What country would you take your family to if you left the U.S.?

[TeacherZee]

Switzerland does not allow homeschooling. It is illegal period. That is why no one is choosing it.

 

Well Sweden and Switzerland are two different countries and as far as I know both allow homeschooling. Sweden definitely does.

 

Sweden!

 

This would be a wonderful place to raise children. Sweden values children and society there puts children first and many of their laws, customs and benefits show this - they don't just talk about it.

 

Paternity leave for fathers is up to 14 months without penalty and with pay! If mothers are working also, the couple may take 16 months off, with pay, but the father must take 2 of the months.

 

ALL children are covered 100% medical coverage and their healthcare system is top notch (for example the infant mortality rate is more than twice the rate (6.8 per 1000 births) in the US than it is in Sweden (also Japan and Norway). Great free maternity care, etc.

 

High quality education - including special ed and free healthy school lunches, low crime, great (equal) healthcare for all, being in a country that so very much values families and children, a lot of nature and open space, wonderful system of bike paths - even in the city, very good pay and working conditions, short commutes, clean and friendly... What is not to like?

 

(ahem) the weather! If you don't like winter, Sweden may not be for you! :lol:

 

Although, the worlds happiest people are apparently in Denmark, Sweden makes an impressive number 6 on the list! (behind Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Iceland, Bahamas and Finland) Some of those countries I could deal with (woohoo Bahamas!) but I think with family in mind, I would take Sweden.

 

EDIT ooh, I see Sweden has already been picked by others! :w00t:

 

Also college education is free. And we get quite generous grants to study.:001_smile:

 

*tries to hide the snow that is currently falling*;)

 

The weather is very much dependent on WHERE in the country you live. The south rarely get snow and the lows in the winter are about -1C

 

Actually, I have read that Stockholm is quite moderate. The lowest average low is -5 C, which is 23 F, and the highest high is 22 C, which is 72 F. Here in the South, where we have stretches (called July and August LOL) of 90 F to 105 F plus humidity, I could deal with a high of 70!

 

The lack of sunlight might be the hardest thing to get used to.

 

Summers can be VERY pleasant here. Plus it is light until very late. We stock up on the light in the summer

 

I'd go to Sweden in a heartbeat. Among all the pluses listed above, I don't have to repeat, and then spell my name for people there! :-)

 

Astrid. A. S. T. R. I. D.

 

:D

 

on the temps but yeah, that lack of sunlight would be tough! How do they deal with it, I wonder? Maybe they just have to get use to it.

 

 

As I said above the temps are very different depending on where in the country you live. I am in the middle and yes it can get quite cold here. I grew up in the south however and snow was A BIG DEAL:D

 

I don't think I'd go to Sweden. Housing costs are scary.

 

Yes, true. Sweden is one of the 10 wealthiest nations in Europe and salaries are very good there but I believe the reason for the high cost of homes is that the Swedes prefer to rent rather than buy and the rents are controlled and very low.

 

Sweden's housing prices have been going down but the interest rates have been going up so I guess that's not much help. :001_huh:

 

Housing costs are very dependent on where you live. If you don't mind being out in the middle of nowhere then houses don't cost that much. My sister just bought a house with lake view in a popular area for 1milion SEK that is about $114400USD. As Jumping in Puddles says renting if very common in Sweden and rents are controlled. If you want to live in any of the big cities it can become expensive but out in the country it is cheaper.

Edited February 22, 2009 by TeacherZee
added country currency considering previous discussion

[Colleen]

Well Sweden and Switzerland are two different countries...

 

And yet, people who have known my Swiss husband for many years don't seem cognizant of that fact.;) Of course, confusing the two country names isn't quite as bad as asking whether it's winter (or summer) in Switzerland when it's winter (or summer) here. That whole "northern hemisphere" concept, you know...:tongue_smilie:

[KJB]

Seriously.

 

There's no where left to start fresh. We are of the pioneer spirit. We're not far enough removed from relatives that actually immigrated to have had the spirit bred out of us. Our parents and grandparents came to the US to make a better life. They succeeded.

 

Many of the countries people listed as places they'd leave for have plenty of people who want to come to the US in spite of the economy or whatever list of problems we might have as a country.

