“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.
Problem is, I don’t think a lot of these countries will allow refugees. Unless your family is loaded with money when the arrive, they might not be able to settle or even stay for a long period of time.
“I happen to live in Gwinnett county, GA,”
Me too and our District, #7 which is most if not all of Gwinnett County is one of the most conservative districts in the state of GA. Talk about Red.
On a related note, my favorite OT book puts the whole thing in perspective: Ecclesiastes
Australia likely wouldn’t take you unless you brought a scarce skill, a high level of monetary resources, or political influence. They most CERTAINLY would not allow you to bring ANY weapons whatsoever.
I’m staying here; it doesn’t mean I have to succumb to the government.
Where are you going to go? Nowhere.
Why would any country allow an influx of spoiled demanding folk in? I can hear the arguments: they screwed up their country now they want to break ours....
The only thing I can compare it to is the Depression. Except this would be a lot meaner and nasty.
I would withdraw to the country at a little plot I have. Its not very defensible tho and I do imagine bands of marauding folks having to be fought with. Same with the principle residence. And I would need a well and some way to power it. That assumes that all resources are cut off, which I doubt would ultimately happen.
But I do not know if we can ever truly survive...the vast majority of us have never had to live stripped of our culture and conveniences. If we get knocked back 150 yrs, I don’t remotely have the skills to survive. Wife and i don’t have a mule, don’t have access to a mule and wouldn’t know how to plow, straight or otherwise.
Lots of folks in the same boat, I suspect.
Same here. I’m ex-canadian and have no regrets of leaving that socialist country. Funny. I escaped socialism and now I’m knee-deep in this crap due to a crap p-resident.
I don’t get this part where you run away from a fight. i work in a super-blue city, and no one but me decides to run me out. Not fags, not liberals...I decide when I head out.
By your reply it seems to me that you flew through the article, because if you had you would have noticed that Daniel Mitchell is writing about the economic perspective, not guns in case you haven’t noticed.
This guy is a complete idiot. Good luck trying to get a job in Australia. My brother in law is ex Aussie military and he was sent to the bottom of the job list when he returned there recently because of the time he spent in the U.S. He came back to the U.S.
Also a six pack of beer will run you about $24 US.
Good luck!
Me too. Hope I can go out fighting.
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The idea of roaming bands of zombies looking for someone to support them is probably unrealistic. They will stay in the urban areas and kill each other wholesale....like they do now. By the time the food runs out, the gas will be gone.
One of my favorite survival stories involves a guy who found a Home Depot largely untouched. He grabbed a rototiller and seeds but noticed the vending machines had been sacked.
I will be posting about this fabulous new option.
I’m certain that I saw it posted here on FR. Put me in the ‘properly envious’ column. We are starting to discuss possible retirement locations, but it will be another 12 years or so.
> Where Will You Go if America Collapses?
This is the last place on Earth that I know of where there are people willing to stand up and fight for their right to be free. We are rapidly approaching a tipping point where the overbearing government will overreach to the point where even the armed forces and police will be divided.
We will probably stay, because I believe the country will be more free as a result of any such struggle. If I miscalculate and it is not free, then perhaps we are closer to the end of all things and the Day of the Lord than I had originally thought.
At that point, I will hide where ever I can and wait for the Lord’s return.
“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.”
I guess you flew through a little faster than me because you missed this part.
Amen and amen!!!!!!
Can't make the hearings at the Capitol this week, but I'll be there 10AM for the protest on Friday.
Well, we love it here, but the ONE thing I miss about Seattle is being able to walk through the woods in the summertime, worrying only about nettles (rarely a concern) and squshing a banana slug. Here you need bug spray and long pants, but it’s best to avoid ANY flora touching your skin. Chiggers (aka turkey mites) are the worst.
But that is but one negative. And I cleared the woods during the cold months so you can meander without worrying about it now.
Oh, and if God had not graced us with air conditioning I would HATE it here. ;-)
Just what Mars needs- more illegal aliens.
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