I grew up participating in Green Peace campaigns, writing letters for Amnesty International, protesting the Iraq War all the while working in Corporate America — public accounting — making money off of Corporate governance. I went back to school, studied Sustainability and Environmental Resource Management (2005). Both my job and education educated me on just how corrupt our system is. I was all in for Obama in 2008, working on his campaign as an RFO in California, knocking on doors, calls, hosting events, donating money — the whole works. I met Bill Clinton at private fundraisers, with Biden, and also Obama. One of the best things about being American is our eternal wellspring of optimism, but it is also to our detriment because we want to believe that these “elected officials via direct-democracy” have our best interest in mind, BUT they do not. I left California in 2011, and went to Istanbul, Turkey — you can’t even imagine the criticism I received for this. I went to school there and was educated from a “Marxist” school for an MA in International Political Economy, and also continued to travel. Many people would ask me, “Why are you here?” and my response was always “Corporations govern our lives ” under the guise of democracy, but we have no freedom of choice when it comes to our politicians — there is no multi-party system. I had the luxury of being able to travel before I left California, and it is a privilege to continue to view the US from a non-myopic perspective, but it has been five countries lived in later, and 147 countries visited that I can say, nothing has changed in the USA, in fact, it has gotten increasingly worse because the income inequality grows. My health and happiness are better in a “developing Islamic country” in North Africa than in San Diego. My cell/internet service is 4G and only $36 USD a month, my food comes directly from a farmer with no pesticide/hormones. If you get sick the doctors only charge $15 USD for visiting and drugs are $2–5. People share food and share money, no one is going hungry. It is not all perfect, the media is directed by the government, some services are not always instantly available — but can be available with travel. I have given up many creatures comforts and no longer operate with instant gratification being my driver. What am I saying? Leaving America has been one of the best decisions I have made, and I wish more had the privilege to do it, we are extremely lucky to be American and we take so many things for granted, including the right to participate in our democracy. I don’t write this to disparage my people or nationality, most Americans are generous and compassionate people. But we are not one “homogenous” group, we are a minority-majority who are ALL being exploited and marginalized for the benefit of shareholders. For this, we should be inspired to change and move towards an inclusive, and equitable society.