Recent submissions

Comment · 13 years ago
Comment · 15 years ago
What Commercial Aircraft do you fly, and for how long have you been a Commercial Airline Pilot?
Comment · 15 years ago
It made sense for Entrepreneurial US Citizens to leave the U.S. since 2003 (when I moved my family of 5 to Vienna Austria), so it's already too late (not so easy to renounce US Citizenship now, new draconian financial reporting laws for expats and new laws which prevent taking assets out of the country kick in 2013).

In 2013 I will renounce my US Citizenship to gain Austrian Citizenship. I have thought long and hard about this. I am proud of the principles the US was founded on, which are trampled on each and every day in Congress, by the President, and in the Supreme Court. I am proud of those who sacrificed for the good of our country, who sacrificed to preserve those rights and to bestow them on me upon my birth. Those sacrifices are dishonored and spit upon daily by our politicians, and their kleptocrat corporate owners.

I will always love the United States, and the majority of it's honorable, kind, and caring people. However I have no love of this totalitarian nightmare which is our government.

Our government is illegitimate, despicable, and dishonorable.

"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government and provide new guards for their future security."

People don't talk that way anymore.

Beautiful, huh?

- No idea what you said. - It means, if there's something wrong, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action. "

National Treasure - 2004

"Because you are the president of USA, sir. Whether it is to your character ... Of the oath that you have taken To the Constitution to protect. Of the weight of history That rests on your shoulders. I believe you Are an honorable man, sir.

Gates, that sort of thing People do not believe anymore.

They want to believe in it."

National Treasure Book of Secrets - 2007

Getting a VISA in Austria is straightforward, and Vienna is the best city in the world for quality of life (Mercer 2009, 2010, 2011).

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/11/30/vienna-austria-named-wor...

Rules for Migrating to Austria Red-White-Red VISA

http://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent....

Comment · 15 years ago
It made sense for intelligent people to leave the U.S. since 2003 (when I moved my family of 5 to Vienna Austria), so it's already too late (not so easy to renounce US Citizenship now, new draconian financial reporting laws for expats and new laws which prevent taking assets out of the country kick in 2013).

In 2013 I will renounce my US Citizenship to gain Austrian Citizenship. I have thought long and hard about this. I am proud of the principles the US was founded on, which are trampled on each and every day in Congress, by the President, and in the Supreme Court. I am proud of those who sacrificed for the good of our country, who sacrificed to preserve those rights and to bestow them on me upon my birth. Those sacrifices are dishonored and spit upon daily by our politicians, and their kleptocrat corporate owners.

I will always love the United States, and the majority of it's honorable, kind, and caring people. However I have no love of this totalitarian nightmare which is our government.

Our government is illegitimate, despicable, and dishonorable.

"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government and provide new guards for their future security."

People don't talk that way anymore.

Beautiful, huh?

- No idea what you said. - It means, if there's something wrong, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action. "

National Treasure - 2004

"Because you are the president of USA, sir. Whether it is to your character ... Of the oath that you have taken To the Constitution to protect. Of the weight of history That rests on your shoulders. I believe you Are an honorable man, sir.

Gates, that sort of thing People do not believe anymore.

They want to believe in it."

National Treasure Book of Secrets - 2007

Getting a VISA in Austria is straightforward, and Vienna is the best city in the world for quality of life (Mercer 2010, 2011).

http://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent...

Comment · 15 years ago
Right, on a completely brain dead obvious idea! Patents are supposed to be "novel", and non obvious.
Comment · 15 years ago
Try Vienna Austria, I have been based here for 5 years for the very same reason.
Comment · 15 years ago
France does not have a competitive labor market, that is for certain! However 9.6% is a low rate of unemployment for France historically.
Comment · 15 years ago
The idea of throwing open the doors, was to ensure a truly competitive playing field for Americans and Immigrants alike.

If an Immigrant, and an American have to be paid equally, work the same hours, have the same benefits and rights, then the immigrant is no longer at a disadvantage, as he currently is a legal slave, with no rights, under H1-B.

Comment · 15 years ago
Clearly, starting a business in Europe is far more costly and time consuming than in the US. It took 3 months to get approval by the Handelsgericht (commercial court) to obtain approval of the incorporation papers. In Austria, you must have a minimum 35000 euros of "startup capital" invested "on deposit" to form a company. In the US, it can be done in an afternoon.

Regulations and oversight in Europe is far greater, and intrusive, than in the US, which can be frustrating to me as an American, however I understand the reasons, and clearly can see the benefits of this in the stability of the financial and business industries. With kurzarbeit, there was minor economic damage to either Germany or Austria.

The key economic drivers of European growth, Germany, France, Austria, Norway, Finland, Switzerland tend not to have boom / bust cycles like the US.

The Euro definitely has issues in the absence of an "economic union", however if any country goes into default, it does not bring the entire union down.

Europeans tend to focus on R&D of "long term sustainable" "tangable technology" rather than the modern silicon valley focus on "short term fluff" of facebook, zynga, iPhones, iPads etc.

Airbus kicks Boeing's ass in Aerospace (not to mention business efficiency (787 outsourcing debacle) European research is superior in almost every category, and is at par with the best that the US has to offer. Europeans do not turn over their core R&D in order to do business in China, or India.

NASA manned spaceflight (the 11 billion dollar boondoggle of the canceled ARES / CONSTELLATION)(and the new heavy launcher designed by politicians) is a huge embarrassment for US expats like myself. For Europeans, this is clear undeniable evidence of the US having lost its technical superiority, and Europe's rise to supremacy.

