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What was I saying?

Expats, Why Leave Your Country / by

A couple of months ago I wrote an article that got a ton of comments… nearly 500 to be precise.

I am trying to remember, what was that article all about?  Oh yes, now I recall… “It’s time to get out…”

In that article, I talked about my feeling that the USA is falling apart, and that it is time to get out while you still can.

I really had no intention or desire to visit that topic again so soon, but today, I feel that I have to go back there again.

In the article I talked about crumbling infrastructure in the USA.  I talked about civil unrest.  I talked about the coming race wars in the country.  Violence that you will want to avoid.  I was not, and am not trying to sensationalize the situation, I truly believe that the time has come when it will be a wise choice to get the heck out of Dodge.  In the past 2 months, since I published that article here on LiP, things have only gotten worse in my view.  I feel that it is now MORE critical that you leave the USA.  I am not trying to be an alarmist, I am just saying what I see to be the truth.  If you think I am wrong, maybe it would be wise to step back and look at facts and incidents that have happened in just recent times.

Victims of the recent shooting in VA
Victims of the recent shooting in VA

I am writing this the day before publication, so it is very fresh.  As I type this article, it was last night Philippine time that a former journalist in Virginia killed two of his former colleagues on live TV.  Bang, bang… they were dead.  In that earlier article I talked about racial unrest.  Some people said that I was off base.  Well, in this incident, the accused killer, Vester Lee Flanagan, explicitly said that he wanted a race war.  He did the killing due to racial issues.  He also included issues of sexual preference as well.  In fact, in the past months we have had race riots in many places around the USA:

Police officers are being killed regularly in the USA.  Just in the past 5 days two policemen have been killed in Louisiana.  Anyway, anybody who watches the news can clearly see that things are not good in American society.

Of course, bad things happen everywhere, including here in the Philippines.  However, these are becoming regular daily occurrences in the USA, it seems.  I remember the days when if there was some kind of mass shooting in the USA, it was a shocking event.  Now it is just another thing on the news, and it is on the news seemingly daily, or at least weekly.

When will it stop?

Well, unfortunately, it probably is only getting started, and I don’t think it will stop anytime soon.  I am very sad to say that, but it is what I honestly believe.

Is this the type of environment in which you want to live?  Where you want to raise your family?  As I look at the things happening, I find myself feeling relieved that I am away from all of that now, and that my kids are growing up in a more peaceful society.  As I already acknowledged, bad things happen in the Philippines, and everywhere else in the world as well.  But, not with that type of intensity, and certainly not with the same frequency either. In fact, things like this type of violence is quite rare here.  We can no longer call such incidents rare in the USA, though.  That is why I feel strongly that the time to leave is now.

Of course, if you are of the mind to do so your other option is to dig in your heels and stay there, and fight for a return to normalcy.  But, it will take millions of people to do that in order to make a difference.  I honestly hope that would happen, but I don’t see any indication that people are willing to do that.

Waiting for retirement

I  always hear a lot of people saying that they are just waiting for their retirement so that they can make the move to the Philippines.  It is understandable, because they want to take advantage of the retirement that they will have earned when it is retirement time.  I hope you can make it until it is time to retire, but I am unsure about that.  I also feel that it is possible to come here before retirement and still have a good life.  I know that is what I did and it worked out for me.  I also understand, though, that for some people it just is not possible, especially if you are just a few years away from being able to retire.  But, if you are in those shoes, I would be keeping a close eye on events, in case the time comes when you just have to leave.

I know it sounds very extremest to say that the time might come when you have to leave.  I am not a conspiracy theorist, or an alarmist, but the spiral downwards is not slowing.. in fact quite the opposite.

Good luck to you guys in the USA… all I can say, though, is that I am glad not to be one of the people still living there.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bob ya ain’t wrong …maybe a lil late ut distance can do that. I have been called crazy for the past 15 years atleast as to what I have said and predicted. The wife leaves in January and I have to stay and work. living in a truck, homeless for all intensive purposes. I watch closely because if the shoe starts to driop I will park that truck, and with my clothes in that truck head the F*&k out. I am fearful, and called a conspiracy nut job…which is fine by me….. you have no idea how right you are about what is coming……funniest thing is…..the media is barely covering it here because of the race ane sexual issue……it does not fit the agenda. Hang on tight brother and be glad and feel blessed you are gone.

    • Guns are not the problem, my friend, but you are a Brit, so I understand that. The problem is the people and the leadership, not the guns. People kill with knives and many other instruments as well…

    • i used guns in the army and in trap shooting other than that i don’t care for them at all..never will carry one because i just don’t trust myself when i’m angry

    • Just getting rid of the guns is an overly simplistic way to view the situation. Gun control isn’t the answer. Just consider the curious case of the nation of Honduras which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the world while simultaneously having one of the highest murder rates by guns in the world.

      How can that be? It’s largely due to the fact that the country is run by thugs and there is a high level of corruption rampant in the country. It’s a problem of the heart…not the guns themselves.

      Also consider the inverse relationship of guns to gun crimes in Switzerland, which has one of the highest gun ownership rates per capita in the world and also has a very, very low rate of gun crimes. It has such a high rate of gun ownership because in Switzerland, the people are the military. It has a citizen military force and people are required by law to be trained in the use of guns and to keep guns and ammo in their homes to be ready to defend the country.

      I’ll say it again… Making laws that get rid of the guns doesn’t solve anything. It’s a very simple — and frankly, childlike — approach to the problem.

    • Because we know that criminals care about laws. By making guns illegal, you’re only removing them from the hands of good people. And further, we all know you don’t want the government stripped of firearms, just the average people. That my friend is a recipe for tyranny.

      • UK has never had a time when guns were legal so how were they banned ?? for knife crime to rise ??

        I would rather face a knife than a gun any day.

  3. Malcolm….gun ain’t the problem…..its a tool a screwdriver….people are the problem. simple as that… it takes a person to plan the attack and pull the trigger. same as with a knife, a blunt instrument…..a car even. But I wo’t argue this here. because ya have your view and I have mine. period

      • Guns can be used for a variety of purposes. It just depends on what your goals are. I grew up in an area where hunting was very common and just about everyone I knew hunted for food and for sport.

        Yes, guns can be used for sport and recreation, too. Many people (like myself) enjoy target or skeet shooting for fun. You should try it sometime.

        Guns can be used for self defense. There are countless incidents where just the mere site of a gun in the hands of a victim or potential victim has made the attacker run the other way. It happens all the time.

        And yes, guns can be used to kill people. No surprise there.

      • Piers Morgan was driven off CNN for his British views on gun control in the United States, I’ve found it is wise to not get involved in another countries politics or laws, as an outsider you really have no right. If something works in your country that is fine, but I will ask where do, the criminals who do have guns in your country, where there are no guns get those guns?? (I watch BBC) There is gun violence everywhere. One country that has less gun violence than GB and most of the world is Switzerland, where that country laws requires most citizens’ process a gun. Go after them for a change, clean up Europe before you try and fix North America

        • What you have found about not getting involved in another country’s politics is spot on, Paul! It is best to follow that rule if you want to have a happy life!

          • Just before our independence the English Crown tried to restrict and take away the guns in North America. It didn’t work out so well for England as it was but one more reason for the colony’s to break away.
            That is the reason when we wrote our Constitution we added the 2nd Amendment to insure no Government could rule without the will of the people. We can thank then King George III for our right to bear arms.

        • I never liked Piers Morgan’s style of journalism. I was so shocked when he once called a pro-gun guest interviewee “a stupid man” on his show. That man was invited to the show to lend his perspective on the issue. He deserved courtesy. Call me old-fashioned when it comes to journalistic objectivity.

          CNN was wrong to hire him when Larry King retired because his British-style tabloid journalism was not fit for an American audience. CNN is a US news organization even though it has an international edition.

        • Does America get involved in other countries politics? Hmmm..Malcolm you are right in what you said a no-brainer…end of argument.

