You said all that. I certainly didn't. I merely asked why it was so interesting to debate US politics when one was not American. I got some nice answers. That's pretty much it. So I'm not sure what traps you're referring to, or what else you're reading into this, but I assure you, it was just to discuss a few things. Frankly, this has been one of the more civil threads this forum has seen in weeks, if not months.
The American 'experiment' is uniquely special in world history. At no other time, has such an economic and military juggernaut risen to such dominance, that, in Law and Culture, regard citizen freedom and limited Government, at the primacy of it's character and existence. IOW, there is no other Country on earth that, in Law, regard individual freedom higher, that can also defend it with the necessary economic and military power. The EU and British Commonwealth nations define citizen liberty as derived from Government, and can be redefined by Government, if the situation warrants. On the other end of the spectrum are libertarian enclaves like Sweden, that on paper, are 'as free' as the United States. But when push comes to shove, they can't defend it. The relevance here: as America goes, so goes the rest of the World. America is the global political bellweather for individual freedom and liberty. Scary, isn't it? If America goes into a dictatorship, which is very much a real possibility the way things are trending (imagine a nuclear 911-event), who has the military firepower to stand up to a despotic America bent on control, and intimidating freedom-loving Countries that could threaten a junta Government? The problem with liberty: it's infectious. America was the shining light on the hill, that by it's very existence, inspired the world to press their own Governments for more freedom at home. America only remained that shining light because it's military was 3-4 generations ahead everyone else. Had America been the size of Castro's Cuba, would it have lasted very long? Never. Despots around the world would have stamped out those burning embers of liberty, decades ago. Imagine if America becomes that despot and the defenders of it, a Canada? Or Singapore? That's why American politics are so important. Everybody else is trivial in comparison. The EU is a juggernaut, but Europeans are died in the wool socialists. They want more Government, not less. The EU is a huge step in the wrong direction for individual freedom, etc. China, a Communist State. Times are very bleak. That's why I, as a Canadian who lives in Canada (most of the time), concentrate on American politics and largely ignore my own. Canadians adopted a European mentality. They want cradle-to-grave Big Government Socialism. Not only is that size of Government a cancer to economic activity, but it's a destructive attitude that guarantees at some point soon, we'll lose even the modicum of liberties we've got. Idiots. Libertarianism is really a new political identity that's rapidly sweeping the globe, regardless if countries have a freedom movement, or not. Humanity the world over, passionately resonate with the ideals of small Government, low taxes, maximum freedom, strong defense, and a policy of non-interventionism. It's common sense. It's what grew America into the worlds only Super Power. That's why I'm a big supporter of the Ron Paul Teapartys (Sarah Palin is a neo-con in libertarian drag who hijacked the movement. Teapartiers are now overwhelmingly mainline NeoCon Republican Scum, and real Ron Paul Constitutionalists, a small minority). Of course, the media will never mention that. The worlds best chance for liberty and freedom now rests with America. And not the Big Government Democrats and Republicans pining for more Government, more War, more taxes, more debt, more welfare. The ball lies with Constitutionalists. The Ron Pauls, the Andrew Napolitanos, good people in the military, and your average mom-and-pop old-line conservatives that believe in the primacy of the Constitution, above all else. That's how dire the situation is. That's also why the outgoing Bush Admin and Obama demonized the Patriot movement, and associate mainline Constitutionalists with 'extremists' and 'domestic terrorists'. It's all psychological warfare. Because WE PATRIOTS are the last line of defense before Big Government Fascists declare open war against freedom and rescind the Constitution. That's what they've been moving towards for the past 50 years - Corporatism. A Plutocratic Dictatorship. In order to accomplish that, they have to make the Constitution an evil thing. So they set up militia patsys to blow things up, hang the sign "Patriot" around their necks, point to us, and say "They did it!". That's how false flag terror works. Except now it's the Bill of Rights and Patriots they want to vilify. Not Arabs. 911 was a prelude to war against the Middle East. The next 911 carried out by neocon spooks donning a pocket Constitution, is a prelude to what? A declaration of war against American Patriots and the Constitution. We are in very dangerous times. It's likely we'll see another 911 event in Obamas first term. With this economy and debt-load, that will be the end of America. And then the entire world will be in serious trouble.
It hits all the high points, ringing the patriotic bell nicely. Of course the ugly details are not mentioned.