...

>You offer supporting evidence to the fact that we are the greatest country by your points. I agree there are other great countries and I would hope the citizens of those countries would feel theirs is the best. You and I are in lockstep on not wanting to live anywhere else. And, one issue you raised probably makes us greatest, freedom. No other country can compare to us in that regard. (even though those are being assaulted every day)

Freedom-schmeedom! Do you think you're the only democracy in the world? Why your democracy is based on the English model, many of your principles as in the Constitution are based partly on those of Englishmen, John Locke

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke


...But still it must be with his own consent- i.e., the consent of the majority, giving it either by themselves or their representatives chosen by them; for if any one shall claim a power to lay and levy taxes on the people by his own authority, and without such consent of the people, he thereby invades the fundamental law of property, and subverts the end of government.

...Locke maintained that the original state of nature was happy and characterized by reason and tolerance. He further maintained that all human beings, in their natural state, were equal and free to pursue life, health, liberty, and possessions; and that these were inalienable rights.

and French:

It was the French philosopher and jurist, Montesquieu (1689-1755) who developed this theory of the separation of powers, this theory of checks and balances found its expression in the American Constitution (1787). Montesquieu, in addition to studying the political writings of Locke, spent two years (1729-31) in England. The theory, all with the view to protecting the people's liberty, calls for the separation of the three governmental functions: executive, legislative, and judicial.

AT least in GB there's no law against "jay-walking" :-)