Europeans tend not to do business arrangements with dictators as often as the US. And I think that it is immoral to exploit citizens in another country which tolerates slums (Brazil favelas), and does not work actively to lift its people out of poverty (China/India). Check out the favela tourism (predominantly patronized by US citizens) next time you're in Rio.

Yes, Europe in general is not as astute in funding of high tech startups, and culturally are more risk averse to funding the silicon valley fluff.

Greece Spain Ireland: Unlike in America, if California or Illinois, or Ohio declares bankruptcy, its fatal to the entire country. In Europe, it would cut Greece loose from both the Political and Monetary unions in a snap.

Not so easy to kick states out of the United States union.

As far as EU expats, I've personally met many Germans and Austrians who have returned from the US, and vow never to live there again (violent crime / fascism / kleptocracy). Most would like to visit again, because of the friendly people and the beautiful landscapes. These folks in particular "get why I am here", and the advantages of Europe over the US. There is a weekly television show in Germany and Austria called "Goodbye Deutschland", which chronicles such expat adventures primarily to the US. The vast majority return home with a newfound respect for their home country, and wiser about the world in general.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodbye_Deutschland!_Die_Auswan...

Really, everybody with the opportunity should leave their "country of birth" for a few years as an adult. It helps to truly put your country in perspective with the rest of the world.

The US is a beautiful country with a majority of wonderful caring and friendly decent people. It however pretends to be a democracy and operates as a kleptocracy / fascist republic. Yes there is corruption in Europe as well, however here, people go into the streets and demand justice, whenever the politicians fail to act in the best interests of its citizens!

Wisconsin is the "first shot heard around the world" for the next US revolution. With people equally divided on critical issues, and politicians unwilling to negotiate and compromise (kleptocracy), the next 15 years are going to be witness to the next US civil war.

Europeans has survived fascism, and will never allow its return. America is in the throes of fascism, and it will be Europe and the rest of the world paying to rebuild the USA.

Comment · 15 years ago
Why I left my country (USA)to become an immigrant in Vienna Austria.

Indeed, why would anyone leave their home for new laws, different language, different foods, different social customs.

The very same reason both my great grandfathers left Ireland to come to America, opportunity, and a better way of life!

Our family are all US born citizens. I am a registered republican, highly educated, and have founded 2 successful companies in Silicon Valley, and now a third in Vienna, Austria. Our family left the United States 9 years ago. We will not return until the US is once again a land of opportunity.

I am a proud American. I am proud of my country,and it's citizens. I am not proud of the kleptocracy that the State and Federal governments have become. I saw the financial industry collapse and "great recession" as inevitable back in 2002 when we left.

Yes the immigration system in Austria is highly dysfunctional and just as self defeating to entrepreneurs as in America.

Attractions:

Austria has a highly effective social welfare system, social health insurance system, career training, apprenticeships, and no cost higher educational system. As a direct result, Viennese society is one of the safest on the face of the earth. Kindergarten children take the subway and streetcars to school by themselves.

The European Union actively funds "open source development", and requires much of its research to be made open source. Software patents in Europe, which exist, are unenforceable. The US government sells its research to the highest bidder, depriving its citizens of its use. Europe believes in returning its research to its citizens use.

Austria, Germany Switzerland, and France are growing rapidly, and have record low unemployment rates. Austria is currently at 4.6 percent.

Vienna has been the top Mercer world city for 2 years in a row. A very trusting society, papers are placed in plastic satchels, with a coin box attached. The subway and train systems have no entry / exit barriers or gates. A simple ticket stamping machine sits on a post. In a highly trusting society, there is no need for steel newspaper boxes or oppressive barriers.

Austrian's are protected by law from overwork, and as a result, are very healthy, utilizing far less heathcare services than the typical American.

Austria, Germany, and France are the best countries for an American to emigrate to.

Vivek Wadhwa fails to realize that immigrant founders actually deprive Americans of key jobs. Founders jobs. Immigrants are the only people desperate enough to accept the immoral yet legal terms offered by many Vulture Capitalists. A legal form of slavery. Nothing else explains the high percentage of immigrant founders adequately. I was witness to several immigrants having lost control of their own companies just as they became profitable.

The US must actively recruit each and every foreign born entrepreneur, engineer and scientist they can find, in order to grow the economy to at least 7 percent a year, or it will be bankrupt before 2025.

By throwing wide the doors to foreign immigration, the Vulture Capitalists would be unable to exploit foreign immigrants. The playing field for both immigrant and US citizen would be equal. The US would, within a few years, drastically reverse its trade deficit to a significant surplus. Just as Austria, Germany, and France currently enjoy.

I don't see that happening, and so the US government will be deprived of vital tax revenue from the next great technological advance. US corporations have parked 2 trillion dollars of profits overseas, to avoid paying US taxes.

I highly recommend US citizens act with haste to emigrate to a new home in either Europe or Asia before the Hobsian society arrives in force, resulting in an exodus tidal wave of Americans.

Comment · 16 years ago
Comment · 16 years ago
Comment · 16 years ago
Vienna is one of the key research and development cities in the world.

A very strong investment environment for startups.

http://www.wien.gv.at/forschung/

SchnitzelConf is a 1-day, full-contact conference in Vienna, Austria on September 7. The focus: creating products, launching businesses, and charging real money. http://schnitzelconf.com/

Comment · 16 years ago
If you want to live in a community of self centered people, who never speak with their neighbors (the famous California 7 foot tall privacy fence, and gated communities).

The beaches are beautiful, however you had better be rich and live close, as most now take several hours to get to, if at all possible (forget finding a parking place after 8AM).

The cost of housing is CRIMINAL, all of the infrastructure is crumbling, the value of all of your hard earned tax dollars is squandered, with no visible trace of their impact on the quality of life and community.

California has WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE NOW, it was a far better place in the 70's

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