What makes a developed country better to live in?

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   Astralroseposted 10 years ago

   What makes a developed country better to live in?
   
   India is a developing country and I have many personal complaints when it comes to many things -politics, environmental, social issues among others so I am wondering why not migrate to other countries because it seems like they're better than here. So what makes your country (if you are in a developed country) better to live in?

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   prasadjainposted 10 years ago

   Good civic amenities, affordable prices, literacy, health facilities even to the common people, employment, etc, sufficient foreign exchange deposits, satisfactory GDP,these things enable a country to call itself a developed one.

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      Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      India, I think, is affordable although it lacks in many things...most of it are what you mentioned.

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   AlexDrinkH2Oposted 10 years ago

   Obviously a mature infrastructure is a big help (I.e., good roads, transportation, stores, medical facilities, etc.)  The biggest factor in my country, the USA, is FREEDOM.  On the other hand, some of our precious freedom has been whittled away over the last 5 years or so. The biggest problems I see with India (and I'm no expert on the matter) are (1) over-population, (2) caste system and (3) religious strife.

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      Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Freedom is really encouraging. That's what we've heard and read too. But then there will really people who would do all they can to suppress that. And yeah, the main thing is over-population and still backward in many things.

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   emdiposted 10 years ago

   I grew up in a developing country but has been living in several developed countries for the last 7-8 years. Honestly, for our mortal body, for its pleasures and happiness, developed country is great. Healthcare, quality of life, education...... all good in any developed country. For our soul, a developing country is far better. The chance to get spoiled and chance to sin is far less in developing world. It s getting more and more worse here, in fact.
   
   What is considered immoral over centuries is getting normal (since it is everywhere) here. It is becoming difficult for people to understand what is right and what is wrong. Human life is considered just like a machine. Unfortunately, people living in developing world is of the assumption that things are so great in here and try to emulate things. So if you are looking for things good for your body, developed world is great. If you are looking for things that lasts for ever, things good for your soul, developing world is far better.

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      Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hmm, I am looking for countries with people who fight for freedom, who have personal responsibility and who fight for what is right and not who is right.

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   RealityTalkposted 10 years ago

   This is probably not an answer to your question, but the answer that comes to mind is "nothing."  I believe too many people focus on money and a "better way of life."  It is valid to claim a "developed" country probably has better health care, better financial opportunities, a better mortality rate, a better infrastructure and many other such things.  But the word "better" in your question struck me.  I think family is most important and I am not sure developed or not has any baring on family.
   
   There are many troubled families in the world and they seem to thrive in both developed and undeveloped nations.  The U.S.A. for example is considered a developed country and yet look at our crime rate and the number of deaths as a result thereof.  Does our crime rate make us a better country to live in?  We have a bad drug problem in this country.  Does that make our country a better place to live in?  We have a divorce rate amongst married couples of more than 50%.  Does that make us a better country to live in?
   
   I do not mean to denigrate the U.S.A. or any other "developed" nation.  But, I have to question whether being developed qualifies a country as a better place to live.

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      Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well crimes and drugs are global issues I believe. It's just not in US or any other "developed" countries. Divorce? Well, just because it's not revealed much in other countries statistics it doesn't mean their married couples are living really well t

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      RealityTalkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Astralrose, I think you miss-comprehended what I wrote.  I did not write undeveloped countries are free of drugs & divorce.  I wrote developed countries are not.  And, my main pt. was family was most important wherever you may be.

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   susanzhengposted 10 years ago

   Actually every country has its own strengths and weaknesses.  You know a lot of weaknesses of India because you have been living there for many years.
   
   I was born in China, but I have been living in the US for 19 years.  Before I moved to the US, I had many complaints about political system, environment pollution, sophisticated interpersonal relationship etc. in China. I didn't like to live and work there any more.
   
   Living in the US for so many years, I found there are better political system, simpler interpersonal relationships, much much better protected environment in the US than in China.  But there are also some aspects that I don't like.
   
   However, through so many years of working, studying, and thinking I realized that there are always some weakness and strengths almost about anything such as countries, people, schools etc.  Simply speaking, nothing is perfect. In order to be happy to be where you are, you have to adjust your thinking and make decision based on your value system.  What I think is good may not be as good as you think.

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      Neil Sperlingposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I love your closing comment

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      IslandBitesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree 100%. It totally depends on what a particular person considers better, what he /she strives for and what makes him/her happy.

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      C.V.Rajanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      What a wonderful and down to earth reply! Full of wisdom. Hats off to you!

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      Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I'll go with better protected environment. And yeah, happiness is not somewhere else, not in somebody else...it's in us. And yet somehow at some point some things contribute to it. Thanks!

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   Skarletposted 10 years ago

   When my family came to America it was not perfectly clear at first, but now that I have traveled back and fourth I am clear on what makes it better.
   
