If you lived in a country other than your own, how'd u feel about preferential treatment to citizens?

Answer 1

I've lived in Thailand that has a two tier pricing system for things. Thais pay one price, foreigners another. Drives me nuts. In Japan, I have been denied access to bars because I wasn't Japanese.

We forget how tolerant and even handed the UK and the USA really are.

Answer 2

I happen to currently live in a country that is not the one in which I was born, nor is it one (of the three) in which I have citizenship.

In every country I've ever been in, those who are citizens (through birth or otherwise) tend to get some level of treatment that is different than those who are not part of the citizenry. In some cases, the visitors get treated better (usually because they exhibit more affluence, or because they are more militant or aggressive); however, in most cases the visitor has fewer rights and privileges than the citizenry.

Do I think the situation is "normal"? Yes - based on personal observation and a study of both world history and family dynamics. Do I think it is "correct"? Not by a long shot ... I'm an advocate for everyone being equal, since we all share the same planet and limited resources.

In my current nation of residence, although I have followed all the rules to arrive and work here legally, I am still treated less than a second-class citizen. I am here because there is no one in the country with my combination of skills, knowledge, and background ... yet I am hit with incredibly steep borrowing rates, low credit limits, the inability to purchase a home (without having at least 35 percent down payment), the requirement to obey EVERY law (whether I know what they are or not) so that I do not get summarily banned from the country, and my family is not allowed to work or study since they are deemed "dependents" of me.

This is in direct contrast to where we came from beforehand; both my wife and I could work, we had $100k plus credit limits, owned our own home, interest rates were below 4%, and schooling was something we could do whenever we wished ... as long as we could afford it.

And we are both white, English speaking (along with being fluent in Spanish, French, German, Ojibwa, Italian, and Dutch).

In this country, even all its citizens are not treated equally ... those with the money seem to make the rules - specifically to benefit those that have the money. THIS, I disagree with entirely!

Answer 3

I would expect it. Why is everyone so surprised that people in a country want to take care of their own citzens? I wouldn't expect them to give me money, wouldn't expect for them to learn my language so I understood what was going on, and I would have to abide by the rules and laws of that country. If you moved to Spain or to Germany, would it be any different? Absolutely not, untill you LEGALLY became a citizen of that country. The same is true here. If you want to come and enjoy all of the benefits and spirit of becoming a legal American citizen, then we welcome you. If you want to come here illegally, then demand that the government takes care of you and OWES it to you, stay where you are. U.S. citizens have earned and are entitled to preferential treatment from their own government, just as Germans in their country, Japanese in theirs, and so on.

Answer 4

Generally when traveling in other countries, I feel that I am actually getting the preferential treatment. Though I cannot vote in their elections and I am required to follow the rules and laws like anyone else, I get help and assistance in matters of language and currency exchange.

Answer 5

You mean to the people that pay the taxes for that country? It is their country. You get preferential treatment living in your own town as opposed to another in the U.S. It's called community services.

Answer 6

That is to be expected. I would think there are some serious issues with a country that would treat someone from the outside better than it's own. Like mexico, that would be a great example, I would never live there, it's just a perfect example of what you're asking as I understand they treat their own so bad that it forces them into the life of a criminal but tourists are treated with great respect.

Answer 7

This is quite common. In Russia, citizens pay about 10 cents to get into a museum but foreigners pay $10. They justify this on the basis that the locals pay taxes to support the museum. Incidentally, Disney offers a discount for Florida residents as do most public museums here. It makes sense.

The problem comes in places like Saudi Arabia where you have to live in a compound. But I'm not sure that really isn't an advantage to foreigners since the local laws (of dress, alcohol etc.) are relaxed inside the compound.

Although it would make sense to me, we would have some problems if we, for instance, taxed foreigners at 50% and Americans at 15% because it would violate international treaties of reciprocity and they would retaliate by taxing our citizens more.

Answer 8

Any decent country should make it a priority to take care of its OWN first, and everyone else second.

Too bad the United States seems to have ignored or forgotten this. Our own people, Americans, should be our number one priority, not ILLEGAL leeches who hate us anyway but love our social benefits.

I have been to many countries, and I was treated well because I was a GUEST there and respected the local rules and traditions. I never expected to be treated better than they are, but met kindness everywhere I went. I certainly made no demands or demonstrated in the street!

Answer 9

Most countries do give preference, to their citizens?I lived in Thailand also, I find nothing wrong with the two tiered pricing system, I just do not pay it and go to places where it is not required. There are many places in America, that people can not go or have to pay an expensive entrance fee.

Answer 10

Been there done that. You could not fly any flag but the local national colors period. The national police force would shoot you out of hand for a number of offensives. I never saw a drunk driver, drug dealer, or someone who was not a Muslim, while my mom taught school there. I was about 5 years old and learned to what it means to be an American. We were there for two years and twice I saw the national police drag people off a bus and kill them all They were supposed to be animists or something like that.