Graham, we have a lot to talk about. As you might remember I’m in LA now, doing an artist’s residency. The people I met here are, almost without exception, wonderful: kind, helpful and we have fascinating conversations. And — equally almost without exception — they would all give their right arm to be able to settle in Europe. One young lady at an event tonight said: “The American dream is to move to Europe.” I find that intriguing, to say the least.
Hard to say, I am no expert and the above was what people I talked with said after some research into life in Europe and based on personal experience. One of them actually lived in Europe for some time in the hope of getting married, but then the relationship went belly up, so a return ticket was necessary and goodbye to affordable healthcare. But prices are crazy there. 7 dollars for a croissant in a cafe. Steep. I haven’t seen Ursula’s cabinet — since March 1st I have been on a news detox and it feels fantastic — but I can imagine the makeup of the team. I agree that a more diverse bunch is badly needed.
I seriously considered making moves to go to the US in the mid-90s. There was nothing wrong with Europe, but I'd done Germany and Belgium, and wanted a new horizon. I had a sponsor, a businessman I'd known personally for over ten years, who would back me - he backed a couple he knew in Australia, but they blew everything when they insisted on returning to Sydney for a family event. The greeting was not one of welcome when they returned. A friend in Riverside celebrated with me when I was visiting CA his new green card: nine years it had taken. Originally from Zacatecas in Mexico, he had returned for family events during his nine-year haul: as an illegal, smuggled under the fence and back without touching formal procedures. The brother of my Gambian friend, as you know, Baba, recently made a break for Europe and got trapped in Algeria, where he lost his shoes and was beaten badly before being shipped back to Banjul by UNHCR. I think he'll try again.
For the Australian couple and myself, and perhaps for Octavio from Mexico, the US would have been a choice, an option (although, in the 2010s, Mexico was already in the grip of the cartel). Maybe like being able to afford an Audi over a Peugeot: nothing wrong with a Peugeot, just an Audi's better. But, for Baba, his choice was like that of a prisoner whose guard looks the other way when he seizes his chance. For that, ultimately, is the range of situations that we stand before: to prefer, with ease, the alternative choice; to make a break before it's too late and your chance is gone. There is a third option: to overpower the guard. I wonder where all these people are on that - somewhat rudimentary - scale of want. The fourth option is to do your porridge. We can't complain: it is of our own making.
It's a neat play on words, but it's a twist, of course. The dream of a given American is not the American Dream. It was on Facebook, back ten years ago, that someone did mention the imminent American Civil War, and confirmed that he had been serious. The difference between the USA and the Titan submersible is that you get to hear a few more cracks in the structure before the thing implodes on you (just to be clear: in the USA). 2008 was a gargantuan crack, which was heard around the world, and which, to use the Stockton Rush analogy, was papered over with some Airfix glue. The world's financial systems are founded in the American financial system - the fiat dollar standard. And it is constructed like a Ponzi scheme. It is a Ponzi scheme. Its survival is dependent on adding more and more contributors at the bottom (to reiterate: there has never been a Ponzi scheme that survived, ever) and that is probably the reason why, whilst the right exclaim over replacement theories (they're right, but I don't think that's the intention) balanced with a falling fertility and birth rate in most of the world, it won't survive. The Ponzi scheme will implode (faster than Titan, this time) when the number of members starts to fall instead of growing. If I had any savings, I'd be putting them in gold right now, because it will survive the crash, whereas paper will not. It is the "currency versus money" contrast.
So, if the fight or flight quandary of the dreaming Americans you've met has not yet resolved itself, maybe you can ask them what they think it is they would be fleeing from, and not fighting, and what they think is the nature of the safety to which they would be fleeing. As Baba only too well knows, there are comfortable places to sit, and to read, and to watch a movie, and to eat a romantic meal. But there is no comfortable place to die, except that you comforted yourself with trying to prevent it.
The people I talked to generally want a more affordable and safer life. In particular: cheaper food prices, affordable healthcare, no guns in the streets, better mental health services and a police force they can trust.
Do you seriously believe yourself that the European Union offers them this? I went to buy fish today, and the package that cost me €6.30 a month ago was priced at €11.95. I left it in the freezer. Belgium has the best medical services in the world, but Germany and France don't. As for mental health services, I really cannot comment. I'm not sure what police forces I can trust, because I'm not sure how far I can trust the politicians who give them their orders. How do you know there are fewer guns on Europe's streets than America's? (It was a few decades ago, but I saw a report that said that per capita ownership of guns is higher in Belgium than the US.) They published a photo this week of Von Der Leyen's new cabinet. You're a white boy, you'll be okay. What ethnicity are your interlocutors? If they're white, they'll love Von Der Leyen's Europe.
All that said, you are brave to be there. I would not enter the US again for the rest of my life, on a simple matter of principle. In Belgium, I have no option to be principled. I'm stuck with it.
A lot to ponder Graham. The declaration of Independence has a lot to 'live up to". But part of it is totally untruthful, to wit: "that all men are created equal" is an outright falsehood. Even if you throw women into the mix. Better they should have said 'that all humans are entitled to equal opportunity to gain the best life to which they, by their own wit and strength can'.
America, like every other country on Earth has never reached its potential. We keep trying, and right now trying against a violent opposing force.
Many Countries, fortunate enough to have great musical composers have beautiful patriotic anthems, and some have oaths of allegiance.
I still am glad I immigrated here from Canada. Here, in California, I was given the potential to receive a truly great education, 3 amazing careers. And the opportunity to be the best person I could be - imperfect, but happy.
