Sure. I have several friends who live in different countries. My mom, an ex-pat, does too. I hear repeated rhetoric about many places but in talking to those who actually live there such things never come up. Just speaking in general terms...I've seen what seems to be a better quality of life in Germany, Canada and Sweden. At first this confused me. Then, I looked at how our government siphons off my paycheck and it all becomes pretty clear.

I was just talking with my French mother-in-law about this (she doesn't like France and lives here now)...I'm a producer. My role here is to work and pay. And, if I have a legitimate need - too bad. The roads in my neighbrhood are about 10 years past due for resurfacing. I have a disabled child and could not get any help from anybody for him - including the agencies whose charter is specifically to help disabled children. Would the other countries I mention above be as hard on a producer? It doesn't seem so according to those I know there. France abuses producers, to be fair. But many of the others seem to value us more. It feels like the worm has turned...

It's pretty scary that there are only 11 countries higher in terms of economic freedom than the US.