Living abroad, a former WA lawmaker finds his liberal utopia
April 3, 2024 4:53 PM Subscribe
Former Rep. Jim McDermott is the rare lawmaker who has been able to live out all the policies he worked for during his decades in Washington.
He just had to move to another country to do it.
From a quaint French village about 90 minutes outside of Bordeaux, the longtime liberal lawmaker enjoys free health care and a safe community where he doesn’t need to lock his doors at night. He loves that kids in the neighborhood don’t worry about gun violence and that women have access to reproductive care, specifically abortion. He reads the news every day but says he doesn’t miss America all that much. (archive)
Jim McDermott's Wikipedia entry
(I've lived in Seattle over 30 years, and he was my congressional representative most of that time. My only time crossing paths with him was when he was in front of me in the line at the Guild 45th movie theater to see "Lone Star" in 1996)
Jim McDermott's Wikipedia entry
(I've lived in Seattle over 30 years, and he was my congressional representative most of that time. My only time crossing paths with him was when he was in front of me in the line at the Guild 45th movie theater to see "Lone Star" in 1996)
To lalochezia's point, the very first I thing I thought was "oh, he's white, isn't he."
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 5:12 PM on April 3 [4 favorites]
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 5:12 PM on April 3 [4 favorites]
I've lived in other countries, but always either as a student or as a volunteer worker. I've never had the full expat or pseudo-"immigrant" lifestyle that he's living. Honestly, it always looks really nice when I've met people living that lifestyle. But having known many of those people, I'd hope I'd have the grace to shut up and not do the "neener neener I get to live in a civilized country unlike you rubes who can't afford to do this" thing and also avoid the awkward ways in which expats tend to comment on their host country.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:42 PM on April 3
posted by Dip Flash at 5:42 PM on April 3
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crtl-F "Le Pen", "Macron", "yellow vests", "immigration and asylum bill ", "Aurélien Rousseau ", "Gérald Darmanin," no hits.
yeah happy for him but the idea that france is some progressive fantasyland is deranged
posted by lalochezia at 5:01 PM on April 3 [3 favorites]