I can see your point about our justice system being screwed up. Frivolous lawsuits are sometimes won, but I think that the majority of the time it works quite well. Movies and media always exaggerate the situation, but money can buy your freedom sometimes. As for the death penalty, it isn't used that often, and I personally agree with it, but I don't really want to start a debate on that subject. Of course there are lots of ways we could improve. I don't agree with us trying to force our copyright and patent laws on other countries. There really should be an international organization to handle that stuff, and it should be made up of people who have a clue. I think we interfere too much sometimes in other countries' affairs, but I think that people too often confuse our involvement as anything more than a response to a request for aid. I would never think that we aren't open to criticism, I just get sick of hearing all of the criticism from people in countries that aren't any better, and many times aren't nearly as good (I am not referring to anyone specifically, so don't read it that way).
Now that I'm calm, I'd like to answer a few items, specifically, that are complained about:
1. Environment - we are on of the most evironmentally-friendly countries. Despite claims to the contrary, our air, water, and land are much cleaner than it was 10, 20, or 30 years ago, and is cleaner than most, if not all, other countries. We have had problems in the past, but we are working to correct them and have made significant progress. Go to any third-world country and look at what they are doing. That is atrocious.
2. Oil mining in Alaska - from what I've read and heard, the oil mining that W wants to do in Alaska will have little to no impact on the land. The Alaskans want us to do it, for crying out loud. Most people complain about this one out of ignorance, expecting that we are gonna kill all life in Alaska to do it. Oil mining has been refined considerably and can be done without destroying the habitat.
3. Overconsumption - this one is true. We do consume too much. I'm not a model example of conservation, but I do better than most.
4. Protecting our interests overseas - this one is also true, but name any other country that doesn't protect its own interests. Name one other country that gets involved in things that don't affect it directly or indirectly. Maybe there are some, but I don't know of any. Also, despite the fact that they are our interests, they are often very beneficial to the world as a whole.
All of my opinions are, of course, based upon my limited knowledge, but I don't subscribe to all the conspiracy theories proposed in the beginning of this thread. Wild speculation with little or no evidence just isn't my bag. Thanks, all, for bearing with my rants. I was overzealous in many of them, so again I apologize.
Edit: I fixed a couple type-o's.
![[KOTNO]Narrot](/data/avatars/l/1/1031.jpg?1052155060){kind=avatar}
...but i the most be i have to agree with myself (LÖL)...i like you NoLordy! as i didn'T see one of the statements that make me soemtimes angry about certain US-citizens. unfortunately i don't remember the auther but there'S a nice book called "war against people" (i hope it'S the right name) which "proofs" that the US are a scoundrel-state! it'S pretty interesting to read (i didn't say that i agree to the book.