 

Yep, people still want to come to America. DH's family is in Ireland and many of them still want to come. His parents took ships over around 60 years ago. His Dad realized the dream. He came to the US when he was in his 30s. He retired as a wealthy man. He wasn't a banker, a doctor, a lawyer, etc. He was a carpenter. He worked. He was frugal. He's now rich.

 

I would want to go somewhere we could have real freedom. I don't think the earth has anyplace like that left.

[TeacherZee]

 

And yet, people who have known my Swiss husband for many years don't seem cognizant of that fact.;) Of course, confusing the two country names isn't quite as bad as asking whether it's winter (or summer) in Switzerland when it's winter (or summer) here. That whole "northern hemisphere" concept, you know...:tongue_smilie:

 

*snort*

 

I've never come across the summer/winter one but I do constantly correct people regarding the Sweden/Switzerland thing:D

 

I mean I am sure Switzerland is a perfectly nice place but they are two different places.:001_smile:

[keptwoman]

Many of the countries people listed as places they'd leave for have plenty of people who want to come to the US in spite of the economy or whatever list of problems we might have as a country.

 

Yep, people still want to come to America.

That's the thing that I find fascinating about immigration. We came to Australia along with many other New Zealanders. Yet there are just as many going in the other direction for similar reasons.

 

And as you said people still want to immigrate to the US. Yet others want to leave it for somewhere else.

 

Perhaps it's the grass is greener syndrome. Or perhaps different people value different things in a place to live.

Either way I consider the fact that I have the freedom to choose out of two countries a priviledge (New Zealanders and Australians have a right to reside in the other country).

Edited February 22, 2009 by keptwoman

[Laura Corin]

Assuming we went somewhere where they don't speak English, it would be incredibly hard to assimilate while homeschooling. It's hard enough to get to know people and find friends while homeschooling here in the US. I would want my children to go to school to learn the local language and become bilingual.

 

There are other ways of having that contact. In China, we chose to live in an apartment complex with a shared courtyard area. All the children would meet downstairs to play, so my boys made friends easily. When we moved in, mine were the only foreign children, and by the time we left, there was only one other foreign family.

 

In a low-wage country, there's also the option of having household help to increase the immersion. We had a full-time housekeeper, who played with the children for hours, and was their main teacher.

 

The boys didn't go to school in China because we were unhappy with the style of the local schools (very high pressure, with discipline based around shame).

 

Best wishes

 

Laura

[dawn of ns]

Uh uh, Sister. We've got gun laws. ;) I'm cracking up that anyone thinks we're socialists.

 

I think for some, anything a little left of the US is socialist. I don't think some realize that the US occupies and extreme on certain matters rather then the middle.

[Reya]

Ireland. I'd pay no income tax and DH wouldn't be in danger but could find good work. Plus, the govt seems mildly sane.

 

Or...Costa Rica. Great standard of living for us, but jobs not so great and economy...volatile. If the US exploded, it'd prolly get invaded, so maybe not so great.

 

Australia or South Africa, possibly, but South Africa still has such an incredible crime rate and little applicable work, and Australia is rather too enamored of Britain.... New Zealand has serious unemployment issues, so no thanks there!

 

Singapore could be pretty decent. I'd say Hong Kong, but it's gone back to China, and that would be scary-dangerous for us for many reasons.

 

We could have problems ever even visiting the US again, too, depending on where we went. So we'd have to be careful.

 

Finland. Okay, it'd really be WAY too cold, like Canada, but still, Finland's kinda cool. Heck, if I'm going with cold places, Iceland would be pretty awesome, too.

 

Germany...well, there are several things about German society that still scares the pee out of me. Great people. Crazy culture.

Edited February 22, 2009 by Reya

[Laura Corin]

In England, you have to stand in line to get health care.

 

 

 

In the US, the rationing is by wealth; in the UK it is by need. FWIW, I get an appointment to see my doctor within a day or two.

 

Laura

[KJB]

They won't be able to. We don't have the right to bare arms. They'll have to settle for a fist fight instead :D

 

I wonder if you get arrested at gunpoint in the US if you don't pay your taxes. What a frightening thought :glare:

 

Tax evasion is how they put Al Capone behind bars.

