What country outside the US is the most promising for the average working man?

Funny, I'm the opposite. I hate the cold like poison! My list for retirement eliminated any country (or part of a country) with a real winter. That's not to say 120 degrees in the outback is pleasant, either.

 

Going to Eurpe hunting a job is about as sensible as going to Antartica. Their unemployement rate is even higher than ours. Without knowing what your skill set is I count make recomendation about where you should go for work beyond that.

 

It's 11 degrees C here in Sydney tonight. You should feel right at home.

 

Ireland's climate is the sort of thing I prefer.

I'd move there if the economy was better.

 

Since I am moving post-retirement the overall economic picture is less of a concern. Stability is good, of course. I don't need coups or anything. But the job picture and GDP growth, etc. don't really factor in. Hell, I prefer a lower per capita GDP because that correlates to a lower cost of living.

 

Corporate mentality? I really don't know. Most of the people I deal with work outside the corporate circles or for small businesses. I really don't know much about how people in corporations are treated. I've made a few friends, but none who work for corporations. They do outsource some, but the government makes that a little less cost effective to do so than it is in the US. Raising a child? Either seems fine. The environment here is pretty similar to what I'm used to.

Overall it is a pretty good place to live. Still, I doubt I'd retire out here. I just miss some things about the US.

Oh, in later posts you talk about Walmart. There is no Walmart here. Walmart opened a few stores, but they failed. They all closed and were replaced by "Real", which is exactly like a Walmart - same types of items, similar prices, same sources - they are just German owned.

 

Myself, I want to strive to work real hard, to go as far as I can, while at the same time, I want to try to be in a situation, where I live well, even if I don't make it real far. That's why the American Conservative model is BS, it's like everything has to be ALL OR NOTHING. People in Europe also strive for higher position and higher performance, while at the same time, not making life crap for those that either don't try or don't get as far. It's a matter of balance.

 

Would you characterize Australia as "ant-corporate"? How does corporate money influence your political system? Is it "money rules" kind of atmosphere, or is it geared more towards the needs of the populous?

 

So basically you do aim for mediocrity. If not even for yourself, at least for the people around you. Freedom to suck and still be taken care of, essentially.

It might be uncomfortable to admit this, but that "BS American Conservative model" you dislike so much is exactly what causes America to produce all of these brilliant success stories that change individual lives and ultimately the world as well. If you want to make life comfortable for the average person with no drive or work ethic, you're going to sacrifice the greatness of the truly devoted that has made America so cutting edge.

You say that people in Europe also strive for higher position and higher performance while not making life crap for everyone else, but if you'll notice, Europe doesn't produce nearly the same number of rags to riches success stories as America. Social mobility might be higher in general, but there is a cap on how high you can typically go. Whereas in America, the sky is the limit. This is why I happen to like the all-or-nothing paradigm. Because it doesn't put an arbitrary cap on success.

Personally, I would actually rather see people who are enamored with mediocrity simply move to a country that champions mediocrity and let the American system work for the rest of us who would rather thrive and fail by our own hand. I find strength to be a much greater virtue the comfort. Comfort is the enemy of greatness.

 

I just want a job that will pay the bills and leave me with the free time to actually enjoy life. You only live once and it sucks to have to work your ass off all the time just to pay the rent.

 

'spose you have a point as last summer was the hottest on record. I guess I'm basing my opinion on where I'm from, the SE Coast. We do get the odd very hot day in summer, 35-40 degC is the max in summer, 25-30 degC the average. Winter most days around 12-16 degC , 18 degC is common.

 

Don't leave, we need you here!

I've heard good things about Germany and the Scandinavian countries.

 

of course it's true. in exchange you are chained to the tyranny of the state, but that shouldn't be any problem for you. that's what you've been advocating all along. i'm sure you'll love any of the several other alternatives as well. handing over half your earnings to the state (for the common good?) seems right up your alley and anyplace that embraces universal mediocrity seems a perfect match for your philosophy.

the problem is, you're never going to get away from greed. it's always right there, staring you in the face every time you look into another man's eyes or into the mirror. the state is always going to try to overreach and the little guy is always going to get screwed. since you obviously aren't willing to put in the effort to advance in a relatively free system, perhaps it is better that you seek out a place where mediocrity is given free rein. you may never attain any sort of individual success, but at least you will have one less thing to complain about.

