Many people are considering, to varying degrees of seriousness, moving out of the US. Searches for ‘how to move to Canada’ or ‘how to move out of the US’ have been spiking in recent months, what with the proliferation of laws that wouldn’t seem super out of place in your favorite dystopian media. At this point, we might as well consider ourselves lucky that zombies are running wild in the streets screaming, “Apocalypse Now, baby!”
I also just want to note that as I turned myself into a Zombie using Snapchat for this ridiculous gag, I realized it may be the source of 72% of all evil. Because why do I look so freaking incredible in Snapchat but like a potato IRL?
But set aside the concept of human rights for the moment, our government certainly has. What really is motivating this proliferation of Americans looking to move abroad? It could be the fantastic architecture. Something a little different from what we have at home. Or maybe it is the plague pits? A little morbid tourism? That time the plague hit California in the 1900s just doesn’t have the same flair as it’s older work, ya know? Or maybe it’s the food? Something new and fresh.
I’m here to tell you those are all wrong. You aren’t moving for rights, affordable healthcare, or morbid tourist locations. You’re moving for CHEAP AS HELL BOOKS. Let me thank the bookstagram community for this insight. I was casually scrolling, as one does, attempting to avoid anything negative and generally failing. When I came across a post. It showed a book I’d just bought, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, that someone was picking up for 10 pounds. Or in Freedom Bucks (patent pending) $12.48. This is a brand new special edition hardcover. I had just picked up the same book, not a special edition, I might add, for like $30. And that is a fully normal price point here for a hardcover book. I replied with jealousy in my heart that she had gotten a steal of a deal.
But, I the Ash Ketchum of Anxiety disorders, was a little fixed on the inequity. Is this usual? Are books cheaper abroad? Let me share with you my findings, and my rage/jealousy because spoiler alert. Yes. We are being raked over the coals. First, it was the insulin prices and now its books. Is there no end to the ways capitalism will punish us for not being born billionaires? Here are some upsetting numbers… to us…in the USA. Average Hardcover book price.
While I was researching this, I found way too much information about college text books. I have a teen going in 3 years and I am still salty about the $350 in 2007 book I bought for Calculus 3 and NEVER, EVER used. EVER! Then the bookstore had the audacity to offer me $5 for a trade in. It sits on my bookshelf as a reminder of how much I hated calculus and expensive textbooks. I wonder what each of my kids will keep as memories of their college experience?
I don’t live that far from Canada. I know that they probably don’t want any more of us. But, really, look at those prices. Can you blame me for being tempted by your cheap books? I can do Duolingo French. Probably. I learned that one song when I was a kid. (Moulin Rouge) I can kinda sing Psycho Killer. Nevermind. I’ll stick with English and a translator app.
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