Seriously, you sound depressed.

You’re comments aren’t realistic. You’re stats are overblown (did you get them from the media who’s known for that?) As a Jew there’s only two places I’d like to live in the world – and this one is very safe. I can’t say that for so many other places. There’s a reason so many people apply to come here every year. So maybe with those anti-depressants discovered in this country, you’ll be happier know why.

I have lived in all the places that originally started this discussion. I feel safer and more personally free in all of these places then in the US. I wouldn’t have said that 10 or 15 years ago. That America killed 3.4 million Vietnamese, burning the skin off of their children with Napalm for no reason, could be deluded by George Bush and the corporately controlled media companies into killing 600,000 Iraqis a generation later is more stupidity then I can handle in a country.

I live in Asia now and moving my investments into the Pacific Rim countries especially China and Australia as quickly as possible. I’ve given up on America. And just as we were all stunned to watch the seemingly overnight collapse of the Soviet Empire, I’m certain the US is not far behind.

Thai women, Brazilian Ayuawasca, Australian interest rates and Chinese RMB. That gentleman is the future (or the present….get out while you can!).

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I agree, but the guy’s too far gone to be worth engaging.

In re: water, very intersting observation. I can’t say I know too much about China or India’s water situation, save to say that their rivers look filthy and smell like raw sewage.

How’s desalinization technology coming along?

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Dude, I say offer him free legal assistance to make sure his passport is up to date, get him a visa to his country of choice, we will all chip in on a one way ticket (economy – he will learn to live without luxury and may as well start now), and then form an internet betting pool to see how long he lasts before he comes crawling back. I’m no patriot, and recognize more flaws with what we have than most people, but this guy is not engaging in a dialogue – he is teaching diatribe, which is equally as dangerous as the first three (out of four) problems he identifies, combined.

Btw: further to our discussion this morning, I think an important limiting force on India and China in the next 20 years will be fresh water. They are running out. Brazil has lots of that. Fresh water will be the oil of the next 50 years.

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Wow.

I think I’ll let Bob have the last word on that, thanks.

—–Original Message—–

To my surprise, we’re both wrong. The United States is the world’s most
heavily-armed nation.
See
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL2834893820070828?feedType=RS
S&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true .

On the other hand, there’s a significant skew here. While in Israel
every able-bodied citizen must own a firearm, and in Switzerland the
same is true for every able-bodied male, in the U.S. you get situations
where one person owns a dozen firearms (I own 9), which skews the
average. I’d still think that both Israel and Switzerland have a
broader distribution of firearms, even if the per capita numbers are
lower.

—–Original Message—–

I think I am right about Switzerland being the most heavily armed
citizenry. Wikipedia? Surely, a bunch of Nazis fled to Argentina as
well as Brazil. I think Brazil may in fact be the 800 lb gorilla
lurking in the wings of the world economy, if it ever awakens. Huge
natural resources with only a moderately sized population. In contrast
to India and China.

—–Original Message—–

Switzerland: maybe, but I think not. I’d probably take the Israelis
first.

Brazil: interesting point, and you’re not the first person I’ve heard
make that comment (though I more commonly have heard that the Nazis fled
to Argentina than Brazil). I have to say, though, that I saw absolutely
no German influence–in food, women, or (understatement)
efficiency–during my 3 weeks in Rio, Bahia de Salvador, and environs.
That’s not to say it isn’t there–Brazil’s a big country–but it was
curiously absent from the places I visited.

By contrast, Suriname and Guyana are crawling with blonde-haired,
blue-eyed, inbred Mennonites.

————————–

Switzerland = most heavily armed citizenry in the world.

Brazil = so heavily Catholic it is frightening and repressed, its
outward-appearing rollicking reputation notwithstanding. There is a
reason the Nazis fled there after WWII.

Singapore – well-run police state. If Bob’s worried about “urine tests and wiretaps” in America, he’s gonna love living in a place where you can be caned for chewing gum and executed for smoking pot.

Switzerland – pretty country and reasonably well-run, with a strong currency and tolerable political freedoms. Still a relatively socialist place, with a massive welfare infrastructure, but I’d agree that it’s a decent alternative. Except that you can’t move there. Switzerland has one of the world’s most restrictive immigration laws, and these laws differ by Canton (read: state). In many Cantons, you actually need to be voted in by a majority of the citizenry. I know that sounds absurd, but I dated a Swiss girl for about a year and spent a lot of time in Zurich and elsewhere. So far as I know, that’s a true statement. Also, it’s cold and crappy in the wintertime. But then again, so is Chicago.

Ireland and New Zealand – good tax structures, good English skills, but really client states and backwaters, albeit pleasant ones. Bob’s not gonna get rich, but if he can find the right babe to marry these also are legitimate options. I don’t think either are anywhere near preferable to the United States, but de gustibus . . . .

Brazil – I don’t know anything about Bob other than his name. But I am nevertheless quite confident that Bob has never been to Brazil. Brazil’s good fun. The women are spectacular. The weather’s pretty good most of the time. But every legitimate city is surrounded by a warren of illegal homes that have, over the last 50 years, become entire self-governing (read: anarchic) illegal cities (called favelas). Brazil is still basically a hectic Third World country. Great place to go if you’ve just killed your wife; not so hot if you’re looking for freedom and democracy.

Thailand – If you’re into transvestite hookers, great. Thailand’s disgusting, poorly governed (you know they still have a king, right?), prone to military adventurism, and full of Third World tropical diseases. Nor is it particularly free.

The idea that Bob would consider both Singapore and Thailand preferable alternatives to the United States is pretty silly, in the final analysis.

thanks