>>>>>The entire argument was whether USA can be compared to USSR. To me this is ridiculous. Nonsense.
>>>>
>>>>It's all relative, my dear Albert (as mr. Marić used to say to his son-in-law). The standard of living was incomparable, and the system of internal passports and other ways that power over a citizen was exercised was just despicable. But at the same time (I mean literally - in the same years), you may have had just as much/little freedom and/or standard if you were of the wrong color, or politically wrong-minded in the US. And that was during the years when capitalism was pampering the populus, because it had competition in socialism on that market of ideas. Now that it doesn't, see those liberties gradually eroded, standard not going up since eighties...
>>>>
>>>>But I was comparing foreign policies. Both empires were propping up friendly regimes within their spheres of interest, both were aiding movements in other countries, both were spying on each other and the rest of the world, they even met each other in safe houses, secret conferences, when selling weapons, or when fighting wars by proxy. And yeah, they both had great words to use when explaining why do they do all that.
>>>>
>>>>>I think it is your absolute right to criticize the US-government policies. I do it too with my vote (I vote in every local, state, and national elections); this is my way of changing what I don't like or make policies that I like to stay.
>>>>
>>>>I don't believe that the voting has any point nowadays. The advertising techniques have gone just too far, and, anyway, even if the ones you want get elected, they will be blackmailed into reverting one third of the promises they made to you, will fail to do anything about another third, and may do the remaining third in such a watered down way, riddled with various holes and exceptions, that it won't resemble much of what they promised. And then even so, you only liked maybe one half of their package - the other half can't disappoint you.
>>>
>>>I guess we will stay on complete disagreement. I don't agree with an iota of what you are saying about about the former USSR. And for the most part of what you are saying regarding the current political situation in the USA. All I can say is all the best to you and good luck building the political system you like in Serbia :).
>>
>>Obviously you can protest all you want in Russia today. You just can't get caught:
>>http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/nemtsov-detained-as-police-disperse-rallies/411437.html
>>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703296204575401530046406788.html
>>
>>But according to the 2nd article, the govt has found an easy way to deter them.... maybe they are considering starting NASCAR in Russia... :o)
>>
>>Seems to have been relatively small groups of protesters....
>
>The funny (not in a humorous way) thing is that those who complain about every bit of "human rights violations" in USA will never mention or admit of what goes on in their own backyard. Unless, as you just brought up with your links, you put their faces into it. When I immigrated to the USA it was for good and I don't look back. I don't read Russian web sites, don't listen to their on-line radio (unless some of my friends will point me to a bit of interesting news). So I am not up on what is going on in Russia these days; you seem to know more. I am more interested in what is going on in my local community (town, state) and major policy decisions of US government. (In my little free time I am much more interested these days in improving my Spanish skills; read many blogs of Spaniards, post comments, etc.)
>
>Dragan, as some other immigrants I met in this country (real minority), never seemed to have tried to adopt this country (USA) as their own. Some (again from my experience) felt that because they were high achievers in their professional field in the old country, they would be "owed" to get the same recognition in the new country. They never learned that in this country you have to work hard, learn to accept rejection and again rejection and then again, learn to hustle and sell yourself in order to get anywhere. They never learned the business skills in this country, even though their are brilliant in the technical or musical or artistic field. Here is an anecdotal example. My wife has a friend or more like a college friend (since they went to the same university) and we live close by so we meet once in a while (for many years). The friend's father was (and is) a brilliant painter; their home if full of very beautiful paintings; portraits of kids, the wife's friend and her husband, nature scenes, city scenes etc. etc. Every time I am in their house I can't stop staring at the paintings. They came to the USA about 30 years ago. The father (painter) could not get a real job in the art field and could not sell any of his paintings; nobody knew his name. So he got a job painting fruits and vegetables for super market circulars (for close to a minimum wage). I didn't realize that the fruits and vegetables you see in the circulars are not photographs but drawings. As he worked there, I guess his employer started noticing that he was very fast and very good. And he offered some free services to make portraits and paintings for families of the bosses. He worked very hard to get from the bottom to where he wanted to be. Anyway, now he is recognized in certain art circles and makes good living. And he is happy. The point is that he didn't expect that Americans will embrace his talent just because he knows he has the talent. He worked for it very hard, from the bottom. But some others, because something didn't work out for them professionally, will look for the reasons in US policies and every thing that they can find to criticize. And all they remember from their life in the old country is the recognition of their talent.
>
>Sorry for long message.

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing your experiences and your perspective. I don't know many immigrants who are not willing to work extremely hard to succeed. Most of the immigrants I know (and I know a lot) like the U.S. better than most natural born citizens. They put a lot of effort into getting here legally and worked hard to become a citizen. My daughter spent time teaching a few the English language so they could take their tests. I'm usually told by many of them that I complain too much (I've heard this from Bulgarians, Mexicans, Asians, Russians, and more). :o) I always reply that it is because we don't settle that hopefully things will not get worse and that is the only way things will constantly improve. Complacency only allows our government to get away with whatever they want. I do know a few struggling artists who are extremely talented but cannot make a dime at it. They are all doing something else to earn a living and painting in their free time (still trying to sell). Two of my aunts, my step-father, a couple of cousins and quite a few friends fall into that category. When I was in the Army I met a fellow soldier who did the best facial portraits I had ever seen. He graduated from art school but couldn't make a dime at it. There is talent and then there is commercial art that sells. Thomas Kincade, while certainly talented but no where near most other artists, is a good example of commercial art that sells (a lot). Every 3 months we have starving artist sales here where local artists bring their paintings to sell and they go for $25-100.