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Comment by futureshock | Hacker News Reader

I think people get ridiculed for thinking like this, but as a gay man married to a EU citizen, I am 100% ready to pull up stakes. We spend months at a time in the EU and have several favorite places we’ve talked about returning to. Western Europe has a progressive, pro-worker culture that the US will never have. I live in Florida and am financially independent. The moment the mood darkens, I’m off to greener pastures. I think the key here is that political stability is the icing on top of a great lifestyle we are already enjoying for part of the year.

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Europe is the next target. The people who got Trump elected will be spending a lot of time and effort into reshaping European politics now.

I’m European and most likely the overall effect you’d have, unless you went to a high income country where your impact is minimised, is likely to be net negative by raising housing prices in some poorer country like Portugal. Don’t be too surprised when their own Trump gets elected.

American expat living in Portugal here. The chega party is indeed on the rise here, but politics are less about personal identity and more focused on issues. A lot of chega’s rise has been attributed to dissatisfaction with the status quo and a warning shot to the incumbent government. Time will tell which direction things go, but the affordability of housing and low wages top the list of concerns.

Howdy, neighbor! Am also an American expat living in Portugal. We've been living in Lisbon for about a year, and so far I really love it here. People are friendly, the vibe is relaxed, and life is peaceful with a glass of inexpensive wine never far away. Highly recommend anyone looking for an exit plan to consider sunny Portugal.

So far, there are no indications of the far-right gaining any amount of power with which they could govern. In a broader sense there have been a number of rightwing victories across Europe, but thus far Portugal (and Spain next door) don't look poised to join that trend.

I am Portuguese. You are delusional if you think the far right won't be in government soon.

Of course you are an American expat in Lisbon, so I assume you are living a life that's likely not very connected to local concerns. I assure you, Chega is growing like hell. I am not a supporter, I just see it.

Expats and the ballooning cost of housing is a part of it. The fact that you moved to Lisbon will have the victory of the far right here as a second order effect. Think about that.

Chega will win soon. Sorry.

The fact that there are so many expats blowing up the cost of living doesn't help.

Enjoy it.

Life goes on.

I think what’s happening to Portugal is mainly due to poor governance. Expats and tourists are a patsy that only affect very specific neighborhoods in central Lisbon.

And anyways we aren’t moving to Portugal. We have a few spots in mind, several of them are within the 2 EU countries where we are citizens. Bit odd to suggest we’d be net negatives in our own countries any more than you are a net negative in yours. But I suppose we are all a net negative when it comes to carbon emissions and environmental impact.

The proliferation of Airbnbs in Lisbon is real.

Airbnbs were part of the destruction of that city for residents. They’re priced out.

Tourists are not a patsy. Their impact on the city and real estate prices was devastating.

It’s your country. Elect some officials willing to tax and regulate the Airbnb issue and stimulate home building. How can you blame anyone else? The tourists and expats are there by your invitation.

Ridiculous. First you say its not a real problem, then when I point it is, and the far right will win elections on it, you say "its your country!!" Yeah they will be fixed, not in a way that will be pleasant to you.

I didnt invite a single person. The owners of capital did.

This cold, zero empathy attitude is very typical of the "expat" culture.

Why should I or you care if your elected officials make a solution I don’t like? I’m not a citizen of Portugal, not a resident and an only occasional visitor. If the government massively decreases the supply of tourist accommodations in favor of residents, then I’ll just see that it’s a bit too expensive and possibly visit somewhere else. Exactly like the regulation of capitalism should work.

Not sure what kind of empathy you are looking for. How could I possibly solve your problems? Only when you take responsibility, as the only people in the world with a vote, can you change the situation.

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