# Where's a Tea Partier to move? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 22, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388 "2010-03-22T21:01:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/21 "2010-03-23T00:07:52Z")
You could go to Australia, and continue to imagine that Medicare isn’t a government-run system. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/22 "2010-03-23T00:18:03Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > You could go to Australia, and continue to imagine that Medicare isn’t a government-run system. 😉 Just like Teabaggers do now, in America! But Medicare in Australia does in fact amount to UHC, so unless Teabaggers can keep themselves deluded about that, it’s out. Also, Australia wasn’t founded “as a Christian nation.” A majority of Australians apparently call themselves Christian, but the largest growing segment in Australia (as in Europe) are people who self-identify as “agnostic,” “humanist,” “rationalist,” or “atheist.” That seems problematic. It really does start to seem that the only thing for a Teabagger to do is to convert to Islam. Or convert all of the Muslims in Saudi Arabia to Christianity. Whichever seems easier. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/23 "2010-03-23T02:44:51Z")
What kind of a gay-love mongerin’, socialist pinko liberal are you that you can’t afford your own private island? (or Sealand) Don’t tell me you need financial help. Work harder and earn more, ya lazy bum. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/24 "2010-03-23T03:23:12Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > As for voting in America, as per **Magiver** ’s one-line suggestion, there’s one serious problem: sometimes the lefty commie nazi liberals win. But in America, even our lefty commie nazi liberal politicians are _Christian_. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/25 "2010-03-23T03:25:11Z")
You’re out of luck. The USofA was the last hope, and now it’s gone. Gotta stay here and fight the good fight to TAKE AMERICA BACK! ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/26 "2010-03-23T03:32:33Z")
> [@The\_Controvert](#): > > What kind of a gay-love mongerin’, socialist pinko liberal are you that you can’t afford your own private island? (or Sealand) Don’t tell me you need financial help. Work harder and earn more, ya lazy bum. You know, that’s not a bad idea. Maybe they could make a play for one of the US Virgin Islands. I’m pretty sure there only about 12 of them that actually believe the shit they spew, maybe they could have one of the Florida Keys. It’s not like they need a lot of land. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/27 "2010-03-23T03:34:57Z")
I think one of those Pacific islands that’s a foot above sea level. Then we’ll see who thinks global warming is a myth. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/28 "2010-03-23T03:55:41Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You’re out of luck. The USofA was the last hope, and now it’s gone. Gotta stay here and fight the good fight to TAKE AMERICA BACK! But what if the commie heathen vaccination-promoting liberals win an election again? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/29 "2010-03-23T03:55:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Where do I move? Canada… -XT ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/30 "2010-03-23T04:00:12Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Canada… > > -XT Oh no you don’t. A3D So now that the US healthcare bill has passed, anytime anyone has a beef with Rush, can they just say “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be in Costa Rica?” ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/31 "2010-03-23T04:02:04Z")
I hate to break this to you, but I DID live in Canada for several years. 😛 Worse yet…I could move back any time. In fact, I have a job offer here somewhere… -XT ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/32 "2010-03-23T04:27:45Z")
If you’re looking for the place with the most economic freedom in North America, you would be packing your bags for Alberta. In last year’s Fraser report on economic freedom, Alberta was ranked second out of all the states and provinces, tied with Delaware and Texas. After the health care bill passed in the U.S., we’re #1. \ Unfortunately, you’ll have to register your guns, but you can bring them with you. Handguns too. And while we have public health care, everything else is kept nice and free. Business-friendly regulations, reasonably lax drug laws, strong privacy protection. And as a people, we’re about as far to the right as Texas. We have no inheritance tax. No Provincial sales tax. Our overall business taxes are the lowest in North America. We have the lowest income taxes in Canada. We have one of the strongest economies in the world, and our unemployment rate is 6.9%. Canada as a whole now has a smaller government than the U.S., a less progressive tax system, our business, capital gains, and dividend taxes are lower, and our deficit and debt are a fraction of yours as a percentage of GDP. So while you guys are looking at tax hikes and bigger deficits as far as the eye can see, Canada is on a trajectory to balance our budget in a few years. Our social programs are solvent, too. And we don’t have the kinds of massive state and municipal debts the U.S. has. Canada is also resource-rich, and unlike the U.S. we’re still allowed to search for and mine new energy sources. Failing that, your other choices for maximum economic freedom are in Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/33 "2010-03-23T04:31:39Z")
