also been devastated by earthquake, so if you're bringing money in and will construct anything, you're golden.

The big danger there is that the right wing gets back in, they're getting restless and making trouble.

Uruguay is also good if you've got a lot more money than I have. Montevideo is beautiful but nearly as expensive as Manhattan.

Argentina's off the list until they get rid of Macri.

Belize and Costa Rica are both very pricey right now. Honduras is in the right wing shitter so their prices have moderated a bit.

[KPN]

55. So have you spent time in Ecuador and Uruguay?

What's going on with the right wing in Ecuador? Any good sources you can share?

[Warpy]

60. Only on Google

I've never had health, time and money all in the same place so I've never been able to travel. Health has been the stinker for the last 10 years.

I can see President Trump pushing me out the front door with a couple of suitcases, never to return, even if I have to be loaded onto a plane on a gurney.

Right now, it looks like Ecuador will get me.

[KPN]

142. Well, here's hoping you return to good health if you haven't already.

Hang in there. Yes, Ecuador looks pretty good to my wife and I as well.

[McKim]

121. I Have Spent Months in Uruguay Over the Years

Uruguay is a healthy second world country. They understand politics there and are progressive. But the world economic crisis is having its influence there. I would move there comfortably as their values are to the left of the US. The people are wonderful. I think it is a good place to live.

I am too old to move out of the US now and away from the city where I have spent my entire life and have so many connections. But if I were younger like in my 20s I would get out while I could.

[KPN]

143. Good to know. Have never been there.

Yeah, the connections make it tough -- we have 3 adult kids within 2-4 hrs drive, so understand what you are saying. And lots of other family, friends, etc., a really nice home, property, and pets. Too many strings to leave for good I guess.

Indeed, PDX is a pretty nice place to live! Picked that up from your post upstream.

[Aerows]

103. At the risk of being blunt

You tend to your railroad, I'll tend to mine.

[Aerows]

106. Luckily

I really don't care what you believe, sport.

[The2ndWheel]

3. And go where?

What happens when more and more people want to go to wherever that is? Norway and Canada can only support so many people.

It's a full world, and any given individual is needed less than ever.

[roamer65]

11. A world war is coming.

It doesn't matter where you go.

When the central banks realize they can't revive their economies through currency manipulation, they will resort to war as they have in the past.

[rhett o rick]

17. The next war will be via the internet or equivalent. Corporations will fight each

other for control of the worlds finances. The corporation with the best hackers will win. And if a corporation wanted to destroy the USofA all they have to do is shut down our internet. No access to money or credit and no access to food after initial supplies run out.

[Aerows]

33. Unless you live in the sticks

know how to actually grow and cook food. Some of us actually learned how to do both of those things.

Well, and we were forced to learn how to can on top of it.

The future may not be bright, but we won't starve.

[rhett o rick]

123. I would like to discuss this farther.

I am being skeptical because I want information not because I want to argue. Can you grow enough food to survive? Is your water supply from a well you have control of? Do you need electricity and if so do you have a supply other than the local power company? Would you need to buy anything to survive? If so what will you use for money?

I haven't investigated being totally off the grid and am curious.

[CrispyQ]

128. I'd be interested in a thread on this topic.

Maybe post it in Environment & Energy.

[Aerows]

145. Clearly since we are having this discussion in the first place

I'm not off the grid. *smirk*

And no, probably not for too long, but there are a multitude of ways to get around things if you don't have electricity or running water. Been there, done that in the Katrina aftermath for weeks, and it is highly NOT recommended.

You know what the absolute worst part of no electricity is? No air conditioning in the heat of summer with humidity so high it's like breathing soup.

[KPN]

22. I agree. All signs point to this.

[Peacetrain]

15. A bit of unasked for advice...

but before anyone considers moving anywhere.. may I suggest they check with SLPC ..many of the countries we love to embrace as better than what we have.. have some of the worst neo nazi groups going..

Just saying.. the grass is not always greener on the other side..

Do not expect open arms

[KPN]

24. Yep. Be wary!

[Aerows]

26. Luck of the genetic lottery

I'm fair haired and blue eyed.

[Octafish]

25. Where we gonna go?

Even in China, the robots are taking over.

[JEB]

30. I got my eye on Uruguay.

Gonna have to work on my Spanish.

[Aerows]

32. My French is up to date.

Thank goodness.

