Non-Americans: Could you live in the United States?

[The Orson Empire]

That has nothing to do with the Defense budget, which is currently the U.S.'s priority.

Even still, an invasion of the United States mainland would be highly impractical. No nation would be able to occupy that much territory. There are also 300,000,000 guns in the United States, and many civilians own guns. On top of that, the U.S. has nuclear missiles.

Nukes prevent annexation.

Full stop.

Indeed.

Even still, there are enough guns in the United States for every man, woman, and child living in that country to have at least 1 gun.

[Solocon]

That has nothing to do with the Defense budget, which is currently the U.S.'s priority.

Even still, an invasion of the United States mainland would be highly impractical. No nation would be able to occupy that much territory. There are also 300,000,000 guns in the United States, and many civilians own guns. On top of that, the U.S. has nuclear missiles.

Missiles mean nothing if there's no budget room for people to make sure they work otherwise it might just backfire and destroy a city in the US as if it were Hiroshima.

Do you really think that the US will pay off its debt?

[The Orson Empire]

Missiles mean nothing if there's no budget room for people to make sure they work otherwise it might just backfire and destroy a city in the US as if it were Hiroshima.

Do you really think that the US will pay off its debt?

I don't think we can pay it off.

Even still, no other nation has the ability to force the United States to pay off its debt.

[Solocon]

Do you really think that the US will pay off its debt?

I don't think we can pay it off.

Even still, no other nation has the ability to force the United States to pay off its debt.

Perhaps China. But I do agree, there's no way we're paying the trillions of dollars we owe.

[The Serbian Empire]

Missiles mean nothing if there's no budget room for people to make sure they work otherwise it might just backfire and destroy a city in the US as if it were Hiroshima.

Do you really think that the US will pay off its debt?

The place isn't likely to last much longer than 50 to 60 years just on the back of mandatory obligation social programs eventually taking up almost the entire budget in as little as 20 to 30 years. That would be the deadly duo of Social Security and Medicare. It either means the government reneges on it's obligations or goes bankrupt and defaults.

[Solocon]

Do you really think that the US will pay off its debt?

The place isn't likely to last much longer than 50 to 60 years just on the back of mandatory obligation social programs eventually taking up almost the entire budget in as little as 20 to 30 years. That would be the deadly duo of Social Security and Medicare. It either means the government reneges on it's obligations or goes bankrupt and defaults.

How does saying "we won't pay the debt" automatically delete the USA?

[Divitaen]

As a Singaporean citizen who has lived here for all my life, I don't think I would ever be able to assimilate into American culture. There are a lot of things in Singapore that we take for granted, and as I'm exposed to US political culture I've begun to notice stark differences in the way Singaporeans and Americans view politics:

1) Guns - This one will probably be mentioned again and again by foreigners, but one thing I'll never understand about American culture is the gun nuts. The US Congress rallied against the Manchin-Toomey Amendment with such ferocity, despite it only supporting background checks on firearms purchases, and the NRA sent death threats to smart gun manufacturers, when in Singapore illegal trafficking and illegal possession of firearms lands you the mandatory death penalty, and people here don't bat an eyelid. So that's something that will definitely take getting used to.
2) Freedom of speech - Another thing Singaporeans take for granted. When I talk to Singaporeans about hate speech laws, for instance, all of them can't understand why countries don't have hate speech laws, or don't have laws against sedition and political extremism. To Singaporeans, it seems obvious that inciting hate and violence against a minority ought to land you some time in prison, but in the US free speech is treated almost like a sacred entitlement.
3) Freedom of conscience - Again, a very stark difference in the views of citizens in Singapore and US citizens. We don't have the 1st Amendment in Singapore, and to everyday citizens it seems fair that the state should have some degree of influence over religious institutions, and in Singapore certain religious cults and sects have been banned. Also, in Singapore hate crime laws are treated as standard legality, but in the US there was so much controversy over the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Prevention Act because of concerns of thoughtcrime laws
4) Political polarisation - This is probably something that most Singaporeans can't understand about the US, and this probably applies to most of the world's citizens. Singaporeans would never be able to put up with the politicisation of everyday civil society, on MSNBC or FoxNews or any organization. In Singapore we've had one-party dominate the elections every year, so much so that brinkmanship like the US government shutdown and the Tea Party manufactured debt ceiling crisis are completely unheard of, it's definitely not something I would want to be part of in American society.
5) Racism and xenophobia - There will probably be a lot of Americans who will disagree with me on this, but the main reason I would never move to America is because of the racism there. As an Asian, I've met a lot of Asian-Americans who talk about how in everyday life many Americans seem to make it their goal to make them feel like they are foreigners who don't belong there, whether through racial slurs, stereotyping, especially in the media and in political banter. It's hard to feel part of a national culture if a sizeable majority/minority acts like you are an outside unworthy of equal treatment.

