When I lived in LA some years ago, the LA Times had an article about Americans who had emigrated to Oz. Some had succeeded but most came back. Reasons included cultural difficulties, the high cost of everything, relatively low wages, tiny cars, tiny homes, and often a lack of hot water. I don't know how it is now but if I were a doctor like you, I would arrange to go and live there for a few months. Try on the shoe before you buy it.

I think the low wages problem (in general) has been 'sorted'. Minimum wage in Australia is about AUD$17.50 .... thats about US$19.00

Thanks again for all the information. I think that the statement that everything is relative applies here. There are definitely places in the US where your comments apply "NY, LA, SF, and the Northwest". We are getting low wages, the culture is changing for us, small cars are being forced on us as parking spots shrink, Hot water? well it rain ice cold here in Portland 6 months out of the year... I think if a person is comfortable in their environment moving seems foolish however, if one enjoys adventure and embraces change then anything can be fun for a while.

Brad

Lack of hot water

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
Lack of hot water

Retards ...

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
Lack of hot water

Might be water restrictions they got mixed up on.I know QLD got a heap of shit publicity the last time when Brisbane went onto 4 minute showers 07-09 due to shit city planning and drought. And it was a complete fuckup.

I would agree Indy's first point culture is the biggest thing.Changes in every law relating to being a free and serious individual don't just change the law, they change the people.
Most Aussies would agree last time we were that is probably 1980's.Most of western Europe is also a liberal trainwreck.

If you'll indulge me one of the (very)few things I enjoy about the 3rd world and war zones is serious individuals. Its a breath of fresh air just to be able enjoy a groups company with a sense of value for harmony when you can get it,eg no immaturity and chickenshit bickering and everyone acting like reality TV wankers. How can it be you spend time sitting down for chai tea with warlords and actually enjoy the experience, yet have to brace yourself when coming home to sit down with a group of your fellow aussies at a party because you know you wil be defending yourself from all types of immature bullshit the whole time...

I had the same relaxed feeling whenever training with the yanks in the US. It really is like stepping back in time. The countries that come close are probably NZ to a degree, white parts of South Africa and the ex eastern bloc countries big time. Canada for whatever reason is a complete change from the US as soon as you cross the border.

Interesting perspective Karl but I would suggest that the USA is just as diverse (with vastly differing internal 'cultures') as there is in Australia. The difference between living in rural parts of Australia and somewhere like Sydney is huge.... just like the difference between say Texas and downtown Chicago... it might as well be two different countries!!

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
Interesting perspective Karl but I would suggest that the USA is just as diverse (with vastly differing internal 'cultures') as there is in Australia. The difference between living in rural parts of Australia and somewhere like Sydney is huge.... just like the difference between say Texas and downtown Chicago... it might as well be two different countries!!

Matt I would agree, the countries are too large to make a general statement.

That said the choice to be the texas or chicago living guy are the point. In Australia I can be living in Hells gate QLD population 65, or Melbourne Vic, population 3 million and I can't get away from being the same politically corrected, gun restricted, can't jack my car over 2", must wear a bike helmet, etc etc safety regulated guy at the end of the day.

Unlike the US our diversity is not backed up with any significant local clout, which is a mostly to do with the fact our rural population is actually small and always dominated by the states liberal city where all the votes, crazy ideas and idiots are. I am getting a little esoteric but it seems to be this lack of freedom starts to eat away at a man's self assuredness even if he does not realise it, and effect everything from the way he talks to his body languge to the way he apologies before having an opinion.

Back to the point of the dicussion I think the hunting yanks notice this when they come over.They can still wear their cowboy hat and buy a big peice of land but in too many ways they are dancing to the tune of the metrosexual suburbanites living in their city apartments.

Hmm yes true... but I dont think Australia is nearly as fucked up as most of us say it is AND the USA has an aweful lot of failings.

The rural vs big city differences are always going to be with us..........AND its going to get worse.
The majority of populations in every country are too busy watching it on the news rather than doing it & consume rather than DIY ........consumables, services & experiences.
They don't experience the big wide world, they read about it, they form opinions from what they see on TV & read in the paper or someone's facebook, tweet, or blog.

The people who are at the grassroots of life outside the urban environments are too busy 'doing it' and the ecofreaks & social experimentalists have a field day getting their skewed opinions & selective data justifying their view into the public press.
The politicians survive on votes & pander to the population percentage that gets them those votes..........the real world doesn't get much of a look-in.............there's no reality check........its all perception.

No country is immune from this situation.
We live by political cycles of 3-4 yrs and not by longterm national planning & optimised self sufficiency . Political balance of power gives some individuals input into national policy that vastly outweighs their real representation within the public and leads to extreme shifts in policy.
The hard part is achieving a reality check & recovering lost but sensible rights.
Rural populations still largely trust their neighbors & have a practical sense of community, urban populations have increasingly lost their sense of community & trust in their neighbour.
That means they don't trust YOU......and politically correct risk management is being applied to you despite the practicalities of the "real" world outside the cloistered urban community.
- if you don't need a gun in an urban environment then nobody needs a gun.
- if food comes in a packet in the shop, who needs to worry about national self sufficiency or how or where its produced.
- most city youth ( and a lot of their parents) struggle to recognise one end of a hacksaw from the other, let alone how to use it properly, someone else does that when you pay them money.
- most don't form an opinion about something from actually doing it, they form an opinion from what someone else told them about it, or saw on contrived & edited 'reality' TV .

The 'failings' of every society is being driven by a lack of any 'reality' check.

As GDP of every country shifts from rural enterprise to "service" industries, the view of the "reality" of the world the majority of population lives in, changes.

Its not chance that those countries with a democracy & a significant proportion of rural enterprise in their GDP have the broadest personal freedoms & less PC stupidity, because the people who 'do-it' rather than 'read about it' have more voting power & more influence on the balance of power.

At least Australias 'rural industries' are mostly on the increase... that will certainly drive a lot more people into regional areas. Even a lot of Australia agricultural industries are doing OK right at the moment - especially since the good seasons came around again in the east. Hopefully it continues...