America: If I don't love it, how can I leave it?

Great Debates
1

This might be a General Question, but I also see the philosophy behind it possibly coming into debate. As such, I’m posting it in this forum.

Drain Bead and myself were chatting about the upcoming presidential elections. We both saw a United States with the Republicans in control of the House, Senate and in the White House. We were both frightened to no end.

Now, I understand that things have reached this point because a majority of voters picked these folks. So, I can’t complain about a system where I made my own votes that just didn’t make a difference.

However, say this does come to fruition. Say within a couple of years, the Supreme Court is turned-over with enough Bush appointees to upset the balance so people with that agenda are effectively in charge of all three branches of our government.

Then, they go about with implementing an agenda which makes every good conservative Republican smile: Roe v. Wade is overturned and abortiona are illegal here. We suddenly find ourselves to actually BE called a “Christian nation,” and decisions start making us look (and maybe even at times act) like a slight theocracy.

Suddenly, I don’t feel confortable and possibly even persectuted by my own government.

Can I leave to another country and get political asylum for this? Or do I have to be leaving a country where direct physical threats or other more direct actions have to be taken to take away my “human rights” for me to successfully enter and become a citizen of another country? Would it matter what country it was (Canada might have different rules than Mexico, for example)?

Yer pal,
Satan

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2

There’s an excellent chance the Democrats will regain the House this year, so you might want to forstall panic a bit longer.

I don’t really see the point in getting asylum from the States. Even if what you suggest comes true, your citizenship while living overseas will be still be an asset. As I understand, it is fairly easy to go to Canada or Mexico and live there as a U.S. citizen - a popular choice for retirees. I’m not sure about Western Europe or elsewhere - probably more complicated, but doable. Dual citizenship is sometimes an option.

But the asylum question - I think you have to prove your life is in immediate danger from the authorities because of your political beliefs. That’s a tall order around here, and even under an all-right-wing-Christian government, hard to prove. It’d be easier to just go the work route.

3

First of all, Satan, nothing lasts forever. Americans are, as a rule, die-hard moderates. If they feel that things are leaning too much in one direction, there’ll be a backlash. Most voters don’t want a far-right, religeous state, and most politicians want voters. Things will probably even out.

Second, remember the famous papraphrase: “America - love it or change it”. This may sound naive, but if you don’t like the way thing are going, then fight to change them! Unlike most of the world, you live in a democracy, and this give you a lot of freedom of action. And if they cncel the democracy, thrn take up arms and fight the good fight. There’s a lot to be said for leaving, but even more to be said for standing your ground.

4

Simply because a SC justice was appointed by a republican is no reason to assume he will rubber stamp everything the right-wing fringe asks for. …Is it?

5

I see them as Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

One wants to adjust spending by 2%, and the other by 4%. One wants to reduce taxes for some people but not others, and the other wants to reduce taxes for some people but not others. Both want to continue the War on Americans I Mean Drugs, and both want to perpetuate Social Insecurity and Medi-don’t-care. One wants a hand on your wallet, and the other wants a hand on your zipper.

The American Experiment is over. Might as well lay back and enjoy it.

6

The belief that the Democratic Party represents the interests of minorities and the working class and the Republican Party represents the upper classes is a false dichotomy. Both parties have long since ceased to differ in any sigificant way in policy or philosophy. The only interests served are the stock portfolios of the entrenched, Ivy-league educated Eastern elite. The one attempt to found a populists third-party, the Reform Party, was scuppered first by Perot’s insanity and then by the putsch by Buchanan
and his brown shirts. The Libertarian party will never be a force in American politics because their views are too extreme.
I’m not enthused by either candidate. Neither one has ever had a real job or has faced the problems of average Americans. Whoever wins, the workers will get screwed.
The choice of Supreme Court seats is important, but I’m not convinced that Gore’s appointments would be any more sensible than those of Dubya.
In any case, why would you feel persecuted just by living in a conservative country? If you’re not happy, organize. vote for your candidate and get others to do the same. If you just cut and run, or don’t vote at all, you’re just handing the country over to your enemies.

7

My favorite two quotes are this. Sorry, I can’t remember who said either.

“Republicans are the best friend capitalism ever had, Democrats on the other hand, are the second best friend capitalism ever had.”

and

“The politics of lesser-evilism will end up with Democrats, in hell, rounding up votes for Satan, because Bealzebub would be even worse”

I love that one.

8

Ayep. Lord knows, every Republican SC appointee has always turned out to be a toe-the-line conservative. God forbid that Bush appoints someone like Earl Warren again (an Eishenhower appointee)- you can kiss all of your rights goodbye.

And it’s not like some of those most likely to step down are already conservatives (Rehnquist).

And it’s not like Bush has already said he doesn’t see the overturn of Roe v. Wade happening within the next decade, even were he President.

But, feel free to overreact. Lord knows I will if it looks like Gore is going to become President and the Dems might take back Congress.
Canada is probably your best option: move to Buffalo and find a job across the border in Canada, then, when the Fundamentalist Inquisitory Force begins rounding up Jews, you’ve already got an ‘in’ with the Canadian government (namely, that you’ve proven that you can support yourself in their country by having a Canadian job).
The U.S. recognizes political asylum based upon direct threats to life for political views; I’d be surprised if Canada reacted much differently. If you tried to claim asylum in Canada because “the President is snotty about non-Christians”, they’d probably laugh at you. If you could actually show that your life and/or livelihood were in danger, that would be different.