 

Or, at the very least, they arrest your property and cash it in to pay the tax bill.

 

And, yep, when you're arrested, the police have guns. Rather or not they point them at you depends upon how compliant you are, I'd imagine. :D

[Reya]

In the US, the rationing is by wealth; in the UK it is by need. FWIW, I get an appointment to see my doctor within a day or two.

 

Laura

 

Not exactly. In the UK (and other places with socialized medicine--including in at least one US state!), people are routinely triaged. If your outcome looks too bad and the treatment's too expensive, you don't get the treatment. That's how costs are kept down. In the US, if the treatment is "proven," almost all insurance companies will cover it (or something supposedly interchangeable). That's regardless of cost==up to a VERY high lifetime benefit.

 

This would be as true for a janitor at my DH's company as it would for the CEO. How's that wealth?

 

But as a result, you have the world's best 5-year cancer and heart attack survival rates--and people who can afford it flying in from the "great" health care countries in Canada and Europe for the most dangerous procedures--and also the highest healthcare costs.

 

Sure, there are some other factors. (Malpratice insurance, healthcare profits, posh private rooms--seriously, someone from outside the US would not BELIEVE where I just gave birth--etc., etc. I'd take an uneducated guess that costs could be lowered by 10% by correcting those things.) But the bottom line is, if we want cheaper healthcare, someone's gonna die for it.

 

We all want to pretend that life is infinitely valuable, but it can't be. If we honestly took that approach, then we would grind the economy--any economy--to a halt. The US has, thus far, chosen a different set-point for the value of life than most other first-world countries. Which is better? I guess it depends on just how sick you are!

[cathmom]

This would be as true for a janitor at my DH's company as it would for the CEO. How's that wealth?

 

 

 

 

Because there's no way the janitor would have comparable insurance to the CEO, should he even be able to afford it.

 

But some people were trying to have a fun, interesting thread, and it's amazing how many other people keep trying to make it serious and argue.

 

Laura, I appreciated your thoughts about homeschooling in China. Of course homeschooling or not would definitely depend on how I felt about the schools. I can't see putting my dc in an Asian school, but I probably wouldn't ever live in a Asian country (I'm more of a European kind of gal!).

[Joan in GE]

for clarifications -

 

Switzerland - does allow homeschooling in certain cantons (I live here and am doing it), but more and more are moving to requiring a teaching certificate, and some do not allow it at all... frequently your children have to do tests in the language of the canton - German or French...abortions are legal to the 12th week, euthanasia is legal in many cantons, drugs could be a problem...

 

Chile - do they allow homeschooling?

 

original post was searching for -

 

Country that is not socialist (= socialized?) - but most countries with the same standard of living as the US are more socialized in one way or another, eg UK with National Health Care system.

 

so are you ready to have a lower standard of living?

 

If you don't want socialist - there is fascist eg Myanmar, but you probably wouldn't want that either...:)

 

Have you looked at a map of where most people are migrating? the majority are to the US, then Europe, then some of the poorer SE Asians move to the countries around them as foreign workers who are desperate to increase their standard of living...

 

I do love living here - stores are closed on Sundays and are not open 24/7 so there is much less consumerism, culturally and historically it is very interesting (diversity and long history), but we have a very good situation (ie live in a house)- 70% live in apartments - not enough land or money for individual houses...70% rent (we do too - houses are just too expensive to own)...it took a long time to adjust culturally (we've been here almost 18 years and the first 10 were hard)....

 

Best,

Joan

[Laura Corin]

 

This would be as true for a janitor at my DH's company as it would for the CEO. How's that wealth?

 

 

I was referring to the millions of uninsured in the US who don't get the kind of regular health care which prevents chronic illnesses. I was one of those.

 

The other side of the triage which certainly exists in the NHS is that in the UK there is no profit motive in making heroic attempts to keep people alive when the treatments themselves cause extreme distress. I have a friend who works in policy for the National Health Service and who helped set cancer guidelines for the system. There is an enormous gulf between the number of different kinds of treatment that will be applied consecutively to a UK patient vs. a US patient. The likelihood of a cure (at the time she did her research) after the second treatment had failed was extremely small. For a vast majority of people, the third, fourth and fifth kind of treatment just causes extra pain and distress to no good effect, at a time when they could be enjoying their last months with their families. Is the distress of so many worth the cure of one? From what I have seen in my family (one person saved to endure a miserable life by heroic medicine; one person allowed to die in peace) I know what I would choose.