Graham, we have a lot to talk about. As you might remember I’m in LA now, doing an artist’s residency. The people I met here are, almost without exception, wonderful: kind, helpful and we have fascinating conversations. And — equally almost without exception — they would all give their right arm to be able to settle in Europe. One young lady at an event tonight said: “The American dream is to move to Europe.” I find that intriguing, to say the least.
Hard to say, I am no expert and the above was what people I talked with said after some research into life in Europe and based on personal experience. One of them actually lived in Europe for some time in the hope of getting married, but then the relationship went belly up, so a return ticket was necessary and goodbye to affordable healthcare. But prices are crazy there. 7 dollars for a croissant in a cafe. Steep. I haven’t seen Ursula’s cabinet — since March 1st I have been on a news detox and it feels fantastic — but I can imagine the makeup of the team. I agree that a more diverse bunch is badly needed.
I seriously considered making moves to go to the US in the mid-90s. There was nothing wrong with Europe, but I'd done Germany and Belgium, and wanted a new horizon. I had a sponsor, a businessman I'd known personally for over ten years, who would back me - he backed a couple he knew in Australia, but they blew everything when they insisted on returning to Sydney for a family event. The greeting was not one of welcome when they returned. A friend in Riverside celebrated with me when I was visiting CA his new green card: nine years it had taken. Originally from Zacatecas in Mexico, he had returned for family events during his nine-year haul: as an illegal, smuggled under the fence and back without touching formal procedures. The brother of my Gambian friend, as you know, Baba, recently made a break for Europe and got trapped in Algeria, where he lost his shoes and was beaten badly before being shipped back to Banjul by UNHCR. I think he'll try again.
For the Australian couple and myself, and perhaps for Octavio from Mexico, the US would have been a choice, an option (although, in the 2010s, Mexico was already in the grip of the cartel). Maybe like being able to afford an Audi over a Peugeot: nothing wrong with a Peugeot, just an Audi's better. But, for Baba, his choice was like that of a prisoner whose guard looks the other way when he seizes his chance. For that, ultimately, is the range of situations that we stand before: to prefer, with ease, the alternative choice; to make a break before it's too late and your chance is gone. There is a third option: to overpower the guard. I wonder where all these people are on that - somewhat rudimentary - scale of want. The fourth option is to do your porridge. We can't complain: it is of our own making.
It's a neat play on words, but it's a twist, of course. The dream of a given American is not the American Dream. It was on Facebook, back ten years ago, that someone did mention the imminent American Civil War, and confirmed that he had been serious. The difference between the USA and the Titan submersible is that you get to hear a few more cracks in the structure before the thing implodes on you (just to be clear: in the USA). 2008 was a gargantuan crack, which was heard around the world, and which, to use the Stockton Rush analogy, was papered over with some Airfix glue. The world's financial systems are founded in the American financial system - the fiat dollar standard. And it is constructed like a Ponzi scheme. It is a Ponzi scheme. Its survival is dependent on adding more and more contributors at the bottom (to reiterate: there has never been a Ponzi scheme that survived, ever) and that is probably the reason why, whilst the right exclaim over replacement theories (they're right, but I don't think that's the intention) balanced with a falling fertility and birth rate in most of the world, it won't survive. The Ponzi scheme will implode (faster than Titan, this time) when the number of members starts to fall instead of growing. If I had any savings, I'd be putting them in gold right now, because it will survive the crash, whereas paper will not. It is the "currency versus money" contrast.
So, if the fight or flight quandary of the dreaming Americans you've met has not yet resolved itself, maybe you can ask them what they think it is they would be fleeing from, and not fighting, and what they think is the nature of the safety to which they would be fleeing. As Baba only too well knows, there are comfortable places to sit, and to read, and to watch a movie, and to eat a romantic meal. But there is no comfortable place to die, except that you comforted yourself with trying to prevent it.
The people I talked to generally want a more affordable and safer life. In particular: cheaper food prices, affordable healthcare, no guns in the streets, better mental health services and a police force they can trust.
Do you seriously believe yourself that the European Union offers them this? I went to buy fish today, and the package that cost me €6.30 a month ago was priced at €11.95. I left it in the freezer. Belgium has the best medical services in the world, but Germany and France don't. As for mental health services, I really cannot comment. I'm not sure what police forces I can trust, because I'm not sure how far I can trust the politicians who give them their orders. How do you know there are fewer guns on Europe's streets than America's? (It was a few decades ago, but I saw a report that said that per capita ownership of guns is higher in Belgium than the US.) They published a photo this week of Von Der Leyen's new cabinet. You're a white boy, you'll be okay. What ethnicity are your interlocutors? If they're white, they'll love Von Der Leyen's Europe.
All that said, you are brave to be there. I would not enter the US again for the rest of my life, on a simple matter of principle. In Belgium, I have no option to be principled. I'm stuck with it.
A lot to ponder Graham. The declaration of Independence has a lot to 'live up to". But part of it is totally untruthful, to wit: "that all men are created equal" is an outright falsehood. Even if you throw women into the mix. Better they should have said 'that all humans are entitled to equal opportunity to gain the best life to which they, by their own wit and strength can'.
America, like every other country on Earth has never reached its potential. We keep trying, and right now trying against a violent opposing force.
Many Countries, fortunate enough to have great musical composers have beautiful patriotic anthems, and some have oaths of allegiance.
I still am glad I immigrated here from Canada. Here, in California, I was given the potential to receive a truly great education, 3 amazing careers. And the opportunity to be the best person I could be - imperfect, but happy.