Reply #15: You are overstating the enlightenment of other nations.

[K-W]

But that doesnt change the fact that the US is decidedly behind.

Look at our stance on the death penalty. We put children and mentally disabled people to death in this country because we are so scared of crime. We look past torture because we are so scared of terrorism. We watch corporations destroy our government and economy because we are so scared that they will just do it faster if we try to stop them. (Bush has literally argued that we should let corporations get away with things because if we try to limit them, they wont comply.)

America has been convinced that we are special and we are privelidged and that we enjoy an astounding quality of life, but that at the drop of a hat it could all fall apart.