From Gregory Stock’s The Book of Questions: Which would be worse: having to leave the country and never return, or never being able to travel more than 150 miles from where you now live?

Now, as an American who’s seen the state of our Union (and let me tell you, it ain’t pretty), I’m inclined to say that being unable to escape the madness might just be the ultimate punishment. Sure, home is where the heart is and all that jazz, but have you seen the size of our country? 150 miles barely gets you out of some states!

Picture this: You’re stuck in the same old town, with the same old faces, and the same old problems. No more weekend getaways to the beach, no more cross-country road trips, and forget about ever visiting the Statue of Liberty or the Grand Canyon. It’s like being grounded by your parents, except this time, it’s Uncle Sam calling the shots.

On the flip side, the idea of being banished from the land of the free and the home of the brave might not be so bad, especially if your destination is a place like Finland. I mean, have you seen their happiness rankings? Those Finns must be doing something right, and I’m willing to bet it has something to do with their love for saunas, reindeer, and heavy metal music.

Plus, think of all the new experiences you’d have living in a foreign country. You’d get to learn a new language, try exotic foods (reindeer hot dogs, anyone?), and finally escape the 24/7 news cycle that seems to dominate American life. And let’s be real, with the way things are going, a tiny home in the middle of a Finnish forest sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

But hey, that’s just one American’s take on this hypothetical conundrum. What about you, dear reader? Would you rather be shipped off to a foreign land, never to see your hometown again, or be confined to a 150-mile bubble for the rest of your life? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s see if we can figure out which fate is worse!