Comment by Ivaylo Noyzi Tsvetkov:
Many of you know at least one successful Bulgarian emigrant in the West who longs to return and live in their homeland again – sometimes out of nostalgia (which is not to be underestimated until you have experienced it), most often for economic reasons, less often for something else. I personally debate with at least three such people in the USA who, for a number of reasons, have decided to return. I encourage them, of course, and close my eyes to their personal stories – my argument is that according to almost all economists in today's Bulgaria one can live very well, if you have a good profession (and savings); I exclude the populist outbursts in the media that “life has never been better”. Here I will even exclude those public figures who rightly make an important retreat – “despite the state-oligarchic model that has taken over us“.
Of course, when we talk about “better”, we are actually talking about personal feelings, but also about the enumeration of factors, which tends to infinity – taking into account personal destinies, qualifications, prices, peace of mind, the relative share of taxes and a hundred other things. It is also a fact that people who would resolutely return often and bitterly insist that in the until recently cherished West (especially in urban or semi-urban environments) there are huge problems with migrant communities and security in general. Even tourists from all over the world complain, what is left for a Bulgarian who has built his life in a large Western city?
Why would a successful person return to Bulgaria?
Of course, this is a problem that the West is not dealing with well - namely the increase in crime, the formation of new "ghettos", etc., but there is also an economic problem. My people from the USA say that during Trump's second term, everything changed almost in an hour - this country, which built its greatness on emigrants, was already "disorganized" as a domestic philosophy, and the cost of living is constantly rising. The same applies to England and Western Europe in general.
I understand them to some extent, but I wonder why a truly successful person would return to Bulgaria, excluding the emotional factor. If we assume that today we live the best in our country (in history), this is very similar to a lack of local knowledge. Because it seems to me that the opportunity to shop relatively cheaper (compared to the West) in chains does not constitute a better life.
I'll explain why right away: life here flows more slowly, especially institutionally, than, say, in Germany or France (with their thousands of problems, especially how to reform their tax systems); and most of all, I don't see much development here if you are not connected in some way to a government company. Yes, small to medium-sized business, great; but to come back and do something really useful with a larger business – brother, you're going down.
The big questions are related to business
Why? Very simple – after a certain turnover the oligarchic state comes without pressure (initially), but like in an episode of “Sopranos“, tells you that you have to share with Them. I'm not making this up – I know of at least 15 similar cases. Otherwise - yes, if you go back to the village, no one will call.
And here the big questions are two for business, and then let's talk again about how good it is to live here - do you want to develop, go ahead, but if you don't comply, the Bulgarian administration will make you look different. The second is even better - in light of the adoption of the euro: do you want your product to be competitive if you don't obey? Using digital networks?
In the latter sense we are still wonderful – there is practically no state regulation, you can - if you want - make yourself a Bulgarian Amazon. And here I ask the third, in my opinion the most important question: what is this country's concept of the future, or is it drifting along with the state-oligarchic current that I mentioned?
Is reconciliation pulling us back?
Is it possible that the reconciliation here of the type "to have brandy and salad" is pulling us back, because reconciliation - and promotions in chains - are dumbing us down, weakening us, putting us to sleep? They are turning us into a herd that votes en masse for something that is not a way forward?
And when I said "way forward": do you like today's Bulgaria, where people supposedly live happier, or are you thinking ahead? I think ahead and insist that in Bulgaria one can live far, far better if we stop with the slavish thinking about the ruling assembly.
Look at Poland, look at the Czech Republic – already de facto Western countries in terms of infrastructure and everything. And most importantly: in Bulgaria one lived far cheaper and better for nearly 25 years, but that disappeared imperceptibly, mainly after Covid. An awful lot of people became speculators after that.
But no one is to blame. We have allowed rude misanthropes to rule us, including a series of caretaker governments. People who will not make us like Austria or the Netherlands, where the systematic and civilized way of living makes it a better place, not to mention the infrastructure.
Well, okay, let me ask again, with the necessary laughter – is life really better in Bulgaria?