[zentrum]

31. It's true. nt

[PasadenaTrudy]

36. To where?

I'm not moving to some hot, humid country.

[YOHABLO]

86. Hot humid country? You ever been to the State of Georgia in the summer?

[PasadenaTrudy]

94. NO! lol

And I never will!

[felix_numinous]

37. Neo liberalism is a destructive path

and would result in a brain drain of all free thinking creative minds, and the best innovators out of the country. It is zombie leadership at it's worst.

I am not sure what vision of the future these people have, fracking, TTIP, oil drilling poison food, spraying and big pharma--as if they are addicted to toxic life and cannot stop themselves. An intervention is needed, and I think Bernie opened a door toward having it.

America needs to sit down and tawk, at a time when there is the greatest resistance by some to do so--but now is the time for some tough love.

[appalachiablue]

71. +1 Yuge intervention and Big Tawk. We need a mega Marshall Plan

to rebuild the US and a major Manhattan Project like effort to combat climate change. I can hope..

[fleabiscuit]

40. Interesting.

In emerging and developing economies people have much more optimism about the future than in rich countries.

I would wager that attitude was reflected in the recent primaries.

[truebluegreen]

41. Already Gone. nt

[Helen Borg]

44. Leave and go where?

It's global...

[FairWinds]

48. We loved our short time in . .

Cape Breton - They say we are welcome.

(half in jest alert)

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/03/05/cape-bretons-new-slogan-waiting-for-americans.html

[Johnny2X2X]

49. Whia

It's hard to tell this place apart from the Free Republic lately. People do realize that this country has improved in almost every objectively measurable way in the last 7 years right?

[earthshine]

56. People are talking about their actual lives, not the artificial abstractions of statisticians.

Objective measurements mean nothing to people who are losing their standards of living.

Guess it's all going well for you, eh?

[uhnope]

130. inconvenient truth, you speak. See my post at end of thread nt

[Just reading posts]

61. To get a retirement visa in Thailand requires only a monthly income of $2K per month or

$25K in savings deposited in a Thai bank. Not that much.

Many other countries have higher income requirements, granted.

[Just reading posts]

63. The point is that a dollar goes much further there.

You can live very comfortably there on an income of $30K - 40K per year.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/on-retirement/2014/09/30/the-perks-of-retirement-in-thailand-and-the-philippines

Southeast Asia is a remarkably beautiful and diverse region that is becoming much more welcoming to Western retirees. Southeast Asia’s big appeal for foreign retirees is the cost of living. Several countries here are among the world’s cheapest places to retire. Your money goes much further in this part of the world than in the United States or any other Western country, but that does not mean that the standard of living is necessarily lower.

It is possible to stretch your retirement nest egg to enjoy a better lifestyle in Southeast Asia than you could afford anywhere else in the world. For example, in the United States you’re probably paying at least $50 per month for reasonably fast Internet. In the Philippines Internet costs $12 per month, likely for faster speeds than you have now. In Thailand and Malaysia fast Internet is $18 per month.

Similar savings can be seen in the prices of everything from rent and phone service to cooking gas, electricity and groceries. A visit to the doctor costs less than $20 throughout most of the region, and the care you receive is likely to exceed your expectations. English-speaking doctors educated in Europe, Australia and North America are the norm. They work in hygienic offices with modern equipment and can be affiliated with modern internationally accredited hospitals. Thailand and Malaysia are among the top five countries in the world for medical tourism.

English is widely understood throughout the region, and it is an official language of the Philippines and parts of Malaysia. The majority of people you come into contact with in these two countries are fluent in English. Additionally, English is a required subject at schools in every country in Southeast Asia. Urban areas and many small towns have enough English speakers that communication rarely presents a significant barrier.

[Just reading posts]

88. A "colonialist"? Really?

col·o·nize

verb

send a group of settlers to (a place) and establish political control over it.
come to settle among and establish political control over (the indigenous people of an area).

Do you really think that word applies to someone who retires in another country?

Because you're taking advantage of American wealth to live like a rich person in a poor country.

Pumping tens of thousands of dollars into their economy. How exploitative!

Now granted, I'm only toying with the idea of retiring there, but I have been to Thailand a few times, staying at resorts while I did so. Please tell me....was I taking advantage of the local people by vacationing there?

And it's still a police state monarchy, which is a political improvement on the USA how?

We're discussing retiring somewhere, not changing citizenship.

