Australia stopped the death penalty and now advocates around the world to those governments that still have it, including the US. Is it really strange that it's used as a method of control over their own people? And yes it is dictatorial too.

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Penguin - Thanks so much for answering my rhetorical question. You failed to give the correct answer, a singluar, parsimonious answer. Let me help you. All that stuff you wrote boils down to the simple fact that there is nothing of any import (concept, principle, goal) which unifies the people of the USA. That's the problem - The Great Melting Pot produces a foul & poisonous stew. It does not work.

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KT - A while ago you asked me, what is it that I do to help this perilous situation in the US. Right now I don't recall the topic, but I remember not answering because there are so many things, small, but important things, to me, they are just par for my course. Something happened last night, a thing which has happened with some good frequency in my lifetime. And somehow, this reminded me of your question. I have a rare & seemingly magical ability to make Brits cry in under 30 seconds. Much of this has to do with my rather unique personality. It is partly because, although I was born in the States, I was not raised speaking English and therefore have a different base mindset to start off with. I was also not raised as an 'American' - I was raised as a 'European.' Believe me, there is a great difference. I am atypical for 'an American.' So, here's one thing that I do: I have been a completely sincere & natural Goodwill Ambassador for the USA since I was 15. I do this on my own time, in my own way. I have done it every single time the opportunity has presented itself - so by now, who knows, I don't count, but it's safe to say that this girl has touched the heartstrings of quite a few thousand Brits. Since the first petite white haired lady, in her impeccable Chanel suit, at an upscale department store perfume counter, to the 30 year old young lady last night - this is what I do: (Small aside: As my parents spoke 13 languages between them, I'm fairly interested in languages, but have a rather crappy ear for accents, so whenever I hear people speaking another language - in public - on a bus, in an elevator . . . I try to figure it out for myself & if I can't get a bead on it, I just up and ask them, "Excuse me, but what language are you speaking?" No one has ever refused to answer this question, most continue to have a conversation with me & this doesn't surprise me in the least, because I know that most of the people in the world really like to share their culture. The point here is that I have zero problem approaching strangers if there is something I'm interested in saying to them, or if I'm able to learn something from them. This Goodwill Ambassador was in the ladies room, following the event I worked last night, and I asked the few gals in there if there was a water fountain somewhere so I could refill my water bottle. They were all chatting, so there was extraneous noise. One gal says, yes, there's one in the gym, but you need a key card, let's go, we'll use mine. Very nice. The gym was a very short walk from the ladies room. She started talking about something & it wasn't until we were in the quiet that I realized she had a British accent. So I ask her, what is her accent? She says "British." I ask if she is from England, she says, "Yes, London." We are at the gym now, but I stop and turn to her and say, "I need to say something to you, it will only take a couple of minutes." She looks at me kinda strangely & says, "Okaaaay." Me, totally serious, with extreme softness & sincerity, voice lowered, look her straight in the eyes & say: "I thank you. I thank your entire country. (small pause) I know the Brits went over and above both during AND after WWII (at this point the tears start welling in her eyes, she can't speak, but she starts waving me off, pleading with her eyes for me to please stop talking. But I know what she's going through, I already know what she is going to say later, so the psychologist in me insists I allow her to fully experience her emotions, so I do not stop.) I continue: "I know that Great Britain called on ALL her colonies, called on everyone in the Commonwealth to come fight this war, and they all came. (I don't need to tell her who they all were because this, of course, she knows.) She's still working really hard to not let the tears go, but it doesn't work. I continue: "If it weren't for the generosity of the Brits, there would never have been a Polish 2nd Corp, who were skeletons from Siberia and given medical care, training, food, uniforms and a place under the British 8th Army. This allowed my father to fight and finally get his revenge on the nazis. And revenge the Poles got in spades. He stayed with his unit in Italy until 1946 & was demobbed in London. My mother's POW camp was liberated by the Brits and she was taken