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I think you may be the one that missed the point, as I don't see how mmaunder's comment (objecting to the "I wish we had it this easy today" with "you have it e

I think you may be the one that missed the point, as I don't see how mmaunder's comment (objecting to the "I wish we had it this easy today" with "you have it easier that you think") is unrelated. As someone who found themselves in a similar situation as mmaunder, but who emigrated to Europe instead of the US, I thought I would take a stab at your questions: 1 - In theory, my education was free. In practice, I have to thank my parents for supporting me until I was in my 30s. Otherwise, I would have had to get a job - I still got part-time jobs, but I'm not sure I would have gotten my degree if I had had to work full time. 2 - See 1. 3 - I saved from my part-time jobs enough for the one-way flight plus 3 months, which I spent almost entirely in my first month (I didn't account for the 3 months rent deposit). My parents helped me until my PhD student paperwork was done, at which point I made enough to sustain myself. 4. I think you are reading mmaunder's comment as "the US is the best country in the world", which is not the case (that would be, I don't know, Sweden maybe?). What they are arguing, instead, is that being "okay" in the US is miles ahead of being "okay" in half the world. Could the US do better? Sure, for all the reasons that you mention (plus medical debt). But you may be so used to what people consider normal in the US (drinking water, money that doesn't lose its value week to week, not being shot by someone trying to steal your cell phone) that you don't see the good parts anymore.

9387367 6y ago
So you think the vast majority of Americans have that easy today? You don’t think millions of Americans see their money lose its value week to week? Their friends or family being shot by someone trying to steal their cell phone? What does understanding the reality of life in America has to do with my capacity to see the good parts? See how the only point you did not address was (4). Do you still think I missed mmaunder’s point? Besides, the comment mmaunder replied to was comparing different periods, but your argument makes for a valid point that America is a great place for a privileged immigrant, but let’s not pretend that this is on offer to every American...or the vast majority of immigrants working minimal wage (when lucky, illegal aliens, forced labour, slave labour...) and providing the services you and mmaunder so proudly benefit from. Have a quick look at cost of education and housing vs income growth. > I think you are reading mmaunder's comment as "the US is the best country in the world" Not at all. I read mmaunder’s comment as “I had the privilege of moving here with many benefits not afforded to the average American and I just can’t believe Americans..." How do I know/guessed mmaunder’s privilege? Based on this: > I remember when I first moved here. I was incorporating my first California corporation using a Nolo book. mmaunder moved to the US to open their business, and that usually means, having enough capital that your worries are well disconnected from the reality of real America.
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9387367 6y ago

So you think the vast majority of Americans have that easy today? You don’t think millions of Americans see their money lose its value week to week? Their friends or family being shot by someone trying to steal their cell phone? What does understanding the reality of life in America has to do with my capacity to see the good parts? See how the only point you did not address was (4). Do you still think I missed mmaunder’s point? Besides, the comment mmaunder replied to was comparing different periods, but your argument makes for a valid point that America is a great place for a privileged immigrant, but let’s not pretend that this is on offer to every American...or the vast majority of immigrants working minimal wage (when lucky, illegal aliens, forced labour, slave labour...) and providing the services you and mmaunder so proudly benefit from. Have a quick look at cost of education and housing vs income growth. > I think you are reading mmaunder's comment as "the US is the best country in the world" Not at all. I read mmaunder’s comment as “I had the privilege of moving here with many benefits not afforded to the average American and I just can’t believe Americans..." How do I know/guessed mmaunder’s privilege? Based on this: > I remember when I first moved here. I was incorporating my first California corporation using a Nolo book. mmaunder moved to the US to open their business, and that usually means, having enough capital that your worries are well disconnected from the reality of real America.

deleted 6y ago
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