>>Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose. If you truly want freedom, go live on your own in the inlands of australia. But then don't complain or blame the government when: you've got no food, are ill, feel lonely, you're robbed, your house is on fire, etc.
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>Interesting comment. Hmmm. I thought this country was founded on the principles of individual freedom. There are actually those who prefer true freedom and there are those who are more balanced in their views. Identifying those who feel differently than you do those with names and labels is idiotic.
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>What I don't understand is why over the years you consistently insist that this country needs to change to be more like other countries in order to be considered "progressive." You may see a few folks apply labels to some policies like 'socialist' but that doesn't represent the entire country or even the majority. Sometimes things are just preferred to be different and labeling it as backwards or progressive doesn't really fit. I live here and have my entire life (other than a few years in other countries) and I don't know how every single or the majority of Americans feel about every issue (too many of those I know feel differently than each other) so I find it absolutely amazing that you do and you think you know what's best for everyone. Some folks truly believe in different ways of life and less government and that doesn't make them blind sheep. Just because they see things differently doesn't make them voting cattle. Now there are probably a percentage of folks out there who always vote the party line regardless, but in my experience, those are few and far between. Your comments make it counter-productive to any type of discussion. It's that arrogance that shuts down people and stops any discussion.

Well one way to look at it is that I could not care less if we were talking about irrelevant countries like iran, iraq, afghanistan, but the US is dictating the world economics and politics and therefore indirectly affects us as well. So don't I have to right to my freedom of speech to give my viewpoints.

And I do recognise that people do have different wishes on how to live their lives and I really respect that, but then DON'T GIVE ME BS ARGUMENTS. My arguments goes to people who clearly do not know what they are talking about. So fine, if you prefer another way of life, but then use the right arguments and not mislead other people with false arguments to support your standpoint. IOW:

- Don't tell me you need a gun "because it makes society safer", but rather "It makes me feel more safe"
- Don't tell me that "socialised healthcare does not work", but rather "I don't want to pay for the other one, and will take my chances of not getting ill'
- Don't tell me that "obama is a bad president", but rather "He is not of my (political) color and therefore will critisize anything even though I don't have a clue what its about"
etc.

So back on topic. cut the BS. If you want to make a statement, do it with valid arguments, not with slam dunk oneliners like in the letter of discussion.

And yeah, making a generalisation, I think many (I do not say most) north american are not able to see through the BS, because of the huge political polarisation caused by the corporate world and political alligned media. The only thing we can do about that is learn people to think for themselves.

BTW, the last paragraph also applies to the dutch voting cattle.