9

Geez Satan, Do you really believe all that or are you just trolling for right wing zealots?

First of all, I think that your predictions of a Republican America are somewhat apocryphal. MOST republicans would be just as frightened of your version of the future as you are. As with most divisions in our society, the fringe elements seem to be the most vocal; and, therefore, the majority of the group gets identified with those traits. I wouldn’t characterize the average republican (or politician for that matter) by the christian right. Nor would I characterize the average democrat by the Limosine Liberals that run around the country yelling about this or that pet cause that 9 out of 10 times they know nothing about.

But let’s just suppose your fears are real and not just some pseudo-intellectual exercise you devised in some coffee shop. Requesting political asylum should be pretty easy. Just go to the nearest embassy of any of the neer-do-well third world countries and denounce the U.S government. They’d probably fall over themselves to grant your asylum. No embassy handy? Well then, save up your cash and by a boat or a plane and go to Cuba. If you land safely, I’m sure Fidel will be more than glad for the press.

Of course it would be so much easier to just apply to some other country for a visa. The only country that I know of that you have to be born in to get citizenship is Malta. Oh, by the way, the U.S. doesn’t recognize dual citizenship. If you accept citizenship in another country, you effectively renounce US citizenship.

Happy hunting.

10

I hear the Yankee $ goes a long way in Cuba. Great weather, great music, cheap booze…going to be a pretty cool place once Fidel turns his toes up. Got to get the plumbing working, though

11

'Scuse me, but that’s not true. Since my mom was born in the US, my brother and I have functional US citizenships, and she received her Canadian citizenship a few years ago. She has both a Canadian and a US passport, and Theo and I could get a US passport if we wanted one. Although I’m thinking of giving up mine, on the theory that if I should happen to visit the US, I don’t want to be arrested for violating the draft or something.

12

As much as I appreciate the more, uh, antagonizing nature of some of the posters above, allow me to clarify.

First of all, I said IF these things were to happen, not that they were a foregone conclusion. And given the current political climate - a climate where ONE SINGLE VOTE on the Supreme Court would have made a recent ruling on so-called “Partiual Birth Abortions” the opposite of what it is - I do not think that seeing it as within the realm of possibility if somehow delusional paranoia on my part.

Second of all, if reproductive rights by themselves is enough of a hot button issue for me to not want to be in this country, I believe that I have that right. As to whether this would be sufficient for political asylum is unlikely, but I have a right to feel that a single issue such as this would be enough to renounce the country, even if that is silly.

Yer pal,
Satan

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13

As someone with dual citizenship. First American, then Irish, I respectfully disagree with you.

14

First of all, Satan, you are assuming that the Repubs will actually carry out their philosophies. The same fear existed pre-Clinton. But the truth is that no politico is going to make decisions that are opposed by the majority. So abortion is not going to be made illegal b/c of the views of the president.

Secondly, if the repubs rule everything, we will see an increase in rights if for no other reason than we will still have our guns. The repubs tend to make gov’t weaker, not stronger (with the exception of abortion.)

I really doubt you are going to see anything more dramatic than having the 10 commandments posted at a few schools. I don’t like it, but this is less of a concern than having guns banned or more ADA/OSHA/Affirmative Action type of abuses.

15

Satan

Matters little. Whatever authority may usurp one right may just as equally usurp them all. Think of the Republicrats as two forces eating away at you, one from the head, the other from the feet. Sooner or later, they will meet at your ass.

16

Matt, (Why are Canadians so thick on this issue?) Canada recognizes dual citizenship, the US does not. The fact that your mother was a US citizen when you were born gives you the right to claim US citizenship. When you do that (there is a swearing in ceremony, it’s not automatic), you have to renounce citizenship of any other country. Now Canada will still accept you as one of theirs, but the US doesn’t see it that way. If you go back and set up shop, you will give up your right to be a US citizen. Your mother should be a prime example. When she took Canadian citizenship she stoped being a US citizen in the eyes of the US, not Canada.

17

Satan,

Even if this country turns entirely into a theocracy, complete with burning heretics at the stake, the U.S. has a loooooong history of allowing people to leave the country if they have not yet committed a crime. In fact, a theocratic America would probably want you to leave. “Go join your commie pinko hippie atheist friends in Canada or Sweden or Red China!” they’d say.

I don’t think you’d have to ask for political asylum in another country to be allowed out of the U.S…

18

You might be interested in Michael Moore’s new column at grassroots.com, “Ain’t Fallin’ For That One Again”.

Dr. J

19

Guess you didn’t read my post. First I respectfully disagreed. Now that you are holding on to a false and untruthfull position, I’ll have to bust out the facts.

Next time check your facts.

20

Incidentally, a majority of Americans did * not * vote for the Republicans in power now. A majority of * those who voted * did. And in many cases, it was a very slim majority–something like two votes in every disttrict. Whe you do the math, it works out to something like 20-30% that they got. Now I’m not challenging their right to rule (they did win the election), but it does make the “mandate of the people” thing seem a little shaky. Some better work by the Dems at getting out votes…