“G’day mate, we’ve privatized our social security system!”
Posted on 02/04/2013 6:26:56 AM PST by Kaslin
A reader from New York has a follow-up question for me.
Referencing a “Question of the Week” from last month, in which I expressed guarded optimism that America could be saved, she wants to know what I would do if things go the wrong way.
In other words, what if things go really wrong and America suffers a Greek-style fiscal collapse? And imagine how bad that might be since there wouldn’t be an IMF or European Central Bank capable of providing bailouts to the United States.
Perhaps because of an irrational form of patriotism, I’m fairly certain that I will always live in the United States and I will be fighting to preserve (or restore) liberty until my last breath.
But I probably would want my children someplace safe and stable, so I’ll answer the question from that perspective.
The obvious first choice is a zero-income tax jurisdiction like the Cayman Islands that is prosperous and reasonably well governed.
But I’m not sure about the long-run outlook for the Cayman Islands, in part because the politicians there have flirted with an income tax and in part because the jurisdiction inevitably would suffer if the United States was falling apart.
So what’s a place that is stable and not overly tied to the American economy.
Then the obvious choice is Switzerland. That nation’s long-run fiscal outlook is relatively favorable because of modest-sized government and a very good spending control mechanism.
But while Switzerland is not dependent on the U.S. economy, it is surrounded by European welfare states. And I’m fairly certain that nations such as France, Italy, and (perhaps) Germany will collapse before America.
And even though most Swiss households have machine guns and the nation presumably can defend itself from barbarian hordes in search of a new welfare check, Switzerland’s probably not the ideal location.
Estonia is one of my favorite countries, and they’ve implemented some good reforms such as the flat tax. But I worry about demographic decline. Plus, I’m a weather wimp and it’s too chilly most of the year.
Another option is a stable nation in Latin America, perhaps Chile, Panama, or Costa Rica. I haven’t been to Chile, but I’m very impressed by the nation’s incredible progress in recent decades. I have been to Panama many times and it is one of my favorite nations. I’ve only been to Costa Rica two times, but it also seems like a nice country.
The bad news is that I don’t speak Spanish (and my kids don’t speak the language, either). The good news is that Hispanics appear to be the world’s happiest people, so that should count for something.
“G’day mate, we’ve privatized our social security system!”
This brings me to Australia, the country that probably would be at the top of my list. The burden of government spending in Australia is less than it is in the United States.
But the gap isn’t that large. The reason I like Australia is that the nation has a privatized Social Security system (called Superannuation) and the long-run fiscal outlook is much, much better than the United States.
Plus the Aussies are genuinely friendly and they speak an entertaining form of English.
So if America goes under, I recommend going Down Under.
Im in and out of the country all the time....if civil war breaks out I’ll stay home and join the fight.
Thats that!
My take has been that if America collapses, the rest of the world will too. In fact, the rest of the world may do it first. This means that being an ex-patriot in places like Thailand could be physically dangerous.
So, in 2008 (just before the election) I bought a small farm in central Kentucky. It’s an entire finger of a plateau about 80 feet above a beautiful valley. I moved there from my 45 year home of Seattle in late summer of 2011.
I confess that the reason I can stay sane about what has been happening in the world and, specifically, US politics and economy, is that I am no longer dependant on the infrastructure as I was in Seattle.
Bottom line: For me the answer was to stay within the US and move to a commonwealth.
You think you can escape the collapse of America?
I doubt it. I’ll be in my front room, shooting intruders until done.
More than likely the cemetery.
LFOD.
Since I guess I’ll die here, then I suppose Heaven.
I agree. If one was going to flee it should be to an English speaking primarily Christian country. Gringos in central and south America would be brutalized.
But, as you said, you can’t escape the global collapse anyway.
I’ll be sitting in my living room, armed, and just waiting for the idiot urban dwellers who don’t have 2 days worth of food set aside coming to take what they need.
Horrible thought, but when you have millions of people dependent on others for every basic need in life and have those lifelines crumble its going to be hell on earth for a while here.
I frankly don’t know... I suppose I’ll be doing my best defending my family, fending off intruders and ultimately dying in the process. The dark side will be taking out houses with armed drones, so I just hope it’s quick when my time comes.
Best answer.
I learned many years ago to move toward the sounds of the battle. Put down democrats, take what they have as spoils of war and work to reestablish the Constitution.
I will add this, though: If the US government kicked me out and would give me a one way ticket to anywhere in the world to relocate, it would be a no-brainer: Austrailia. I remember commenting about it to a couple of guys complaining about paying alimony back in the mid-1980’s. For me it’s ALWAYS been Austrailia.
But finding a rural area in the US surrounded by like minded people is far better.
The guy who was the real-life Crocodile Dundee (his name was not Dundee) was killed in a shootout with Australian police who were there to confiscate his unregistered firearms.
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/crocodile_dundee.htm
Have you seen Detroit or Camden, New Jersey lately?
I think I would go to Canada if I had no choice but to leave. Nothing against Australia (They would be my second choice) I just want to be close to home.
Nowhere. I can’t imagine anything more entertaining than watching American liberals trying to figure out what to do in a real crisis.
This is interesting so here’s my take:
Being a quarter Swiss, they are cold, unfriendly and snobby...
Central American countries are still banana republics with a veneer...
In Australia, you celebrate Christmas in cut-offs...
I’m voting for an island nation of conservative thinkers...
Or secession...why give the bastards this nation our forefathers fought so hard for....
I’ll hunker-in and after things “die down” I’ll go hunting. This is my country and I took an oath. I may not last long but I’ll go with a clean conscience.
Besides, I don’t think any other country could or would be able to take any but the most well-heeled refugees.
Most of the rest of the world will blame America for the situation, and you don’t ever want to be “the foreigner” when SHTF.
“WHERE COULD I GO, BUT TO THE LORD!”
The Lord will keep us in times of trouble.
PSALM 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
I’m going to America to try to resurrect the old gal.
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