I'm watching a "Mega World" special on the Netherlands (spec. Rotterdam) . . .

[HughBeaumont]

. . . because the country is surrounded by water, they have such advanced means of damming up their flow in case there are rises in ocean levels. They're renovating their public subway systems to the point of reporting any movement in their older buildings as they work to make room for an extensive tunneling project. Their public transportation systems are efficient works of art and precision. It highlighted the Donkervoort auto facility where craftsmen make 50 sports cars a year by hand, using light design emphasizing the performance of the engine. In almost every shot, there's a turbine or a series of them. Children under 18 are insured by the government and special assistance is available to those with limited incomes.

The point I'm trying to make is that, watching this, I'm just completely embarrassed to be an American citizen. We're supposed to be the most so-called advanced nation on Earth?

We burn through how many billions of dollars a day, mostly going to the interest on the 9 trillion dollar debt and the garbage dump known as the Pentasewer, and what does it get us? Woefully inefficient schools (except if you're wealthy), stalemate crony capitalist governance, no universal health care (except if you're a politician), no efficient health insurance (except if you're wealthy), crumbling roads, bridges, dams and sewers, unaffordable higher education (except if you're . . . hell, let's just abbreviate it at this point), lousy public transportation (unless you live in or near a large city), non-existent or dying manufacturing and industry sectors (thanks to horrible "Free Trade" agreements) and cities where more than an adequate amount of office space and storefronts are vacant thanks to offshoring and Big Box Marts.

Oh, and probably a set of turbines once every, what, 300 miles?

And what of American advancement and technology?

Well, we have great hospitals and doctors. Problem is, not many people outside of the above-average wealthy can afford to use them and if they absolutely have to, they're almost assured a mountain of crippling debt upon leaving, if they survive. We have the most high-tech sports arenas and stadiums, I guess. Our media is hella advanced; after all, RW talking points and underlying messages require a great deal of capital to transmit.

And hey, our Supermax prisons are a thing of beauty.

There's our military. I mean we spend, what, 20 to 30 times more than the second leading American debt maste . .. sorry, competitor . . . on our military? It does a great deal of good. I mean, I guess it's technologically sound and well run by it's commanding officers and think tanks; you know, with all the rousing success and low casualty/maiming rates we've had in the Middle East this past decade . . . and our efficient defense and intelligence employed in thwarting terrorist attacks and all . . .

What are we DOING? When is America going to stop worrying about being Nummer ONE and start listening and learning from other countries? When is America going to put some serious effort into the things that MATTER? When is the Reaganite "me first and only" specter going to be peeled away from this country and it's government once and for all?

[Saturday]

1. Excellent post. nt

[Seedersandleechers]

2. Wonderful post

Have you ever been to Holland? I would recommend the trip.

[HughBeaumont]

4. I recommend someone find me a means of affording it for three people.

I'd hit England and Holland at the same time.

Unfortunately, I don't exactly have 2 to 4 thousand dollars burning a hole in my pocket. I couldn't even go to Disneyland if I wanted to, much less anywhere overseas.

I am going to Toronto and Ottawa in the Summer. It'd be nice to visit a country that (gasp) puts the needs of its citizenry before the needs of it's wealthy.

[peacetalksforall]

3. Maybe it's the size - but they always seem to think so clearly and act

together wisely. Thanks for a good read.

[prairierose]

5. Hugh, thanks for an interesting post ...

about substantive matters. I keep wondering when people are going to begin demanding this from elected officials. It is the only way that it will happen here. Most in the US do not have any idea that other countries are different from us. That in other countries the government takes care of the people not the wealthy. Until we get to the point of demanding those major changes, I don't see any of that happening here.

[never cry wolf]

6. You ever read American Pictures, Fighting for the Welfare State?

It was written about ten years ago by a Danish author/photographer as an email to his american friends. It was about a national strike in Denmark to get more vacation but goes on to explain a lot about the european system of government. Makes one want to move there, IMHO.

http://www.american-pictures.com/english/racism/articles/welfare.htm

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Why do you think the right-wing pundits spend so much time badmouthing Europe?

If too many Americans go there, they're going to start saying, "Hey, wait a minute..."