   In America we have opportunity to run our own lives. Sadly, we are losing this right, but when it is in full swing, everyone has the ability to prosper and succeed doing it their own way by simply using their creativity. Because Americans are so spoiled with this opportunity they are unaware of how much power they have and they simply sit back and get a low paying job, and basically live as people who live in other countries do. We have voted in government run healthcare. Anyone with common sense can figure out that this is a bad thing, but the majority of Americans thought that they were going to get something for free and now people are going to either have to buy insurance so that the government can have its money, or we have to pay a fine, again, so that the government does not miss out on collecting any money from us. This package was sold to us under the lie, "you deserve healthcare." It reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode called, To Serve Man. Martians came to earth and people wanted to believe that they were friendly, they had a big book written in their language and we eventually were able to translate its meaning. The meaning was, To Serve Man, and all the people thought it was great  because they wanted to serve us, only to discover that it was a cookbook.
   
   If freedom and the opportunity to get ahead are not for you then you should move to another country. I tell Americans who think they want communism or socialism that they should move to Cuba or some parts of Europe, but I find that they want to ruin this country rather than go to a country that already has super high taxes and impossible regulations. I would have a lot more  respect for them if they were thinking along the lines that you are and find a country to move to.

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      Becky Katzposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You worded this so beautifully. We are going to lose many of our freedom's over this and yet all people see is FREE health care. It is costing us so much that when people figure out how much, there may be rioting, and it is not just monetary.

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      Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Free healthcare is in here in India but there are no good doctors. And in some rural places pharmacists are acting like doctors and there's no monitoring whatsoever. Freedom is what I need and opportunity to progress-paid with what you deserved.

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   S Leretsehposted 10 years ago

   In the US, we have a MAGIC money printing press. Whenever we need money our MAGIC printing press comes alive...and makes whatever amount we need - even what we don't need. And of course I'M NOT KIDDING.  It's great to live in the ole USA.  I think your question should be: How do other countries get a MAGIC money printing press like the US?

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      Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Nope! I am not going to ask that because money isn't everything. Dollars only have much value to other countries because of currency exchange and of course things are cheaper there, I heard.

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   Beyond-Politicsposted 10 years ago

   A competent political mechanism (look too the American Congress as an example of  an INcompetent political system).

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    Neil Sperlingposted 10 years ago

    :-) .... it makes no difference where you live.
    If you are NOT happy in your own skin you wont be happy in any country....
    
    If you ARE happy in your own skin you will be happy where ever you are.
    
    Happiness depends on your own thinking.... and nothing more!

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       emdiposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I think of Chocolate ice cream and it makes me feel that i eat it. Let north korians think they are in Iceland and let them feel happy. Let Saudis think of penguins and let them feel cold.

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       Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       It's true that no one/nothing could make anyone happy but him/herself. But I cannot be absolutely happy when my neighbors butcher sheep or goats for the sake of religion.So if there's a country that values animals other than their meat it's a plus.

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       Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Neil if you have some money and some time I will dissuade you of this wealth centric opinion. To be blunt it is poppycock. We will visit rivers with dead bodies where we wash. And a city dump with 100K living in it. We will get malaria.

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       Neil Sperlingposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Ericdierker - I agree with what you said.... yet I have wtinessed people living on the street who are happy... truly happy. And I have witnessed people who have lots of everything money can buy and more who are NOT happy. I stand firm on my comment

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       RealityTalkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Eric & Neil, I think you both make valid points, but I understand where Neil is coming from.  I grew up somewhat poor & had no clue of what I was missing. I was happy. It is great to have what development brings, but happiness is inside.

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       Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Neil, I almost added that to my comment because if we went on my journey, what the heck, we would be there and people would love us and us them. I am so glad you pointed out the positive. Maybe we helped someone see our light.

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       Seshagopalanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I am from India and I love my country but I disagree with your line "if you are not happy in your own skin you wont be happy elsewhere"  There are a lot of modifications in our system yet to be done.

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       Neil Sperlingposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Seshagopalan - if you believe happeness depends on systems that need changing, you will never find happiness...... but if you find happiness inside you may become the leader who makes the changes

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       Seshagopalanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Neil Sperling - You speak more from a philosophical point of view. The target is well-defined. If these changes take place, it would be better. Simple

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        Neil Sperlingposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        Seshagopalan - I speak from a practical point of view, not philosophical. If you are happy, you have personal power. Use the power to create the changes in a positive manner.. The power of duplication. But If you are unhappy, that too will duplicate.

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        Seshagopalanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        ok Neil I agree.
        
        I like your optimistic attitude

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    cebutouristspotposted 10 years ago

    I think the first thing to consider is survival so I would say is that the Minimum wage is enough to have a decent living or the cost of living is below the minimum wage allotted by law.
    
    A good healthcare, an environment that is suitable for kids and elderly.
    
    Politic is basically the same all around the world. Some are more corrupt than others but that minimal impact as long as the country is peaceful.

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       Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       That is what -minimum wage earners there are living like upper middle class people in here-, which is really nice!

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    Ericdierkerposted 10 years ago

    I have lived in developing countries. I found what I call esperanza there. To me the word means a combination of hope and dreams. Developed nations seem to lose that.
    
