> If the point of your comment wasn't about people who criticize their own country, then what was it about?

It was about that and a lot more if anyone bothered to engage with me rather than the opposite. There's much depth in the concept. I'll discuss this at the end of this comment.

To address @opportune's post specifically:

> people who argue with others preferences on the internet

I was not arguing with anyone. That was made abundantly clear.

It was not an attack aimed at the OP.

It was not critical of the OP.

In fact, the example I give is:

"I don't understand people who live in the US, hate the US and don't move elsewhere."

The OP is in the UK. I don't even suggest the OP should move out of the UK, at all. Why this need to fabricate a story where one does not exist?

> I don’t understand people who read and reply to posts they hate.

Show me where I said I hated any post on this entire thread.

You can't. Because that's a fantasy.

> By your logic why do we even vote or have opinions on things when we could physically remove ourselves from them?

Another fantasy.

In fact, I very much said that: "The alternative is to seek to change it by engaging in politics".

The fact that politics is revolting (is anyone going to argue with that?) does not mean one cannot seek change through voting, at all.

> By your logic why do we even vote or have opinions on things when we could physically remove ourselves from them?

These things are completely unrelated.

I'll show you just how unrelated they are: A good friend of mine is a UK citizen who lived in the US for many decades, became a US citizen, didn't like the direction the country was on and moved his entire family to New Zealand.

He votes on every single US election, because he is a US citizen.

You can move elsewhere and still engage in voting to affect change. You can do that while enjoying a different environment.

Over the decades I have met lots of people who, for a variety of reasons, are miserable where they live. Not just in the US. Without fail, those who go-on to have a happy life are those who make the decision to change their circumstances.

For example, the aforementioned UK citizen ending-up in New Zealand after decades of living in the US. I know US citizens who did the same and moved to Costa Rica. Another family left Australia for Singapore. Ecuador for Los Angeles. Argentina for Spain. Peru for Miami. Various spots in the Middle East for the US, Europe and Latin America. I know loads of people who left California for Arizona (sometimes you don't have to go another country). Etc.

It is false to say people can't move due to financial or family links. Sure, it's hard, yet the history of immigrants tells a very different story. My parents left everything behind --parents, siblings, friends, profession, etc.-- to move to the US. They came with nothing and barely spoke the language. And yet, they managed, lived a happy life and made something of themselves. Yes, it's hard. No, it is not impossible.

Philosophically speaking, this is about an expression of freedom like not other.

This applies to jobs as well. How many people do you know who are miserable at work and never do a thing about it? I have known more than a few over the decades. They have nothing good to say about their company, and yet, endure misery for years.

Denying your contribution to a society or business is probably the most powerful expression of freedom one can possibly exercise.

If a society or company isn't serving you, why continue to contribute in any way? Go become a part of one whos values you share. The first entity loses one of the most valuable assets anyone can have; people interested in being a part of it in various ways.

My post was about freedom and the most powerful way to express it.

Not to go too far, just a couple of weeks ago I fired one of our clients. This account was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to us. And yet, I had to vote with my feet. This client was miserable to work with. Nobody at the office enjoyed working with them. So, we walked. Was it hard? Of course. Impossible? Nope. Done deal. We feel 100% better about our work and will soon have a better client who will likely appreciate our contribution to their mission. And, in turn, we are going to feel great about working with them.

You (plural, not addressing anyone in particular) might want to consider the idea that a better life could exist elsewhere. There is no need to suffer through decades of grief. You are free. And, yes, this means you are free to vote with your feet. Their loss, not yours.

Don't put-up with shit you don't want to live with, at work or where you happen to live.

You don't have to.

You are free.