Hi Dell,
We are still in the US - in the process of coming (hopefully) to NZ. We have 2 kids -12 and 9.
Let me add some of the reasons( in no particular order) we are choosing to leave the US...
1.Safety/Gun control - Middle school shooting next town over from us - one 13 yr old shot another - not fatefully thank goodness. We are in the Midwest - not your stereotypical big crime ridden city. There will never be real gun control in this country. "Unconstitutional" and the NRA are way too powerful.
2. Health Care - Huge deal in our minds. Regardless of insurance or not - it is the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the US!! disgusting in my humble opinion. Again personal opinion but Health Insurance companies and the large pharmaceutical companies have way too much power - health insurance for all doesn't stand a chance.
3. Economy - land of the rich getting richer, bigger divide between the have's and the have not's. Greed and convenience in spite of the common good/environment.
Feel like we are riding the "Financial Titanic".
4. Education - huge cutbacks, falling standards - have your family check out the international countries rankings - pretty sad. OH is secondary school science teacher so we have frontline experience with this. Families with money will send kids to private schools, state schools being gutted. Again the divide. Lots of kids will be falling through the gaps - so what does that do to the communities we live in?
5. Politics - need I say anything?
6. We think NZ offers kids the chance to be kids for longer, less commercialization, less brand awareness, more outdoors time, better quality of life and appreciation of what life is about - quality of life, family time. Rather than collecting "stuff".
7. Its Beautiful!! Mountains, beaches, less extreme climates. EQ excluded
8. Litigation! - love the Accident insurance thing! over here - just Sue if you get hurt! regardless of whether its your fault or not!
9. No Palin - Ok had to throw 1 little political thing in - sorry!
Anyway Dell - just my thoughts - all my own opinion - I am quite sure there may be some disagreement on some of my comments. Trouble is - America is so vast, that all experiences are not going to be exactly the same but some of my points I would argue for the country as a whole.
Good luck persuading your son
I know how tough a decision it is for them, but our children's future is truly what is driving us. (Plus the mountains for ski-ing!!)