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Scared of US; Where to relocate?

3 expanded posts ยท every known parent and child

NODE 5c715944Scared of US; Where to relocate?
It has become very clear to me over the past few years that amerika 
is headed for some pretty rough times, and I've decided to leave before
it becomes illegal for me to do so. The only question is, where to?

I've been looking around for about a week, and the only country that's
looked good so far was Anguilla (lower travel costs for FC99!), but it
doesn't meet my requirements for a number of reasons...

Key features I'm looking for are:

1) Stable political environment. I'm making the move, after all, to AVOID
participation in a civil war.

2) Stable economy, with local sources for all the basics (food, water,
energy).

3) Reasonable level of medical technology, and local talent. I want good
care for my wife during childbirth, for instance.

4) A job market for unix sysadmins / networking gurus / hackers would be
nice, but I wouldn't mind learning a new trade either.

5) Right to keep & bear arms + Freedom of speech are musts, other
"bill of rights" type laws strongly desired.

6) Low or no taxes would be nice, but if the first five points are met
even a fairly high (30-40%) tax rate would be endurable.

So... any suggestions?
NODE b7374857Re: CH (Was: Scared of US; Where to relocate?)
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At 06:37 PM 11/14/97 -0800, Frederick G.M. Roeber wrote:
>Switzerland jumps to mind for points 1-3: stable politically, good
>economy, and first class medical.  There is a job market, but they're
>very restrictive about letting people in, particularly if you might want
>a job that a Swiss would do.  It helps if you're rich.

Actually, this is not true if you don't mind temp work.  Computer 
professionals can easily get temp assignments in Switzerland and become 
permanent temps.  With luck they can get B permits and then C permits 
(permanent residency) after a year.

>The taxes are high, as is the cost of living.  There are strong social
>programs just about everywhere.  It's landlocked.  Consumerism isn't as
>developed there, which translates to poor service and bad selections.

The taxes (and everything else) vary by Canton.  Some Cantons (Zug for 
example) have taxes low enough to qualify them as low-tax countries.  Stay 
out of Zurich though.

>Not perfect, but nice.  I'd feel a lot happier raising kids there than
>here in the US.

A lovely Osteria in Ticino (the Italian Canton).  Polenta cooking in a pot 
over the fire in the fireplace.  Walls covered with the heads of dead animals 
and literally dozens of long guns of all vintages including a few semi-
(full?)autos.  Ten minutes outside of one of Switzerland's major cities.

Nice people.

DCF
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NODE ca9451a8CH (Was: Scared of US; Where to relocate?)
Switzerland jumps to mind for points 1-3: stable politically, good
economy, and first class medical.  There is a job market, but they're
very restrictive about letting people in, particularly if you might want
a job that a Swiss would do.  It helps if you're rich.

That every reservist has a machine gun at home is well known, but I
don't know what restrictions would be placed on an immigrant.  One of
the safest places I've been, though.

"[American] Bill of Rights" type freedoms may not be as enshrined as in
the US, but on the other hand they often take a more pragmatic aproach
to issues (like drugs).

The taxes are high, as is the cost of living.  There are strong social
programs just about everywhere.  It's landlocked.  Consumerism isn't as
developed there, which translates to poor service and bad selections.

Not perfect, but nice.  I'd feel a lot happier raising kids there than
here in the US.
-- 
Frederick G.M. Roeber
My e-mail address is "roeber," not "dev-null."  Anti-spam thing..