I cannot picture most Bernie Bros who are young enough to still need to earn a living by working wanting to trade college town USA for Phuket.

Um....we're discussing retirement, not a twenty-something fleeing the country to escape political oppression.

And Phuket is absolutely lovely. I have tickets to go there this coming November. Can't wait!

[Just reading posts]

90. Please explain exactly how someone retiring in Thailand is "colonizing" them.

I've already shown that the dictionary disagrees with your use of the word.

come to settle among and establish political control over (the indigenous people of an area).

How much political control do American retirees have in Thailand?

[Just reading posts]

99. If we can't agree on common definitions, what's the point of discussion?

You'd be considered a colonialist by many Thais, including some I know.

Then they'd be wrong as well.



But in any case, I'm just toying with the idea. Putting that kind of distance between myself and my friends and family isn't something I'd do lightly/

On the other hand, I could snowbird there.

https://jwesthardin.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/is-thailand-the-new-mexico-for-the-snowbirds/

Am I just a part-time colonialist if I only go there during the winter?

[Just reading posts]

132. Thank you, that's very gracious of you. Something of a rarity in interneet discussions!

And thank you as well for the explanation. Adding the prefix certainly makes a difference.

While I see your point, I still disagree a bit (less than before, though) as regards retirees. Please see my response to your amended comment.

[rjsquirrel]

133. Thank you

The civility is very much appreciated. I see your points too.

[kjones]

137. Extensive

It's so weird to see all these people complaining but then wanting to move to places
that are just...objectively worse...in so many of the measures they proclaim to despise.
Thailand?...a place where "the dollar gets more"...which is just saying they want to have
the power (or more of it). Even the "Ugh, I'm so angry...I'm just going to leave the country,"
is an amazing expression of privilege. ...But "lol" they're Americans, so the world is their
playground, right?

[Just reading posts]

135. There's something of a difference between an oil sheik and a middle class retiree.

bought all the nice land to build monstrously gaudy new buildings.....Then imagine that because they were rich they could buy political favors like, say, citizenship.

That's how an American retiree appears to a peasant or shopkeeper in Thailand

Except that's not what American retirees are doing. They're not building palaces. They're not getting Thai citizenship. They're not (as far as I know) getting any political favors.

They're simply staying in very nice accommodations (perhaps buying a condo) and living in an upper middle class lifestyle. One which is not available to the average Thai citizen, granted.....but they're not living like kings. And in the meantime, contributing a lot of money to the local economy.

Did I win the genetic lottery when I was born to middle class parents in America? By world standards, sure. But I don't see any moral duty to scrape by in bleak suburbia here in the States when I can live in (relative) luxury in Thailand in my Golden Years.

[Just reading posts]

144. Hm....still disagree.

Let's say an American retiree has an income of $50K/year. This is about three times as much as the per capita income in Thailand of about $15K/year.

Three times as much. If I met someone makes three times as much as I do, I'd think, "Wow. They're really doing well. No wonder they drive a Porsche".

In the meantime, an oil sheik has an income of.....oh, let's just say $100 million per year (he's not one of the really rich oil sheiks). That's two thousand times as much money as I make, as much in a day as I make in 7 years. It's a lifestyle I can barely comprehend.

I really don't think the two are remotely comparable.

[Paka]

112. I have a good life here in Thailand,

on under 10k/year, and still manage to travel now and then. Three weeks in India in April and I go to France to visit friends in July. No, my Thai is not good, but I don't need it where I am.

[Just reading posts]

113. If I were to retire in Thailand (which is very unlikely), I would have a steady income of $45K/year.

My understanding is that I would be able to live quite comfortably on that amount, especially if I was in some place such as Chiang Mai rather than Phuket or Bangkok.

[Paka]

115. You can indeed live well on 45k US a year.

I could live on less even than the 10k I do if I moved out of Chiang Mai, but I like some of the luxuries I have here. Phuket sucks, but I have friends that live very well on Koh Phangon. I just came back from a visit to them and it's very nice down there.

[JonLeibowitz]

78. You don't want people in the US who use words like neoliberalism???

Why, it is a well-recognized political philosophy.

[socialist_n_TN]

97. Yeah, I agree. Let's just call it "capitalism" then........

No modifiers needed.

Being a Classic Red is pretty easy nowdays. I don't even have to make arguments against capitalism. The capitalists make my arguments FOR me. All I have to do it point it out.

