I would get an EU passport in a second, but not for any political reasons or an "exit strategy". As F'd up as our gov't is in the US- their gov'ts are 10x more F'd up. They don't have freedom of speech. They don't have rights to bear arms. They don't have anywhere near the legal protections from their own gov't as you do in this country.
Everybody I know from Europe that lives in the US loves their countries but hates their govt's. They all tell me the same shit- there is no middle class, there is no opportunity there- and it's impossible to own a small business because they tax you out of existence. A friend of my uncles named who is a partner in a machine manufacturer in Italy was telling me that for every employee he has- whatever wage he pays that employee- he has to pay the same exact thing to the Italian gov't in taxes for that employee. This is absolutely insanity. He has a head engineer he pays over 150,000 euro per year- which means he has to pay the Italian gov't over 150,000 euro a year for that one employee. They have like 40 employees. They are getting crushed in taxes.
Trust me, I'm not one of those people who thinks Europe is some perfect place and sh!ts on the US... Europe has a LOT of problems, and in general the standards of living there are lower than here. It's a wonderful place to visit; I don't want to live there. Hell, the dying failed state sh!thole I live in now (California) is still far better than most of Europe ;-)
I'm talking about a true SHTF moment here in the US. I don't think that'll happen in my lifetime. But I also don't think it can't happen here. My faith in humanity is not super high...
If I had access to an exit strategy, I'd certainly make sure the paperwork was filed and up to date just in case.
I know a few people that have been to China. Have only heard horror stories. I've got zero desire to go to that dirty shit hole.
Brazil on the other hand.....god I want to go so bad just for the steak and the women. Heard it's become very dangerous though in the last 10-15 years though.
I've only been to Shenzhen and Shanghai. Shenzhen wasn't my favorite... Much more industrial city and not particularly amenable to tourists. Shanghai was very cool, though. Not dirty at all. I'd absolutely go back to Shanghai. Though, culinarily, Shanghainese food isn't my preferred when it comes to regional Chinese cuisine.
Obviously I've never really been to a lot of the inland areas. And I've heard Beijing is really awesome but the population and pollution make it almost unbearable. But I'd like to see it and the Great Wall someday.
Where I really love is Taipei, though. That's a great city. Quite a melting pot, and a very food-centric city, which as everyone knows (and back on topic for this thread) is something that gets me. And you don't need a visa to get there..
