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Except the US has lower standards of living, a worse education system, a terrible human rights record, really high obesity levels, and more poverty than many ot

by illumen 18y ago

Except the US has lower standards of living, a worse education system, a terrible human rights record, really high obesity levels, and more poverty than many other counties. No wonder they are leaving... there's many better places to live: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Most_Livable_Cities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Most_Livable_Cities They also might be scared of being put in jail... with the US having 1 out of 100 people in jail... a massive percentage of them being non-white. The highest level of incarceration in the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisons_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisons_in_the_United_States

endtime 18y ago
Your comment is ridiculous, irrelevant (true or not, none of those things apply to the "skilled immigrants" in question), and intellectually dishonest. Save it for reddit, please.
- illumen 18y ago
  It directly applies to the skilled immigrants in question. Since there are many better places in the world to live than in the US - what I said listed some reasons why the US is not a very good place to live. Why are highly skilled immigrants choosing to go elsewhere? The reasons listed could be why they are leaving, and some of the reasons I listed are mentioned in the article. As a highly skilled immigrant myself(who isn't in the US), those are a few of the problems I see with the US. There's lots of other good things, and bad things about it of course, those are just some important reasons not to live there. I notice how you made a personal attack, rather than address any of the (true) facts I listed. You're also living in the US, which makes your comment even more questionable. If you'd like to check what I said, the links listed have references to back it up.
  - endtime 18y ago
    I'm not interested in getting into an internet battle, especially not at HN. But I did not make a personal attack, I only criticized your comment (however, you did question my credibility based on where I live). The problem with your comment is that it was irrelevant to the issue at hand. You're entitled to hold whatever political opinions you want, informed or not, but this isn't a site about politics and it wasn't a topic about politics, which is why your comment was inappropriate. If you want to rant about politics, there are plenty of other places to do that. But I would request that you allow HN to remain free of that sort of thing.
geebee 18y ago
I agree with you that the US has a lot of problems, but I do think you've overstated the case. A "worse education system"? I'd be more inclined to say an "uneven" system. If you live in a well-to-do area, it can be absolutely excellent. California's inequalities really illustrate ths divide. If you grow up in a strong public education district, and follow it with an undergrad or grad degree at one of the University of California campuses.... I suspect that's one of the strongest public educational paths available on a massive scale (IIT and the Grande Ecoles may have higher numbers, but they are also much smaller). The US is also a great place to be a late bloomer - if you can do well in a community college and transfer to a UC, you have educational opportunities in your 30s, 40s and beyond that are typically closed off to you by that age in other countries. And lastly, I do think the size and breadth of US Universities exceeds any other country. Not to say the US has a monopoly on this, but it's the overwhelming first.

by illumen 18y ago

endtime 18y ago

Your comment is ridiculous, irrelevant (true or not, none of those things apply to the "skilled immigrants" in question), and intellectually dishonest. Save it for reddit, please.

illumen 18y ago
It directly applies to the skilled immigrants in question. Since there are many better places in the world to live than in the US - what I said listed some reasons why the US is not a very good place to live. Why are highly skilled immigrants choosing to go elsewhere? The reasons listed could be why they are leaving, and some of the reasons I listed are mentioned in the article. As a highly skilled immigrant myself(who isn't in the US), those are a few of the problems I see with the US. There's lots of other good things, and bad things about it of course, those are just some important reasons not to live there. I notice how you made a personal attack, rather than address any of the (true) facts I listed. You're also living in the US, which makes your comment even more questionable. If you'd like to check what I said, the links listed have references to back it up.
- endtime 18y ago
  I'm not interested in getting into an internet battle, especially not at HN. But I did not make a personal attack, I only criticized your comment (however, you did question my credibility based on where I live). The problem with your comment is that it was irrelevant to the issue at hand. You're entitled to hold whatever political opinions you want, informed or not, but this isn't a site about politics and it wasn't a topic about politics, which is why your comment was inappropriate. If you want to rant about politics, there are plenty of other places to do that. But I would request that you allow HN to remain free of that sort of thing.

geebee 18y ago

I agree with you that the US has a lot of problems, but I do think you've overstated the case. A "worse education system"? I'd be more inclined to say an "uneven" system. If you live in a well-to-do area, it can be absolutely excellent. California's inequalities really illustrate ths divide. If you grow up in a strong public education district, and follow it with an undergrad or grad degree at one of the University of California campuses.... I suspect that's one of the strongest public educational paths available on a massive scale (IIT and the Grande Ecoles may have higher numbers, but they are also much smaller). The US is also a great place to be a late bloomer - if you can do well in a community college and transfer to a UC, you have educational opportunities in your 30s, 40s and beyond that are typically closed off to you by that age in other countries. And lastly, I do think the size and breadth of US Universities exceeds any other country. Not to say the US has a monopoly on this, but it's the overwhelming first.