[Hydra]

109. IKR?

The Capitalists are sounding more and more like Evangelists that are losing their flock and don't know what to do about it- other than to become more hateful.

[applegrove]

57. That is what they want. Niles Ferguson actually put it in one of his

books.

[appalachiablue]

72. Can't stand him, or his programs I've seen.

[Recursion]

95. His WW1 book was surprisingly good (assuming we're talking about Niall)

Most of his stuff is drek though.

[Rex]

58. Many more will not be able or willing to leave.

Neo-liberalism will lead to open revolt in any country it is allowed to destroy, given enough time. People get defiant when they truly have nothing to lose.

[malaise]

65. And go where?

The vast majority of the planet is a mess

[undergroundpanther]

70. what sucks for me is

Being disabled ssi only pays out around 744 bux
To leave this country. I was told I had to make a minimum of 1,000 bux a month. Im so screwed. So are tons of other people suffering from disability and poverty

[swhisper1]

81. I'm packed and renewed my passport

our nation is in puberty and is drinking while driving

[Hekate]

85. We'll give it our earnest consideration if Trump is elected; not otherwise.

"Neoliberals" -- what a crock.

[DrBulldog]

100. Actually, the fleeing has already begun ... to the Pacific Northwest ...

. . . particularly Oregon, the "American Oasis". Oregon: the #1 moving destination in the United States and tied with California having the fastest-growing economy in the nation. And the state government is 100% Democratic - no surprise!

[McKim]

122. Be Prepared to Have Good Manner and Values

Oregon is great. But please bring your best manners. We don't like people who tailgate and honk and get ahead of others in a line.
Good manners and caring about others rather than the almighty dollar are important here. Be prepared to slow down and be nice or don't come.

[redstateblues]

105. What a glum lot.

[roamer65]

107. It's a holiday in Cambodia.

Where people dress in black...

Sorry, just reminded me of the DK song.

[DrBulldog]

108. FYI for your early-leavers ... you have to be under 55 to migrate to modern New Zealand . . .

. . . without having to "buy your way in" with a business investment.

[tandot]

111. Bye Felicia

[avaistheone1]

114. K&R

[NorthCarolina]

125. Portugal. -nt-

[CrispyQ]

126. My house is the size of a postage stamp & worth $350k.

We live in a bubble economy that is manipulated to benefit the rich. If I were 30 years younger, I would move elsewhere.

"Where to Invade Next" by Michael Moore. Highly recommended!

[uhnope]

129. what a load of bogus codswallop.

This overeducated boob says "neoliberalism" caused the massive increase in Russia death rates "until finally President Putin came in and stabilized matters." Except--guess what--the death rates are still astronomical today. Hmm I wonder if the total pilfering of the Russian economy that started after the USSR collapsed and has been perfected by Putin might have something to do with the problem.

And this minor-league egghead was a major player in Kucinich's campaign back when. Now I'm embarrassed I supported Kucinich.

The headline reads like clumsy Soviet propaganda from the days of old, and it's no surprise the interview starts off with this totally false whitewashing of Putin, since it's on the fake news site "The Real News Network" that was a mouthpiece for Kremlin propaganda during the war on Ukraine.

"The rate of men dying prematurely in Russia is totally out of line with the rest of Europe"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/31/russian-men-losing-years-to-vodka

THE NUMBERS VLADIMIR PUTIN DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/03/numbers-vladimir-putin-doesnt-want-you-to-see

[Vogon_Glory]

134. I can envision a brain drain

I can envision a brain-drain, particularly as underpaid and debt-ridden younger Americans realize that our living standards have slipped, that their counter-parts in western and Central Europe live as well or better than they do and the denial that America DOESN'T have the highest standards of living finally cracks.

I realized this potential 15 years ago trying to argue with right-wing nuts. They were infuriated and shouted me down, in large part because I hadn't learned to book-mark or save the Internet addresses of sober, somber statistics that blew their denials to pieces.

That was 15 years ago, when the Clinton-era employment boom still protected a lot of people's middle-class status. Now, thanks to Dubya-economics, "conservative" Republicans, Tea Party types, and not one but TWO recessions (Counting 9-11), things have gotten noticeably worse.

[Throd]

146. Please go. All of you.

What a bunch of whiny pessimists.

[Just reading posts]

147. In fairness, when I discuss retiring in another country, it has nothing to do with politics.

It's simply a matter of living at a higher standard of living.