# How bad a president would it take for you to move out of America? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645 "2016-10-04T18:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/21 "2016-10-05T04:16:36Z")
I’m a white male so there isn’t a lot for me to directly fear. My guess is it would take open violence in the streets. Right now there are protests when a young black man is killed if that turned into Rodney King style riots with each death then I’d want to find someplace safer to live and it would probably be out of the country. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/22 "2016-10-05T04:33:49Z")
If I were 40 years younger, I might have a different opinion and/or strategy. But at my advanced age, it doesn’t look like a good bet to move anyplace; besides, I like it here. And moving away would make it more difficult to oppose whatever shit Trump might try to pull. If he ever tried to holocaust us, I’d rather go down fighting than skedaddling. History can be a great teacher and I’m a good student. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/23 "2016-10-05T10:22:46Z")
It would take a hell of a lot to get me to move to another country, because I’m still in a position where I need to work. And getting work visas in another country can be a royal pain in the ass. Moving to another country is a lot harder than just buying the plane ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/24 "2016-10-05T11:10:38Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Any American can go to Mexico with no papers needed, ever, as long as you remain in the 20-km strip along the US border. With apologies for the hijack, how does this work? Or am I just missing a joke? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/25 "2016-10-05T11:13:44Z")
I’ve seriously considered moving to another country anyway. If I could swing it financially, it wouldn’t take much. And if Trump had his way, a large chunk of my job wouldn’t exist anymore. As long as I can bring my cats. Seriously, though, I do have all my family and most of my friends here, and we own a condo, so there would be some level of inertia. But I imagine I could come up with somewhere where I would be willing to live where I could get a job. As long as anyone at all is still interested in moving to the U.S., my skillset should be transferrable. And I’m sure I could teach English somewhere, and actually enjoy learning foreign languages. ---
**Author:** ![ultimate11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/49beb7/32.png) [@ultimate11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultimate11)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/26 "2016-10-05T13:01:18Z")
How bad? If Chicago gets nuked, then I’m forced to leave. Otherwise I’m staying put, regardless of the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/27 "2016-10-05T13:02:27Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > With apologies for the hijack, how does this work? Or am I just missing a joke? Mexico has absolutely no control at the actual border regulating entry from the USA. The control points are all 20 Km inside Mexico. When you enter Mexico, you just walk in. Nobody knows or cares that you have done so. I’ve done it dozens of times. Legally, a person entering Mexico in this way is limited to (I think) six months, but in practice, there would probably have to be a compelling reason for Mexican authorities to challenge your prolonged presence there – you can, but probably won’t be deported… In fact, I think (not sure) you can even drive into Mexico’s frontereza zone with an American-plated car, and drive it for years with expired plates on it, without being challenged. Mexicans can buy cheap American used cars, but have to specially plate them and cannot drive them into Mexico’s interior. For the purposes of this discussion, the catch is on the US side of the border. Once across the Mexican border, you cannot get back into the USA without a passport and all the usual ICE inspections. You would also not be able to go south into the interior of Mexico without satisfactory papers. You’d be trapped in a country that is 2,000 Km long and 20 Km wide, with no papers to leave in either direction. Kinda like at Rick’s Cafe. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/28 "2016-10-05T13:53:12Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Thing is in the US we have congress, senate, and the supreme court to keep the president in line. After that we have the governors. Plus their is a thing called an election. Yes but my worry if Trump is elected is that he’ll simply mouth off in his arrogant way to some other nation’s leader and they’ll nuke us in retaliation. That mouth is too much of a loose cannon to be in a position of power. > [@jtur88](#): > > Whenever I travel, I’m always on the lookout for places I couid re-retire as an expat. Thre are a lot of nicely liveable places, but getting papers to stay there legally is an increasing problem, Even banana republics now have universal health care, and arriving Americans are seen as health care refugees. Husband was seriously investigating countries we could expat to, and landed on New Zealand as the most likely option. However, even they don’t want retirement-age immigrants and we’re both in our mid-fifties. If we were younger they’d welcome us with open arms to work and support the local economy. He also found that if we renounce our US citizenship we’d lose most of our retirement savings, 401K’s and IRAs. But if we kept our citizenship then we’d have to continue to pay income taxes to the US even on income earned in the other country. That’s quite a catch-22! So alas, we’ll likely stay and try to muddle through. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/29 "2016-10-05T14:34:17Z")
