And that is the way to totalitarianism. They are now completely open about their dictatorial ambitions. This scares me.
@ Swede:
That's what I don't get. The left-wing in the US is almost literally nonexistent. There are actually more fascist MPs in Europe than there are socialist representatives in Congress. I'm really, really considering moving away because I cannot tolerate it anymore. Thing is, if I do that, it'll just be easier for folks like the OP to take over (assuming you don't subscribe to the belief that they've taken over already). The gulf between us and you may as well be infinite. Right now, all I want is for America to become just like the rest of the West, and I do not care what has to occur to make that happen. You have no idea how much I envy you in particular, Swede, considering where your screen name says you come from.
Is it too much to ask not to be a laughingstock? How many times must Democrats be consecutively elected before the rest of you let us forget that Bush was elected twice? Four? Five? Six? Seven? The only way I can see that happening is if the Republican party collapses. I really hope it does.
Of course, that's as unlikely as the invisible pink unicorn descending from the heavens and chastising humanity. The USA has the least efficient and least reliable electoral system ever conceived, and despite the fact that it is well-known that every other country in the entire free world uses proportional representation and instant runoff voting, Americans absolutely refuse to partake in any electoral reform, just as they hate socialism with every fiber of their being, oblivious to the fact that much of Western Europe is socialist. I don't know if every liberal in America combined can stop its inexorable slide to fascism and theocracy. I hate my US citizenship so much.
So just remember, non-American commenters, that no matter how stupid your politicians get, you have no right to complain. It could be far worse. At least none of your politicians spout fundamentalist and plutocratic rhetoric and get away with it. Fox News quite literally could not exist anywhere but the United States. Hell, most of your people are atheists, at least de facto.
I guess this is a roundabout and long-winded way of saying that I really, really, REALLY want to live in Europe. Just once I'd like to live in a country which has the moral high ground. Sweden and Switzerland have not been in any wars for almost 200 years. Every single country in Europe opposed the war in Iraq since Day 1; the only reason there are British soldiers there is because the US pretty much bullied them, and Americans STILL hate the French for not joining. In the Netherlands, people who have drug problems are given help; they aren't thrown in jail for years. Also, has anybody here EVER heard of violent gang wars happening in slums in European cities, or even Canadian cities? I certainly have not, and I'm pretty darn sure that's not because the American news doesn't cover that part of the world. In every civilized country except the United States, without fail, people who are sick or seriously injured don't have to pay exorbitant medical bills in order to save their own lives, and not even the richest 1% of non-American society wants to make that happen. In fact, I will even argue that the US isn't a civilized country, on account of there being no universal healthcare, an appalling amount of crime and violence, a government which is corrupt to its very core, a love of war and bigotry, and pervasive demonization of all forward-thinkers. I really don't think the US should be classed as First World anymore. Every country on Earth has large segments of society which hate its guts. There is not a single country, excepting the United States, whose people love the United States unconditionally. Everyone else in THE WORLD sees how barbaric and savage we are.
And I hate it. I really do. This situation is intolerable, but may well not change in my lifetime. Can anyone tell me the easiest way to emigrate?