to London and given everything she needed to start a new life. The war was won, other countries (those who had not fought as long nor as hard as Great Britain could have done all these tasks, and they did lend a hand), but it was Great Britain that was accepting all the refugees and helping them - NOT the USA. I end with: "If not for my parent's extreme courageousness and extreme good fortune and extreme intelligence they would not have survived the war. But it is thanks to GB that they were saved from starvation, given better opportunities to fight, and to not only better survive the war, but also to thrive in London for 7 years before coming here & getting married. I need you to know Great Britain has my eternal gratitude, because without your country's intervention, I would never have been born. I own my life to your country, and GB has my eternal allegiance." I am done. I always wait until the person has composed themselves, because I know from experience that now, they have very important things to tell me in return. This young lady, last night, said it, 98% of the Brits I've talked to have said it, their words are basically identical: "You have NO IDEA how much it means to me to hear you say that!!! It seems to us that no one knows, no one appreciates everything that Great Britain did during the war. It is me that should be thanking you." I always say, thanks for saying that, but there's no comparison. I just want you to know that there is at least one girl in the USA who knows and understands what happened, and shares this with other Americans. None of this is taught in our history books. Also, clearly, my parents taught me everything they could about WWII and they never had one bad word to say against Great Britain. I was raised believing that all was peachy, until later I found out that not all Brits were so readily accepting of keeping so many Poles in the UK. I had never before seen the signs of "Poles Go Home." Upon doing research, I saw hundreds. There was indeed animosity, but my parents must have chosen to ignore it, because they were nothing but grateful - even considering they could NEVER go back home - to Poland. So KT, this is one thing I have done all my life. The results are immediate, there is almost always hugging involved at the end. The first time, I acted on pure impulse. I felt an overwhelming need to talk to this white haired lady. She cried, they almost all cry. I tug at a damaged heart string. I tug for the good of it all. This has been my natural personal crusade for the goodwill of the world as a whole. At times, even though I say I will only take 2 minutes of your time, it turns out to be a conversation for 1/2 -1 hour. Whatever it takes, fine by me. These people need to be heard. So you know, it's been an outstanding learning experience for me as well. At first, I was talking mostly to people who had lived through the war, knew first hand what I was talking about. Appreciated not only what I was saying, but impressed by how well my parents had educated me. Now it is mostly only the following generation, but that lack of acknowledgement and respect still haunts them bitterly. At some point, maybe 25 or so years ago, I added the following: You can do something more for me, you can go back home and tell all your family and friends, that there is at least this one girl who is not afraid to speak the truth, to show her emotions, to thank a true ally. Yes, this is a thing I do. As I said, it just comes out naturally. It is not a pride thing. It is simply a good thing. It is the best part I can play, given who I am. It is always genuine on both sides.

HK, I don't agree that the US is that toxic. Some certainly are (which can be seen in any other country), but most people are not. Some are misguided. Many are simply too busy with their day to day lives to delve into the toxic stew that is Washington, DC. But I have to believe that most people are better. There is hope over the long term.

Penguin - Your head is in the sand. There is a cancer eating away at this country from within. I'm not surprised you don't agree, most Americans won't. That's because Americans, unlike most all other countries, look at the world through purely American blinders. Other countries, which are much smaller, have more neighbors, naturally see a larger picture of this planet. America is a young and stupid country, who has a history of refusing sensible help from other nations. Ask yourself why Canada does not experience anywhere near the amount of horrible happenings as the USA does. Canada was part of the UK, they had guidance. But not us Americans, we can do everything ourselves, and also do it better than anyone. What bullshit! You don't see the US as toxic? Let's take a vote from all our international players. Oh no, wait, I'm pretty sure they've all been consistently saying they are finding what's happening here as UNBELIEVABLE. Remember the phrase "Ugly American." The shoe fits.

Except for one move early on, it was real easy. 12.

Easy, even for an ugly deplorable American like me.