Hi tom,

>We really do not have time in the United States to be aware of our surroundings let alone the world! We work 24/7, to pay our taxes and credit card debt. By keeping us occupied we “keep out of trouble”. On Election Day we are allowed to go vote for the same people to enjoy all the same things all over again. It is like being on a Merry Go Round. Or is that “nightmare”?

I'm well aware that US is big enough to make it your world and people go regard the US as the world because for many american they won't experience much of outside the US. That is all fine and understandable. And of course the average american is still haunthing the american dream and it focused to work (some critics say that americans live to work, while europeans work to live. Thoug I must add that some europeans show american attitude in this respect). It is only sad the US seem to have a big mouth about the world outside, and barely understands what is outside there. And of course GWB intended to focus on internal problems but 9/11 changed all that.

Again it is understandable if you're living the US, because the US is large enough. In contrast, if I drive for about 4 hours, I could be either in Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Luxemburg or France, If I take a plane, I can be almost anywhere in europe within 4 hours of flying. I've seen a lot of europe, different cultures, different languages, different customs, different economies. It gives you a different perspective of how people live and want to live.

In short, I'd say that ones dream is anotherones nightmare.

Walter,