          • Hi Jack – Thank you for letting us know that the end of the argument is here. But, to be honest, I don’t really like being told that I should be quiet. I am not arguing, I am simply discussing my opinion, and I will continue to do so, even if you tell me that I should end the “argument”.

            Yes, America gets involved in everybody else’s business. Know what? The VAST majority of Americans don’t want that, and actually despise it. That is why there is such an anger among Americans about traditional politicians, and a real movement to thrown them all out.

      • you are wasting your time Malcom 🙁 Americans will never see it that way.

        @ PT as for having no opinion on the subject just because we are not Americans, ok just get Bob to ban all viewers on this site from making comments on any country other than their own… does that include the Philippines ?

        • I don’t understand what you are saying about me banning comments from other countries and such? I have never done any such thing in the past, why would I do it now?

        • Gerry;
          “I’ve found it is wise to not get involved in another countries politics or laws.” is what I said and was talking about me. I care less what you do and how you might like to mettle.
          Portsmouth England in 1966 should I have said to the Publican how stupid I thought it was to call “Time Gentlemen” at 2300? It was none of my business if your government thought it’s citizens weren’t mature enough to stay out late. Read my words and please don’t paraphrase.

    • You have no argument, its people like you keep the killing ongoing in USA, it needs more sensible people to stand up and say no more , we have to stop people carrying lethal weapons in our streets…. Its common sense .

    • Of course , not arguing with that , but does that mean that every tom dick and Harry..( English expression ) can walk around with a high power rifle ?

      • I grew up in an area of the USA where every Tom, Dick, and Harry DID walk around with high powered rifles and we had a very low crime rate. Most people there were avid hunters.

    • Its common sense Bob, if people have access to guns they will use ,them..we dont have access to guns here in Uk and gun death is a rarity, surely you can see what I mean ?

      • Having access to guns doesn’t mean a person is going to use them. That is nonsensical. I have multiple guns in my house right now and I rarely give it a thought. It’s been over a year since I’ve even been target shooting.

      • Unfortunately, the stories that make the news are the ones involving crimes. That’s because those stories drive ratings. Rarely do you hear anything about the crimes that were stopped or otherwise averted when a gun was used in self defense. The news folks consider those stories to be too boring to report.

        • Cy,
          You are correct, as Don Henley sang in Dirty Laundry:

          WE GOT THE BUBBLE-HEADED-BLEACH-BLONDE WHO
          COMES ON AT FIVE
          SHE CAN TELL YOU ‘BOUT THE PLANE CRASH WITH A GLEAM
          IN HER EYE
          IT’S INTERESTING WHEN PEOPLE DIE-
          GIVE US DIRTY LAUNDRY

          So true people love hearing bad news for some reason.

      • Hi Malcolm,

        I see where you are coming from, but in the USA the cat is already out of the bag. It would be impossible to take guns from the US citizens at this point. You are right that there is a lot less gun violence in the UK. I just don’t think gun control on that level would work in the US because guns have always been legal.

        Historically the Right to Bear Arms has served the US well. When there is a need for the USA to take up arms the people are prepared, but again the cost of all the gun violence is high. You certainly have a valid point!

        Take care!

        Jay

      • You are in cuckoo land, in the UK 58 deaths by guns, in the USA 8775 by guns. UK has the toughest gun laws in the world…..AND THEY WORK

        • Wow, thanks for letting me know that I am in cuckoo land… I tend to believe we can disagree on things and still be friends… sorry that you felt that you had to say something like that.

    • We Brits always have the same problem when we talk to Americans about guns , a stone wall. We dont have guns , we dont have gun deaths ..surely you can see the connection?

      • Kill people in a theater? Incendiary bomb using powered aluminum and Iron oxide? Or just plain old Bleach and Ammonia and lock the doors? Or simply lock the doors and throw some Molotov Cocktail in first? If someone is crazy, then someone is crazy, it does not take a gun. Look at the Human Bombs used by Islamic in many parts of the world.
        Be scared of the Crazy people, not the tools some might use..

        • That is exactly true, Tom. Guns can kill people, but nearly anything can be used to kill as well. Problem is.. there are just too many crazies out there! There was a day when if people were insane they were put away.. we don’t do that anymore, and unfortunately, those actions are coming back to haunt us, I think.

      • 2011 stats for UK, only 6% of homicides are by Gun, but there still was plenty of Homicides. 10.43 per million. Your point is?

      • No guns Malcolm but you have troopers being slaughtered in the street like cattle so therefore you should make knives illegal as well.

    • It is because of the freedom to carry guns that the USA has become what it is today Bob..its clear to everyone..everytime we hear about another mass shooting in America ..we just say ,,when will they ever learn…

    • Its every other day in USA that we hear about another mass shooting…how do you think it will come to an end..only by stopping the man in the street carrying an assault rifle … does that not make sense ?

      • I have never in my life seen “the man in the street” carrying an assault rifle. A hunting rifle? Yes. But that’s because I grew up in a very rural area where nearly everyone enjoyed hunting.

      • Malcolm,
        Please elaborate on what you are calling an Assault Rifle, since the term was invented and it had no technical meaning.

    • You are living in a fantasy, Malcolm. The man in the street does not carry an assault rifle. You can go to the US and spend plenty of time and never see such a weapon.

  4. Bob;
    Any response we have will be deemed politically incorrect by the thought police and the media. I’m going to go have a beer and watch the country I defended for 22 years tear it’s self apart. a once proud country where a Black man was elected president by a white majority, but if any citizen disagrees with the president’s decision that citizen is called a racist and shouted down. A country where the NSA monitors your every form of electronic communication you have, and explains it as keeping you free. A country that blames guns instead of people for their bad deeds so I’ll assume that cars are responsible for drunk driving? A country that has allowed the media to set the agenda and only report on what they agree with.
    No I think I’ll sit here in a sensible country, pop that top on a SMB and promise to let my wife drive anytime I do.

  5. What’s unfortunate is you are right Bob. My plans are to get out of here and to the Philippines as soon as I can. I have about 2 1/2 yrs before I can collect my retirement. I’m thinking of selling my house, take the money and high tail it outta here. Just not sure I can stretch 30 grand until my retirement kicks in. I need to get your book on 49 ways to make a living over there and convince my filipina girlfriend who wants to come here after nursing school that we could have a much better life there than we could here.
    The stress levels are way to high here anymore and it’s getting harder to make a good living without working yourself into the ground.
    Hmmm I wonder if they need any good machinist/welders there with 40+ yrs of experience….

        • Illegal? Oh wow. What stupidity. This country can sure use all the help it can get. We’ve been having a teacher shortage since time immemorial because the schools can’t keep up with the population growth rate.

          • Indeed it is a deportable offense! In fact, even if you teach as a volunteer, you can be deported for that.

            I think that in the Philippines, a bigger problem than a shortage of teachers is a shortage of classrooms!

            • Hi Bob,

              I would suggest that the curriculum in The Philippines is an even larger problem.The colleges pump out thousands of grads each year who struggle to read,write,and think critically.

        • Bob,

          Although I have no desire to work here would it be illegal for me to teach here? We knew someone who taught English and math at a college in Tubigon.

          Can an American just teach at the American School near Manila?

          Rusty

          • It is generally not legal, Rusty. If a Filipino can teach the subject, then it is not legal. However, if you go to the DOLE (Dept of Labor and Employment) and apply for a AEP (Alien Employment Permit) for the job and they issue the permit, then you are good to go.

    • Hi Robert – I agree that it is very unfortunately, and I take no pleasure in it, that is for certain.

      Good luck in your plan, I hope that everything goes exactly as you are hoping for!

    • well if she is in nursing school to have her stay in the philippines after she graduates is idiotic and you would only be thinking of yourself if that is the case. anyone in the medical field cannot make any money starting out in the philippines as opposed to america. she would make next to nothing being a nurse in the philippines, maybe 15,000 pesos / month if she is lucky.

      • Actually Igbalfa I am aware of how much she can make there. I should of posted what our true intentions are so as to not get people so stirred up. After she graduates next year the plan IS for her to come here for a few years and work in her field. Then our plan is to move back there. She knows that if we stay here I will never be able to fully retire and have to work till they kick dirt in my face. We have discussed this in length and have both agreed that we can save a bunch of money here and then move there and have a good life.

