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Even for a hacker news reader the U.S. might not be unequivocally the best place to live. For example I would like to live in the U.S. (perhaps not forever, but

by jules 14y ago

Even for a hacker news reader the U.S. might not be unequivocally the best place to live. For example I would like to live in the U.S. (perhaps not forever, but at least for some time). There are a couple of things that don't make it a clear cut choice, even if you only consider purely selfish factors: - healthcare: a large health bill or something that the insurance refuses to pay for can still wreck your life - very religious - high HIV rates - gun ownership - cycling unfriendly - social safety net (because even hacker news readers can have bad luck, especially when you do something risky like starting a company) - and of course more important things like distance from friends & family, but that's not a property of the U.S. in itself None of these are show stoppers per se, and perhaps they are irrational fears, but they can tip the scales in favor of other places despite the big bonus points that the U.S. get in other areas.

18pfsmt 14y ago
As an American, I can't help but find your listed "fears" quite humorous (and irrational). The US is a huge country with 300M people, and there is pretty much something for everyone. For example, Portland, OR is extremely bike friendly (as are many other cities), and I've never seen a gun brandished by someone I didn't know. I've never locked my house in the 3 years I've owned it, and my car keys stay in the ignition with my garage door open 90% of the time. Starting a company is a risky endeavor no matter where you do it, but I would advise starting a company in a country with which you are familiar, or with cofounders you trust that are.
- jules 14y ago
  That list was definitely not intended as a list that applies to all of the U.S.; quite the opposite: some of the points apply to some of the U.S. (I didn't make that clear though). You're right, there's something for everybody. One problem is that this also works the other way; I have to pick from the places where I find an interesting job and where the employer wants to employ me. So far those places have been places where several of the above criteria are unfortunately met. I do know that some of those things are definitely irrational, and would not be a problem in practice (especially gun ownership).
laaph 14y ago
> - cycling unfriendly Unless you are coming from the Netherlands or Denmark, I don't think this is really the case. The US has changed vastly on this front and I would rank it more cycling friendly than most places. Mind you many municipalities are still quite unfriendly to bicycles, but San Francisco and New York City (just to name two) have changed vastly. San Francisco has taken street lights that were timed for cars (so a car would drive down the street and get all green lights if it were to drive straight) and changed them to 13 miles per hour, so that a bicycle will get all green lights. It's certainly no Amsterdam, and there is still a long way to go, but I'd rather pedal there than most places. (NL, DK, parts of BE and DE are still more bicycle friendly than anywhere else I've been on a scale that simply won't make sense to a person who hasn't been to those places. Caveat, I've never been to China, rumor has it that there a lot of bicycles there too.)
- jules 14y ago
  Well, I am coming from the netherlands ;) San Francisco and New York are definitely nice cycling cities from what I've heard (and also don't have many of the other issues I listed). However, I was under the (perhaps wrong) impression that in a substantial area of the US, drivers are either inattentive of or actively against cyclists? But probably only the bad news gets out. You seem quite knowledgeable about these issues. If you have time, I'd love to get your perspective and advice about U.S. cities (though this might not be the appropriate place, I put my email in my profile in case you have time).
  - laaph 14y ago
    > Well, I am coming from the netherlands ;) Then like I said, with that standard, everywhere else is bicycle unfriendly. :( An email is coming, but I think that one of the big things (and San Francisco has this badly) is that the US is has been so car focused for so long that it is not exactly something that easily changes. But, compared to what it used to be, I think it has changed and still is changing. I don't think it is unique to USA. When I was in London in the late 90s, I was told "You want to ride a bike? You'll get killed!" Now there are bike lanes and bike share programs and all sorts of things, and while there are still places to avoid and even back in the day there were bike-able places, it's gotten much better.

by jules 14y ago

18pfsmt 14y ago

As an American, I can't help but find your listed "fears" quite humorous (and irrational). The US is a huge country with 300M people, and there is pretty much something for everyone. For example, Portland, OR is extremely bike friendly (as are many other cities), and I've never seen a gun brandished by someone I didn't know. I've never locked my house in the 3 years I've owned it, and my car keys stay in the ignition with my garage door open 90% of the time. Starting a company is a risky endeavor no matter where you do it, but I would advise starting a company in a country with which you are familiar, or with cofounders you trust that are.

jules 14y ago
That list was definitely not intended as a list that applies to all of the U.S.; quite the opposite: some of the points apply to some of the U.S. (I didn't make that clear though). You're right, there's something for everybody. One problem is that this also works the other way; I have to pick from the places where I find an interesting job and where the employer wants to employ me. So far those places have been places where several of the above criteria are unfortunately met. I do know that some of those things are definitely irrational, and would not be a problem in practice (especially gun ownership).

laaph 14y ago

> - cycling unfriendly Unless you are coming from the Netherlands or Denmark, I don't think this is really the case. The US has changed vastly on this front and I would rank it more cycling friendly than most places. Mind you many municipalities are still quite unfriendly to bicycles, but San Francisco and New York City (just to name two) have changed vastly. San Francisco has taken street lights that were timed for cars (so a car would drive down the street and get all green lights if it were to drive straight) and changed them to 13 miles per hour, so that a bicycle will get all green lights. It's certainly no Amsterdam, and there is still a long way to go, but I'd rather pedal there than most places. (NL, DK, parts of BE and DE are still more bicycle friendly than anywhere else I've been on a scale that simply won't make sense to a person who hasn't been to those places. Caveat, I've never been to China, rumor has it that there a lot of bicycles there too.)

jules 14y ago
Well, I am coming from the netherlands ;) San Francisco and New York are definitely nice cycling cities from what I've heard (and also don't have many of the other issues I listed). However, I was under the (perhaps wrong) impression that in a substantial area of the US, drivers are either inattentive of or actively against cyclists? But probably only the bad news gets out. You seem quite knowledgeable about these issues. If you have time, I'd love to get your perspective and advice about U.S. cities (though this might not be the appropriate place, I put my email in my profile in case you have time).
- laaph 14y ago
  > Well, I am coming from the netherlands ;) Then like I said, with that standard, everywhere else is bicycle unfriendly. :( An email is coming, but I think that one of the big things (and San Francisco has this badly) is that the US is has been so car focused for so long that it is not exactly something that easily changes. But, compared to what it used to be, I think it has changed and still is changing. I don't think it is unique to USA. When I was in London in the late 90s, I was told "You want to ride a bike? You'll get killed!" Now there are bike lanes and bike share programs and all sorts of things, and while there are still places to avoid and even back in the day there were bike-able places, it's gotten much better.