When will It Be Time to Leave California or the US?

An EPJ reader emails:

I have read the article you posted about Greeks leaving Greece, and that made me wonder what would it take for you to leave California or the U.S.? This may be a personal question, but it makes me wonder what could be some of the limits or "red lines" an Austro-libertarian philosopher may have? 

As for me, I'm not in the same position as you are, but I worry about my future, and I don't believe a crisis will arrive when I die, but rather sooner. Much sooner.... And if history has taught us anything that would be that tyrants arrive in the wake of major crisis as the article written by Hoppe on today's LRC says.

I have written before that it really depends upon the individual and the specific circumstances he finds himself in.

For example, given the enormous regulation in the healthcare sector, if I were a medical doctor, I would be thinking about leaving right now. The same goes for some people in the financial industry, not all, but some.

Because I am a writer, I am most concerned about limitations on my freedom to write, If the limitations on writing became significant in this country, that would likely cause me to consider leaving the country.

You are correct that after major crises tyrants generally rise, and given the current unstable economic, social and governmental structure in the United States, a tyrant in charge down the road can not be ruled out.

I would use the current period to travel outside the United States to see where you might enjoy living and be able to make a living in a manner that you would prefer.

There are indeed times when it makes sense for almost everyone to get out. It is noteworthy that the great economist Ludwig von Mises left Vienna, and then Switzerland when things became threatening. He  probably saved his life by getting out of Vienna and circumstances never developed in Switzerland in a way that he would have been in danger, but it was wise for him to leave because the threat was very real.

In Mises case, he was concerned mostly about the marching German army. but certainly, when the masses are buying into serious socialist anti-property, anti-business thinking with a leader that is driving them further in that direction, it is to time for almost everyone to leave. Most won't though, They are trapped in the idea that things never change so dramatically. They can. When things are getting oppressive, it may safe your life to be like Mises.

I am thinking, for example, when Mao came to power in China and Stalin in the Soviet Union. In the very early years of these tyrants gaining power, it was still possible for most to get out, later, of course, many millions were stuck and perished,

-RW