 

Just so you know (as this is often misunderstood) there is no bar in the UK to buying extra services for cash if you want; most people don't because in general they accept the NHS guidelines. I'm always hearing people talk about Brits going to the US for treatment, but I've never actually met anyone who has done so. When I used a hospital in Thailand, however, the place was full of Americans having cheap treatment.

 

Laura

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

You could put someone's eye out.

 

 

*snort!*

 

:smilielol5:

 

:patriot:

[sleepy]

I'd go to Sweden in a heartbeat. Among all the pluses listed above, I don't have to repeat, and then spell my name for people there! :-)

 

Astrid. A. S. T. R. I. D.

 

:001_smile: Good point! I think I'd probably move to Ireland, where I could be Erin, not Erwin, or Aron, or whatever. Plus, Ireland's just a hop, skip, and a jump from Scotland. :D

[fivetails]

Fixed. :sneaky2:

 

No kidding! That house we just bought (moving day is Friday! Whoo hoo!), I hate to think of what it would cost if it were near Calgary.

 

Forget Calgary. People are paying 300K-400K up here for a trailer. Yes, a trailer. :ohmy:

 

(I'm *so* excited for you guys, btw! Moving day pics are mandatory, ya know. :D We move Sun, but not nearly as cool because it's just one rental to another LOL)

[Peek a Boo]

Uh uh, Sister. We've got gun laws. ;) I'm cracking up that anyone thinks we're socialists.

 

...and I'm cracking up that everyone is trying to deny what types of services are socialistic or not ;) Cuz even America has socialistic services, lol.

 

 

I can't think of a good reason to run from the country you love.

 

and THIS is where the thread seems to have taken a serious turn --Back to Ria's clarification..... the whole thing was about if we were FORCED to flee, like in the event of a huge disaster in which the land is literally uninhabitable, and as i mentioned, if that was the case, i think most countries would grant us asylum, easing a lot of those immigration requirements. :)

 

so for me, since there is no country as great as America [:insert mucho flag waving and eye-putting out:], I'd select my choice of country by weather [not frozen!] and geography [beautiful imnsho] and furthest from being ruled by dictatorial or communist practices. :D

[Murphy101]

I hate to even admit this, but the size of a country's spiders would have more to do with my ability to live there than whether or not I could homeschool.

 

Australia is out. Their spiders are enormous.

I wonder about Great Britain. I might be able to live there. Or Ireland.

 

me too. zero desire to visit anywhere that has spiders like that. (and a friend is always offerring the creepy comment that he wonders what those spiders are feeding on to get that big.*shudder*)

 

Texas.

 

:iagree: :lol: My dh is Texan and that's what he said too!

 

 

and THIS is where the thread seems to have taken a serious turn --Back to Ria's clarification..... the whole thing was about if we were FORCED to flee, like in the event of a huge disaster in which the land is literally uninhabitable, and as i mentioned, if that was the case, i think most countries would grant us asylum, easing a lot of those immigration requirements. :)

 

so for me, since there is no country as great as America [:insert mucho flag waving and eye-putting out:], I'd select my choice of country by weather [not frozen!] and geography [beautiful imnsho] and furthest from being ruled by dictatorial or communist practices. :D

 

:iagree: dh says Costa Rica. poor, but so pretty you don't care. I bet he'd care if he had 9 kids and a wife in tow though.;)

 

ETA I couldn't live anywhere I couldn't homeschool, practice my catholic faith, and own a gun (even though I don't currently own one).

[Jumping In Puddles]

Oh, dear, Mandarinmom, I must thank you for my last laugh of the night.:D

 

I see elsewhere you mentioned hating history in school and sleeping through history lectures. Word to the wise: Now's a good time to wake up.

