Offtopic, no email in your HN profile: I'll give you the same advice I give to others who share this sentiment (and I share it as well): find a way to expatriate if you can. The US is unlikely to fix its problems in our lifetime; there are too many people who will continue to vote for representatives who refuse to back sane policy, who will vote against their own interests, as well as those who don't vote at all. Ergo, if you can, you must vote with your feet (remote work, enough savings to qualify for a visa somewhere more developed, a work visa if you're highly skilled, etc). Can't change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
I recommend either Western Europe, Australia, or New Zealand, but that's personal preference. Canada is fine if you don't mind the cold, Japan is an acquired taste, parts of LATAM are great if you're a tropics kind of person.
Thank you, friend. These are some great links! I just recently started a software engineering career largely for this purpose, but I also think it’s important that there is a political revolution in the US.
Becoming an expat isn't voting with your feet. Your taxpayers dollars are still going to the US until you find a way to get citizenship elsewhere and pay the exit tax.
> If you are a U.S. citizen or a resident alien of the United States and you live abroad, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, you may qualify to exclude your foreign earnings from income up to an amount that is adjusted annually for inflation ($105,900 for 2019, $107,600 for 2020, $108,700 for 2021, and $112,000 for 2022). In addition, you can exclude or deduct certain foreign housing amounts. [1]
This allows you to continue to obtain benefit from your US citizenship while minimizing the federal income tax you pay while a tax resident elsewhere. If you're wildly wealthy with a seven figure income, sure, then you might need to speak with tax professionals and structure an exit from US tax requirements depending upon your goals. Otherwise, it's just like paying local property tax, and getting to deduct that against your federal taxes.
I recommend either Western Europe, Australia, or New Zealand, but that's personal preference. Canada is fine if you don't mind the cold, Japan is an acquired taste, parts of LATAM are great if you're a tropics kind of person.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/happiest-...
https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/
https://www.socialprogress.org/