The economic troubles in the U.S. are shared by most developed countries. If you look at national debt or large numbers involving the Treasury or Fed it looks like we stand alone. However, any country that holds or trades with USD is in it with us. Whatever happens to the USD will not cause irreparable harm to the U.S., its people, its natural resources.
If you need context, go find a 100 year old American that is blessed with a clear mind. They can tell you of much tougher times. My grandmother is 99 and can recall with absolute clarity the U.S. of the 1920s, 30s, 40s. I write this post from my iMac, in a large warm house drinking a cup of good coffee.
It may sound bizarre but I want to move there because it's way more fun than living here and when I've visited before I've always found great people. Also I have some friends who live there and I would like to visit them more often.
On a related note, here the situation is not better in terms of economy.
EDIT: Also I can't see but more opportunities in the programming industry in the USA than any other country.
No, I don't think it's _that_ bad. Maybe a good comparison is with the UK circa 1920. The empire is in steep decline, other powers are on the rise. But during that time the UK was still one of the better places in the world, just not the center of it any longer.
True, there are many opportunities but in my experience the trend is pointing to fewer opportunities, more competition and less money to be made even by the most talented. Here's an interesting post by Kent Beck who is finding that it is more difficult to make a living from his craft: http://www.threeriversinstitute.org/blog/?p=231
I second that. I am a business marketer and I have seen my clients increase paying for marketing campaigns during this recession, so some industries benefited from the recession.
It would establish context for your remark if I knew where you suggest someone who was born in the United States should go to avoid decline and a bleak future.