        • Yes, someone in the medical field can make a lot more money in the States. However, the majority are really in debt. Most are one pay check away from bankruptcy.

          My wife’s cousin is a surgeon on the island of Bohol. He has 3 cars, two homes, and a farm all paid for.

          He once went to the States. But decided to return. He knew he’d would make a lot more in the States. But he also knew he’d be stressed to the max.

          Rusty.

          • Yes Rusty you are correct. My girlfriend can make very good money as a nurse here in the states, up into the six figure range. BUT, that’s working a lot of hours in a very stressful work environment. What some don’t realize I think is the cost of living here is also very high. Houses for example, I bought my home 2 1/2 yrs ago. Paid 159,000 for it, today the same house is selling for 210,000. And that is here in Texas. Where realestate has never jumped like this. They are calling it the mini California.
            So there is a trade off. Work till you drop here in the states or live there in the Philippines where your money will go much further and with far less stress. I vote for less stress

            • Exactly, Robert. Yet few will see the advantages. They keep chasing after the money. The majority of the Filipina’s we know wouldn’t leave the States. Forget the healthier food.

              They see the clean streets, Wal Mart/Catsco Christmas decoration, etc., and that is it.

              Rusty .

  6. Nah, once I get there doing what I’ve been doing all my life is not what I want to do when I get there. Retirement sounds much better. Find another way to make some extra income

  7. If I were to start I could’t sum this subject up into a few sentences or even a paragraph. I will just say, I am happy of where I am. I am happy to be away from the madness. I still keep up with it and I will be sending in my absentee ballot next year. However, I with enjoy my quiet afternoons on the front lanai drinking sweet tea or the occasional adult beverage, here in beautiful Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The simple life here is literally worlds away from all of the chaos back in the states.

  8. When I saw my Facebook feed about two journalists gunned down on live television in the States — in the States! — I was just so shocked that I had to check other news outlets to verify.

    I thought, “Gosh, they were only doing their jobs. That reporter could’ve been me.” They weren’t in a war zone in another country or covering a street riot or a political story. Alison Parker was doing a tourism story!

    My heart is heavy. My tears will fall in due time. Vaya con Dios, Alison and Adam. @)>—–

  9. Hi bob, it’s a sign of the times we live in things are getting out of hand your right guns
    Don’t kill people it’s crazy people that do, I feel safe in the Philippines you just have to
    Be careful were ever you live I don’t get involved in other countries politics if an American wants to have a gun that’s okay by me ,Britain and America have their own laws
    And their own customs to people who are thinking about moving to the Philippines
    I’ve been here 7 years and love it, Derek in pasig.

    • I also feel very safe here, no complaints about that. Especially in Davao where Criminals don’t last very long. 😉 I am coming up on 16 years of life in the Philippines, and loving it!

  10. Bob, despite the so-called violence in the CONUS, a lot of Pinoys still see the US as a most desirable place to live. I still thin the way we see the US hasn’t changed a bit. I am in manila today and have just passed the US embassy. The long lines are still there.

    • Hi Gerardo – I would bet that the vast majority -90% of those Filipinos in line have never been to the USA before, and are in for a rude awakening when they see how things are there now.

  11. Bob,
    It saddens me to see how far our country has fallen. The guns are not the problem, it’s a problem of people not valuing other people’s lives. When we were raised people respected each other. Sure there were bad apples but none compared to the ones out there now.

    As you know I am moving there soon. Our house, car, and several farms and businesses are paid for and ready. We had to file for a name change for my wife because USCIS now makes everyone who is being naturalized to use their middle name on their birth certificate. So that is a 6 week delay and then to have the USCIS to send her a new Naturalization Certificate is another 3 weeks at the least. And we need to get her dual citizenship and my 13a Visa. So November is when we plan to move now.

    I really resent people from other countries telling us what we need to do in our country. If they do not want guns the so be it. And if you think Americans stone wall you maybe its your overbearing know it all attitude that makes them that way. Our founding fathers saw a reason for us to own them and made sure it was guaranteed by the Constitution.

    • Hi Scott – Nice to hear from you. I totally agree that it is not guns that are the problem. In fact, I think that it would be worse if guns were taken away from the general population. The threat of the general public having guns holds back many people from committing such acts, in my view.

      When you mentioned about resenting people from other countries telling us what we need to do in our country.. that is a good thing to always remember when you move to the Philippines. One of the prime things that gets foreigners in trouble here, and makes them unhappy, is what they forget that piece of advice. It is a difficult transition to make to understanding that you are in a foreign country of which you are not a citizen, and that you are almost always better off if you keep political opinions about your host country to yourself. Those who are able to do that are happier and live a better life here! 🙂

      • I agree Bob, I never ever tell someone in their own country what they need to do. It is their country and they can do as they please. I always remember I am a guest there and can be shown the door to leave. Also I follow my daddy’s advice, Never talk politics or religion with anyone unless you want to start a fight.

          • I have already seen it while we were on a couple of our extended stays there. It is one reason I really don’t talk to every expat I see on the street. Also I can see one or two in this comment section who fit the bill. Not trying to be mean but I hope they never move to the Philippines to perpetuate the Ugly American image.

  12. Hi Bob, I am glad the comments got back on track, politics and religion are probably best saved for a separate website.

    I just wanted to let you know that your previous article about getting out of the US put the cherry on top of my decision. I arrived here with my family 2 weeks ago. We have a 1, 2, 5 and 8 year old, we will be homeschooling them here.

    Financially, I initially told myself to wait for retirement , however, after some research I found that I can tap my retirement fund early penalty free using the IRS 72t rule and committing to equal withdrawals from the retirement savings until I am 59 1/2, it was pretty easy to set up. I am 51 and probably could have added another $500k to the account but what I had already accumulated will provide what we need about $1500 a month, since our house and farm here in Pangasinan is paid for.

    I just could not see slogging away, working for the man, when my heart and life are waiting for me here. I have loved the Philippines from the first moment I got out of Manila. I feel more at home here than I have ever felt in the states. There are occasional frustrations but I consider a challenge to change my point of view instead of the other way around.

    Reading yours and other contributors articles over the years have given me the courage to pull the handles and eject. I just want to say thank you to you and all of your contributors.

    • Hi Robert – How are you, thanks for stopping by, reading and leaving a comment.

      Like I have pointed out, I take no pride or happiness from telling people that it is time to get the heck out of Dodge.. but I also think that my statement is true. I wish you luck on your journey.

      Be sure to check the Philippine laws about homeschooling, if you live here you must follow the law. It is permissible here, but just make sure that you are using approved text books and such.

      You can make it financially, you might need to make a few adjustments, but I know it can be done.. I do it every day. It is not always easy, but nothing in life that is worthwhile is easy!

      Personally, I think you are making the right choice. Just come here with an open mind, and be flexible! If you do that, you can adapt to whatever comes your way!

  13. On the same day (yesterday) that 2 people were killed in a “mass” murder, 55 Americans lost their lives in traffic accidents, but I don’t see anyone advocating for “car control”, or for that matter, urging Americans to leave the country because of carnage on the highways. Get a grip, Bob!

    I’m originally from Canada, but have lived in the U.S. (in the suburbs of Cincinnati) for almost 30 years now. In that time, nobody in my family has been affected by gun violence. No friends or acquaintances of mine have been affected by gun violence, that I am aware of. I have never seen or heard a handgun being discharged. The only handguns I have seen have been in policemen’s holsters. It is certainly tragic that hundreds of people die each year in mass shootings, but this is a country of 320 million people, so try to keep things in perspective. Yesterday, 319,999,998 Americans were NOT killed in a mass murder, but that fact doesn’t attract the interest of news organizations trying to boost ratings or increase page views.

