People have, throughout history, departed their home countries for the same reasons: political, religious, economic. In most cases, all three. In my travels I find that choosing a country that disagrees with the U.S. government politically is a positive thing. I also find that certain countries treat expats quite well, especially if you are helping their respective economies.

Your question depends largely on what stage of life you are in economically…still earning, retired, etc. Hence, the business climate is a factor in that country.

I like Latin America. Specifically, Ecuador is one of my target countries. I am anxiously awaiting your answer, as your insights are always excellent.

Where is the land of the free and home of the brave, with unlimited opportunities for education, jobs, and businesses, safe, low crime rate, low taxes, almost corruption free, clean environment, world class infrastructure, multicutural immigration society, affordable quality health care for all its citizens, abundant natural resources……..

Frankly, none.

I wonder those who pick India or Brazil ever been there. Not for thousands years, if ever. But hey, you are entitled to your opinions. That’s OK.

IMO, there are only 2 candidate countries on the list:

1. The current USA, which has the potential to become USNA (United States of New America). But IF someone like Sarah Palin would ever become the US President some day, the country will be done. May God bless America and Americans.

2. Argentina. The more-European-than-Europe country located in South America. Once was one of the top 10 richest countries in the country (even richer than Germany!), Argentina has all the potentials to be a “New America of Argentina” if the government is drastically changed and the country put back on track. It would be perfect if Argentina a bilingual (Spanish/English) country. Good luck to Argentina!

I enjoyed your reply and counterpoints. You are right, my bias is definately rural vs urban although I do enjoy having good AMTRAK
connections to the “Cultural Centers”. Reading between the lines
“building on swamps, etc.” I thought you might be referring to the
Richmond area more or less with their “shrink-swell” soils problems.
The locals like to call the Richmond area “Central Virginia” which any
reference to a map will show its not. Far from it. I wouldn’t want
to live there either.

Interesting to read of the places you’ve lived. I’ve lived in CO, MT – also
WY and ND. Enjoyed every one of them except ND. Took some
brave (stupid-desperate??) people to settle in ND. I still have a house in CO as we all like to ski the Rockies. If I were a “clean slate”, which I’m
not, I’d probably be in Hawaii (Kauai, definitely not Maui). Cost of living
there a big problem, though. Talk about climate!! Incidentally, What is
“creative climate” ? New term for me. Smog, wood stoves, air polution or what?

I believe VA has been dubbed “the best State for business” by Forbes and others for some time now – during the Warner-Kaine administrations
at least. The jury is out on the new Governor. Only sure thing is no tax increases. I agree with that basic premise but when government by slogan comes up against reality its a little bit different. Good example is
VA’s obscenely low gasoline/diesel road tax – five cents lower than adjourning States, except WV and road money is down to no new projects. However, the General Fund is in decent shape. Like most states, ND excepted (Williston Basin oil boom) the budget is tight but we’re not burdened by historically poor revenue administration. No danger of the Old Dominion going bankrupt (bonds still AAA). Can CA say that? My taxes on a $500,000 house and property (4000 sq. ft./20 acres excellent arable land, main road, unbelievable views) $1400, regular gas price today is $2.45-2.49, monthly electric bill (central air, some spot elec. heat) $220, 5% sales tax, ca $300/yr personal prop taxes (four older/cheap vehicles). What do you pay? I’m sure we both pay “hidden” taxes. I don’t know where the “regional taxes” you mention come from. No regional governments. Even the Cities and Counties are separate (only State like this). Means no layering of city
and county taxes.

Wish you well. Hope we haven’t bored Simon’s readers too much. I’ve enjoyed the dialogue. I was kidding, too, about the
WV/N.VA shot and “burying things”. Even I’m going to be cremated!

Bill

Definitely not Australia which is more regulated than the U.S. My second and third picks would be Belize, Chile, and possibly Columbia.

CA has mudslides on the coast,as it ALWAYS has. Even before there were houses;the difference now is that people have built on the coast,and the buildilng from decades ago is finally being impacted by the natural process of erosion.
Coastal erosion happens everywhere,and it is a risk you take when building.
Coversely,many VA communities are built/being built on former swamp land,which has it’s own set of serious issues for property value and maintenance,which I have seen first hand.

Also,please,CA has 40 million or so people!!!!! You cannot really be serious to imply that ALL Californians wish to have a nanny state?

Lastly,creative climate is a huge factor for new industry and technology. Open mindedness,willingness to try new ideas-these often trump taxes and overhead costs when starting out with a new plan. Obviously,not for small local businesses that serve a region,but for larger companies or inventions that will impact large areas,this climate is imperative. And this,my friends,is why so many have and continue to come to CA. Plus the weather and natural beauty.

I appreciate your sentiment though,that we can often find our place or paradise in less exotic locales,right here in the USA. Some are even finding them in CA. Crises not withstanding,transitions and change often brings instability for a period of time. We will see when the dust settles.

Also,remember that the national media likes to air sensational stories-so flooding,storms and weather anywhere will get attention,aka ’snowmageddon,anyone?’ So,most of us living in CA are barely impacted by the ‘landslides’,even when we live in coastal cities-save the odd extra traffic jam/accidents from the rain,same as living in any urban area of the country during a weather issue/storm.

I think your post really speaks of urban vs. rural,too. And many areas of CA host this type of lifestyle. The media portrays certain realities,but this is not how everyone in CA lives.

