Why the fuck I'm getting the fuck out of this fucked up fucking country

[angusmf]

I'm far from a flaming liberal (in the american liberal vs. conservative sense, not the political party) but the closer we got to the last election, the more afraid I became that Bush would be re-elected. And he was. Today I made the rare mistake of getting in a political discussion with someone. It started out with him asking if I'm a Republican or Democrat, as if that were enough to define any person's politics. I said I never would have considered myself a dem, but I was really really disappointed that Bush was re-elected. I'm not sure how I stand on the US or anyone else blowing up other countries, even if there's a good reason. But I'm absolutely 100% sure that I don't want my phones tapped or my television and radio censored even more than it already is in the name of suppressing terrorist reaction. This jackass kept telling me how bad every middle eastern country is because they're muslim theocracies. How their women are constantly raped, that they're brainwashed to hate americans from their first breath, and the only way to keep ourselves safe is to blow up their shit. Assuming I'm fine with that course of action, I'm also fine with them blowing up my WTC, if it keeps my country from turning into a christian theocracy that brainwashes people into hating whatever is convenient for the government. But this little prick won't even consider the possibility that taking away our freedoms, our checks on the government, could be someday be more dangerous than some dumbfuck terrorists. "I'm willing to give up some small freedoms in order to protect myself." What a load of shortsighted crap! But I bet he's not willing to give up his right to own a gun. What good is a single man with a gun against a tyrranical government? Might as well hand it over now, cause you'll never see them coming to get you.

[kleph]

hey man. trust me on this one. it ain't any easier to deal with from afar. not only do i not have any more civil rights but my phone is already tapped.

of course, you really can't expect political normality living in goldwater country, can you?

[Asmodeus]

how did that old quote go about those willing to sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither?

I hear ya man,thats why reason #3 on my agenda for my overseas visit is to see if the place is worth me relocating to.

[angusmf]

I know it isn't really gonna be any different anywhere else. But for now I can pretend the grass is greener. What I really need is to smoke some grass and go the fuck home for the weekend. Stupid friday.

[johny_roberts]

Dude I agree with your post 100 fucking percent. People are stuck in there ways and will never change.

[Asmodeus]

some do, but it requires intelligence and an open mind. Something increasingly scarce the world over im sorely afraid.

Of course, teh balance is .. to keep an open mind, but not one so open that your brains fall out.

[arsewipe]

how did that old quote go about those willing to sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither?
What's the other one? The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. You need to be vigilant so that a: people don't fuck it up for you, and b: your freedoms aren't taken away from you.

I hear ya man,thats why reason #3 on my agenda for my overseas visit is to see if the place is worth me relocating to.

:cool: :D

Large amounts of alcohol will be consumed during this visit, and the city will tremble with the news of our presence.

[Asmodeus]

and there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth and tossing of salad.

[berserk]

Noddy was in Phoenix?

how did that old quote go about those willing to sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither? By the wonders of wikipedia,
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
Ben Franklin (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin), on the title page of An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania (1759).

[s3raph]

An interesting thing about Benjamin Franklin is that he gave a speech following the finalisation of the US constitution that is quoted in pretty much every single history textbook in the US. The thing is that they without fail leave out the part where he says that "although this constitution will serve well for a few years, one of the of the duties of the new government is to draft a new constitution that will be far less easy to subvert, and damage the nation from within." Funny the way the US doesn't like to hear about the nasty little facts of the world.

[kleph]

could you possibly explain how that idiotic ending comment can be derived from your generalized and unsourced observation?

there is an important point in what you are saying but you have buried it in your haste get in an unwarranted cheap shot.

[angusmf]

Ben Franklin also supposedly wanted to have our national bird be the turkey. So, you have to take him with a grain of salt. And I'd be curious to know if he was talking about the Articles of Confederation, which was temporary.

BTW, I neglected to mention in my original post that I really am leaving the US. My passport has a lovely Australian permanent resident stamp in it. I'll be drunk and unemployed in Sydney in a little over 2 months.

[mustelus]

Ben Franklin also supposedly wanted to have our national bird be the turkey.

