Poor leadership in the United States has sent the country backwards when it has the potential to move forward. US foreign policy could model itself a little more to that of the EU- which builds relationships through diplomacy and cautious action- not winning hearts and minds through “shock and awe” wars and occupation.

Why has the EU been able to dramatically expand and the United States not viewed THIS as a threat to US national security? For some answers check out “Why Europe Will Run The 21st Century” by Mark Leonard. The transformation of this continent over the past 60 years is truly remarkable.

Nations like Turkey are changing their policies in the hopes that they can be an EU member. Still, they are not at a humanitarian level that is acceptable to membership in the EU.

Jeff- Nations are joining the EU because people want “opportunity” and the chance at a better life. The US is far from the only place to find opportunity. And as I said before, Europeans are not only NOT lining up to move to the US, most don’t have any interest to. People here are taken care of and well educated-they generally know better. Here in the Netherlands just about everyone speaks English as well as their native Dutch. And many speak additional languages, French, Spanish, German, etc.

My friends here are VERY well traveled and well educated with tons of opportunity here in the Netherlands as well as other prosperous EU nations.

Justin-Good luck with the move to Germany! That was my wife and I’s other choice, but we ended up here. Both are great options!

LOL! Its funny hearing people who have no concept of real oppression whining about how oppressed they are in America.

“I am wondering how many people Jeff interacts with that make minimum wage, struggle to pay rent, barely are able to pay for gas or scrounge the money to take the bus to their hourly jobs day in day out- unless they get sick, when they still do the same thing because they cannot afford insurance and so they just have to muddle through. Buy these Citizens a drink Jeff and let them expand your narrow view.”

Not a narrow view at all. Just not a pessimistic one. People can whine about how unfair life is but the reality is that the US is built on opportunity and anyone can step up and change their circumstances if they just nut up and do it. Its people who wait for the government to step in and make things “fair” that bog down the country

This list is full of snark and facts- and if you cannot find the facts then you are being brainwashed by bought media and I am sorry you haven’t figured it out yet.

Here I come to add some more thoughts and yes- facts!

The library system I work for does not save records. When this is explained to the patrons as one of their civil liberties- the majority become irate and simply want us to tell them what they checked out last because they shouldn’t have to remember on their own. Beyond that stupidity, when our privacy policy (another fabulous liberty) is explained the majority of people are annoyed at the lack of convenience in picking up their partners holds or using someone else’s card. So, they sign away their privacy and then get mad when we let someone else pick up their holds or use their card. It is a shame that the majority of citizens do not understand civil liberties- let alone their importance and significance.

No- the majority of US citizens are not christian- this is simply the stat that is sold to the world and perpetuated by NOT recording other citizens beliefs.

The US is a Republic- (and to the Republic for which it stands) one that has in its past been true to this paradigm and followed it with a sense of duty. However, over the years the power of the electoral votes have been bought and swayed away from the popular vote, which is NOT its duty. This is just one of the corruptions of the voting process in the US. I was turned away from voting during the last presidential election. (I am white and educated and female and I pay my taxes- just so you can play along with your scorecard of entitlement and secret hopes that I may be a lesser citizen in anyone’s racist, bigoted, ridiculous mind) I was registered, checked my registration, went to my proper voting place and when I got there was told I was not registered and that it was too late to register or fill out an absentee ballot but I could fill one out if it made me feel better. There were several of us at this table and none of us were republicans. Which was also the case of plenty of Floridians who were turned away because their names were similar to felons- even though they had not ever been arrested for anything. These are only a few examples- there are plenty more.

The US is terribly oppressive. The ERA has not passed. Human trafficking is way up. Laws are passed to better human existence but the general boys clubs that are in power do not enforce them. Article 99 is just one example. Walk out your front door and take a few steps to the end of the block and I am sure you will have walked over at least ten other examples.

Citizens do rally for things to change- all the time- all over the place. And, even if they are enacting their right to peacefully gather and protest, they are arrested, maced, clubbed, tazered and harassed. Still- marijuana laws do pass, as do same sex marriage rights, as do so many others but are then shot down by the over ruling county, state, and federal laws.

Sure- you can come to this country or live in the US and start a business, if you already have the money. If you do not then you have to get a loan from a bank who will turn you away if you do not have collateral. I agree, you can work for it and save it up- but making it such a simple statement as that anyone can do it anytime is naive and an attempt to silence the truth that is slowly seeping into your brain even though you don’t want it to.

No- not everyone in the US has benefits. First you have to have a job and it has to be a job that offers benefits and you have to work enough hours to support the benefit package and then you still pay for these limited benefits. Public health care exists but it is sub-par and the amount of paperwork and tape you have to go through is sickening. Pun intended. I have a job, it is only a part time job- so the cost of benefits for me is more than my paycheck. Then I have the option to work extra hours- whenever I want, so in essence I work full time- but these extra hours are not eligible for benefits. My employer is not alone in this policy.

I am wondering how many people Jeff interacts with that make minimum wage, struggle to pay rent, barely are able to pay for gas or scrounge the money to take the bus to their hourly jobs day in day out- unless they get sick, when they still do the same thing because they cannot afford insurance and so they just have to muddle through. Buy these Citizens a drink Jeff and let them expand your narrow view.

Freedom of speech is not alive and well in America. And ever wonder about Habeas Corpus? Yeah, it’s gone. The government is tapping your bank accounts, your phone calls and your library lists. All to keep you “free”. Time to check the definition, people!

And Alex, if I ever thought about living in OZ (which is a very remote chance), Melbourne would be the city I’d live in. I hear it’s quite similar to Wellington (where I live).

A couple of thoughts. (1) Your twenty years of service in the american armed forces did nothing to ensure that Alex could voice his opinion. He’s posting from the Netherlands, and is subject to Dutch law; the Dutch don’t particularly care what the american Bill of Rights says. (2) Saying that you respect someone’s opinion isn’t very believable when you then immediately use ad hominem attacks against them for voicing that opinion.