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23.01.2011, 17:04
| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | I agree with the OP. Europe is just an improved version of the US. No racism. | | | | | Huh? that's a joke right?
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24.01.2011, 13:37
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| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... Note: I read the first two pages of posts and last two so may have missed a lot.
I am an American, and can understand your feelings, but also think you may be looking at the glass half empty (and a few other euphemisms I can think of). Yes, Switzerland has among the highest quality of life rankings in the world. Yes, Switzerland is very safe and clean. Yes, it is beautiful.
But:
It is super-expensive. Racism definitely exists here...and sexism: it is a male-dominated world. Food, although higher quality, is proportionally very expensive. Life here is also more challenging, and in many ways, harder because everything runs on a schedule. We have four kids and I can tell you that our schedules are exhausting and the money it takes to survive each month is more than my wife and I made each year (combined) when we got married.
Now, we were glad to get away from American politics...for a while, but as a US citizen you will always be tied to politics, so you pay attention anyway.
My suggestion: quit caring about politics and media and go out there and plow your own way own way in the world. The American dream still live so long as people think it does...and I think it does. Stop watching the US news and look at what is happening in the rest of the world: it is that same as is happening in the US.
Take responsibility, take ownership, and make something happen. That is the only way things will change!
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24.01.2011, 13:39
| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | My suggestion: quit caring about politics and media and go out there and plow your own way own way in the world. ...
Take responsibility, take ownership, and make something happen. That is the only way things will change! | | | | | Hear hear! | 
24.01.2011, 14:13
| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here....
Why not try Albany-Schenectady? Better job prospects, really nice people, cheaper housing. Great schools- if you buy in the right area. Very good community colleges for night classes. Loads of outdoor activities
Only problem is the weather. It was over 100 last summer and is now -21F factoring in the wind chill- coooooold! | Quote: |  | | | President Obama announced to the crowd of GE employees and supporters that the Schenectady plant, and those like it, were leading the nation into a period of hope and recovery from the recent economic downfall. In the President’s words, “We think GE has something to teach about jobs all across America.” | | | | | | 
24.01.2011, 14:23
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| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | It is super-expensive | | | | | You clearly have never been to Corsica!
Tom
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24.01.2011, 14:25
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| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | Why not try Albany-Schenectady? Better job prospects, really nice people, cheaper housing. Great schools- if you buy in the right area. Very good community colleges for night classes. Loads of outdoor activities
Only problem is the weather. It was over 100 last summer and is now -21F factoring in the wind chill- coooooold! | | | | | Lived there (Troy) 1977-1982.
I have no desire to move back.
Tom
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24.01.2011, 16:30
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| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | Note: I read the first two pages of posts and last two so may have missed a lot.
I am an American, and can understand your feelings, but also think you may be looking at the glass half empty (and a few other euphemisms I can think of). Yes, Switzerland has among the highest quality of life rankings in the world. Yes, Switzerland is very safe and clean. Yes, it is beautiful.
But:
It is super-expensive. Racism definitely exists here...and sexism: it is a male-dominated world. Food, although higher quality, is proportionally very expensive. Life here is also more challenging, and in many ways, harder because everything runs on a schedule. We have four kids and I can tell you that our schedules are exhausting and the money it takes to survive each month is more than my wife and I made each year (combined) when we got married.
Now, we were glad to get away from American politics...for a while, but as a US citizen you will always be tied to politics, so you pay attention anyway.
My suggestion: quit caring about politics and media and go out there and plow your own way own way in the world. The American dream still live so long as people think it does...and I think it does. Stop watching the US news and look at what is happening in the rest of the world: it is that same as is happening in the US.
Take responsibility, take ownership, and make something happen. That is the only way things will change! | | | | | I am an American living in Switzerland and agree with most of this very good post (I don't want to comment on racism or sexism here because I don't have firsthand experience here with either) . Switzerland is an awesome place to live with tons of stuff to do. And being centrally located in Europe is really fun, too. We love it here (and also look forward to moving back to the US in a few years when the work assignment here is completed). But there are downsides to living here, just like there are downsides to living anywhere else. I suspect that if you moved here you would find plenty to complain about. I suggest you turn off your TV and tune out the Glenn Beck's, Rush Limbaugh's and other media types of the world - things in the US are not nearly as bad as those kind of people want you to believe they are. Remember - they get paid to make you think things are bad. I think you need to change your outlook and attitude more than you need to change your geographic location. There are many reasons to consider moving to Switzerland, but if your primary reason is to simply get out of the US then I think it would be a mistake. Just my opinion.