    But I am just an old country boy from North American Southwest. And in all my travels I have found that the greatest thing about living here, is our right to fail. We are not jailed for it. We are not downgraded in rights for it. And we can try again and again. The huge social safety net that we have almost promotes trying hard without fear.
    Surely some game the system and others cannot work within it. But it is so cool to watch someone struggle and struggle and then BOOM! Make it. Another cool thing is being a part of a nation that has enough that it can really charitably contribute to others.
    I know the word outsourcing makes people crazy but, to me it is a source of pride that we help other peoples get work.
    Religious debate and freedom of and from is very nice indeed. And the sense of stability allows us to give much attention to important social issues.

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       Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       What do you mean by right to fail and not jailed for it? But in terms of freedom to discuss religious issues without fearing my head will be shot at anytime indeed makes me want to be in that country...well, among other things. Thanks!

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    Mel Carriereposted 10 years ago

    I have just finished a book entitled "Escape from Camp 14" about a young man who was born and raised inside of a North Korean prison camp and eventually escaped from it.  This book made me realize that the most valuable thing we have in our "developed countries" is freedom, and we need to fight for it, especially freedom of speech, of which Hub Pages is a perfect medium.  No,  our freedoms are not perfect, as Snowden would tell you, but we need to constantly strive to make them better and to support movements to bring them about in countries like North Korea where they do not exist at all.

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       RealityTalkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I just added your book to my Amazon Wish List.

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       Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Even though you need to fight for freedom it's best to know that there are people who are really willing to achieve it and not just wait for others to do it. And freedom is always what everyone needs, even in relationships.

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    Billrrrrposted 10 years ago

    Lulungameena is the most beautiful and best  place that there is.  Lulungameena is a fictional planet on a 1950s radio show.  When an interstellar ship landed on it, Lulungameena was found to be a burned out, desolate, undeveloped pile of  rubble.  The one native of Lulumgameena on board the ship explained to the rest of the crew that  the word, in his language, not only means the planet, but also the word translates as "HOME" and home, (Lulungameena) where ever it is, and what ever it is, is the most beautiful,  and the best, place in the universe.

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       Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       So what makes Lulungameena the most beautiful, the best place in the universe?

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       Billrrrrposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       the man from Lulungameena was asked that very question.  How can this burned out, deslolate, lifeless place be the best place in the universe?  The Lulungameena man said simply, "Because it is  home and home is always the most beautiful & the bes

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    alancaster149posted 10 years ago

    We see commercials on 'the box' advertising the need for funds for third world countries, (food, clean water faciities etc), and then the next 'ad' tells us about child abuse, poor families with needy children who need four square meals a day to keep them competitive at school.
    Who and where are these disadvantaged single parent families with hungry children? They're white families in Britain's big cities usually,although they might equally be in small towns or villages here.
    So, what's going wrong, and who's got his signals awry when he talks about aid to ailing African, Asian or Central/South American countries? Who does he think he's kidding when he talks about helping Third World famiies, when in his own 'civilised, culturally advanced' back yard there are homes unfit to live in here, in Britain/USA/Europe. There are cultural 'black spots' within a few miles of Westminster/Washington DC/Paris etc.
    If we're going to be mealy-mouthed about who needs what, we leave ourselves open to scorn from countries (like India) who at least admit to social problems.

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       RealityTalkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I think you make a valid point.  It's not to say 3rd world countries do not need aid, but many of our friends, neighbors & fellow citizens back home need help as well.  Help should be sent elsewhere but after one's homeland is taken care of.

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    myeffortsposted 10 years ago

    I think the difference is in practice. In developed countries people put their education and knowledge in practice and they have resources available for that while in developing countries, education is merely to get a degree, with very little practical use of it and there is lack of resources (or less utilization of them) as well.

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       Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I agree. The more educated people are (in it's truest sense) the more aware they become. And frankly speaking I have met a few who have MA degrees or even PhDs but don't have much knowledge about their fields.

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    DDEposted 10 years ago

    I am living in a still developing country CROATIA which has just recently got accepted in the EU and living here for a while no and had seen many changes, the future in developing countries do get better over time and life  is more laid  back here. A small country and has many opportunities for locals with tourism.  In  my case more and more jobs can now be created and self-employment works best. The developing country is growing to great future but all in time

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    Seshagopalanposted 10 years ago

    I  accept your complaints on the country. At the same time, it is a bad opinion to migrate from homeland to a country which has better standard of living. What shall the country do if all the learned people leave for another country.  Being a well-read Indian, your work does not end by condemning the system but lies in taking some social responsibility and working for the betterment  here. May be you cant change the entire system as a whole but you can make a small percentage of difference.

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       Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Ah I really don't have any plans of starting a revolution to make a country better through me. And yes I am taking responsibility myself that is why I have decided not to do many things that others are doing - I am not having children!

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       Seshagopalanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Oh my God! I seriously do not know what to say

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       Astralroseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       What is that "Oh my God" for?

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       Seshagopalanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Just an expression of shock. I am sorry if you had taken any of my comment to your heart..

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    Justsilvieposted 10 years ago

    I think both developed and developing countries have pluses and minuses it depends on what your need and wants are.
    
    I like the opportunities available in my country and think that many developing countries lose their best and brightest because of the lack of the same.

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