Maybe I should emmigrate...

[razzamaztaz]

I've been mostly proud my whole life over Swedish welfare etc. Sure, we are registered a lot, actually already in the 17th century we started with social security numbers on folks. It's difficult to disappear in this country. I don't mind, for all the free hospitalcare, school etc it's an easy price to pay. But what I heard today gives me shivers down the spine. Everything is so high tech today (here at least), they will stop accepting cash payment on buses, trains subway etc, and only accept cards. That's ok. But not a card you can simply buy for an amount, no you have to be registered, preferably on your smartphone or computer, and if you don't have that (which I'm sure a bunch of 80 year olds don't have, and personally I don't own a smartphone), you can buy a ticket, but you have to register your name address and social security number, every time. In other words, you can't jump on any bus and just take it, it will be known exactly where you go and when you go. To top that off, from a couple of weeks ago I can't take part of the for sale prices in my grocerystore, I must register online with number name address, and then get a specific card, which is a nice way of registering everything I buy, eat, when, where. Talk about Orwell 1984. Just add google and facebook, as soon as I've at some clothes for instance google harass me with ads of jeans for weeks afterwards. And mostly the whole population is on facebook. As farfetched it may seem right now, if WW3 would happen boy would it be easy to see where everyone is, what political views they have, what they buy, when they take the bus, where they go, and how they live. Enough is enough. Is it this bad in USA?

[pwaldo]

The United States isn't as creepy in terms of keeping an eye on you but this country seems to run a few decades behind Europe so I'm sure we will get there eventually. Though almost everything else about Sweden is superior to the United States so I'm pretty sure you would find many Americans who would like to swap places with you.

[centrehice]

Cash is still king. Sounds like Sweden has bad big brother problems. You cannot dictate to people. You cannot force them to own things for somebody else's convenience.

40% of people in the USA and Canada over the age of 65 don't have computers, and who can blame them. It's simply not necessary.

[xpucksx]

We pretty much have the same stuff goign on over here, plus more rampant stupid crime and a completely messed up health care system.

Stay where you are, don't participate in the corporate sponsored tracking as much as possible and you will be fine. That is what I do over here, and I still get along pretty well. I use none of those little "rewards cards", I only use my debit card in emergencies as an ATM card, and I have never orderd anythign on line. I also don't do the Facebook thing.

You can be creative and not have too many problems getting along

[duane1969]

We will eventually be there. You have to submit to a search to fly and are arrested if you refuse. Police are installing body scanners in patrol cars that they can use to scan people as they walk down the street. The government already requests and receives info on Google users on a very regular basis. Strip searches are now permitted for any and all offenses involving an arrest. The Obama administration passed a law allowing the Federal counter-terrorism department to collect and keep records on US citizens for up to 5 years, even if they have committed no acts of terrorism.

We are not up to your level yet, but we are getting there very quickly.

[jefferz940]

come to Canada we love immigrants here !!! USA is almost as bad...Big Brother is always watching you.... I better watch what I say on here - they might come knocking at my door later on...

[centrehice]

You will die with huge medical bills in the USA, or get sick and live and never be able to pay them off. That is not changing with Obama care.

Canada or Australia.

[ravens_creed]

Having lived in both Canada and Australia, I would rather live in Canada.

The two biggest knocks on Canada would be the climate (something you're already used to from Sweden) and the taxes (still not as brutal as what you pay in Sweden), so perhaps they wouldn't bother you all that much.

I loved my time in Australia, but when I left, it was very apparent that Aussies are not nearly as tolerant (racism, sexism, etc. is still rampant, especially for a developed country!), they are at the whim of mother nature 24/7 (major flooding or droughting can happen every year), and that's not even getting into the multitude of venomous snakes and spiders you will have a difficult time avoiding, they don't value intelligence and education like the rest of the developed world, overexposure to the sun (the ozone layer is thinner down there) is a daily worry, and they currently have a major shortage of doctors and health care professionals.... but you can surf! ... if you don't get eaten by sharks.

[centrehice]

I lived 2 years in Australia as well. Had residency, but have since given it up which was the dumbest thing I have ever done..

Other than running into snakes which I happen to have an art in doing because I am a wilderness guy, I prefer it over Canada, simply because of weather, and the fact that I surf a bit and Australian women aren't half the size of the fatties in Canada or the USA.

My 1st time in OZ was probably before most on this board were born - 32 years ago.


The yobbos in Australia are much more tolerable than American Hillbillies, or Canadian White Trash

[ravens_creed]

My summary did a good job at highlighting the things I liked the least about Australia, but I did have a great time there. It was hard not to fall in love with the sun, the laid back attitude about most things, and as you said, the women.

I suppose many of my bad opinions of the Aussie people I alluded to were formed while wandering downtown Brisbane or Surfer's Paradise in the wee hours of the morning. What else would you expect? :P