    If and when my wife and I do retire to the Philippines, it will be when we are ready to do so, not because of the misguided exhortations of an ex-pat who has not even been in the U.S. for 15 years. And it will be with the knowledge that we are moving to a country where the average life expectancy is a full *10 years* lower than in the U.S..

    • Hi Marcus – I have personal experience with car deaths. My 15 year old sister was killed by a drunk driver when I was 17. It altered my life dramatically. Believe me, I have a grip.

      I am not telling people to leave the USA because two people were killed. I am saying that there is a growing trend of people being killed in different ways. People’s businesses being burned down. The government taking away people’s rights. All of these things are happening with increasing frequency.

      I am not anti-gun, and I am not complaining about gun violence, I am not sure where you got that idea. I am against violence whether it be by a gun, a car or any other tool of violence. In fact, I am very pro-gun, pro-2nd Amendment. I believe that guns have a great role in protection from violence.

      BTW, your statistics are incorrect. Two people were killed in Louisiana yesterday as well.. and how many dozens or hundreds were killed which were not widely reported?

      You are free to have your opinion, Marcus, but it seems that you fail to afford me the same right to have my opinion, and you seemingly don’t want to afford me the right to share my thoughts on my own website. I need to get a grip, you say. Well… perhaps you should consider the same.

      • “I am saying that there is a growing trend of people being killed in different ways.”

        You are mistaken, Bob. Where do you think murder falls in the list of top 15 causes of death in the U.S.? 3rd? 7th? 10th? It’s not even in the top 15. You seem to be under the impression that death by violence is increasing in the U.S. It is not. It has been on a steady decline since the mid 90’s. You can look up the stats yourself on the CDC web site.

      • Hi Bob you have less rights in the Philippines than you do in the USA, also how many Filipinos in the Philippines would love to live in USA.
        USA and Western Europe are very rich countries compared to the Philippines, our Dollars Euro’s and Pounds can go a lot farther in the Philippines than in our homeland…..but the average Filipino standard of living is no where near the average in your homeland or my homeland.

        • Hi Gerry – I am not sure what this has to do with the topic of this article. However, I am well aware of my rights here in the Philippines and also the buying power of the money that I earn (I still mostly earn US Dollars, BTW). I am very happy with my life here in the Philippines, I see no disadvantages to it. Not quite sure if you are implying that life here is not good, or exactly what your point is. But, I have a great life here, and no complaints!

  14. Life in the USA is tougher today than it was prior to 2001. When 9.11 happened, it gave the 1 percenters a chance to manipulate the banks, the market, life in general. When the downturn of the market happened in 2006 thru 2011, the so-called Great Recession, people tried to make light of life back then. Most people are in denial that life is better than prior to 9.11 to save face. The economy has not fully recovered despite what the media says, what people in the streets are saying, of what the govt says. Again, people don’t want to admit that their life is not the same prior to 9/11.

    Even though the job market has improved, it’s still not the same. For example: A financial analyst making $150K a year today, that same position was making $160K 10 years ago. Ten years ago, housing was less expensive, food, gas, most comodities are much less expensive. Today, that same analyst is paying for $650K for a 2 bedroom townhouse approx 1200 sf, a car that’s approx 17% higher, gas that’s approx 27% higher, food that’s approx 21% higher, etc, etc. Even though the salary of $150K sounds fantastic, in the San Francisco Bay Area, the hub of the global tech, it’s considered poverty, even for a single person.

    Crime rate is going up despite the “recovery” The other day, the chief of police in Berkeley CA had his police car broken into and his gun & 4 magazines stolen in school campus in broad daylight. Oakland has the same situation except it’s to a regular cop.

    Hold-ups, carjacking, are all up. I don’t need to say anything about mass shooting. Yet, Americans are still “you can have my gun over my dead body” panic! I pack heat but geez, I’m not paranoid that the govt is going to take my 2nd amendment away.

    LIfe in the USA is dismal, pathetic, dark, sad, bad. I’m sorry but it’s not the America I grew up in. Kids don’t play in the streets anymore of sit by windows. A bullet may come thru. Tourists are getting shot and killed because the locals want their money.

    You got it right Bob. America is going down the toilet & fast and most of the people don’t care about each other anymore. Peace.

  16. You guys in the Philippines mentioned that most of those Filipinos in line are in for a rude awakening. Maybe you all should spend a little time here before making judgements and I don’t mean 10 or 20 years ago. I’m hearing every day that tourists are being pulled out of their cars at Manila airport and robbed or carjacked just minutes after arriving in the Philippines. Is it true? I don’t know because I am not there but it is being reported and I won’t make judgement until I witness it. That’s what I suggest from you in the Philippines

    • I am sorry, but I believe I have every right to comment on the things that I see on the news, things which are happening in the country of my citizenship.

      • Bob you have every entitlement to say what you like, you are sincere in what you say, just as sincere as other people who have differing views. Who’s right and wrong depends on your point of view.

        We have been lucky to have been born in rich countries.
        Your views and mine would be different if you were born in a poor country and everyday was a struggle to survive. I may not agree with you on certain things, but I also know that you are a decent human being, shame you stopped posting your x-mass vids distributing presents.

    • Therein is the problem Bob. The incidence of crime is not the problem it’s more that the news agencies are reporting it with more intensity. World ar II was just as bloody if not more than the Vietnamese war but since the news had more live and video coverage it seemed like it was worse. I go about my life here in the States just as always not afraid of doing what I want just as you probably do in your corner of the world although I do remember you writing about a terrorist group that committed mass murder a couple of years ago living right in your neighborhood. I’m just saying if you are depending on the news agencies to form your opinion on how life is in the States you are barking up the wrong tree.

    • BTW there are Filipinos living here in the States warning my family that I should not visit the PI because I will get kidnapped or my head chopped off. They haven’t been there for years. Should I believe them?

    • Da I ain’t sure where you are at. but at 52 years old as a an ameircan… the dangeris real. I am i INDY….everyday we have shootings adn allthat crap…. when I was younger we didn’t. America is done ! to elieve any diff is foolish. sure it may take 20 years tomget there but …. it s done

      • Dan
        Unfortunately for you, you’ll find out what the TRUE problem is soon enough and it’s not what you think it is.
        You are so far off the track in your “cause” that it’s laughable… I can tell you this with a high degree of confidence.
        But you can always fight…

        • It is true. That an average citizen, can and does know more about what’s going on, and what to about it than the Government does. If we sound crazy, because it is a crazy situation, we don’t worry, we aren’t getting impeached, nor have to worry about that.

    • Hmmm don’t remember calling you foolish at all. I said believing any different is foolish. I have no idea how you see things. But at a point ya have to ask questions. I hope I am wrong but progress of 40 years shows me different……. for you to judge me as a fool is at your own peril …. But i guess you are above question so I must surley be wrong

  17. Every Filipino that visits me, or even others from other countries, really likes it in the US. In short, if you let the news media influence your opinion, rather than direct observation, it is your loss.

  18. These isolated incidents are always portrayed by the media as being more common than they are. Someone could just as easily post a list of murders (against foreigners) in Philippines. Just in the past month, a Fil-Am couple was murdered by their hired gardeners in PH, and a mother and child were murdered by hired plumbing help elsewhere in PH. Time to get out of PH!!

    Like shark attacks or plane crashes, these things are very traumatic and seem to be happening a lot more often than they really are. Statistics don’t bear this out, despite the constant bombardment by CNN (Constant Negative News) and now social media.

    • I believe that the writing is clearly on the wall. If you choose to ignore it, that is your choice.

      I did say in the article that bad things happen everywhere, including in the Philippines.

  20. Wow, as many of you know from reading my blog I plan to eventually move to the Philippines but now I am wondering if this is the kind of attitude that prevails in the expat community there. Sit back and talk about how much smarter we are than those poor dumb people living over in the U.S. and saying over and over “I told you so”

    • Dan, I know a lot of expats in the Philippines including yours truly. I was born in the Philippines, came to the USA as a little girl and now, I’ll be completely moving back. We all love the USA, far from talking bad about it. As I type this, I’m mourning that for me to have a better life, for my child and my grandchildren to have the life I used to have as a little girl, I need to be pro-active and move out of the country me and my family have worked so hard for most of our lives.

