Where did you get that? All I'm doing is asking people to justify what they insist to be the case. It doesn't seem they can.

Perhaps if you would ask the question a bit more honestly, people might be more interested in answering questions that don't have a pretext. <s>

Your question about "if the U.S. is the best country in the world, shouldn't Americans be willing to pay for the privilege of living here" really missed the point about WHY the United States is one of the greatest countries in the world.

It's like a sports franchise advertising to free agents..."come play with us....we offer the best environment, we will pay you the highest gross salary....but for the privilege of playing for us, you must pay a fee, even if fee makes the eventual net salary much lower".

One of the many reasons the United States IS so great is because of the notion that men and women get to keep a larger share of what they earn. The entire country is based on the formal premise of LIBERTY, which includes economic liberty. These are RIGHTS, not privileges. MAJOR difference, JR.

Now - on the subject of defense....unlike certain whacko libertarians, I don't believe in abolishing income tax. Americans SHOULD pay taxes to support a police and military function, in recognizing men's self interest in supporting a system to protect their lives and freedoms. I also believe in certain public works. But beyond that, many forms of welfare should be abolished. (Tempting though it is, I realize you can't just flip the switch). But I hope to someday live in a country where the debate over "prayer in public schools" has died because public schools no longer exist.

Slightly different topic - you mentioned France. They've done one thing right that our country royally got wrong for 20 years - nuclear power. In the 1970's and 1980's, some of the most idiotic statements out of this country were statements against nuclear power. But while U.S. politicians were bullied into anti-nuclear propoganda, the French kept building power plants - and are far more energy-reliant than we are. (One more example of where listening to American bleeding heart liberals only gets this country in further trouble). I read somewhere that roughly 80% of French citizens are fully in favor of nuclear power. You know that old saying - one nuclear power plant saves gas for 500,000 cars. <s>