# So let's assume the U.S. goes down the toilet bowl - which Anglo country do you move to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 22, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920 "2010-02-22T00:04:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/1 "2010-02-22T00:04:26Z")
Let’s assume that, in line with [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=553012) the U.S. as a political entity drops a big load and ceases to be a nation where people with majority/social European heritages\*, English-only language skills can thrive instead of being some scrapper-byer in the backwater, poorly-developed plutocracy of America. Where would you move? (Assume you can, and assume that you’re one of a few people able to do this, so you don’t have 300 million Americans coming in too) That is, which Anglo nation is best situated for long-term continued success? (obv. none of these countries will be economic superpowers, so I’m talking more like a country with a high population, high GDP where one can at least not live in abject poverty in the wake of the U.S. “shit the bucket” Canada: As the U.S. economy goes, so goes the Canadian economy, but still has vast mineral wealth and a good geopolitical location Australia: Also many natural resources, but kind of out of the way (which may be a good thing?), but may run out of water at some point New Zealand: Kind of small, but may be best-insulated and able to sustain some quasi-autarky? Britain: Has some nice European ties to keep it afloat, but then again it has European ties to sink it too. So… what would you do? \*no, i’m not trying to stir up some ethno/racial crap, here. Rather, just making a limiting condition that as a whie midwesterner, you aren’t exactly going to endear yourself to a billion chinese or indians (much like they don’t exactly endear themselves to many in this country) so you effectively have to go to a place with “your people” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/2 "2010-02-22T00:13:40Z")
1. Australia 2. New Zealand 3. Canada 4. Britain Mainly driven by climate, fwiw. I lived long enough in a cold climate. I’ve been to all 4 countries, and I liked the 1st two best. I only put Australia first because I think there would be more opportunities. I’d be very happy in NZ, too. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/3 "2010-02-22T00:20:35Z")
New Zealand, definitely. At least we know there will be lots of fellow expat Dopers there. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/4 "2010-02-22T00:22:23Z")
The situation above doesn’t necessarily warrant moving out of the USA entirely, but maybe to a different part of the States… but assuming that it _does_ warrant moving out of the USA… … in no particular order (also, mostly not Anglo); 1. Canada 2. Israel 3. Sweden 4. Switzerland 5. England 6. Australia All on the list, and only Israel is the one that I’m sure that I could move to, after that I’d probably choose Switzerland, and then it’s a tossup after that. ---
**Author:** ![Yersenia\_Pestis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e495f1/32.png) [@Yersenia\_Pestis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yersenia_Pestis)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/5 "2010-02-22T00:28:05Z")
huh?? what?? I really don’t get the premise of this post at all. So you guys are going to run away if all of the sudden the country isn’t majority white anymore?? I really don’t get that attitude at all… The only thing that would prompt me leaving is complete destruction of the rule of law/zombies take over/sarah palin is president (kidding, sorta, about that last one)… ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/6 "2010-02-22T00:32:22Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > huh?? what?? I really don’t get the premise of this post at all. > > So you guys are going to run away if all of the sudden the country isn’t majority white anymore?? I really don’t get that attitude at all… > The only thing that would prompt me leaving is complete destruction of the rule of law/zombies take over/sarah palin is president (kidding, sorta, about that last one).. it may have been unclear, upon re-reading i’m saying - if this country just implodes economically (and hence socially) (in line with the linked-to thread) where would you go? I’m limiting the thread so that the “you” here involves going to another “Anglo” country. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/7 "2010-02-22T00:37:34Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > So you guys are going to run away if all of the sudden the country isn’t majority white anymore?? I really don’t get that attitude at all… I can’t admit to seeing anything to do with race being mentioned, alluded to, nor obliquely referenced in any of the posts preceding yours. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/8 "2010-02-22T00:42:10Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > it may have been unclear, upon re-reading > > i’m saying - if this country just implodes economically (and hence socially) (in line with the linked-to thread) where would you go? I’m limiting the thread so that the “you” here involves going to another “Anglo” country. Some of the non-anglo countries sound decent though. I haven’t traveled internationally, but I have heard places like Costa Rica are nice. If limited to other western OECD nations that speak english, probably New Zealand. If they’d take me, which they wouldn’t. Immigration to NZ isn’t easy. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/9 "2010-02-22T00:54:31Z")
:mad: Ireland is a country too you know. We have electricity and everything. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/10 "2010-02-22T00:58:10Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > :mad: > > Ireland is a country too you know. > > We have electricity and everything. Apologies. Lucky the leprechaun deceives me from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/11 "2010-02-22T01:00:02Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > it may have been unclear, upon re-reading > > i’m saying - if this country just implodes economically (and hence socially) (in line with the linked-to thread) where would you go? I’m limiting the thread so that the “you” here involves going to another “Anglo” country. If the US “implodes,” there will be no other country/economy on Earth that will escape the implosion. Therefore, no need to move. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/12 "2010-02-22T01:04:03Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > If the US “implodes,” there will be no other country/economy on Earth that will escape the implosion. Therefore, no need to move. I think China and India would beg to differ ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/13 "2010-02-22T01:14:01Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > Apologies. > > Lucky the leprechaun deceives me from time to time. I find your comment racist and insulting. Those bastards don’t speak for us, we don’t even give them the vote. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/14 "2010-02-22T01:16:45Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > :mad: > > Ireland is a country too you know. > > We have electricity and everything. I’ll go to Ireland. My Great Great Grandparents immigrated from there to escape the Potato Famine. I have an Uncle that has a company in Ireland that would hire me. Now that the US in the toilet bowl it seems fitting to go back. I had a record as a small child that I used to play on my record player. It was some Irish group. “Has anyone here seen Kelly? K-E–double L -Y Has anyone here seen Kelly? Kelly of the Emerald Isles.” ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/15 "2010-02-22T04:43:04Z")
I might go to Ireland; I have enough Irish heritage that I might even get a passport. But if the “latent Dutch” legislation goes through as expected, I might go to Holland. I like Amsterdam. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/16 "2010-02-22T13:12:47Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > If the US “implodes,” there will be no other country/economy on Earth that will escape the implosion. Yes. I’m thinking Kauai. Warm, plenty of fresh water, sustainable agriculture and ocean resources. Relative isolation a plus. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/17 "2010-02-22T13:15:22Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > huh?? what?? I really don’t get the premise of this post at all. > > So you guys are going to run away if all of the sudden the country isn’t majority white anymore?? I really don’t get that attitude at all… Seems to have worked pretty well for the (White) South Africans and Rhodesians- most of them seem to be in Australia or NZ now… ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/18 "2010-02-22T13:45:39Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Seems to have worked pretty well for the (White) South Africans and Rhodesians- most of them seem to be in Australia or NZ now… …and good riddance to them… (on the whole) ---
**Author:** ![figure9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@figure9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/figure9)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/19 "2010-02-22T15:26:37Z")
I won’t move. I will stay and try to make my country a better place. I live in a town that has supposedly gone down the toilet and I don’t plan on leaving. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920/20 "2010-02-22T15:29:10Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > :mad: > > Ireland is a country too you know. > > We have electricity and everything. Yeah, but are bog-peat-fired power plants sustainable? 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-assume-the-u-s-goes-down-the-toilet-bowl-which-anglo-country-do-you-move-to/529920.md?page=2)