Reply #1: It's the same way that...

[booksenkatz]

... I love my 4-year-old son, Jack, with all of my heart and soul, but I expect him to be the best Jack that he can possibly be. I have high standards for him because I know he is capable of them. When he falls short, it is my duty to call him on it and correct him, even when I come off as the bad guy, or when I don't "feel" like it because it's too much trouble.

Likewise for my country: I love America, I think she is capable of amazing leadership, but right now she is acting like a cheap ho, hanging out all night with the wrong crowd (corporations), addicted to heroin (oil), etc. It's heartbreaking, but I refuse to settle for this. I intend to do everything in my power to help her realize her potential. If I am called a "bad parent" for insisting on high standards for America, then so be it. That's why it cracks me up to see Dr. Laura, for example, insisting upon perfection for human beings and not insisting upon it for her own country. I don't believe in indulgent parenting or in indulgent citizenship.