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Five things I don't like in the US
Oct. 11th, 2009 08:42 pmThe United States is my country of choice.
I chose it in 1999, came for the first time in April 14 2003 (I remember that day for multiple reasons) and never left the country since then.
I like many things in the US, but not everything is perfect.
My friend asked me what I don't like in the US.
These things come to mind:
1) High taxes.
2) Too strict and not very consistent immigration policy.
3) Wars (on drugs, porn, and terror).
Here they are in more details:
1) High taxes
Relative to most of European countries US taxes are not high at all. Still effective tax burden that US government puts on private sector is about 40% which is at least two times bigger than I’d like it too be. Government (any government, not only in the US) is too inefficient to allow it distribute that much of resources.
2) Draconian and unpredictable immigration policy
It’s very hard to immigrate to the US. I was able to, but still I think it should be easier. Getting Green Card is the process that takes many years even if you qualify, and how many years it would take – is hard to guess when prospective immigrant starts it.
Making legal immigration faster and more straightforward would make the US economy work better.
Overall immigration policy in the US is neither the worst nor the best. Australia and Canada have better policies. Many other countries have worse immigration policy.
3) War on Porn
US legal system explicitly states that porn is not covered by freedom of speech. Certain forms of porn are severely prosecuted. For example porn with participants who are younger than 18 years old is considered illegal.
In theory that system is designed to protect children, but in fact it hurts them. In some cases teenage girls are prosecuted for porn distribution simply because they sent out naked pictures of themselves.
This doesn’t hurt me directly, but adversely affects freedom of speech. I consider freedom of speech one of most important tools that improves our lives, so I don’t like when freedom of speech is limited without need.
4) War on Drugs
I don’t use narcotics and generally don’t like people who use them. Still I think government should not criminalize narcotics trade as much as it does now.|
Government should heavily tax narcotics, but not criminalize them.
When it was illegal to sell alcohol – it made Mafia grow way too strong, so even those who didn’t drink alcohol were negatively affected.
5) War on Terror
Unfortunately War on Terror caused much more lives being lost than terror itself. US military stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anti-terror security practices negatively affect businesses (for example, many people don’t want to fly, because it’ more expensive and less convenient than it was before war on terror began).
I chose it in 1999, came for the first time in April 14 2003 (I remember that day for multiple reasons) and never left the country since then.
I like many things in the US, but not everything is perfect.
My friend asked me what I don't like in the US.
These things come to mind:
1) High taxes.
2) Too strict and not very consistent immigration policy.
3) Wars (on drugs, porn, and terror).
Here they are in more details:
1) High taxes
Relative to most of European countries US taxes are not high at all. Still effective tax burden that US government puts on private sector is about 40% which is at least two times bigger than I’d like it too be. Government (any government, not only in the US) is too inefficient to allow it distribute that much of resources.
2) Draconian and unpredictable immigration policy
It’s very hard to immigrate to the US. I was able to, but still I think it should be easier. Getting Green Card is the process that takes many years even if you qualify, and how many years it would take – is hard to guess when prospective immigrant starts it.
Making legal immigration faster and more straightforward would make the US economy work better.
Overall immigration policy in the US is neither the worst nor the best. Australia and Canada have better policies. Many other countries have worse immigration policy.
3) War on Porn
US legal system explicitly states that porn is not covered by freedom of speech. Certain forms of porn are severely prosecuted. For example porn with participants who are younger than 18 years old is considered illegal.
In theory that system is designed to protect children, but in fact it hurts them. In some cases teenage girls are prosecuted for porn distribution simply because they sent out naked pictures of themselves.
This doesn’t hurt me directly, but adversely affects freedom of speech. I consider freedom of speech one of most important tools that improves our lives, so I don’t like when freedom of speech is limited without need.
4) War on Drugs
I don’t use narcotics and generally don’t like people who use them. Still I think government should not criminalize narcotics trade as much as it does now.|
Government should heavily tax narcotics, but not criminalize them.
When it was illegal to sell alcohol – it made Mafia grow way too strong, so even those who didn’t drink alcohol were negatively affected.
5) War on Terror
Unfortunately War on Terror caused much more lives being lost than terror itself. US military stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anti-terror security practices negatively affect businesses (for example, many people don’t want to fly, because it’ more expensive and less convenient than it was before war on terror began).
