Reply #57: Really?

[whathehell]

Our national anthem is not about a social contract. It is a foundational statement about freedom and bravery in standing up to a superpower. It is true that at the time, the freedom did not extend to slaves and full rights and benefits did not extend to women and others, but the subsequent history was a matter of expansion of those rights and opportunities to everyone.

Our own independence inspired others to break away from their own oppressors, leading to the French revolution and the breakup of the Spanish empire. I would say that the ideals represented by America have had quite an impact in changing the world for the better. Eventually, even Scotland found a way to loosen the bonds with England, although complete independence is not part of the picture.

Our health care reform is only the latest example of extending a benefit to the broad population. I would point out that one of the biggest hurdles to overcome in this issue was cost. Adding the cost of expanded health care to the burdens assumed by maintaining a military presence in NATO and elsewhere is considerable. If European countries paid their FAIR share of keeping peace in the world -- or even in Europe, we Americans would have more resources to apply to being more like "the rest of the developed world" in social services. The way the Euros threw their hands up when the Balkans descended into a bloodbath in the early nineties was not your finest hour.