would you if you could, move to the US
Jul 22nd, 2008 | 08:35 PM
#264
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,922
Likes: 0
stokebailey, I haven't seen the Australian gun deaths figures lately, sorry. I suspect it hasn't made a great deal of difference for the following reasons:
* I think the figures had been trending down for some time anyway;
* gun ownership wasn't all that high to begin with - hunting is very much a minority activity and we've never had any equivalent of the 2nd Amendment (or any agitation to enact such a right);
* we've never had the easy availability of firearms you find in US;
* most gun deaths were and are the result of accidents and suicide, mainly in rural areas where farmers have a legitimate right to own a gun. Depression, incidentally, is disproportionately high in rural areas.
While the gun amnesty/buyback tooka lot of conventional firearms out of circulation, I think the major effect of the tightened gun laws was to crack down on the more lethal weapons, especially semi-automatics. That was the weapon used in the infamous Port Arthur Massacre in Tasmania which created the public pressure that caused federal and state governments to act.
Criminals of course will always find a gun if they want one. That's life.
* I think the figures had been trending down for some time anyway;
* gun ownership wasn't all that high to begin with - hunting is very much a minority activity and we've never had any equivalent of the 2nd Amendment (or any agitation to enact such a right);
* we've never had the easy availability of firearms you find in US;
* most gun deaths were and are the result of accidents and suicide, mainly in rural areas where farmers have a legitimate right to own a gun. Depression, incidentally, is disproportionately high in rural areas.
While the gun amnesty/buyback tooka lot of conventional firearms out of circulation, I think the major effect of the tightened gun laws was to crack down on the more lethal weapons, especially semi-automatics. That was the weapon used in the infamous Port Arthur Massacre in Tasmania which created the public pressure that caused federal and state governments to act.
Criminals of course will always find a gun if they want one. That's life.
Jul 22nd, 2008 | 10:56 PM
#265
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
As a society, or even as a couple, we don't always agree on the best places to live. You might prefer the desert or maybe the mountains; your spouse or partner might like the ocean. Everybody has one's own heart's desire to follow. Where is yours?
One of the nicest aspects of living in the United States, for those of us who live here, is the fact we can choose from a huge variety of climates and lifestyles, and we will still live in America.
When looking for the best place to live, whether you're retiring, going to school or looking for a fresh start, it's a good idea to look at a variety of components that go into creating that ideal place - just for you. In choosing a place to live you need to decide which steps are a priority in making your decision... I would only hope that you base your decision on a variety of factors and not solely on what you've heard in pubs, read in magazines or saw and heard on television.
I tell my children to never live in the hometown I grew up in for various reasons, but truthfully, it's not that bad. I just don't want them to live there and be small-town minded like most of the population who resides there and never leaves. I want them to grow and experience so much more. I would hope that they base their decision of where to live later in life on on their own research and not solely what I have been saying all along.
Gun control, health care, religion and politics aside, ask yourself this; What criteria is most important to you? Big or Small Town, Ideal Weather, Cultivating Culture, Educational Opportunities, Single- Family-Retired Communities, Recreation, Geography, Community and Politics, Faith-based Preferences, Taxes and Mortgage Calculations, and more.
In an ideal world, I want a good school, great parks and trails for walking/bicycling, farmers markets, seasonal weather, small commute with good paying job, and an affordable living (modest size home/yard with low payment)... Oh, I already have that. Thank goodness for Northern California. Life is good and I love living here. At the same time, I could just as easily live a similar life in Europe (afforable living might be an issue). The point I am making is that if I could live a similar life in Europe OR America, why bash one country or the other?
Going back to the OP, I would live in America for longer showers, seasonal weather, cheaper clothing and shoes, opportunities to own land, endless travel opportunities (geography), and endless fruits and vegetables. I would also live in Europe for architecture, seasonal weather, educational opportunties (for us it would be full-immersion programs), and further cultural experiences. In a PERFECT world, I would own a home in both the US and Europe. My biggest debate would not be gun control vs. religion... it would be which city vs. which town? And that goes for both continents.
One of the nicest aspects of living in the United States, for those of us who live here, is the fact we can choose from a huge variety of climates and lifestyles, and we will still live in America.
When looking for the best place to live, whether you're retiring, going to school or looking for a fresh start, it's a good idea to look at a variety of components that go into creating that ideal place - just for you. In choosing a place to live you need to decide which steps are a priority in making your decision... I would only hope that you base your decision on a variety of factors and not solely on what you've heard in pubs, read in magazines or saw and heard on television.
I tell my children to never live in the hometown I grew up in for various reasons, but truthfully, it's not that bad. I just don't want them to live there and be small-town minded like most of the population who resides there and never leaves. I want them to grow and experience so much more. I would hope that they base their decision of where to live later in life on on their own research and not solely what I have been saying all along.
Gun control, health care, religion and politics aside, ask yourself this; What criteria is most important to you? Big or Small Town, Ideal Weather, Cultivating Culture, Educational Opportunities, Single- Family-Retired Communities, Recreation, Geography, Community and Politics, Faith-based Preferences, Taxes and Mortgage Calculations, and more.
