Why do 50 000 Irish people  prefer to live non-legally in the USA ??
364127
There is a very close affinity between Ireland and the US, caused from decades of emigration across the Atlantic. Many Irish families have relatives living in the US, so the option has always been there for young people to emigrate even if there was work in Ireland for them. For a lot of Irish, moving to America is a lot easier than moving to Germany due to these strong family and friendship connections, and because of a shared language and somewhat similar cultures. \n\nI guess also that if someone has been living in the US for 10 years they would have broken many of their connections with Ireland, while building up much stronger connections (jobs, friends, families, lifestyles, business) in America. Therefore it would be difficult to leave America for a variety of reasons. \n\nEven in the Ireland of today, it would still be relatively difficult to get a job if you have no skills and a poor education. Some people might also leave Ireland because of bad family situations - we're a small island after all.
886969
Cant help but suggest that you also ask this question in "Travel" sub section "Ireland".....a lot of Irish people are there and may be of help to you.
203575
The wonderful thing about the U.S. is that everyone here originally came from somewhere else. This country would not be what it is today without Irish immigration, Italian Immigration, Enlgish Immigration, Other Eurpoean immigration and the forced immigration of Africans. It's a rough and bloody history but it gives us what we have to do...the diversity that is so rich and unique.\n\nLegal immigration is always good practise but we cannot seem to agree on how to do it right. Today, it's more about keeping everyone out....when really, it should be about letting those who can benefit (and from whom we can benefit) in.....look at the shortage we have in professional/skilled labor....in 10-15 years, the U.S. will have been surpassed economically by Asia and the EU. As it is right now, we import almost all we consume and have very little to sell abroad..(no services or products)...we are becoming dependent on the world to feed us and that is always bad for a country. I know Greenspan thinks we are "ok" but I agree with Buffet; we are headed for a steady decline. While "growing talent" we have to attract talent to this country so we can compete with the rest of the world.
682283
I for one don't have any idea what you are talking about. I make a decent living, far better than I could in most countries, and I am not being massacred. I don't care if other countries see us as a laughing stock.. If that is so why the insane immigration rate? \nThe saddest thing of all is that you feel the need to air laundry to people of other nations. That is just golden. That is one of those Rights that you are using that the government we voted into office is protecting. If you don't like it here GET OUT.\nAnd just for the record Hitler was kicking Europe's ass and we saved it. We have never lost a war. don't think it is going to happen any time soon. so whenever the wake up call comes, like it did 9-11, pearl harbor, we will retaliate, if we have leadership that isn't afraid to maintain itself. I love my country.
424901
people from other nations, especially 3rd world countries find freedoms they don't enjoy at home in the US, such as religious and caste system types of situations, poor stay poor, also alot of opportunity for sucess here
180811
One word...  "Jealousy"\nWe are still the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world although that status is now on decline due mostly to bad leadership.  People see our success and power and get quite jealous.  We are still the land of opportunity and freedom though and that is attractive to everyone.  We have jobs, unemployment support, medical care, a governement that doesn't torture or kill, and a hugely diverse population.  What isn't to like about living here?  If you were in another country with little hope of success and you saw the soap operas about the wealthy American life style I am sure you would want to come here as well.\n\nI don't agree with the view expressed by some that that people are just mad at our government.  I will concede that at one time that might have been the case but in my field of work for an environmental consulting agency with internation ties I see things differently.  I visit places and meet people of many nations and I have to say that, for the most part, when people know I or my coworkers are American they treat us very differently so we usually go with claiming to be from Australia or Ireland depending on who is in our group.  Don't get me wrong.  There are many good people as well who like Americans just like any other nationality.  They are very tolerant which makes the experience much more enjoyable.  Once again, it is the ones who make the most noise that get heard and right now those are the US haters.  Some people just like to blame others for their sad lives rather than trying to improve their situation.
782190
I'm Irish and lived in NL for six years, and it was a great experience - people thought that Irish had some odd customs, like having a party when someone dies, it's called a 'wake' ... likewise I thought the Dutch had some funny ways, but most of the time I enjoyed our differences.\n\nHow odd that your friends find you being proud of your native culture to be 'uncomfortable'. What's wrong with that? What's wrong with THEM?