 

:iagree: and :lol:

 

 

Also college education is free. And we get quite generous grants to study.:001_smile:

 

 

The weather is very much dependent on WHERE in the country you live. The south rarely get snow and the lows in the winter are about -1C

 

 

 

Nice. Now I find myself wanting to at least visit Sweden!

 

 

Many of the countries people listed as places they'd leave for have plenty of people who want to come to the US in spite of the economy or whatever list of problems we might have as a country.

 

 

 

I don't actually want to leave the US! Sheesh, I don't even want to leave NJ, I love it here. I loved it under GWB (and was frustrated) and I love it under BHO (and I am frustrated but hopeful) but this is my country! But, just for fun, in event of a catastrophe in the US that didn't effect anywhere else, I would pick Sweden, Switzerland, or maybe in a completely different direction: FIJI!

 

 

But some people were trying to have a fun, interesting thread, and it's amazing how many other people keep trying to make it serious and argue.

 

 

 

This is an interesting thread... I never would have even thought of Belize! Some interesting info about Switzerland too. Maybe if I moved to Switzerland I could absorb the mindset of order and being on time. :lol:

[Susie in CA]

*snort*

 

I've never come across the summer/winter one but I do constantly correct people regarding the Sweden/Switzerland thing:D

 

I mean I am sure Switzerland is a perfectly nice place but they are two different places.:001_smile:

 

 

 

That's funny! I always get the Austria/Australia confusion. I am from Austria and people will say: "Oh, I just love Sidney!" A friend visited Austria recently and braught me back a canvas bag that says: "No Kangaroos in Austria"

 

Susie

[Susie in CA]

I grew up with National Health Care. We never had problems seeing a doctor or getting treatment. My grandmother died of cancer 20 years ago. The treatments for her stopped because we, the family, decided to stop all treatments. The only thing we excepted were painmedicin. She took as much as SHE felt she needed. This had nothing to do with the system.

 

As for the believe that everyone will have the same type of health care when it is nationalized--well, that's not true! People will have the same basic care. People who have extra money, or do more planning and thinking, can and do buy additional, private insurance. This is done a lot in Austria. The so-called rich still get better care then the rest. Things are never equal.

 

I, actually, mean to say that natioanl health care is not a bad thing. It provides everyone with a minimum level of care including preventitive care. Those who want more can and do buy more.

 

Susie

[Susie in CA]

Leaving aside the fact that you're using an erroneous definition of "socialistic..."

 

It's hard for some people to wrap their brains around the concept of communal concern when you're coming from the US (and I did), but it isn't about being "forced" to pay for stuff. Americans pay wads of taxes -- and by your definition, that too is --- by force, because they will come after you with both barrels a'blazin' if you don't pay up.

 

In happy socialistic countries, people realise that what they pay comes back to benefit them and their community. It's a completely different mindset than the "what's in it for me" mindset of some Americans.

 

We say "so what if our tax money support XYZ service for others? Supporting others makes us all stronger, healthier and yes... happier."

 

Until you can understand that way of thinking, you'll never "get" why people are happy in "socialist" countries.

 

 

 

Well, I would argue the opposite to be true also. Their are many people who live in socialst countries who can never understand how you could be happy without it.

I left the socialist country and I am happier without it. The reasons, though, are not tangible. It is not money or health care or education that makes everyone happy. What you have in the US is a lot more freedom. And I mean in everything. This is hard to explain. It is freedom to work at anything and freedom to change the type of work you do. Freedom to work from home. Freedom to homeschool a.s.o. The thing is these things are not illigal in many socialist countries. It is, however, very difficult and sometimes impossible to break out of it. And if you do you are very quickly considered an outcast. There is a lot of indirect social pressure to conform. That's what I don't like about socialism. Of course, I refer to Germany and Austria primarly because these are the systems I am most familiar.

 

Susie

[Murphy101]

Haven't read the book, now I want to :) I would imagine he talks about our economy being based on primary resources instead of manufactured goods? It is still required to have a patron or enough money to live on for two years. You can't get welfare or Medicare until you've been here two years. Some jobs require applicants to be citizens or permanent residents, but they are mainly government jobs. All other jobs are open to anyone who is here legally, and if you look hard enough you'll find jobs if you're here illegally...

