ferret1603 said: @Konnichiwa No, I've always been a British citizen. I was born in the UAE while my parents were out there teaching for a few years but, being female, I've no right to Emirati citizenship. I left when I was 15 months old so I have no recollection of it and have never been back. All my family are English as far back as we can trace. Parts of my family tree go back to the 1600s.
I want to leave because I feel very very trapped here. Over the past year or so I've begun to think more and more like a North American. The European consciousness seems to be collectivist and quite socialistic even among people who wouldn't categorise themselves as socialists. High taxes, state intrusion in our lives, and the welfare state go largely unquestioned. Those who work hard have 40% of their income taken off them and handed out to other people. I'm an individualist and do not appreciate being forced into these social bonds. I give money to charity where I wish to help but resent having to hand over my money to fund things I disagree with. Our standard of living is falling because of this. Companies are relocating offshore because of the increasing corporate taxes and people cannot afford their fuel bills and rent because of all the money the govenment is taking off them.
The government are also regulating more and more aspects of our lives. They are currently discussing bringing in a smoking licence where you have to pay money and fill in a form to gain a government approved licence in order to buy tobacco. I cannot live in a country that believes that is acceptable. My philosophy revolves around the idea that government should be minimal and here purely to protect our life, liberty and property. In Europe the relationship has turned so that we have to justify our existence and activities to the state. That is anathema to me. The state should be justifying itself to us, not the other way round. I believe it has gone so far there is no chance of reversing it and the only way to regain my liberty is to get out. |
You seem to be pretty Libertarian-minded. It seems as if America or Canada sound best for you. Remember that Canada is pretty leftist as well, much more so than America. They even go so far as to restrict radio and television personalities on the basis of their saying "unpopular" things. Still, it's a very nice country and has a lot of great things about it.
Remember one thing America has going for it:
President Clownshoe is out of office in 10 months. Whoever replaces him will surely do less stupid things. Hell, my dog would do less stupid things and she enjoys eating cat shit when I'm not paying attention.
Anyway, is it really that hard for a Brit to get into America? From the other Brits I know (most of which immigrated years ago), they all got through the immigration system quickly because, well, because they were British. Speaking the language and being British seems to make things easier.