It depends on where you're coming from. If you grew up in a poor country, or one run by cartels or drug lords of an oppressive regime, the worst parts of the US can be an improvement. The current political climate has been around for a decade now, news like this is nothing to be surprised about.
The availability of ridiculous amounts of investment cash is a good motivator. Startups start in America because American investors are willing to throw billions at the wall just to see if something will stick or not. Try that in Europe and you'll never get anywhere. The same also used to apply for scientific grants, and if you can find a corporate sponsor it probably still applies.
Higher wages are also a factor. More than one skilled programmer I know have considered working themselves "half to death" for a few years to build up wealth in the USA, and then returning home to comfortably spend that wealth.
Plus, despite everything else, the USA has some excellent facilities for higher education. If you want your kids to have opportunities in life and have the money to afford the ridiculously high fees, American educational facilities are very attractive.
Academics looking for the edge of innovation are well suited in many American institutions. News of cuts and changes to the US geographical service and weather service hit the world like a truck because those are areas that the US (and perhaps Russia) excels in, and everyone else has been catching up or cooperating with American programmes.
Don't forget: millions of people have moved to the US illegally, facing risk of deportation and long jail times, being separated from their families. Altering the privacy settings on their Facebook accounts is the least of their worries. Of course, illegal immigrants can't give a rat's ass about the legal requirements to enter the country anyway, but their sheer number shows how much so many people are willing to risk just to partake in US society, even if it's just for manual labour. Plus, that weird thing you guys do where people born within your borders automatically get citizenship is a nice way to ensure somewhat of a nice future for people looking to start a family.
As a tourist, though, things do seem to have shifted. The people coming to America to improve their lives will probably be a lot more persistent in following their dreams compared to the people coming in for leisure, especially when countries like Canada are just as far away. I myself have wanted to save up to see things like Disneyland and Cape Canaveral, but my plans have been on hold ever since the Trump election and I don't think I'll be reconsidering any time soon. From what I've heard in the news from travel agencies, I'm not alone, and my country is one of the more tolerant European countries when it comes to American bullshit.
The availability of ridiculous amounts of investment cash is a good motivator. Startups start in America because American investors are willing to throw billions at the wall just to see if something will stick or not. Try that in Europe and you'll never get anywhere. The same also used to apply for scientific grants, and if you can find a corporate sponsor it probably still applies.
Higher wages are also a factor. More than one skilled programmer I know have considered working themselves "half to death" for a few years to build up wealth in the USA, and then returning home to comfortably spend that wealth.
Plus, despite everything else, the USA has some excellent facilities for higher education. If you want your kids to have opportunities in life and have the money to afford the ridiculously high fees, American educational facilities are very attractive.
Academics looking for the edge of innovation are well suited in many American institutions. News of cuts and changes to the US geographical service and weather service hit the world like a truck because those are areas that the US (and perhaps Russia) excels in, and everyone else has been catching up or cooperating with American programmes.
Don't forget: millions of people have moved to the US illegally, facing risk of deportation and long jail times, being separated from their families. Altering the privacy settings on their Facebook accounts is the least of their worries. Of course, illegal immigrants can't give a rat's ass about the legal requirements to enter the country anyway, but their sheer number shows how much so many people are willing to risk just to partake in US society, even if it's just for manual labour. Plus, that weird thing you guys do where people born within your borders automatically get citizenship is a nice way to ensure somewhat of a nice future for people looking to start a family.
As a tourist, though, things do seem to have shifted. The people coming to America to improve their lives will probably be a lot more persistent in following their dreams compared to the people coming in for leisure, especially when countries like Canada are just as far away. I myself have wanted to save up to see things like Disneyland and Cape Canaveral, but my plans have been on hold ever since the Trump election and I don't think I'll be reconsidering any time soon. From what I've heard in the news from travel agencies, I'm not alone, and my country is one of the more tolerant European countries when it comes to American bullshit.