Looking to relocate. But to where?

[tortoise]

So first off, Sweden most certainly has universal health care with a SEK 200 (appx $25 USD) co-pay which is funded by taxes. So yes higher taxes offset your healthcare expense. And while I'm sure you can pull up horror stories about having to wait for a surgery, we can come up with 100 identical stories with people on U.S. health insurance so it is an apples to apples comparison.

Second, the false narrative about Malmö turning into some kind of Muslim hell-hole is exactly that, false by any measure. For example, the murder rate in Malmö, which is the worst in any Nordic city, was 3.4 per 100,000 residents. That's lower than THE ENTIRE US murder rate of 4.9 per 100,000 residents, and lower than the vast majority of U.S. cities. And crime rates in Malmö are little changed from years past. I'd recommend you read this article by National Review (a right leaning publication, just to be clear) in order to see how you've been led astray by the infowars/breitbart/fox crowd (http://www.nationalreview.com/artic...e-rates-statistics-immigration-trump-fox-news) It's also worth noting that the Swedish Democrats are pushing this crime wave narrative for political points as well, and I'd guess what you're hearing from your relatives is colored by this.

Regardless, Sweden is by no means "self destructing" by any stretch of the imagination. A little less hyperbole and a few more facts along with an open mind are always good. And yes, I did spend time in Malmö and found it to be an imminently safe, nice place that I'd have no qualms about moving to with my family. I gather you haven't been to Malmö?

Yes I was there eight months ago for the first time in 20 years.

Look, I mean no disrespect but the trajectory of the krone over the past 10 years speaks volumes about the problems facing the Swedish economy. It’s also taken on a huge financial burden with its migrant policy.

Setting all that aside, it’s also terrifyingly expensive. Not in rural Smoland, perhaps. But in Stockholm, Gothenberg, I find the housing prices surreal, especially when one considers how peripheral they are in the global economy.

For that money, I’ll take London or Switzerland.

 

[Sprout]

How long have you lived in Latin America? Why do you think US policy is unpopular with Latins?

The convergence of war on drugs, Nafta and cheap big-ag corn - destroyed biogenetic diversity and livihoods that depended on it.

 

[Sig]

Yes I was there eight months ago for the first time in 20 years.

Look, I mean no disrespect but the trajectory of the krone over the past 10 years speaks volumes about the problems facing the Swedish economy. It’s also taken on a huge financial burden with its migrant policy.

Setting all that aside, it’s also terrifyingly expensive. Not in rural Smoland, perhaps. But in Stockholm, Gothenberg, I find the housing prices surreal, especially when one considers how peripheral they are in the global economy.

For that money, I’ll take London or Switzerland.

It is expensive, for sure. However a lot of what you pay for in the U.S. is part of that expense, so it's not as bad as you'd first think. It is a hard place to get rich but an easy place to have a high quality of life, so it may well be a poor fit for our self-selected group here on ET. That said, the krone was 9/$ when I was there in 2009, and 8/$ when I was there this summer, so while the krone/$ exchange rate isn't exactly the best indicator of a country's economy, even if it was that would indicate the economy is stronger now than a decade ago. The Swedish economy is big enough that migrant's aren't actually coming anywhere close to tanking it, again that's a Breitbart/Swedish Democrats meme that doesn't comport with the actual numbers. I'd agree with Pekelo that the dark sucks, having lived in Alaska as well I'm not fond of that. And if you don't like cold it's not for you.

 

[beerntrading]

Just a thought on this thread, but why would someone try to correct or inform the reactionary Americans who are xenophobic, uncultured, and ignorant?

I mean, do you want to change their opinions so they move nearer you?

Leave them to live in the hate belt. Enjoy the rest of the world and the rest of America (which is downright charming).

 

[d08]

Anyway, you will find Europe to not care for gringos either. At least Latinos are more polite. Yes, we are the ugly Americans, at times. But i suspect we have done a few good things in the world.........

Americans I've encountered in Europe are fairly content and don't feel mistreated in any way. Then again, these are intelligent guys with interesting personalities. If you're insecure and sensitive about your country, don't bother going.

 

[Sig]

Just a thought on this thread, but why would someone try to correct or inform the reactionary Americans who are xenophobic, uncultured, and ignorant?

I mean, do you want to change their opinions so they move nearer you?

Leave them to live in the hate belt. Enjoy the rest of the world and the rest of America (which is downright charming).

Point taken!

 

[tortoise]

Just a thought on this thread, but why would someone try to correct or inform the reactionary Americans who are xenophobic, uncultured, and ignorant?

I mean, do you want to change their opinions so they move nearer you?

Leave them to live in the hate belt. Enjoy the rest of the world and the rest of America (which is downright charming).

I think information is good. I have no idea who is “xenophobic, uncultured, and ignorant” on this thread, but I like to assume the best about everyone and proceed on that basis.

 

[digitalnomad]

Point taken!

Taken where?

 

[beerntrading]

I think information is good. I have no idea who is “xenophobic, uncultured, and ignorant” on this thread, but I like to assume the best about everyone and proceed on that basis.

We reading the same thread?

I like to assume the best too, but my assumptions are fragile and shatter with evidence to the contrary.

 

[tortoise]

We reading the same thread?

I like to assume the best too, but my assumptions are fragile and shatter with evidence to the contrary.

Well in that case those of us who are open to learning benefit from hearing the voices of reason.