      Far from it Dan. Most of us are grieving that the America we grew up in is no longer the same because as most parents, we want our children’s lives to be better than ours. But, as we see how it is in the USA today, it is just going to get worse. Peace.

      • Geri
        You only have a few weeks (10) to move out.
        It’s getting VERY LATE, almost too late.
        It will be ugly.
        Can’t explain here what’s going on, email me if you want to know more.

        • M. Bob,

          I am emaing you. What’s going to happen in 10 weks? Trump or Hilary won’t be elected by then, right? Or is it Bushes fault?

          Will the NFL or NBA be affected? I hope not as I just bought an internet subscription. However, I think I can get my money back.

          Good grief, I’d just ordered a box of twinkies. Amazon said it would take 11 weeks to arrive. Bummer!

          Rusty

          Rusty

    • I see nothing wrong with moving to a different country where you choose to live your life. You yourself have expressed a desire to do the same, Dan. Did I “abandon” my country? I don’t think so. I still pay taxes to the USA.

  21. Dan, you really are inaccurately putting words into people’s mouths. I never said I was smarter than any other person. Am I not entitled to share my personal opinion?

    • Bob, not putting words into your mouth but I find the tone of this post as condescending “What was I saying” “I am trying to remember, what was the article about” You know darn well what the article was about so why lead off with shoving it in someones face who disagreed with you in the original article. That is taking a tragic event and getting enjoyment out of it reenforcing your thinking.

    • I can assure you, Dan, I get no enjoyment out of it. I specifically said that in the article
      I shared my honest opinion, which you continue to seemingly deny my right to do.

    • Bob I would never deny you that right. But I also have the same right and will continue reading you posts I just feel you went about this one the wrong way. Of course the US has problems and I don’t think that everyone who abandons their country of citizenship will find the solution by moving to the Philippines. That’s my honest opinion and I stand by it

  23. wow !!!! I am amzed at the response ! I wonder if folks of the UK felt the same way when it all slipped away…. or farther bck in time… Romans ? either way everyone chooses their world. make your best bets and roll with it…… my bets ain’t on the homeland

  24. When i visit the Philippines, there are things i miss about the US…no dead bodies laying in the road, no tuberculosis, clean air, not being robbed by taxi drivers, employment, no people dying from diseases that were eradicated 75 years ago, the list goes on and on. When was the last time you saw a person with leprosy or dying of dengue fever in the US? Sure, the US isn’t the same superpower it was a few years ago, but at it’s worst, the US is an absolute Eden compared to the Philippines, if you can rationally compare life, liberty, and health. From a purely emotional standpoint, perhaps there’s a different story. If you completely opened the borders between the US and Philippines, and provided free transportation, the Philippines would lose half it’s population in two weeks. In the other direction you’d have a couple hundred ex sailors headed the other way.

    • I have visited the Philippines 6 times on long extented tours and will be moving there in a few months. The ONLY trouble I have encounted in all these visits was from a drunk man from Texas! Never a single cross word or angry from an Filipino, not one! Just my views.

    • Fred, your experience is very similar to mine. If I get problems from somebody it is almost always from another expat. In 16 years of living here, I can only think of one Filipino person that I have had a problem with, and that was easily resolved.

    • Jacob, I agree the country is poor but to what standards? I will give you some examples. I took a group of 6 teachers out to eat one evening and the bill was about 10 USD. You can ride a cab for little of nothing (compared). I spend 30 USD on food and must get someone to help me carry it. You can build a very nice smaller concrete home here for app. 20,000 USD. You get my point. But the bottom line (my feelings) is the poor dont know they are poor, and being poor never effects the great smiles on everyone’s face.

    • Yes, the people are great, I married one, and love the family. That being said, if you cross the police, you can end up dead, and no one will ever hear about it, 90% of the family had or has TB, and a lot of the family members die from easily cured diseases. The average pay is what, $50 US a month? Even if it’s a massive 100, or $200 a month for the lucky few, it’s still not enough to care for one’s family. YOU are in heaven because of your American money makes you very rich, and able to afford what you need. In the US, I am poor, in the Philippines, I am rich.

      • you indeed saw a very poor invironment when you visit but not all places in the Philippines is like that not all of us are dying of TB we work to put food on the table just like everybody else in the world. So why not take the bad, the ugly and the good and enjoy living. Being poor or rich is one man’s perception, and making comparison will get you nowhere.

  25. wrong Jacob……..US cities, major ones are full of those problems you speak of. they just keep them quiet because of political agenda. many americans would leave if they had an oppurtunity. funny how so many will ride horse that is dead . but as usual I am uninformed blah blah balh, have a good day

  26. America is an angry place..the gun genie is out of the bottle you cannot put her back…there are no laws that can stop this type of shooting…even if there were more weapons on site…he ambushed these poor people…a surprise attack..

    Could/should some sensible legislation be passes…well that discussion went out the window when it became ok to slaughter children..ala Sandy Hook….

    Each one of these types of shootings ..raises the bar…this guy put up video on social media…maybe the next guy will bring his own camera crew…

    Politicians and the propaganda news organizations have fueled a lot of hate..immigrants…gays…blacks..Latinos …divide and conquer …

    I’ve been in the Philippines for just less than a year. I cannot really believe haw fast the situation has deteriorated…politicians used to compromise to move forward…now it’s a hearty F U….to the other side…

    I’m glad to be here…

  27. I will apologize ahead of time for using a religious point of view.

    It’s not a gun problem, a screwdriver problem, a knife problem, a car problem, or an airplane problem as we saw in Europe a couple months ago.

    It is a heart and head problem. The others are just a tool used to carry out the awfulness that is in a person.

  28. Good post/article, Bob. Wow 500 emails you responded too. That must have kept you busy. Especially with all the other things you do.

    I wonder how many people could take living in a 3rd world country? Not many, right? It takes a special person to adapt to another culture.

    Your really special, Bob. Nobody I know could accomplish what you’ve done. Nobody. It must have taken a lot of work.

    Bob, I’ve read some of the other posts. Just blow off those negative comments. I know that is easy to say but no matter what you say they aren’t going to change.

    Bob, I was a moderator for Linp3 for years and years. Don Herrington and I go way, way, back. Don was, and is a great guy, some may not so but I d.

    Then a new guy took over, Don had had enough, he kicked out us old timers. Ron McCarthy (he wasn’t a moderator) but he and so many others got fired. Lol. Anyway, Bob just let those with negative replies spew.

    Rusty

    Your

  29. Bob. I just can’t understand your position. I can’t believe my eyes when I read this junk coming from you and others. Are you swayed by the media? You can’t put these things in perspective?

  30. Murder rate in the Philippines 8.8, in the US 4.4 I know one person in the US who had been murdered and that was an armed robbery in 1970. I know 4 people murdered in the Philippines, one of which was my Brother-in-Law, who was shot in a country where guns are illegal. He was shot by someone with an illegal firearm and over the fact that he voted for the wrong Mayor. The murderer got 5 years. Crime rates go up when the economy goes bad and that’s been true since before I was born. Yes we have issues in the US that need work but that’s true of every country on the planet, particularly the Philippines. I recall you choosing the city to live in because it was so safe. I recall you worried about when and where you traveled there. Have you forgotten or simply accepted your situation as normal.

  31. Bob, I find it interesting that you have not responded to this post by Jacob Underwood. While I love the Philippines….and spend a lot of time there…I think your TOTAL overreaction makes you look like a right wing extremist. Just in case you missed his post I copy and pasted it here. Do you disagree with what he posted? His post is below:

    When i visit the Philippines, there are things i miss about the US…no dead bodies laying in the road, no tuberculosis, clean air, not being robbed by taxi drivers, employment, no people dying from diseases that were eradicated 75 years ago, the list goes on and on. When was the last time you saw a person with leprosy or dying of dengue fever in the US? Sure, the US isn’t the same superpower it was a few years ago, but at it’s worst, the US is an absolute Eden compared to the Philippines, if you can rationally compare life, liberty, and health. From a purely emotional standpoint, perhaps there’s a different story. If you completely opened the borders between the US and Philippines, and provided free transportation, the Philippines would lose half it’s population in two weeks. In the other direction you’d have a couple hundred ex sailors headed the other way.