I respect your opinion,just wanted to (playfully!) assure you that many of us Californians are quite happy where we are,and would not trade it for VA or W VA.(:

I have lived in MT,CO,NE and CA for significant periods of time. They all have their merits,but I want to add that CA is NOT that much more expensive,when you factor in all costs of living,not just housing.

As far as W. Virginia,also no worries. Not really of interest to CA folks who may wish to migrate. New Yorkers will search their local area for moving,much the same way some Californians have made oregon,NV and AZ their home.
Best wishes to you in your own personal version of paradise.

I agree with you about the western governments using communism to create a bogeyman and scare the sheeple. However, the majority of the people I know view China as an economic example of what we used to be and should return to rather than as a bogeyman. I think the US government knows that the China scare tactics aren’t working with the people, so Al Qaeda is their next attempt. In my opinion, the economic damage that China could inflict on the US is far more of a threat than any terrorist, and Obama could be a greater threat to us than either of them.

Regarding Canadian airport security, this recent broadcast by the CBC’s Fifth Estate, entitled: Fasten Your Seatbelts, illustrates its current state.

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/the_fifth_estate/ID=1399659906

I came across your post regarding your community on the Rio Santa Maria on Simon Black’s website.

I’m very interested in buying into an intentional community in Panama and will be visiting the country in July of 2010.

Could you please provide me with e-mail addresses and/or phone numbers for contacts when i visit? It would be much appreciteed.

All the best,

Kerry Hopper

The new America….Indonesia, India, Malaysia? not in my book. Fine places to spend time on the cheap and I always recommend them to friends but both are highly bureaucratic and property rights are poorly enforced in the former two, as are many other natural laws.

Someone mentioned Fiji. A place I have actually invested in on a speculative basis. It is a pretty free place for a foreigner to have a good time in. You are highly unlikely to get hassled but as for running or operating businesses its awful.

My take is find somewhere for your business that suits, then find somewhere for your lifestyle that suits, find somewhere for your assets etc. You may find that they all end up in different places. Who cares? Why consign yourself to looking for a particular country. For Americans. Pretend the world is one country with different states and laws in those states then act accordingly. Its not as hard as people think really.

I think the country is Panama.

Check out the tongue in cheek look at Canadian airport security in the link below. Based on your comments today I’d say it is spot on. I just got this from a Canadian buddy who recently was on an overseas trip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZfbTlYpKYo

Cheers, Mike

Many times,it is the place that seems the most chaotic [such as California,within the US]that ends up finding the most success in the end. Hard to tell from this vantage point if CA or the US as a whole will regain it’s footing.

First thing that needs to go: this draconian airport security stuff…….

That said,I don’t think it will be Brasil.
But,yea,America to most is wealth and power over other nations.

I think he is talking about the internal state of the country,not how it is seen from the outside.

I still think Chile.
Maybe Panama.

(2) Sometime ago, you promised to send us information about acquiring a second passport. Have you sent it, and I missed it?

Beijing is place for business, the pollution is bad. The whole of China is bustling with economic activity. They are trying to transit from an export led economy to a consumption based one. With a growing middle class and millions of rural folks starting to spend coming off from a very low base, growth is seems guaranteed. More like a place to make money. If you have the money, you can park yourself in a nice resort city like Hangzhou.

Term “communist dictatorship” was true 30 years ago but with Deng Xiaopeng’s reforms, the government is currently more of a “facist dictatorship”. Coupled with the Chinese’s inherent merchantile culture, the country is turning “capitalistic with Chinese characteristics”! Chinese communism is a term the Chinese government uses to ensure historic continuity and a term western governments use to create a bogeyman to scare their ignorant sheeple.

Brazil – no.

any of the other countries, possibly.

They are just behind China in annual GDP growth. doing very well if you are well connected.

Karl

I say don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater here. Slam the US in right ways,and see how the laws and regs can interfere,but yikes-while you may be able to smoke or carry an open beer bottle in many countries,your ’status’ economically and racially may really be the defining factor.
if you are a foreigner with money,or perceived as a wealthy tourist,you will largely be left alone. otherwise,you may be arrested willy-nilly,with no right to an attorney,nor any money to pay for one either…The rule of Power Over vs. the Rule of Law.
Neither perfect…

Well,anyway,social and economic freedom are mutually exclusive in many countries today….depends which one you are after,and having multiple flags is the current best choice for having both types of freedom.

I lived with my six children in Ghana for three years, back in 1962, when Nkrumah had been thrown out.

It is now overcome with evil pot-stirrers who have spoiled the natives into greedy and desperate.

I would not go back to live there.

Karl

Karl.

Take as much water as you can carry, drink all during the trip, a gallon per day is not too much — pee often,

You will not get tired, you can sleep on the new time zone.

Karl

I’ve spent tourist time there.

They are death on drug dealers and people who spit, but it a bustling place when you learn and follow the rules.

Karl

chile also just voted in a business man leader who is independently wealthy,so he won’t need to skim off the top for his own needs.
There’s an expat chile forum that is extensive,and numerous expat blogs from americans and britts who live in chile,many of whom do business there in real estate,import,tax and immigration law,etc. google them if you are interested (someone in the comments here asked about chile.)
Apparently,there is a great need for many skills there-such as contractors w/actual tools,and many service related products and businesses are an option. The police are rumored to be the least corrupt in south or central america,as well. Er,well,not just ‘least corrupt’,but actual not corrupt at all.
That is my guess,but we’ll see what Simon chooses,which may be completely different.