Why does a country need a national bird in the first place? And what is wrong with a turkey? At least it doesn't swoop around picking on small furry animals.

[Asmodeus]

ya, franklin was opposed to teh eagle since he considered its antics of low moral character.

man, turkeys can be mean little fuckers, where have you been?

[Asmodeus]

yep, they taste like turkey

[angusmf]

Birds are just evil in general. I might submit an h2g2 entry that says:

Birds - Nasty when live, but tasty when dead and prepared properly.


That's also my definition for children.

[Asmodeus]

lemme how all that residency stuff works out, since i may be following you in a bit

[angusmf]

How are you getting your visa?

[Asmodeus]

How are you getting your visa?

im still somewhat in the research phase, which will either increase or drop once i'm over there on my vacation later this year.

[King_Crud]

i ate duck on the weekend. Duck is a good eating bird when it's done right

[dilligaf]

i ate duck on the weekend. Duck is a good eating bird when it's done right
Amen to that. Dont mind the odd snail aswell.

[dozer]

how do americans get oz residency? i heard theres more hoops to jump through than circus oz

[StAUG]

Amen to that. Dont mind the odd snail aswell.

Quail. While I agree fully that any Bush supporter is fucked in the head, just remember how good life here or in Seppoland really is relative to almost anywhere else you can name.

[Asmodeus]

how do americans get oz residency? i heard theres more hoops to jump through than circus oz

can always go to the appropriate sites and look up the residency and naturalization requirements.

[angusmf]

how do americans get oz residency? i heard theres more hoops to jump through than circus oz

Same as the US, for the most part. Either by family connection (preferably some kind of marriage-like relationship) to an Aussie, or work sponsorship if you have some skill that is in short supply. I suspect that the work sponsorship is pretty difficult to do, especially since Oz seems to be more certification and license-crazy than the US. I didn't have to worry about that since I've been married to an Aussie citizen for almost 5 years. It still wasn't what I would call easy. There's nothing automatic about it, like some people imagine. Among other things you have to prove that you can support yourself. They don't want people on the dole as soon as they get there. It takes 2 years. :)

The countries that are easy to get into are the ones you probably don't want to live in anyway.

[SOC]

i ate duck on the weekend. Duck is a good eating bird when it's done right
I've always wanted to eat a roast swan. They are supposed to be pretty damn tasty.

[Directed]

I have had to eat crow on several occasions. But that is just because I have a big mouth

[King_Crud]

I've always wanted to eat a roast swan. They are supposed to be pretty damn tasty.
Cheer, cheer the red and the white,
Honour the name by day and by night,
Lift that noble banner high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky
Whether the odds be great or small,
Swans will go in and win overall
While her loyal sons are marching
Onwards to victory.

http://www.malcolmsargent.org.au/images/uploads/26.jpg

[angel_b]

Same as the US, for the most part. Either by family connection (preferably some kind of marriage-like relationship) to an Aussie, or work sponsorship if you have some skill that is in short supply. I suspect that the work sponsorship is pretty difficult to do, especially since Oz seems to be more certification and license-crazy than the US. I didn't have to worry about that since I've been married to an Aussie citizen for almost 5 years. It still wasn't what I would call easy. There's nothing automatic about it, like some people imagine. Among other things you have to prove that you can support yourself. They don't want people on the dole as soon as they get there. It takes 2 years. :)

The countries that are easy to get into are the ones you probably don't want to live in anyway.
Won't you actually be a temporary resident until you have lived here in Oz for 2 years, then you become a permanent resident and, 2 years later, you are eligible for citizenship?

That's how it worked for my hubby anyways.

I must show him this thread - he keeps making noises about us relocating to the States.

[SOC]

Angel, stay where you are. One thing I've learnt since relocating to the UK - Australia really, truly is the lucky country ... but it doesn't realise it.

[Asmodeus]

i have to go re-read the sites and stuff on it now since for some reason i thought 2 years before eligibility. might be som epart i missed.

was looking at houses for sale and stuff.. damn.. expensive.