You can run from bullies… or you can face them head on. You can’t always win, but you can make it so painful for them to come at you that, if they are smart, they’ll never even consider it. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/30 "2016-10-05T15:43:04Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Mexico has absolutely no control at the actual border regulating entry from the USA. The control points are all 20 Km inside Mexico. When you enter Mexico, you just walk in. Nobody knows or cares that you have done so. I’ve done it dozens of times. Legally, a person entering Mexico in this way is limited to (I think) six months, but in practice, there would probably have to be a compelling reason for Mexican authorities to challenge your prolonged presence there – you can, but probably won’t be deported… In fact, I think (not sure) you can even drive into Mexico’s frontereza zone with an American-plated car, and drive it for years with expired plates on it, without being challenged. Mexicans can buy cheap American used cars, but have to specially plate them and cannot drive them into Mexico’s interior. > > For the purposes of this discussion, the catch is on the US side of the border. Once across the Mexican border, you cannot get back into the USA without a passport and all the usual ICE inspections. You would also not be able to go south into the interior of Mexico without satisfactory papers. You’d be trapped in a country that is 2,000 Km long and 20 Km wide, with no papers to leave in either direction. Kinda like at Rick’s Cafe. Interesting, thanks. Though of course (as I know you know) not really a viable alternative in terms of permanently leaving the USA. As a UK citizen the OP isn’t directed at me, but I couldn’t ever see myself leaving my homeland permanently. If I absolutely had to, I’d definitely pick New Zealand, out of all the places I have been. I like a temperate climate. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/31 "2016-10-05T16:48:52Z")
If a dictator took over and started sending lily-white people of British/German ancestry to concentration camps, then probably. Otherwise: you can’t defeat the enemy by running away. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/32 "2016-10-05T17:03:14Z")
If a president began authorizing the creation of internment camps for Muslims, I’d be inclined to beat feet out of here. But given my health problems that might be difficult to arrange ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/33 "2016-10-05T18:25:51Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > But if we kept our citizenship then we’d have to continue to pay income taxes to the US even on income earned in the other country. That’s quite a catch-22! True, but … . . You can elect to pay taxes to the country of residence on income earned there, and in most cases, the IRS will grant full credit for that against your US tax liability. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/34 "2016-10-05T18:38:17Z")
Despite her many faults, I love this place. I’m game to ride out any and all storms with her. I ain’t goin’ nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/35 "2016-10-05T18:43:12Z")
Not sure where the hell I would go. Not sure who the hell would take me. Fuck it! I’ll stay put. I’ve got a fantastic garage. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/36 "2016-10-05T18:43:53Z")
I dont know how long a Hillary dictatorship would last but it wouldnt be forever. ---
**Author:** ![ultimate11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/49beb7/32.png) [@ultimate11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultimate11)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/37 "2016-10-05T18:51:46Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I dont know how long a Hillary dictatorship would last but it wouldnt be forever. You mean Emperor? I’d give her 4 years before the public votes someone else (sooner if there’s a tragedy, I doubt in today’s times a Nixon-style resignation is going to happen- if Trump can pull off 2015 and 2016 with all of the crap he’s done, I’m sure there’s no scandal that’s worthy of impeachment. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/38 "2016-10-05T19:03:35Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I dont know how long a Hillary dictatorship would last but it wouldnt be forever. Neigher would a Muslim or a Chinese takeover, which evreybody (including the hapless candidates) seems scared shitless of, despite the near-zero chance. Even the Soviet takeover of eastern Europe only lasted 40 years. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/39 "2016-10-05T21:45:42Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Plus their (sic) is a thing called an election. This is the problem. If a wanna-be despot gets elected it means that those who voted for this person will support bad actions until it is too late; alternatively (as **jtur88** suggested) when the truth dawns that a horrible mistake has been made, the same electorate will support the proverbial “man on a white horse” who will come to the rescue, and proceed to become a different kind of despot. This may only be a matter of time. What majority percentage is it that doesn’t understand how the bill of rights works (i.e. how freedom of speech or freedom of religion work)? This election has shown how pitiful our current resources and processes are in preventing someone who neither understands nor cares about civil liberties from coming so close to the presidency. He has done this by exploiting and appealing to people who are as self-serving and ignorant as he is. One day we will get another Trump only this one will be bright enough not to step on his own feet every single day of the campaign, and that person will be elected and will make every effort, including putting like-minded people on the courts, to halt progress in and start to dismantle those civil liberties which he (and they) find inconvenient or disagreeable. This election has proven to me that it won’t take much, we are much more on a knife-edge than I ever would have thought. As for me, at 67 I have no interest in leaving my country to make a bunch of yahoos more comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645/40 "2016-10-05T23:12:50Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Even the Soviet takeover of eastern Europe only lasted 40 years. Yes and in the long run we’re all dead. Doesn’t mean I want to live, or not live, under Stalin just because his regime will one day end. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-president-would-it-take-for-you-to-move-out-of-america/767645.md?page=3)