Ok...and likewise Rowan, you're first paragraph shows quite a bit of ignorance on your part.

Are you European? I'm from "over there" and am directing my complaints at my own people. I'm disgusted that my fellow Americans don't know much about the political process or major events like the war in Iraq which has claimed over 4,000 US troops, over 300 from other nations, and over 500,000 Iraqis, just so you know. Americans are militaristic and love to wave the flag, go to military parades, and when a family member is sent to Iraq, they demand support from the entire Universe. Yet they still can't tell you exactly what the war is for, how much we spend on it, or how many have died as a result of it. It’s like buying a car, but you don’t know how much the dealer charged, or how to drive it, or why it has ears and a tail, but you tell everyone you’re new car is awesome!

Oh, and speaking of cars, SUV sales are only now dipping slightly because of high fuel prices at $4 (2.60 Euros) a gallon or about $1 (0.60 Euros) per liter. That’s less than half of what Europeans pay. Sure they pay higher taxes on it, but they enjoy pot-hole free roads and efficient public transportation. Americans won’t give up SUVs and trucks for the environment, but they might if it keeps them from going to McDonalds three times a day. To me, that’s backwards motivation and a sign of the faulty morality of America.

Also, you said calling a computer tech equals freedom? Ok. If that’s your standard then I wish I lived in your world. Tell me, who do I call about my broken government?

I'm Australian, and I figured you were European by the way you generalize America like that.

Frankly, you sound angry at a culture that does have a proud, interventionist military history no matter what you think of the war, where the people believes their fellow beings should be largely free to follow their own interests through the extensive civil liberties and democratic rights granted to them. In America, change happens slowly. Oh, as for oil prices, we've got lower taxes than both of you and we still pay a good 50% more than you Americans at the pump...there's not much people can do for oil prices without new technology.

In the end, nothing that's wrong with American can't be fixed by what's right with America

I'm Australian, and I figured you were European by the way you generalize America like that.

Frankly, you sound angry at a culture that does have a proud, interventionist military history no matter what you think of the war, where the people believes their fellow beings should be largely free to follow their own interests through the extensive civil liberties and democratic rights granted to them. In America, change happens slowly. Oh, as for oil prices, we've got lower taxes than both of you and we still pay a good 50% more than you Americans at the pump...there's not much people can do for oil prices without new technology.

In the end, nothing that's wrong with American can't be fixed by what's right with America

I am angry and disgusted by America's interventionist policies, and I think rightfully so. Interventionism can be beneficial so long as the majority of the world agrees with you, but in America’s case the world does not. This is resulting in America losing it’s standing as a guiding democratic light that was built up over the last 200 years. Now the nations that could use our guidance just see us as another hegemonic power-hungry nation only interested in maintaining the luxurious lifestyle of its own people.

The globe has become very, very small and we’re still acting like its World War II. Since then America has simply said to hell with everyone else, do what we say, or you’ll find US Marines smashing your door down. And in the case of Iraq, they did do as we said and we still smashed their door down. So now we’re simply unpredictable, which is the worst position to be in. Will we attack Iran, Syria, or North Korea or not? No one knows and that just breeds contempt and a build-up of military power and a decline of civil rights across the world.

Rowan, you are right about fixing what’s wrong with America with what’s right about America. We always find a way out the hole we just dug ourselves into. I just wish we’d put the shovel down for once, fire up the barbie, relax, and have a Foster’s with our friends or a Guinness, Heineken, Newcastle, or a wonderful Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier. Really, I think the reason America is so uptight is the crappy beer we have. All the world needs to do is mop up the spilled beer from the floor of a German biergarten, drain it into bottles, and export it to America. That would be better than Budweiser, Coors, or Miller, and America would become happy and content!