 

this is a steaming pile of predigested tripe. i may not be the average conservative, but i am a capitalist of the highest order. i'm a firm believer in the black and grey markets, as these are the only parts of our economy not ruined the the overreaching of state regulation. when my chosen field was decimated by governmental interference and a pitiful lack of immigration enforcement, i gleefully joined in the freedom of america's booming underground economy and i've never looked back.

american liberal rhetoric may love to rake conservatism over the coals and label it as cut-throat and uncaring, but only a fool or someone woefully ignorant of reality believes this load of garbage. there is room for every level of ambition in the conservative philosophy. all that is required is that you only expect to be compensated according to that ambition and your ability to implement it. this is the underlying thread that runs throughout every faction of conservatism. if you act like a drone, expect to be treated like a drone. if you are willing to put in the extra effort, there is the possibility of outstanding success. what is not to be expected is an overreaching state waiting to pick you up whenever you fall. this is the responsibility of family, community and charity. nowhere in this is the all or nothing philosophy you seem to think is ruining lives.

 

They are all true. Go, be there.

 

Simple concept. Imagine that? The corporate fat cats hate that kind of simplicity. It cuts down on their profit if you don't surrender 24/7 for just enough pay to barely survive and make MORE money for them .

 

First off, how willing are you to learn another language?

If you're looking for a 'well-compensated' with little corporate presence, you might be out of luck. It sounds like you might have been blinded by the media or other propaganda. Corporations are just businesses owned by a group of people, as opposed to being owned by one person. They, like people, are as likely to be good or bad. Take for example Google and Microsoft, both of which are very good to their employees, enviro-friendly, and charitable.

If you're looking for a country that's really good to it's workers, I'd suggest trying Finland. Like most countries that come close to fitting your description, the median wage in Finland is about half that of the US, and so you're likely to be paid less than you will here, but Finland also has a lot of subsistence programs. From my understanding, everyone (from Mitt Romney to you) would get an amount of government support that isn't based on need, and is intended to ensure everyone can have a subsistence living. They also have a generous unemployment program, and they support artists. If you decide that you want to start writing, you can apply for a grant and they'll support you as an artist for a year.

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???? If you don't want to work overtime, I'm not aware of any corporation that will fire you for it. They just won't pay you as much. Imagine that? An employer that pays you based on your contribution.

 

After what the corporate conglomerates and the Mitt Romneys of this country have done to it, I'm entertaining anything not as morally contemptible as Rome 2.0 .

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Well, you apparently haven't have much exposure to any of the corporate "do more for less" wave of mandatory OT.

 

I'd rather have the bird in the hand over 2 in the bush, so I have no problem with the VAST MAJORITY having it good, even if it means a MINUTE MINORITY won't go from "rags to riches" as often.

 

No, you are full of shyt! Nobody said freedom to SUCK. If you SUCK pyss on you, live under a bridge and die! It's more like FREEDOM TO NOT HAVE TO BE EXCEPTIONAL to have a good life. Like you prefer living good to be rare, like hitting the lotto, that's the BS that I oppose.

 

I said I want to "work real hard" and "strive to go as far as I can"....how is that "aiming for mediocrity"?

 

Yeah, overall, I hear Melbourne has a more pleasant climate than Sydney.

 

Nah,, much colder. Many people believe Melbourne is wetter than Sydney, because it just appears to rain more. Sydney has a higher yearly rainfall but much longer dry periods. Makes sense? Sydney gets its annual rainfall in dumps. You can get a month's rain in a few days.

Where Melbourne trumps Sydney is the food (although food in Sydney is very good). A lot to do with Melbourne being very cosmopolitan.

 

Ah, but you have to remember I like places like Seattle and Ireland.

Cloudy and cool is what I prefer. Although cold and dry works too.

 

New Zealand I would say is the closest to that and the one I would move to if there wasnt a global agenda by the NWO.,they are the closest to representing everything that our country was suppose to be that our forefathers envisioned but is not.