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25.01.2011, 10:17
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| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | Why not try Albany-Schenectady? | | | | | Hope he pronounced Schenectady correctly.
The weather is not really the problem, it is still the jobs and opportunities lacking. Ok if you're with GE, but GE is a small island in an otherwise vast wasteland of has-beens. And then there are NY taxes...
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25.01.2011, 12:01
| Member | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Zurich
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| | | Quote: | |  | | |
My suggestion: quit caring about politics and media and go out there and plow your own way own way in the world. The American dream still live so long as people think it does...and I think it does. Stop watching the US news and look at what is happening in the rest of the world: it is that same as is happening in the US.
Take responsibility, take ownership, and make something happen. That is the only way things will change!
| | | | | Quit caring about politics? Take ownership (ultimately over the media and of politics - the epitome of success! ) Isn't that the problem? This hyper individualistic mentality is what sets the us apart from the rest of the world. Fueled by some selfish philosophy espoused by an asshole from yale, and facilitated by the lack of cultural homogeneity.
Sent from my ZTE-BLADE using Tapatalk
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25.01.2011, 12:05
| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | facilitated by the lack of cultural homogeneity. | | | | | Is there cultural homogeneity anywhere in the world? | 
25.01.2011, 13:58
| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | Hope he pronounced Schenectady correctly.
The weather is not really the problem, it is still the jobs and opportunities lacking. Ok if you're with GE, but GE is a small island in an otherwise vast wasteland of has-beens. And then there are NY taxes... | | | | | The area has changed a lot in the last ten years. We have in our immediate area 5 research facilities. On top of this the new battery place at GE is a massive new project hoped to bring in Billions. Then we have become a leading center in the US for Nanotechnology. On top of that there is a new AMD Global Foundires (think silicon valley) facility which was delayed but still going ahead. All of this needs Infrastructure and of course electricians! RPI is also growing.
The only place that there have really been layoffs are in state jobs- massive cuts. http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2008/10/27/story9.htmll
This area is one of the US's leading in terms of technology growth, which is why the president came here. It is his second visit, previously he visited a Hudson valley Community College which is also preparing students for these new growth areas.
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25.01.2011, 15:06
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| | | Quote: |  | | | Is there cultural homogeneity anywhere in the world?  | | | | | You are such a mischevious troll! Or i am. Positivistly speaking, yes, if you have a generous definition of the word culture.
The degree of cultural disimilarity in the US is a lot higher than switzerland. Yes it is also diverse here, but not compared to the US - though it is increasing sharply here. Even if you disagree, CH is a lot more decentralized, whereas the US const is powerful and gives the federal leg and courts control over almost every "important" issue.
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25.01.2011, 15:45
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC
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| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: | |  | | | I can't say I'm unhappy in Switzerland / Europe - but corporate greed and full-body scanners are a reality in Europe as well. And, especially in Switzerland, right-wing polemics and racism are massively on the rise. Large parts of the population vote for the leading right-wing party (SVP) and have been showing clearly racist tendencies over the last couple of years.
Moving to Europe is a major decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. Finding work here would (for you) not be as much of a problem as it is for others - skilled artisans and technicians are in high demand. However, you'd definitely have to invest a year or so into getting certified here. In order to do that, you'll require about 150'000 Fr. in cash to pull through with your family. You'd also need to speak the language of the area you'd be moving to. While you can get by speaking English in the banking, IT or pharmaceutical sectors, on construction sites that's not going to happen. Some unqualified aid workers don't speak German / French / Italian, that's correct - but I've never met an electrician who didn't. And I can assure you, nobody in the construction business here speaks English.
Have you considered moving within the US? There might be places where people are more on your wave-length. Perhaps you could check out California, Colorado or, if you can stand the winters, Minnesota.
Peter | | | | | The problems of America can't be escaped by moving within America. Sure, some states are better than others, but when the Federal government is what drives one away, then moving to Colorado won't resolve anything (and Colorado is actually quite conservative though lately leaning liberal in the larger cities).
Even Canada is a better option, and all you need is $10K and a skill set, and/or a job offer.
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25.01.2011, 15:46
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| | Re: Absolutely disgusted with American politics and the state of living here.... | Quote: |  | | | Is there cultural homogeneity anywhere in the world?  | | | | |
Japan? maybe?
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25.01.2011, 15:57
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| | | Quote: | |  | | | Japan? maybe? | | | | | North Korea?
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