Isn’t New Zealand considered a free-market paradise? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/34 "2010-03-23T04:42:36Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > If you’re looking for the place with the most economic freedom in North America, you would be packing your bags for Alberta. > > In last year’s Fraser report on economic freedom, Alberta was ranked second out of all the states and provinces, tied with Delaware and Texas. After the health care bill passed in the U.S., we’re #1. \ > > Unfortunately, you’ll have to register your guns, but you can bring them with you. Handguns too. And while we have public health care, everything else is kept nice and free. Business-friendly regulations, reasonably lax drug laws, strong privacy protection. And as a people, we’re about as far to the right as Texas. > > We have no inheritance tax. No Provincial sales tax. Our overall business taxes are the lowest in North America. We have the lowest income taxes in Canada. We have one of the strongest economies in the world, and our unemployment rate is 6.9%. Isn’t it great? All thanks to your wonderful abundance of what [Sarah Palin likes to call “collectively owned resources”](http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/11/03/081103taco_talk_hertzberg). With [81% of your mineral resources owned by the Crown](http://www.energy.gov.ab.ca/Initiatives/1505.asp), no wonder those oil royalties are doing you real proud these days! Glad to hear things are so prosperous up there in your northern communal paradise… but given that it’s so largely based on governmental wealth redistribution from your collectively owned resources, I think you’re being a bit disingenuous with the talk about your sturdy independence from government. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/35 "2010-03-23T04:46:45Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I hate to break this to you, but I DID live in Canada for several years. 😛 Worse yet…I could move back any time. In fact, I have a job offer here somewhere… > > -XT YOU can come. I thought you were sending Rush. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/36 "2010-03-23T04:50:26Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Isn’t it great? All thanks to your wonderful abundance of what [Sarah Palin likes to call “collectively owned resources”](http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/11/03/081103taco_talk_hertzberg). With [81% of your mineral resources owned by the Crown](http://www.energy.gov.ab.ca/Initiatives/1505.asp), no wonder those oil royalties are doing you real proud these days! > > Glad to hear things are so prosperous up there in your northern communal paradise… but given that it’s so largely based on governmental wealth redistribution from your collectively owned resources, I think you’re being a bit disingenuous with the talk about your sturdy independence from government. And wait until he hears about equalization payments. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/37 "2010-03-23T05:01:22Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Failing that, your other choices for maximum economic freedom are in Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand. 🙂 All three of which have universal healthcare programs (all co-existing with private insurance systems). New Zealand has some of the toughest environmental protection laws on the planet, instituted to safeguard their unique isolated ecology. Want to exercise your individual freedom by developing your private property in the way that you think best? Not if the Environment Court says no, mate! (Oh yes, the Kiwis literally have an [Environment Court](http://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/environment-court).) Singapore has a mandatory savings program to finance most of its retirement programs. Want to exercise your individual freedom by putting your retirement savings in investments of your choice, and taking the risk of striking it rich or losing your shirt? Not in Singapore lah! Gosh-a-mickle, folks, if the balance between governments and markets that’s found in places like **Singapore** and **New Zealand** is what Libertarians consider the “maximum economic freedom” available in the world today, then that means that the hardcore Libertarian ideology of “economic freedom” has well and truly lost the battle. Hallelujah. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/38 "2010-03-23T06:04:45Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Canada as a whole now has a smaller government than the U.S., a less progressive tax system, our business, capital gains, and dividend taxes are lower, and our deficit and debt are a fraction of yours as a percentage of GDP. So while you guys are looking at tax hikes and bigger deficits as far as the eye can see, Canada is on a trajectory to balance our budget in a few years. Our social programs are solvent, too. And we don’t have the kinds of massive state and municipal debts the U.S. has. When Canada starts spending as much money waging war as the U.S. does, we’ll talk. Anyway, Canada is clearly out as far as my OP is concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/39 "2010-03-23T06:18:46Z")
> [@knorf](#): > > when canada starts spending as much money waging war as the u.s. Does, we’ll talk. > > Anyway, canada is clearly out as far as my op is concerned. woohoo! ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388/40 "2010-03-23T06:56:01Z")
Awww, I was really rooting for Canada. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-tea-partier-to-move/533388.md?page=3)