I’m not sure when I arrived at this decision, but when I graduate from college I have every intenion of leaving America, I just don’t want to be part of this country anymore. The only part I haven’t figured out is where I should move to. I obviously want a more free country, but there are a couple that fit my criteria. My ideas so far are
New Zealand
Austraillia
Singapore
Lichtenstein
What places would you guys suggest?
Did your ancestors come from a country in which you can easily obtain citizenship by reason of being their descendant?
You can not simply waltz into Singapore. You have to get a work permit to get there. I’m afraid Lichtenstein has some restrictions on immigraton too. Australia? Last time I checked communists were in power and voting is compulsory lol. I would suggest places where they just shunned communism for what it really is and trying to embrace free market principles, like maybe Montenegro. Truth is there is no place that is good to settle for life for an ancap in democrazy infested world.
America is a big place, why not try another area? If you live in the city, try the country; if you live in on the west coast, try the east coast. Learn state laws: where are the alcohol monopolies, where are taxes low, where can you do the things that YOU care about? Economic freedom is great for bringing prosperity to the masses, but is it more important to you that you be able to start a company with less red tape or be able to smoke pot without being thrown in jail (I’m pretty sure Singapore gives the death penalty to drug offenders)?
If you really have your heart set on expatriating, try South America. Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina are apparently hot spots.
America is not the worst of places for a friend of liberty. It heavily depends on where you live, though.
Before you try to settle down in a foreign country with a potentially alien culture, try to establish yourself in one of the more libertarian US states. There’s a big difference between New York and Florida and Montana.
Taiwan
OP: Why not try New Hampshire?
Sphairon, what is your avatar from?
The libertarian way IMO is becoming a perpetual traveler.
We should colonize space.
I doubt anyone here will ever have a chance to live in Lichtenstein. Those guys are paranoid about immigration.
I suspect the second best would be some good old anglo-saxon country. Austrlia and NZ are not so bad, I hear.
Otherwise a few weeks in Chile, Singapore, Estonia or, why not, Albania would help anyone make his mind up.
Chile is a great country imo. Fairly economically free as well.
I’m honestly considering moving to Japan and teaching American history there. Not because of the political conditions there but because teachers are so underappreciated in the U.S. and the market for history teachers seems pretty saturated here. It could change by the time I get my PhD.
Nielsio, I’m living in Taiwan, and I’m enjoying it. But I’m interested to know what in particular you think is excellent about it.
I have friends who moved to New Zealand from the UK. Apart from the earthquake issue (they live near Christchurch) they are pretty happy with their decision. The only issue they reported is how expensive food is, but it takes little effort to find farmers and ranchers selling fresh meat and vegetables directly to customers on the cheap. If you have any skill, it’s pretty easy to find a job and obtain an immigration permit: New Zealand always needs teachers, doctors, skilled heavy machinery operators etc.
The Kiwis (even most government officials) believe in common sense more than in laws and in “small community” solidarity more than in forced redistribution.
Ops, I forgot one thing: stock up on sunscreen lotion. New Zealand sits just under a thinning in the ozone layer and it’s the skin cancer capital of the world. Even dog and cat owners are advised to put sunscreen on their pets’ noses.
I just woke up and may be able to elaborate more later, but I posted a lengthy trip report (with pictures) here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/79/edf/taiwan-hong-kong-tr-491242/
Some countries that you have mentioned I would like to visit/move to. But if you only speak english I would have thought that most of the countries in east asia are difficult to survive, getting a job, finding your way around etc?
As I only speak english I thought that it would mean that I am limited to english speaking countries or in the case that i could get a job working for an english speaking firm, I would still struggle to meet people and find places…
It’s pretty hard to do without knowing your criteria. For the vast majority of people, their specific situation, goals, and preferences will depend a lot more on all the other major differences between countries than on the difference in freedom. And even if you care only about freedom, what aspects - business freedom, civil liberties, social permissiveness, low taxes?
I live in Michigan near Detroit, it’s a mess. I’m learning Mandarin and Spanish, so I’m open to learning other languages as well. More libertarian leaning states is a good idea, but the federal government is what I have the most fear of. America, as I’m sure many of you are aware, isn’t on a good track and I’m a firm believer in the idea of voting with your feet. If the smart, capable, hard-working individuals leave the system, it will fail that much faster. I realize as an ancap I’ll have problems anywhere, I’m just looking to minimize them.
Civil and economic freedoms, where ever you can get the best combination. I only know vaguely of some of the countries that are supposed to be freer, but I feel like I might be missing some gems. Someone mentioned how socially draconian Singapore is, that would be unacceptable.