I'm sure Ed intends no slight to our European or other friends, who after all are not responsible for their governments, at least before they reached responsible, voting adulthood. The day may come, when our republic is as old as some 'old world' nations, that another, younger polity may criticize our failures. And we'll deserve it.
Of course, I hope not. We've been blessed with success due to the pragmatic vision of our founders, who saw that man is not perfectible and that checks and balances and protections must be built into the system of government to prevent the excesses that we are all prone to. If we manage not to descend into the mob rule of unconstrained 'democracy' - voting ourselves an overinflated public treasury until it's empty - then we'll have succeeded indeed, and will continue to be an example for others to emulate.
A smart, reductionist friend once pointed out that the net flow of people across borders is a way of measuring the success and appeal of a system. So long as it's a net postive, we must be doing something right. North Korea, for an extreme example in the other direction, needs little other analysis than that lots of people want out, and no one wants in.
Americans should be very protective of our Constitution as written and as intended; and non-Americans ought to take inspiration from it, as many have for 200+ years now, and find ways to implement its wisdom within their own cultures and systems.
I'd be happy to see us reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of any of our community of nations, on occasions like our Independence Day that bring their history and natural pride into focus. We're all historians here, to some degree, so IMO as long as it remains civil so that no one can take offense or construe bad intent where none was intended, conversations like this only make us all smarter. It's certainly off-topic, but this is a community that I respect, where I enjoy hearing off-topic opinions from time to time.
I like to hear the perspectives of my countrymen who disagree with me, and especially of non-Americans on America. From de Tocqueville to John Keegan, they keep us honest and reflective, and show us things we cannot see so well about ourselves.
Bill
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