"Truth is, democracy has little to do with who we support and who we don't. It's more a matter of economic interests and retaining power in areas that are strategically important to us."

Is there a nation out there who doesn't do this? Is there any nation out there who at least gives lip service to democracy more than we do?

Yah, I thought so.

You show me a nation with a better record of human rights than the US of A. Any single nation.

It's all swell and fine to point at dog-poop in your own backyard and point to it as the proof of what a terrible neighborhood you live in, but when the rest of the world not only has poops, but ignores them only to join you in decrying your neighborhood - they're not doing it because they care about you or your neighborhood, all they're doing is keeping your attention on your own problems so you don't look to closely at their problems. The average US citizen knows next to nothing of Europe's history, nation by nation, or the state of despotism and corruption that has/does exist.

When the new US left starts talking about US fascism, Bush's impending coup, US-Nazi comparisons, or the "police state" and other paranoid-delusional pre-Alzheimers rantings, I can only hope that such comes from complete ignorance of the rest of the world and of history; a byproduct of spoiled, comfortable and safe living that is the byproduct of the US Constitution and a capitalist environment.

As they drive through McDonald's in one of several cars they own, and as they drive back to their own home, on their own land, with fresh water, ample power, police protection, fire services and a nearby modern hospital - they bitch about how bad they have it and how terrible their government is.

If it weren't so pathetic it would be funny.