In an ideal world, I want a good school, great parks and trails for walking/bicycling, farmers markets, seasonal weather, small commute with good paying job, and an affordable living (modest size home/yard with low payment)... Oh, I already have that. Thank goodness for Northern California. Life is good and I love living here. At the same time, I could just as easily live a similar life in Europe (afforable living might be an issue). The point I am making is that if I could live a similar life in Europe OR America, why bash one country or the other?
Going back to the OP, I would live in America for longer showers, seasonal weather, cheaper clothing and shoes, opportunities to own land, endless travel opportunities (geography), and endless fruits and vegetables. I would also live in Europe for architecture, seasonal weather, educational opportunties (for us it would be full-immersion programs), and further cultural experiences. In a PERFECT world, I would own a home in both the US and Europe. My biggest debate would not be gun control vs. religion... it would be which city vs. which town? And that goes for both continents.
Jul 23rd, 2008 | 03:26 AM
#267
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Oh this is so easy
As a kid- USA ALLL the way, kids have it made here
As a young Professional- A major European City like Paris or St Petersburg
To raise a family- Europe cant touch the life of a high quality Suburb
Retired- This is a toss up, so get something near your kids and travel
As a kid- USA ALLL the way, kids have it made here
As a young Professional- A major European City like Paris or St Petersburg
To raise a family- Europe cant touch the life of a high quality Suburb
Retired- This is a toss up, so get something near your kids and travel
Jul 23rd, 2008 | 05:00 AM
#269
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Altamiro
I couldnt afford a 'quality' suburb in Europe. I think the thing that Europeans hate most about Americans is that the simplest Americans can have so much.
I live far better than my counterparts there. Lucky for me, I was able to spend much of my younger years there.
I couldnt afford a 'quality' suburb in Europe. I think the thing that Europeans hate most about Americans is that the simplest Americans can have so much.
I live far better than my counterparts there. Lucky for me, I was able to spend much of my younger years there.
Jul 23rd, 2008 | 05:08 AM
#270
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 0
I would have rather shot myself (with an unfortunately not so easy to obtain gun) than having to spend my childhood days in Wisteria Lane, instead in that village with pop. 130 where I grew up.
I seriously doubt that suburbia is THE dream come true for everyone.
But, fortunately, tastes differ a lot. Otherwise we would all be fighting to live in the same spot.
I seriously doubt that suburbia is THE dream come true for everyone.
But, fortunately, tastes differ a lot. Otherwise we would all be fighting to live in the same spot.
Jul 23rd, 2008 | 08:55 AM
#272
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24,040
Likes: 6
I am so jealous of those super jumbo refrigerators and super jumbo washing machines and super jumbo wine glasses and super jumbo cars and super jumbo houses for 2 people and so many other things. Of course, I understand that Americans sort of need super jumbo sized things, or they won't fit in them.
Jul 23rd, 2008 | 09:29 AM
#274
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 16,297
Likes: 0
it is surly easier , cheper and more Americans have it - that is guns (rather than health insyrance).
You might try spell-check...
How kind of you...( must be an English teacher)...
it was posted by my brother in law
from Amsterdam
English is only his fifth language. He was right anyway...
You might try spell-check...
How kind of you...( must be an English teacher)...
it was posted by my brother in law
from Amsterdam
English is only his fifth language. He was right anyway...
Jul 23rd, 2008 | 01:22 PM
#276
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
alta,
3hour commute? did I say that? 12 minute commute to work, less to the private golf/pool and tennis club. I drop the kids off at the club for golf lessons, then they have lunch and off to tennis. I pick them up after work. Ballet, Soccer and Gym on the other days of the week. After that its off to a 5000 sg ft house w/no guns or crime. What would that cost in Europe?
Please
Dont start with me. Europe has plenty to offer, dont taint it with envy.
3hour commute? did I say that? 12 minute commute to work, less to the private golf/pool and tennis club. I drop the kids off at the club for golf lessons, then they have lunch and off to tennis. I pick them up after work. Ballet, Soccer and Gym on the other days of the week. After that its off to a 5000 sg ft house w/no guns or crime. What would that cost in Europe?
Please
Dont start with me. Europe has plenty to offer, dont taint it with envy.
Jul 23rd, 2008 | 01:35 PM
#278
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 0
<i>After that its off to a 5000 sg ft house w/no guns or crime. What would that cost in Europe?</i>
A lot in some places. Very little in other places.
Europe is neither one place nor has one level of costs of living or standards of living.
A lot in some places. Very little in other places.
Europe is neither one place nor has one level of costs of living or standards of living.
Jul 23rd, 2008 | 01:59 PM
#279
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 0
Regarding crime here in the US. Indeed, in some of the major cities, it has been a problem for years. If leaders have the political will, cities can be cleaned up, NYC is just such an example. But it seems that some European cities are being overun by criminals and hooligans. Just this past month, almost 600 hundred cars were burned in Paris and surrounding areas, police forces seem unable to cope or understaffed - I don't know which. Such an event, would cause outrage in NYC. Are the citizens of Paris furious and demanding that their property be protected? The rate of rapes in Oslo was 6 times that of NYC 2 years ago. Police forces seem outmatched. Knife crimes in the UK are at astounding levels. Why aren't the citizens demanding that the government protect them? Perhaps here we have less tolerance for criminals (hence high prison rate) and more agressive police forces. In my opinion, too much emphasis in reporting "thought" crimes and enforcing "politically correct" behavior and not enough efffort or will in arresting criminals.
