Mark S. and Derb: Rest easy, it’s complete baloney that last year “over two million U.S. citizens fled the United States for greener pastures,” which should be obvious considering that the source is a site with an address pitching the purchase of precious metals as investments. (The widows of Nigerian dictators have no money to send you either, I’m afraid.) The State Department guestimated ten years ago that there were 4 million Americans living abroad, though a more careful ILO estimate in 2006 arrived at a figure half that. So, if there are 2 million Americans living abroad, it’s not very likely 2 million more left just last year. And the Census Bureau population estimates show a consistent net increase in our population of slightly under 3 million a year for the last decade — whatever you think of the Census Bureau (I generally admire its professionalism — the complaints of politicians about it are really about policies it’s been told to implement, policies the politicians themselves are responsible for), someone would have noticed a huge increase in emigration.

This kind of story persists despite its obvious falsity because it resonates with people, like the fake rash of black church burnings or the fake epidemic of child abuse in day-care centers. Americans like to think that as bad as things are, at least foreigners still want to move here — but we’re really doomed if Americans are abandoning ship.