Huh? What makes me "so important?" Nothing. Did I say I was important? No, I didn't. My opinion on this matter is no more or less important than yours, but you seem to have no qualms about sharing your opinions. Is there some reason I shouldn't do the same? I'm sorry. Based on the above comment alone, I think I just "won" the exchange.

I'll just close by responding to:





Good for you. How many of them did you live in for more than 10 years and how many of those in which you lived for 10+ years were not first world countries? If the answer is zero, I'm afraid you're not qualified to really opin on the matter. The U.S. may not be perfect but when I hear someone make an assertion like you about a "culture of corruption" in the U.S., sorry, I must conclude you don't know what you're talking about.

I don't have 100 stamps in my passport. But the stamps that I do have are more than enough to tell me you're completely out in left field on this one.

Like Lynn, I have never seen corruption in the U.S. I'm not so gullible as to believe it doesn't exist, but my first-hand experience in other countries highlighted the difference. After living overseas, I was happy to be back in the U.S. where there is little to no corruption and the politicians actually are working for the people that elected them. And before someone responds to that comment, let me say that I'm not saying that because I'm naive--it's because I've lived where there is real corruption and it effects everyone on a daily basis; and where politicians really are there only to line their pockets. Our politicians are saints compared to politicians in other countries. Our politicians are absolute amateurs when it comes to corruption.

Richard, I think you expect and look for the worst in everything, and that's exactly what you find--real or imagined.

Regards,
Craig Steiner