Subject: Re: Best “escape” country for a US citizen
BTW to follow up on the "best" country, first, it's so situational that a general recommendation is pointless. People might have recent ancestors giving them an easier path in certain EU countries, for example. Your financial and work situation and long-term plans may or may not mesh with the available visas (I would have liked Ireland but there is simply no long-term path available for someone my age. Some countries would not have allowed me to continue working. etc.)

My goal was long-term residency with a path to citizenship and free movement in Schengen, on the basis that the Former United States is not a place I can imagine spending the rest of my life without daily suffering and enormous risk. Eastern Europe was out because of proximity to Russia. Malta was out because of isolation and size. Portugal on a LT digital nomad visa was a good choice, language barriers not as severe, relatively welcoming to immigrants (at least, affluent white ones). Canada was absolutely out as they are at direct existential risk of Nazi invasion. I am hoping the EU nations realize the severity of the risks they now face and are prepared to defend themselves. They may be the last holdout of democratic government in the world.