[Libertarian California]

When it loses a war and is annexed.

I for one, welcome my Guatemalan overlords.

You welcome a third world status?

[The Land Fomerly Known as Ligerplace]

I for one, welcome my Guatemalan overlords.

You welcome a third world status?

It comes with being black.

[The Serbian Empire]

The place isn't likely to last much longer than 50 to 60 years just on the back of mandatory obligation social programs eventually taking up almost the entire budget in as little as 20 to 30 years. That would be the deadly duo of Social Security and Medicare. It either means the government reneges on it's obligations or goes bankrupt and defaults.

How does saying "we won't pay the debt" automatically delete the USA?

The problem is the obligations of Social Security and Medicare would likely reduce to defenses to non-existent. Then the debt payments become due and just about any country with ships could invade due to the budget issues the US has set itself up to face.

[Libertarian California]

You welcome a third world status?

It comes with being black.

Duly noted.

*Begins setting up barriers*

[Veceria]

I would live closer to the people I love, everything else is secondary.

[Caltarania]

Nah.

I live in the UK, and while I hate almost every aspect of our government and the like I could never see myself enjoying life in the US (Unless I was working for RT in Austin, but still ). I would move to Canada or the Netherlands, but not the US. I think I'd get beaten up due to my views on the American Revolution and the like. Actually, I'd probably get shot because of their stupid fucking gun laws.

[New haven america]

I don't think we can pay it off.

Even still, no other nation has the ability to force the United States to pay off its debt.

Perhaps China. But I do agree, there's no way we're paying the trillions of dollars we owe.

Take over China. *Nods*
Or plant some seeds of revolution, very quietly and unsuspectingly.

[Solocon]

How does saying "we won't pay the debt" automatically delete the USA?

The problem is the obligations of Social Security and Medicare would likely reduce to defenses to non-existent. Then the debt payments become due and just about any country with ships could invade due to the budget issues the US has set itself up to face.

You do realize that the US would rather cut down Medicare and Social Security rather than its own defenses. There is no way that the military is going to decline for the sake of the budget. It just keeps borrowing money and spending money that doesn't exist. That is likely how it will stay. And when the borrowing runs out, it'll probably ignite some kind of war which the US (probably) won't lose. But that's another matter entirely.

[The Serbian Empire]

The problem is the obligations of Social Security and Medicare would likely reduce to defenses to non-existent. Then the debt payments become due and just about any country with ships could invade due to the budget issues the US has set itself up to face.

You do realize that the US would rather cut down Medicare and Social Security rather than its own defenses. There is no way that the military is going to decline for the sake of the budget. It just keeps borrowing money and spending money that doesn't exist. That is likely how it will stay. And when the borrowing runs out, it'll probably ignite some kind of war which the US (probably) won't lose. But that's another matter entirely.

It's the political third rail of voters. Any party that votes in favor of cutting SS and Medicare has committed political suicide to the voters.

[-The West Coast-]

5). Natural disasters. Pretty much every corner of the USA is affected or vulnerable to natural disasters, which happen on a fairly regular basis. The west has drought and earthquakes, the central states can be hammered by tornadoes, and the south and east are vulnerable to hurricanes and severe snow storms (the latter which we Canadians are very used to as well).

