Is America still the land of opportunity?

[UKking]

Realistically, is still America a place where a body can get a new life whenever life becomes impossible in his country of origin? Can still a determined man find the opportunity to break with past (given that he's not a criminal in his own country of origin)? Is this the best chance or other places (by example Canada, New Zealand, Australia....) give best opportunities?

[Willravel]

Oh, absolutely. Our economy may not be as strong as it was 10 years ago, but people do still come here for opportunities that they cannot get elsewhere.

[roachboy]

depends really.
the question is terribly vague.
i'm not sure what you are really wanting to know: whether people still believe that the states are a space of endless opportunity; whether it is one (there'd have to be more information about, say, you or a hypothetical agent x to say anything)....i don't know what basis for comparison you imagine we have relative to, say, australia or new zealand without some more information...and so on.

people like to believe nice things about where they live.
unless you qualify the question or give more detail, what you'll probably find is confirmation of that.

[Seaver]

Being in foodservice, I can say I've never felt stronger that immigrants can make it in this country.

One would think that seeing immigrant labor used in kitchens/dishwashing/etc. I would be disheartened. However, 70% of my region (Chicago) is ran by first generation immigrants. It was not immediate, obviously, but after years of hard work many are now millionaires with multiple restaurants. Their children are now doctors/lawyers or other professionals with degrees.

When I was in Texas I saw firsthand Mexican immigrants start doing dishes, moved to line cook, and finally starting their own restaurant within a decade. Sure they worked long hours, and saved every penny, but with very little education many make more than I can even dream of.

[Baraka_Guru]

I don't know about "absolutely." But I don't see why not, generally. I would suggest that America isn't necessarily the best place for opportunity. It all depends on who you are and what you do. I get the feeling that America isn't so much the open society it has been in the past. This can stifle innovation by keeping talent away.

But, yeah, this is a bit vague.

[The_Jazz]

I personally know 3 foreigners that emigrated to the US from the UK, Algeria via Switzerland and South Korea that are now all multimillionaires after 20 years.

Anecdotal evidence is all I can offer until the OP comes back and clears up what he's actually after.

[dc_dux]

The US certainly still provides limitless opportunities to those willing to work hard.

My only caution to those thinking of emigrating to the US is that if you are hispanic or arab you should expect to experience far more prejudice, stereotyping and even law enforcement profiling than if you are white or asian.

[jorgelito]

Originally Posted by dc_dux

The US certainly still provides limitless opportunities to those willing to work hard.

My only caution to those thinking of emigrating to the US is that if you are hispanic or arab you should expect to experience far more prejudice, stereotyping and even law enforcement profiling than if you are white or asian.

I disagree. ALL of my Arab friends (Saudi, Algerian, Qatari) are white, white, white. Same goes for my Mexican friends except one who is actually black. Go figure.

If anything, Asians suffer just as much if not more prejudice, stereotyping, and are more likely to be victims of hate crimes. Especially South Asians, as well as East and Southeast Asians. I think crimes against Asians are even up in Canada if I recall correctly. That is one demographic that is always seen as easy victims. In New York, there is a popular game in which participants will order Chinese food, then kill the delivery man. All for sport. In another, it has become very popular to stalk Asian fishermen and push them into the lake. Countless convenience stores are attacked everyday by people who can't distinguish Asians from "Arabs" or anti-Korean people. The list goes on and on and on. And this doesn't even include the stereotyping and prejudice which takes place in the workplace, white collar or blue collar.

[dc_dux]

Originally Posted by jorgelito

I disagree. ALL of my Arab friends (Saudi, Algerian, Qatari) are white, white, white. Same goes for my Mexican friends except one who is actually black. Go figure.

If anything, Asians suffer just as much if not more prejudice, stereotyping, and are more likely to be victims of hate crimes. Especially South Asians, as well as East and Southeast Asians. I think crimes against Asians are even up in Canada if I recall correctly. That is one demographic that is always seen as easy victims. In New York, there is a popular game in which participants will order Chinese food, then kill the delivery man. All for sport. In another, it has become very popular to stalk Asian fishermen and push them into the lake. Countless convenience stores are attacked everyday by people who can't distinguish Asians from "Arabs" or anti-Korean people. The list goes on and on and on. And this doesn't even include the stereotyping and prejudice which takes place in the workplace, white collar or blue collar.

joregelito....you have enlightened me to the prejudice and hate crimes against Asians.

The FBI hate crime statistics are only one measure:

Anti-Asian/Pacific Islander: 181 incidents, 230 offenses, 239 victims

Anti-Islamic: 156 incidents, 191 offenses, 208 victims
(I assume most are semitic Arabs, but have no way of knowing for certain):

Anti-Hispanic: 576 incidents, 770 offenses, 819 victims

I still hold that if you are planning to emigrate to the US, you are better off being white.

[jorgelito]

Originally Posted by dc_dux

joregelito....you have enlightened me to the prejudice and hate crimes against Asians.

The FBI hate crime statistics are only one measure:

Anti-Asian/Pacific Islander: 181 incidents, 230 offenses, 239 victims

Anti-Islamic: 156 incidents, 191 offenses, 208 victims
(I assume most are semitic Arabs, but have no way of knowing for certain):

Anti-Hispanic: 576 incidents, 770 offenses, 819 victims

I still hold that if you are planning to emigrate to the US, you are better off being white.

DC, thanks for the awesome sources and links (as usual!). I must admit, my post was accidental. A lot of my knowledge on the mater was imparted casually, stuff I came across while researching other things. Gotta love the internet. My US History prof (who was Canadian!!) always liked to drop interesting tid-bits (Native American, Asian American etc history) that isn't really accessible or mainstream. Like the internment camps, or Anti-Chinese Riots, Zoot Suit Riots, mass executions of Chinese (I never realized how much we hate/d the Chinese here!). I grew up in a black and white world. But yeah, that history class was a trip.

Anyways, glad you enjoyed(?) my post DC.

Oh yeah, I agree with you about being better off white as an emigre (unless you were Irish circa 1800s, or Jewish, or Polish, Arab, Greek, Italian, Columbian, etc) Sorry! Couldn't help myself!

[Derwood]

I'm not sure who said it, and i'm paraphrasing here, but this is a great quote:

"The US Economy is like a giant poker game in which fewer and fewer people are holding the chips, and where most can't keep playing without borrowing from those who hold them."

[Miss Mango]

Originally Posted by UKking

Is America still the land of opportunity?

I dont think so in that traditional sense.

I think Land of Frivolous Lawsuits has taken its place.