gerbie

As an American, I agree with most of what you say. It's not perfect, and there are a lot of stupid people who have much more than they deserve. I've always wondered what made the USA into the nation it is today with the characteristics you describe. It probably comes from colonial times. America was the land where you could come and worship as you want, or escape your totalitarian government. Over time, that attitude morphed into "I can do whatever I want, and no one can tell me otherwise. I'm entitled!"