    Bob, what is your response to this very accurate post? Do you disagree with what he has said in his post.

    Like I said, I love the Philippines….but you are starting to come off as a very disgruntled alarmist that is speaking about something you have not even experienced for 15 years.

    • Maybe the answer lies in the type of life a person is looking for, I know many Filipino expats who yearn for the simple life they had in their home country.

      The whole world we live in is getting worse, for those of you who believe in what the Bible says you may be surprised that these days were foretold at 2 Timothy 3:1-7, you can google it, you can’t deny the truth of it, many of you might even find yourself accurately described therein.

      Bottom line is where do you want to be when the SHTF… A person with a simple life will be able to endure much easier than those with western materialistic needs. Most people in westernized developed nations have no idea what they will do when they can’t run to the store for a roll of toilet paper.

      There will be a day when life in the states will be a lot harder than it is today, some people call it SHTF that seems to be the trend Bob is commenting on. I like the idea of being in a place were living simple is the norm. The english have endured hard times during the world wars but life there is also changing, the US will be hardest hit because for the most part there has not been a time in recent memory when the whole nation suffered.

      The Philippine people in general are a kind loving people who for the most part also speak English. Will life be easier here when the SHTF, probably not but the average Filipino loves their neighbor regardless of where he is from. Maybe that is what Bob refers to with his choice of where he wants to be and HIS desire to share HIS opinion on HIS website is his decision and right as a fellow human. For someone to deny him that right is rude. If you don’t like HIS opinion you should create your own website and spew your negative thoughts there. I can’t believe you could possibly feel good with some of the negative comments that have been posted… but I guess these are the days we live in

      • Hi Rob – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I find life here to be good for me and my family. We enjoy it, and we count our blessings for being able to live the life that we live.

        • Thank You Bob… You seem like a pretty level headed, regular guy to me, I would love to buy you a Red Horse some day.

          Your patience under fire is enviable, keep up the great work.

          Take care

          • Hi Rob – Ha ha.. yeah, sometimes the fires get hot when you write an article that makes people feel bad, or feel like you are attacking their (and your) country. That was not my intention, but so be it, I only said what I see as the truth.

            I don’t drink, but I’d be happy to have a diet coke with you sometime, Rob! 🙂

    • What is my response to this accurate post? I don’t know what post you are talking about because the one that you seem to be referring to as being so “accurate” is not very accurate in my book, Todd.

      1. So far, I have never seen a dead body lying in the street. How many have you seen like that Todd?
      2. No TB. OK, great, no TB. Have you seen the news that there are multiple deaths due to plague in the USA this summer? How does the TB have anything to do with what I wrote about?
      3. I have not been “robbed” by a taxi driver. Oh, from time to time one might try to squeeze an extra P10 out of me.. I just pay them the proper amount and go on with life. People rob others in the USA as well.
      4. Employment/ I am self employed, and have been for about 25 years. I make more money living in the Philippines than I ever made in the USA.
      5. Most people who get dengue do not die. I had dengue in 2009 and lived through it. Dengue is a tropical disease that is spread by mosquitoes. I don’t see how that has anything to do with the discussion.

      Todd, I have no obligation to reply to any post, I don’t understand why you find it so interesting that I did not reply. Who made you the King of LiP?

  32. All this doom and gloom. Where is Palawan Bob? This is right up his alley. There is negative things about every country. Just the other day 5 people were killed in a shootout with police in Cavite. Just a couple of years ago 9 people were killed when a guy went a rampage in Kawit, Cavite where we used to live. And if you think the US goes down the Philippines won’t be greatly affected? You are sadly mistaken. You can’t compare the Philippines to the US since the Philippines is only the size California. The point is you can’t escape violence/problems, there everywhere. I love both countries. But don’t bite the hand that feeds you. The only person that know’s what will happen is God.

    • Hi PapaDuck – It sounds like you agree with me! I clearly said, several times in my article that there is violence in every country. I also said that these are the things that I see, what I *think* is happening. I sure never said that what I think is sure to happen, or that I am God.

    • Papa Duck
      Here I am reading the comments and saying to myself, most people here see only NOW what I saw 5 years ago.
      By the end of this year, they’ll know what I knew 4 years ago.
      In spring next year, they’ll know what I knew 3 years ago.
      By mid summer next year, they’ll know FOR SURE how apathy (not using the brain) can be dangerous to your health.

  33. Hi Morning…at least it is here in UK! It is perhaps the human condition..what appears as indisputable common sense to me and my fellow Brits obviously does not appear so to you and your fellow Americans ..We will never convince you that routine carrying of guns is wrong…and you will never ever convince us that it is right , so sometimes for the sake of friendship..we have to agree to disagree…(:-)) Agreed ?

  34. Jacob, I’ve lived here in Manila four years, and I have absolutely no desire to return to the US. The Phils., is a third world country, so of course there are many things that are different here. But I stay here for a number of reasons. 1. Personal freedom in the US is gone and isn’t coming back in my life time, the liberal agenda has taken over, and the country is now run by females who have absolutely no respect for a man. 2. People here are friendly and relaxed, in spite of all their hardships. 3. The Filipinos love Americans, which is more than I can say for the present administration. America used to be a great and powerful country, where a person could work hard and be successful. Those days are gone forever. Lastly, America has turned it back on God, and become a nation of greedy, self gratifying people. Many of these people have no sense of responsibility and moral integrity. History shows that a godless nation can not stand. I wish that I was still proud to be an american, but I’m not.

  35. It is sad that you would be ashamed to be an American.While we have our problems who do you think is the country who will end up protecting the country you have chosen for your new home should anything ever accoure? As far as personal freedom while some is gone there is a lot that has been gained. I understand some people cannot deal with change .Now about work..where would one work in manila for any decent wage? Plus Manila is more expensive then most midwestern cities in the US. And if you think because they have mass in the mall the Philippines is a Godly nation then you my friend are in deep trouble. The Philippines is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, they hold the record for drinking alcholic beverages, parents sell their children into prostituition just for the money and most day time television is gay oriented so i dont get this comparrision. God is a personl relationship and not a government organization. God has not been involved in government function since the days of the jewish nation in the old testement..
    1 for me i love the Philippines simply because i have many friends there as well as someone special i am dating but they cannot provide me will SS or medicare like my home country can. They will not allow me to own land in their country like my country does them 2.While i agree America has it problems they still have the abilty to protect most of the world, we still have some ability to suceed and we do have some kind of saftey net for retirement.

    • Roger, you sound like a guy who has voted for Obama twice, and believes that the government is his friend. I don’t care what you think of the Phils. I simply told you that I love it here, and have no intention of ever returning to thee US. I’m entitled to that, and to my opinion. I wouldn’t be here if I thought my life would be better somewhere else. I’m at a stage in my life where I only have to worry about what’s happening in my own circle, and I can do that here. I bleed red, white, and blue, and that’s why I am so sad about what the US has become.

  36. As I did before, I totally disagree with your statements. But I find it interesting that you take advantage of America has to offer, including your most recent useage of Amazon, an AMERICAN company, to make you money. If America is so bad, why do you use American resources to feed your family?
    In your original post you critiqued American roads and bridges. At least we have roads and bridges. What do you have? When I go to Cebu, it takes me 4 hours to go 90 km. over here I can do it in one hour with a lot less stress.
    As to crime, there is crime everywhere. Our global society has lost its moral compass. You bring up the reporter that was shot. What about the massacre that was averted by some brave AMERICAN heros in France? And what about the mass killings that take place in your area because of political affiliation? How many bodies did they find in those graves?
    If my memory serves me well I think you also wrote an article saying you felt safe because your home was away from the street and people didn’t know you lived there. That house away from the street was not in America.
    Bob, I take great offense by this kind of writing. And I take great offense to “hypocrites”, people who don’t hesitate to take advantage of all that America offers and then say disparaging words about it.
    I use to check your blog every day because I like to get a better understanding of the Philippines. I like it there and have made it my second home. But recently I have started to check it less and less frequently because I have noticed an underlying tone of anti Americanism and some writings that are just gibberish. The attitude I have started to notice is not one that is reflective of the feelings that the Philippine people have displayed to me.