 

Rosie

 

hey as a large family, I wouldn't mind helping rebuild the population of some countries... like Italy, who has many schools that are closing because there are not enough children to attend.:(

 

they wohn't even have to build a school for us - we'll just home school.:)

[Storm Bay]

Not exactly. In the UK (and other places with socialized medicine--including in at least one US state!), people are routinely triaged. If your outcome looks too bad and the treatment's too expensive, you don't get the treatment. That's how costs are kept down. In the US, if the treatment is "proven," almost all insurance companies will cover it (or something supposedly interchangeable). That's regardless of cost==up to a VERY high lifetime benefit.

 

This would be as true for a janitor at my DH's company as it would for the CEO. How's that wealth?

 

But as a result, you have the world's best 5-year cancer and heart attack survival rates--and people who can afford it flying in from the "great" health care countries in Canada and Europe for the most dangerous procedures--and also the highest healthcare costs.

 

Sure, there are some other factors. (Malpratice insurance, healthcare profits, posh private rooms--seriously, someone from outside the US would not BELIEVE where I just gave birth--etc., etc. I'd take an uneducated guess that costs could be lowered by 10% by correcting those things.) But the bottom line is, if we want cheaper healthcare, someone's gonna die for it.

 

We all want to pretend that life is infinitely valuable, but it can't be. If we honestly took that approach, then we would grind the economy--any economy--to a halt. The US has, thus far, chosen a different set-point for the value of life than most other first-world countries. Which is better? I guess it depends on just how sick you are!

 

There is no perfect system. My dad has practised medicine in both countries.

 

But we're paying nearly $1400 for our HMO for all this benefit, and every year we get less and less for it. We have to go to the PCP we phone and tell them we have, and we cannot change that PCP without approval. In addtion, in this state, we're paying so that people can have expensive fertility treatments done (including in vitro). In this state, we now have to pay a stiff tax penalty if we don't buy insurance. The cheaper options (and there are many more expensive options) end up costing just as much with the higher deductables and out of pocket expenses. This means we cannot always afford to pay our copays. An insurance companies here do NOT pay for some treatments that other countries will pay for. Plus, those foreigners coming here have to pay out of pocket. If you pay out of pocket in Canada, you pay a fraction of what you would here. There are also some procedures people travel to Canada for because it's cheaper or better than here, etc. When I had my second dd, my OB/Gyn charged Abouty $1600, where as for the very same care in Canada he'd have been paid $400. And the care would have been just as good if the doctor were just as good (I have one of the best OB/Gyns out there--got in when he was new to the area or I'd have never got in). We compared tit for tat on this one.

 

It's true that there are problems in other countries, but this one is grossly overpriced, due in great part to malpractice suits gone wild. People have bribed their way into medical schools in the US because of the money you can make later. This doesn't happen nearly as much in some of these other countries you mentioned. Because of this, many unecessary tests are performed which also help raise insurance costs. There are many people in this country who do not get adequate care, so there are higher incidents of certain problems in the US than in some of the other countries you quote.

 

Medical care is one of those subjects that I see a great deal of misinformation on on both sides of the border. There is no perfect system, sad to say. Some of the best and some of the worst medical care is available in the US.

[Peek a Boo]

Medical care is one of those subjects that I see a great deal of misinformation on on both sides of the border. There is no perfect system, sad to say. Some of the best and some of the worst medical care is available in the US.

 

I agree. since I know I can't get "perfect" I prefer to go for "most ethical", and for me, that includes consideration of forcing other people to pay for services they don't need. Thus i come back to eliminating much of gvt-run social welfare and relying instead on private entities. People who still realize that community is important will be too happy to help fund the organizations or volunteer in some capacity.

 

But i do understand that socialistic methods do "work."

[dawn of ns]

Forget Calgary. People are paying 300K-400K up here for a trailer. Yes, a trailer. :ohmy:

 

(I'm *so* excited for you guys, btw! Moving day pics are mandatory, ya know. :D We move Sun, but not nearly as cool because it's just one rental to another LOL)

 

they'll be on my blog. As will the picture on Saturday when Harry first sees that new bed we got him. :D

[dawn of ns]

They won't be able to. We don't have the right to bare arms.

 

GASP!!!

