On Friday 31 May 2002 10:02, Nick LeRoy wrote: - I've been lurking on this discussion, and decided to chime in a quick $.02 - worth.... - - There seems to be a good deal of US bashing going on here, which, in - general, - I'm unfornately inclided to agree with (note that I'm born & - raised in the - US). :-( Likewise. I don't know of anyone that is trying to bash Americans. There is a difference between bashing and noting differences in economic and political culture, as well as a difference of views as to the role of language, art and culture between the US and Europe. - However, I'd also like to note that many Americans are not really - represented - by these ideas, and that we indeed to hold much stronger - ideals. Some do. some don't. All Europeans are extremely conscious of their culture and it's role, they are just more conscious of it than Americans are in general and not as likely to put it up for sale. - Unfortunately, at least the way *I* see it, Americans are being - increasingly - held hostage by large corporations. The theory that we can - make a difference - at election time is a crock. It's almost like a one - party election; while we - do indeed have a "2 party" system (don't get me - started on that), neither - party really gives a damn about the average - citizen. It's the corporate cach - that they follow, wherever the corporate - money carot leads them. Well, you could actually go back to a presidential election that not one European understands. Of course there is a recount of ballots if there is a discrepency in reporting the actual figure! Particularly in an electoral system where the capturing of specific strategic states/regions play such a big role as that in the make up of the electoral college. - Sorry about the rant. Just wanted to say that we don't all view profit - above - all else. And, a lot of us *do* care. No problem. I would however, suggest that we all end the debate here. It has gone far a field from where I at least put my two cents in ;-) Cheers, Brian