    • Hi Guy – You are going way overboard. I never said that America is bad. I think we have some bad leadership right now, and some bad things are happening in the country, but I love the country, and the vast majority of Americans are great people! If you read what I said with a clear head, you will not find anything of the sort in the article.

      I use many American companies for my various needs. Why not? I am an American citizen, and American taxpayer, and by using American businesses, I help the American economy. I have nothing to be embarrassed about in using American companies, in fact, that is something that I believe I should be proud of.

      I live in the heart of Davao City. It is very safe here. In the past when I have published exactly where I lived, I ran into some trouble.. from an American expat who harassed me and made threats against my wife and children. NO Filipino ever caused the slightest problem to me, only an American.

      I am sorry if I offended you in any way, Guy. I only said what I think is the truth. I do not believe that anything I said was hypocritical, not at all. If you think so, then all I can say is that I am sorry you see it that way. Good luck to you.

  37. To me what I’m seeing on the news and online is not about lack of gun control that’s causing these shootings… It’s individuals who mostly are suffering from mental health illness and issues. Maybe they lack the funds and/or medical insurance to get professional help or maybe some are too proud to seek help.

    • Hi Alan – I believe you are completely correct. There was a time when those with mental health issues were treated to help them, not we just put them out on the streets. I believe that is a real root to this problem.

  38. When do we ban fertilizer (can make explosive, matches start a fire, gas and matches make a really big fire) these are also items that have killed people when bad people want to hurt others. Guns are tools just like hammers and saws and knives) none of them hurt people unless they are missed used by people.

    I owned guns for many years, I believe in protecting my home and family and I enjoy hunting and believe it or not I never shot anyone, but I did have to draw my handgun to protect my home twice, it stopped one incident and the other I had to put down a rabid animal before someone or my pets got bite. Again guns are tools. And I have owned shotguns, rifles and handguns and I taught my kids to respect them and understand the rules of safe handling of them. And my kids are now adults raising their kids and they have never shot anyone either. So again they are tools and that is all they are.

    I believe in England the term is common men do not need guns but if you are the Lord of the Manor you can have what ever you want for hunting and recreation. Seems a bit one sided for my taste.

    • Hi Luke – thanks for sharing your comment, I find it very reasonable. Like you, when I lived in the States, I owned guns. I had a shotgun and also a handgun. Both were just kept at the house for protection. I did a bit of target practice with the handgun,and shot some skeet with the shotgun, but never had to use either weapon for protection, and surely not in anger. 🙂

  39. And before I forget now that I live here I do not feel the need as I did in the States. So I do not have a gun. But I am in a different place and different time in my life and I feel safer here than I did in Ca.

      • Bob, I’m curious. By what rational standard (i.e. backed up by actual statistics) do you feel safer in the Philippines than you did in the U.S.? Lower homicide rates? Better health care? Safer roads? Better job security? Or is it just an overall “feeling” that you have? Perhaps it would help if you defined what you mean by “safer”.

        • Marcus – you misunderstood what i said, because I did a poor job in writing my reply to Luke. when Luke commented and I said “same here” I meant that I had no guns, which was the first part of what he said. I feel the same level of safety here that I felt in the USA when I was there. I was there 15 plus years ago, though, and I don’t know that I would feel the same level of safety there as I do today. My son is there right now, and he has told me many times, and written here on this site that he feels that Davao is safer than Vancouver, Washington where he is living now.

          Just to be clear, though, I have not said that I feel safer here than I felt in the USA, although I can see how you came to that conclusion based on my quick reply to Luke.

          • Fair enough, but that leaves me wondering: If you feel that we Americans should bug out of the U.S. (“the time to leave is now”), where on Earth do you propose that we move to?

            You state that AJ does not feel as safe in Vancouver as he does in Davao. Is that based on his personal experiences while in the U.S.? I’ve been enjoying his blog posts and can’t recall him mentioning any incident where he felt personally unsafe.

            • Hi Marcus – I am not here to tell anybody where they should move, that is a personal choice. Since the people who come to this site are obviously interested in the Philippines (if they weren’t they would not visit the site!), then the Philippines might be the natural place for them. On the other hand, they might want to stay in the USA, it is their choice, I only shared my thoughts.

              As for AJ, I don’t know on what he bases his statement. However, he writes articles every week on this site, and has expressed the safety views in many of his US articles over the past 5 months or so. Feel free to ask him with a comment on one of his articles. I am sure he would be happy to share his views. I would not want to put my words into his mouth, it is for him to share his thoughts, not me. 🙂

              • I just re-read all of the articles he has written since arriving in the states. He did not mention a single incident where he felt that his personal safety was in jeopardy. In fact, the only time when he mentioned safety at all was in this paragraph:

                “While I do feel safe here, I feel like Davao is safer. Since getting here, I’ve received 3 Amber Alerts, 2 in Washington, 1 in California. Just look at the news, there are tons of things happening in the States now, like those train wrecks… Meanwhile, Davao was ranked the 9th safest city in the world.”

                This is hardly an indictment of living in the U.S.! Most amber alerts end happily, with the missing child being found safe and sound.

  40. I’m not saying don’t leave the u.s. to retire, but the thing here is no matter how bad it gets people still appreciate what they have here. Freedom of the press and a very efficient one to sensationalize all the crazies, a handful when u consider the millions here. Now my suspicions are there are many robberies and killings in the Philippines especially Manila that never make it to the press.

  41. Hi Bob
    I’ve been a reader of yours for about 5 years now and i enjoy your webpage and answerman plateform . Still never posted a comment on any of the subject matter. However since I’m married to a filipina 28 years now, I would like to express my humble opinion with your permission of course ? Firstly i love the
    Philippines, particulary CEBU ! Secondly don’t believe guns are the problem
    people are the problem . the increased use of CCTV in the Philippines reveals
    to us that even the filippio’s use guns to rape , murder and rob each other everyday . And not only by civilians but also the POLICE , well truth is that it happens alot less however in the philippines. Thirdly racial tension or racial wars could happen in any country including the philippines when one group refuses to recognize the HUMAMITY and CIVIL RIGHTS of another group. And lastly if you abuse power whether in the form of a GUN or AUTHORITY
    in your home country you’ll do the same whereever you go including the US or
    the Philippines .
    Ed

    • Hi Ed,

      Thanks for sharing your views. Probably racial problems are a lot less of a problem here, since like 99.9% of the people are all the same race, but I do take your point. And, as I said in the article, there are problems everywhere in the world.

      Thanks again for reading my site, I appreciate it a great deal! Take care.

  42. Wow – threads like this just make me sad and sick to my stomach. In all honesty, this bothers me more than the stories about that shooting in VA. If people just invested as much energy and commitment to “doing right” instead of “being right”, we’d be a lot better off I think.

    We are all just feeding our selfish egos with discussions like this, while blaming others for the state of the world. Did anyone notice that 71 refugees suffocated in a grocery truck in Austria, because they were desperate to escape from their homeland? Let’s stop this crap here and go home – hug our loved ones – live simply wherever we are and try to make a small difference in our worlds as best we can.

    None of this stuff is as cut-and-dry as we wish and nobody is any more to blame than anyone else. I shudder to think how things would have turned out with Sarah Palin one step away from power. (not making a political point – just saying that it’s messed up on both ends of the spectrum).

    Hand guns are meant to do one thing: kill people. And there’s something seriously wrong in my view to want one in your house where kids can get hold of it… or on your person when you are having a sh@# fit because someone cut you off in traffic. Yeah, bad guys have too many of them, but I just read a study that things aren’t made any better when “good guys” have them too (they usually get shot themselves when push comes to shove). How can we agree on the wisdom of getting a license to operate a car and register our vehicles with the government, but not to own and operate something designed to kill other people? I don’t get it…. and I’m not looking for snarky arguments to the contrary either, so save your fingers guys.