 

No tank tops or t-shirts allowed? :D

[dawn of ns]

Oh, dear, Mandarinmom, I must thank you for my last laugh of the night.:D

 

I see elsewhere you mentioned hating history in school and sleeping through history lectures. Word to the wise: Now's a good time to wake up.

 

And it's Colleen for the win! :lol::lol::lol:

[Storm Bay]

I agree. since I know I can't get "perfect" I prefer to go for "most ethical", and for me, that includes consideration of forcing other people to pay for services they don't need. Thus i come back to eliminating much of gvt-run social welfare and relying instead on private entities. People who still realize that community is important will be too happy to help fund the organizations or volunteer in some capacity.

 

But i do understand that socialistic methods do "work."

 

And you know that I live in the States, right? That's where I have to pay all that and for all that.

[Crissy]

Yes, this can happen when you sleep through history lessons.

Oh, dear, Mandarinmom, I must thank you for my last laugh of the night.:D

 

I see elsewhere you mentioned hating history in school and sleeping through history lectures. Word to the wise: Now's a good time to wake up.

 

[Peek a Boo]

And you know that I live in the States, right? That's where I have to pay all that and for all that.

 

 

ayup :)

 

everyone has their own ideas/needs for what constitutes "good medical coverage."

 

malpractice insurance/tort reform is a biggie.

[Peek a Boo]

Oh, dear, Mandarinmom, I must thank you for my last laugh of the night.:D

 

I see elsewhere you mentioned hating history in school and sleeping through history lectures. Word to the wise: Now's a good time to wake up.

 

 

unfortunately there's a LOT of people worldwide griping about American Unilateralism that are still asleep too. Go figger ;)

[Strawberry Queen]

As far as medical care goes....I kind of like the Canadian system. No, it's not perfect. However, if I am in a car accident and am in ICU for a month, I don't lose my house. I don't have to pay to have a baby. The recent immigrant down the street working as a cabbie doesn't have to pay out of pocket to have surgery. People don't loose their home or go into huge amounts of debt because someone got sick and they didn't have insurance.

 

Yes, there are times when I have to wait for services, but it isn't usually a life and death issue. Those with serious health concerns are at the top of the list, and that's as it should be. IMHO.

 

Now, if you could change the weather then I'd be eternally grateful and would pick Canada as my favourite country. Anything with less than 4 months of winter would be ideal.:lol:

[Storm Bay]

As far as medical care goes....I kind of like the Canadian system. No, it's not perfect.

 

Lots of Canadians do! I liked it when I was there. I see the pros and cons of the 2 systems I'm familiar with. Of course, I only have experience with 2 provinces' insurances.

[fivetails]

Forget Calgary. People are paying 300K-400K up here for a trailer. Yes, a trailer. :ohmy:

 

(I'm *so* excited for you guys, btw! Moving day pics are mandatory, ya know. :D We move Sun, but not nearly as cool because it's just one rental to another LOL)

 

they'll be on my blog. As will the picture on Saturday when Harry first sees that new bed we got him. :D

 

He's gonna flip! :hurray:

[Rosie_0801]

That's funny! I always get the Austria/Australia confusion. I am from Austria and people will say: "Oh, I just love Sidney!" A friend visited Austria recently and braught me back a canvas bag that says: "No Kangaroos in Austria"

Susie

 

I believe you. It's spelled "Sydney" so you are obviously not an Aussie. ;) We get the same thing. You'd think people would get the difference between a German speaking country in Europe and an English speaking mob in the Southern Hemisphere...

 

Australia is rather too enamored of Britain....

 

You rekon? Why do you think that? Because we voted against becoming a republic? Two reasons for that. First, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Secondly, the PM worded the referendum in such a way as to discourage people from agreeing to it. Clever, huh?

 

:)

Rosie

Edited February 22, 2009 by Rosie_0801

[pqr]

Because we voted against becoming a republic? Two reasons for that, first, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Secondly, the PM worded the referendum in such a way as to discourage people from agreeing to it.

 

I had always hoped it was because people were still loyal to the Queen.

[Holly IN]

It was just a question..If you had to leave, where would you go? Like, if aliens invaded and demanded all humans follow a strict diet of siamese cat and banana peels, would you do it?

