Comment by aww_dang | Hacker News Reader

Comment by aww_dang | Hacker News Reader

Politics isn't as important as people make it out to be. Perhaps people identify too much with their nationality via political leaders. With the exception of lockdowns, political outcomes rarely interfere with daily routines.

As for the ease of living abroad, once you have a source of income everything else tends to fall in place. Many countries are happy to have you if you are self sufficient. The article lists expensive options for citizenship and residency permits before concluding that expatriation is impossible.

I agree with the laments about the rise of the passport system. However the hyperbolic tone is off-putting. Likewise for the standard issue anti-capitalist tirades and slight of hand misrepresentations.

>...the loudly pro-inequality magazine The Economist.

>And despite capitalism’s promises to provide all the lifestyle choices you could ever desire, few of us have the option of trying our luck elsewhere if we want.

Most expats I've known burn out within a few years. Eventually they can't cope outside of their previous environment either socially, culturally or economically. Everything is possible for those who are driven and able to adapt. If anything, the remaining freedom within the capitalist economic system makes this possible. For those who can't adapt, contribute or support themselves, what else can be expected of a foreign country and culture?

If you think political outcomes rarely interfere with daily routines, you should realize that you are very lucky. Obamacare made a big difference to whether people could get healthcare, DACA to whether they could stay in the US, laws on reproductive freedom, right to marry who you choose, get an apartment without racial discrimination, etc. etc. etc.

Blanketly attributing outcomes to luck dismisses the agency of the individual. It is belittling. Who are you to say that I haven't experienced illegal racial discrimination?

> The article lists expensive options for citizenship and residency permits before concluding that expatriation is impossible.

I seem to recall that retiring to Mexico has been extremely popular the last decade or so. I have to agree with your point - each country is a quite different experience. If retirees can make it work then surely someone with a career can.

> once you have a source of income everything else tends to fall in place

Most people's source of income is employment. It's hard to get employment in another country if you don't already have the right to live there, especially if there's not a shortage of native workers with your skills.

Yes, most people have jobs. Those jobs are created by entrepreneurs or government. Some entrepreneurs choose to do without employees. Software development and publishing would be a niche where this model applies.

Job markets are usually protected by work permits. Arguments about protectionism can go either way. I'm not advocating either position, only making a realist's observation.

Job creators and people who have income are usually recognized as a benefit to an economy. The expectation that migrating to a foreign country (for political reasons of all things) should be made easy seems misplaced. There are ways to achieve this and live well for those who apply themselves. A little creativity that yields a modest passive income is enough to prosper on in many parts of the world.

> With the exception of lockdowns, political outcomes rarely interfere with daily routines.

As long as you're white. And male. And straight. And cis. And wealthy.

> With the exception of lockdowns, political outcomes rarely interfere with daily routines.

I used to agree with your first sentence but Government never gives attained powers back. The lockdowns represent a crossing of the Rubicon.

Yes, the "new normal" is reminiscent of the expansion of state powers following 9/11.

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