    Discussions like this only serve to ruin our day and damage how we feel about either other. SOMEONE please write about something that brings us together and makes us smile!

    Paul, I’m looking at you.

    • Hi John. You won’t get any snark from me, just this bit of good news: Crimes of all kinds, including homicide, have been on a steady decline in the U.S. for the past twenty years. Think about that, and smile. It only *seems* that things are getting worse. This is largely due to the fact that almost everyone now carries a video camera in their pocket or purse, and we are treated to a daily barrage of in-your-face, as-it-is-happens violence in high definition. This leads to a badly skewed view of how bad things are for the average American, especially among armchair observers outside the U.S.

      Another fact to help put things in perspective: Most Americans are 10 times more likely to be killed in an auto accident than by gun violence. Fortunately, traffic fatalities are also declining. But if you accept that a death on the highway is just as tragic as a death by gun, why do we focus so much on gun violence while giving a big collective yawn to traffic deaths? Both politically and practically, it would be far easier to reduce traffic fatalities than gun deaths, yet we seem to be obsessively focused on guns. Strange.

      • Marcus – I don’t mean to sound “anti-gun”, but for me – personally – it just feels stupid to tempt fate by having a handgun on me or in my house. The chances of killing a bad guy who is trying to kill me or mine is minuscule compared to likelihood of an accidental shooting, hitting an innocent by-stander – or simply having the power to kill when I’ve lost my own cool for the moment and just feel like hurting someone who has wronged me (or worse, that someone else would steal it and do harm to others!).

        I believe my chances of survival in MOST cases are better if I’m NOT a threat to someone with a gun – not that such a thing has ever happened to me. It’s a personal decision that feels like a no-brainer… But then again, my mind has been poisoned by living in Europe and “blue states” for most of my adult life, so pay no attention to me.

        I doubt that Bob or anyone else that took part in this little flame war is feeling better for all the effort. I also doubt that anyone really learned anything or changed their opinions, so why even go there, folks?!!

        Paul – You’re up! Send us a doozy on Monday.

    • “Donald Trump” and “mental health problem” in the same sentence make me smile. But the American people elected George W. Bush TWICE. Yes TWICE! And that in modern times when the insincerity of the man could be seen and heard on all sorts of media!! So anything could happen.

      • And now look what we have, the liar and chief and his “unaffordable care act”. The Iran nuke deal and many many other bad ideas. All he has done is push his progressive agenda on the American people

      • Jim,

        Why do you believe that millions of Americans are wrong about Trump? How can a billionaire, whose obviously extremely financially wise, be wrong?

        Should a successful businessman be president? The politicans sure have screwed things up.

        Rusty.

  44. I hear you loud and clear Bob. I am one of those 2yrs away from retirement guys and I just pray that 1. I can make it without any significant event, and 2. that when the time comes that I can leave, that I will be able to do so.

    • According to Palawan Bob the end will be here by next summer. He’s been saying the end is near soon the last 5 years. When the end comes he will not be any safer here than anywhere else in the world.

  45. Here’s just a tidbit of info on the gun thing for the anti gun folks. In the US 28 states have an open carry law. Meaning it is legal to openly carry a gun. The other states have a conceal to carry law, needing a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
    When Arizona passed the open carry law the crime rate dropped substancially. Arizona has the highest kidnapping rate in the country due to cartel and those associated per say. People are kidnapped for ransom indescriminately.
    Here in Texas to legally carry concealed you must attend gun safety and shooting classes after a full background check. I know several people who teach these classes and they say without fail they have to weed out the folks who they believe should not obtain a license or carry a gun.
    A pistol, long rifle or the so called assault rifle (a name made up by the US government only because of how they look by anti gun people to try and sway the public, laughable) can be for recreation, a weapon of violence or for protection. Depends on who is holding it and why.
    I have a pistol, browning high power 9mm and a shotgun. The shotgun is not for hunting or skeet, it was built for protection. Haven’t had to use it for that purpose but is there if and when I need it. If I have to it get out it will be for the sole purpose of protecting my home, family and myself. Come in my home uninvited and you more than likely will not leave the way you came. Learn safety, learn how to properly use it, don’t be a nut job and there won’t be anything to worry about. My .02 and no one can change it.
    Sorry Bob but there seems to be some pretty uninformed folks here.
    During the Iraq wars it was said it was safer to walk through downtown Bagdad then it was to walk through New York City, Los Angeles or most major cities in America. Ok I think I’m done…

  46. I think we should delete this thread and go back to talking about “life” in the Philippines and elsewhere. Lest we regress to what every other blog does.

      • Actually, I think Bob’s thread (this thread) is extremely interesting. All threads depend upon the quality of the responses, right?

        Rusty

  47. The solution is neither simple or obvious. Lots of countries allow everyone to have guns, such as Canada ( with training ). I have no idea what makes a country violent, and another one not. I have no idea why any country allows citizens to own assault rifles. I have several guns, but no assault rifles.
    But one thing I do know for certain, American criminals will have guns, and will always have access to them.
    Why is America more violent than its allies like Australia or Canada? Canada does not have strong gun laws, but Australia does.
    To suggest a simplistic solution is naive. There is a deep rooted attitude social problem that cause this violence.

    • It seems the population would have a tremendous inflence on how many crazies. With 300 million people in the States we’re bound to have more shootings than say Australia. Australia has a large land mass but relatively few people.

      Rusty

  48. In the 1980’s I lived in Puerto Rico, I had a license to carry because I owned a Nightclub and moved cash to the bank every night. My friend and I were in San Juan (He owned a bar too) We came out of a club at 0330 and two hoodlums were on a side street and decided what was ours should be theirs. I’ll assume the “No Mugging Zone” was out of order. My wallet was demanded and I complied, but in my wallet pocket was a .25 caliber Semi-Auto thin and small.
    Now my friends had told me that it was not accurate after 100 feet, to which I explained if the malefactor is that far away what reason would I have to shoot him. The gist of it was I robbed the two guys including their pants which I threw over a high wall (They had $9.00 between them and looking for their trousers will keep them busy while we left the area)
    I’m sure glad my friend was an American as he also had a .38 Caliber pistol on him that he didn’t need to draw. I am an alive gun toting believer in the 2nd Amendment vice a dead victim. When you disarm criminals I’ll see no need for a weapon.

      • Robert,
        It is unlawful for me to own a firearm here in the Philippines as is this countries laws which I fully respect but with enough time, and money and paperwork a family member (Philippine Citizen) may process on. If my family was in danger I might remember where they kept it. But of course would never touch it as that would be wrong so I would request the person who owned the weapon to defend me, as I always follow the rules of the Nation I am in..

        • And as you should respect their laws Paul. But if push come to shove. Well I think you know where I’m going. No need to elaborate

  49. Hmmm. Interesting article Bob. Different from the ones you used to do on the local price of razor blades, and your trips to the hairdressers or Jeepney riding advice. Something of a change of focus for LIP, but IMHO, not as interesting.

    • Not as interesting, Jim.. but notice which articles you comment on, and which you don’t. 😉 Hmm…

      Just because one article is a bit different does not mean that a site has changed direction. Of course, if you get certain types of articles that gain huge participation, you have to wonder what types of articles would be best for the site, di ba?

      • “Of course, if you get certain types of articles that gain huge participation, you have to wonder what types of articles would be best for the site, di ba”?

        My thoughts exactly about your purpose. Personally, and very much in my humble opinion, I would not really see this type of article as being “good” for the site, aside from exciting large comment numbers.

        I remember commenting a lot and very regularly on those articles about razor blades, jeepney rides and trips to Samal. I may not be typical, but back then I used to visit the site daily, because I was learning new things about the Philippines regularly, and felt part of a community. Now I flick through every couple of weeks.

        No offence intended, just my thoughts.