Originally Posted by RICH

Why the obsession?(for Brits anyway) My guess, in some cases is that, since apparently so many people do emigrate to US, once one looks into it and finds that it is not actually possible for "just anyone" to come, there is an element of indignation.

"What do you mean, of course I must qualify for one of the visas, just tell me which one, I am British don't you know."

And inter EU migration is essentially unrestricted, so why would anywhere else be different.

Originally Posted by vikingsail

The American obsession is an interesting thing. I see many people here enthusiastic about moving to the US. I too was once that way but have the benefit of experience. The US is not a bad place overall. Frankly, the people here can be very friendly especially IMHO when you get away from the big cities NY, LA, SF. But the two countries UK and USA are very different. I think many people come here not recognizing any differences or ambivalent to them at first.

The difference between coming to the US because you have to (third world, nowhere else to go, your country has just blown itself apart) and being a volunteer from a modern western European state cannot be underestimated. It has always fascinated me that the statistical studies generally show most Western European's return to their countries of origin about 10 years after emigrating to the US. Sounds about right to me, because once you weigh up, or wise up, to the differences and start comparing you were likely better off in your original country. All kinds of things are different here: Benefits, workplace attitudes, laws and rules. At will employment is no joke to the vast majority of US citizens who in a safe place would confess that they know that their employer's know this and use it to exact more work, as a proverbial 'Sword of Damocles' over the employees head. As every employer in the US knows employees, especially those with families, need healthcare. And healthcare is the one thing that cannot just be procured in the US v's Europe where its generally free at point of service. Consequently, employees become 'slaves' to the job. There is no throwing caution to the wind, hedonistic acts such as 'I'll quit tomorrow' for most people here, as quite simply they cannot afford to both medically and monetarily.

For the newbies trying to come over I know this does not register but once you become ingrained in the lifestyle here you realize that what you had was likely quite a lot more than what you have. Perhaps its all a matter of timing and perspective?

Ultimately, its choice. I am always amazed at the number of people wanting to come here and the equally large number (like myself) trying to get back. I really would trade tomorrow if it were possible to do so.

Originally Posted by Michael

From the 1920's to the the 1960's, immigration quotas were based on the national origins of American citizens (blacks and Asians were excluded) so therefore the UK and Ireland had very large quotas which were seldom filled. Then the law was changed to give all regions around the world equal opportunity to immigrate to the US and quotas for European countries were greatly reduced.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Origins_Formula

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigra...ty_Act_of_1965

If the law wasn't changed, the US would today likely be country with a significantly higher population of whites.

Originally Posted by robin1234

Also, let's not forget that an awful lot of British people have American ancestors. During the period 1600-1800, significantly more people migrated from North America to Britain than from Britain to North America.

Originally Posted by chayowl

I moved over here because my wife had much more to give up in her life than I did, but she would love to live in the UK, she loves the buildings, the weather (yep even winter) and our general way of life. I do miss some things but I must say I love being over here, I never intended to come to the US it just happened, I suppose a lot of people are the same

Originally Posted by Steve_

Love, work or weather are the big three. Or there is something you can do that you can't do where you come from.

Canada and the US are different countries, you can't really equate the two although people try to (I mean I knew a lot of people spoke French and they were more left-leaning). I thought this to some extent before I moved to Canada but it is culturally, legally and in many other ways a very different place. I would say the gap is definitely larger than it is between say, GB and Ireland. Even France and Germany share various similarities because of the EU that the US and Canada do not.

Even if you go into an American chainstore there are differences. You think aha, I'll go into a Burger King. Prices are twice what they are in the US, they sell poutine, they use the InterAC system for payments, currency is different, the staff are more likely to be Indian or Filipino than they are in the US where they are often latino, etc.

I'd say a Burger King in the UK has less differences, frankly.

Originally Posted by ian-mstm

Y'know that Vancouver is in Canada, right? If you're willing to give Vancouver a try, then you can't really make a blanket statement that Canada is too cold.

Ian

Originally Posted by GeoffM

Y'know that Vancouver is also in Washington state, right? Probably one of the few, if not only, train rides in the world where one can catch a direct train between two identically-named cities.

Originally Posted by scot47

It is the "American Dream" as mediated by Holywood and TV.

Originally Posted by MMcD

The "American Dream" is the American Dream because... well sometimes - like maybe once in a very rare "blue moon" - myth and reality merge. The American Dream becomes The American Reality which of course, further reinforces the myth......etc.......
This morning there was a moving story on the news on NPR:

Until now, all thru the years, there have apparently only been 4 poets invited to compose something and then read it at the Presidential inauguration. Two of those 4 invitees included the great American poets - Robert Frost (for John Kennedy) and Maya Angelou (for Clinton).

This year Barack Obama has conferred that rare honour on a relatively young, unknown 44 year old. He's Richard Blanco, a gay Cuban-American poet who was interviewed on NPR this morning.
His surprise, his profound sense of awe, wonder, gratitude, trepidation, joy and elation over this tremendous honour were absolutely manifest as he spoke about his life journey and quite moving. As he put it - "I was made in Cuba ( 'tho conceived there, his mother was 8 months pregnant with him when she fled her native country....), assembled in Spain (where he was actually born a month later) and imported to the US"(where he was brought by his family shortly after - and has lived ever since.
And speaking of "the American dream" look at the honour that has now befallen him!
I immediately thought of his story when I came upon this thread.
Of course, as has been pointed out in an earlier post - those emigrating from "3rd world countries" (not to mention those seeking asylum) differ markedly from Brits, both in their motivation to come here and in their dreams.

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

Cuba would not be as poor if it were not for US sanctions - so maybe he could have had his own Cuban Dream.

Originally Posted by kimilseung

and there would not have been a Castro if it was not for the American dream being made at the expense of the Cuban dream during the Batista years.

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

Cuba would not be as poor if it were not for US sanctions - so maybe he could have had his own Cuban Dream.

Originally Posted by kimilseung

and there would not have been a Castro if it was not for the American dream being made at the expense of the Cuban dream during the Batista years.

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

Yes good point.