 

Sheesh.

 

No we wouldn't leave. We are staying put!

Holly

[keptwoman]

GASP!!!

 

No tank tops or t-shirts allowed? :D

ROFL! I noticed that after I'd submitted it and was too lazy to edit.

 

I had always hoped it was because people were still loyal to the Queen.

I'd like to think so too, being a bit of a Royalist at heart. But I'd say sadly not. Well perhaps to the QUEEN but not the concept of Royalty being the ultimate head of Australia as a whole. Australia will become a republic eventually, but it won't happen until after the Queen has been replaced by her son or grandson.

[Liz CA]

For your purposes, let's pretend that there has been a horrific nuclear accident which precludes anyone from living in the US. That will avoid the political issues which could be an issue in this thread.

 

Given that scenario, I'd probably go to Australia.

 

Ria

 

Same here. English-speaking country (some people will say that is debatable :)), still got some room left (unlike most corners of Europe). The only real difference would be the "Southern Hemisphere" thing where you celebrate Christmas in a 100 degree weather. That would truly be strange for me - but one could get used to it, I am sure.

[Rosie_0801]

I had always hoped it was because people were still loyal to the Queen.

 

Well, she scored a mention in my guide promise, so I still have a bit of loyalty via that.

 

Rosie

[Lovedtodeath]

Darling, SWEDEN and SWITZERLAND are different countries!!!

 

 

:lol::lol::lol:

 

Okay, well Sweden does not allow homeschooling!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, I just got this smiley and couldn't resist!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2009 by Lovedtodeath

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

Okay, well Sweden does not allow homeschooling!!!

 

 

 

Oooh, that was a bad bad smiley! I might even call it a frowney. :-)

 

And I think Sweden actually does allow home schooling. But I might be wrong. If I am, please don't give me a smiley, 'k? I promise to be good from now on.

[Lovedtodeath]

 

Homeschooling isn't illegal in Switzerland.

 

I meant Sweden. It was a wierd typo. :D

 

I emailed a friend of mine in Sweden to ask about...

Edited February 23, 2009 by Lovedtodeath

[Lovedtodeath]

Cathmom had a good point that many other countries have shorter school days and/or better school systems so some of us might revisit our decision.

 

Oh, and I had actually thought about Qatar...

 

Oooh, that was a bad bad smiley! I might even call it a frowney. :-)

 

And I think Sweden actually does allow home schooling. But I might be wrong. If I am, please don't give me a smiley, 'k? I promise to be good from now on.

 

Couldn't resist!

 

LOL! I love Cathmom to death. I wouldn't dare use that smiley as a response to someone that is maybe... more neutral on my friends list. KWIM??

Edited February 23, 2009 by Lovedtodeath

[Lovedtodeath]

Many of the countries people listed as places they'd leave for have plenty of people who want to come to the US in spite of the economy or whatever list of problems we might have as a country.

 

That is why I really didn't know what to pick. I mean, Peru seems lovely, but why do I have so many friends who prefer to live here instead?

[keptwoman]

That is why I really didn't know what to pick. I mean, Peru seems lovely, but why do I have so many friends who prefer to live here instead?

Because we each value different things about the places we live.

Which is lucky really because if we all wanted the same thing we would all be aiming to pile into one country. :lol:

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

LOL! I love Cathmom to death. I wouldn't dare use that smiley as a response to someone that is maybe... more neutral on my friends list. KWIM??

 

Yep! I know exactly what you mean. LOL

[Rosie_0801]

Same here. English-speaking country (some people will say that is debatable :)),

 

Watch it girlie!

 

The only real difference would be the "Southern Hemisphere" thing where you celebrate Christmas in a 100 degree weather. That would truly be strange for me - but one could get used to it, I am sure.

It's only 100 some years. Other times it's only 12C.

 

Because we each value different things about the places we live.

Which is lucky really because if we all wanted the same thing we would all be aiming to pile into one country. :lol:

 

A little video clip just jumped into my head of a pack of "hivers" screaming "STACKS ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN" and charging towards Keptwoman.

 

I'm going back to my amazon.com arrival now...

:)

Rosie