266261
Because most Americans have the cultural capacity of a boiled potato and so cling to any vague link to the culturally superior Irish rather than their own culture. They probably couldn't find Wales and Scotland on a map.
1113664
yes you have the right idea.. the country is owned and run by white men.. they like to hide from things that make them uncomfortable.. we dont even have a holiday for the native americans.. but we have one for irish folks.. think about it.. we rounded up and caged japanese people when pearl harbor was attacked... it is because the  capitalists want to assimilate us to all be as european as possible.. they show black people a lot now because of the NAACP
758059
I say it is the best from my own personal experiences in other countries, what I have heard from friends and family and what knowledge I have of our political system and those of other countries.  I have a cousin living in Ireland right now and he loves it, but still prefers America.  I can only base my decision on what I know.
1025247
I'm an american, but of Irish decent, so I'm interested in this debate, but I do not have first hand knowledge.\n\nLooking into Irish history and mythology you do see that the northern counties and the southern counties are two distinctly different groups.\n\nIt would be nice to see a unified Ireland, but at this point you would have to displace a sizable chunk of the population to ever have a chance at peace.\n\nI don't know the answer, but if you do, let me know.
683772
That's a great question.  I don't know but my guess is maybe they know they have a better chance of changing America than the country they came from. Most immigrants leave their country for economic, religious, or safety reasons.
220529
Over 40 million Americans can trace their heritage back to Ireland
69573
So I've lived in 4 countries - England, Ireland, Switzerland and the USA. From those 4 it would have to be Switzerland.\n\nWhy? - More advanced democratic model, the government works; High quality of life; Good and safe place to bring up a family; Low Tax; Low unemployment; High disposable income; Beautiful; Great Skiing; Diversity; Central location in Europe.\n\nWhy not Ireland and England? For me this is home, and there is so much that is right here, especially culturally, but the rain and high tax are the big issues.\n\nWhy not USA? Again a lot that is good and it is my current home, but high Tax; poor family life quality; absence of real culture; broken government system and education system would not allow it to make the top.
503055
I agree with you. I think many of them come here for the exact reasons you stated. I know there are war torn countries and whatever but Britain is only a small island and there are plenty of safe countries in between us and their own country. They come here because they are practically guaranteed a good life and a job, if they feel like working, though they don't have to. I get about £300 a month in tax credits to help me stay at home with my own kids. There are people who have a problem with that when these illegals are coming in and being given brand new houses, some built for them, then they were getting those food voucher thingys but that's not good enough is it, they want the cash so they can go and buy themselves a corner shop and rip us off some more. I am all for the BNP on this one. It's not racist. It's fair. It doesn't happen in other countries. If I went to another country, they wouldn't just hand out free stuff just because I was foreign so why do people think it's racist if you don't want to do that?
783971
irish people are only getting to grips with other cultures in the last few years. i'm from dublin andits happening really quickly,tell that mayo fella to lighten up or he will come home and find the whole country will have moved on without him.p.s. the country is full of gorgeous eastern women looking for strong irish men.
291302
It depends who you ask - Irish people have many different views on it. Personally I think it's largely a good thing - most of the immigrants into the country are working, paying taxes and helping to develop the economy. Most of them have integrated well into Irish life or are working hard and keeping to themselves. I think it's a healthy thing to see the different nationalities make their impact through new shops, new influences in the workplace and new relationships forming: it means we are opening ourselves to the wider world, and hopefully benefitting from it. \n\nThere have been very few social impacts or crime impacts: it seems the drug gangs (many of whom are indigenous Irish) pose a far bigger challenge to our society, and where there are drug dealers, there must be a huge (mainly indigenous Irish) market for it also. \n\nI think a lot of Irish have a worry about the tensions caused by a crash in the economy, if it were to happen, and the "ghettoisation" of certain groups and what problems this might bring in the future. This is by no means just an Irish problem of course.