Its funny how you dislike the United States because of natural, non-man made disasters that cannot be prevented, stopped or thwarted before they occur. It's a weird thing to dislike a country for.

[New haven america]

Nah.

I live in the UK, and while I hate almost every aspect of our government and the like I could never see myself enjoying life in the US (Unless I was working for RT in Austin, but still ). I would move to Canada or the Netherlands, but not the US. I think I'd get beaten up due to my views on the American Revolution and the like. Actually, I'd probably get shot because of their stupid fucking gun laws.

Considering the American Revolution was the inspiration that caused Canada, Australia, and other Spanish and English colonies to gain self rule or independence, I'm pretty sure that was a great part of history.

[Solocon]

You do realize that the US would rather cut down Medicare and Social Security rather than its own defenses. There is no way that the military is going to decline for the sake of the budget. It just keeps borrowing money and spending money that doesn't exist. That is likely how it will stay. And when the borrowing runs out, it'll probably ignite some kind of war which the US (probably) won't lose. But that's another matter entirely.

It's the political third rail of voters. Any party that votes in favor of cutting SS and Medicare has committed political suicide to the voters.

And so the borrowing continues.

[Nazi Flower Power]

That's not a fair generalization to make about the Northeast. NH and VT have a definite gun culture.

They're 'exceptions to the rule', and have a combined population of about 2 million.

Generally - the Midwest and Southeast are more conservative and have more of those things that the OP mentioned as to why he couldn't live here; i.e. death penalty, gun culture, backwards views, extreme religiosity, health care laws, etc, compared to the Northeast and West Coast which generally are more moderate.

Less than 2 million I think, but Maine isn't exactly gun-free either, and when you have three states in a row that don't fit your generalization, it's not a good generalization. Gun control does not follow the same regional patterns as religiosity and general conservatism. Gun culture can be influenced by practical issues that have nothing to do with moral values, like the fact rural populations need guns for stuff other than killing people and urban populations don't.

I didn't object to you saying that the OP might find the Northeast more pleasant overall; I only objected to you using gun control in that context.

[The Serbian Empire]

It's the political third rail of voters. Any party that votes in favor of cutting SS and Medicare has committed political suicide to the voters.

And so the borrowing continues.

There is only so much borrowing that can be done before investors lose faith in a government.

[Solocon]

5). Natural disasters. Pretty much every corner of the USA is affected or vulnerable to natural disasters, which happen on a fairly regular basis. The west has drought and earthquakes, the central states can be hammered by tornadoes, and the south and east are vulnerable to hurricanes and severe snow storms (the latter which we Canadians are very used to as well).

Its funny how you dislike the United States because of natural, non-man made disasters that cannot be prevented, stopped or thwarted before they occur. It's a weird thing to dislike a country for.

Especially considering that most tornadoes in the midwest utterly destroy and pulverize miles of farmland where no one is living.

[Parhe]

I don't blame you. Seeing as the United States has the highest crime rates in the world, you have to defend yourself.

That really depends where in the US. Maine's crime rate is comparable to one of those European countries everyone cites as an example of how to run a proper criminal justice system.

He apparently lives in the South, but even there, I am not sure why he needs mace.

The closest I could find was this, though I am not sure how good of a source it is.

[The Serbian Empire]

5). Natural disasters. Pretty much every corner of the USA is affected or vulnerable to natural disasters, which happen on a fairly regular basis. The west has drought and earthquakes, the central states can be hammered by tornadoes, and the south and east are vulnerable to hurricanes and severe snow storms (the latter which we Canadians are very used to as well).

Its funny how you dislike the United States because of natural, non-man made disasters that cannot be prevented, stopped or thwarted before they occur. It's a weird thing to dislike a country for.

Especially considering that most tornadoes in the midwest utterly destroy and pulverize miles of farmland where no one is living.

The worst damage you'll see is the ground scouring that suggests of an EF-5 tornado.

[Parhe]

And so the borrowing continues.

There is only so much borrowing that can be done before investors lose faith in a government.

Nature, or man impact nature, deserves love too