>> What you do in scotland cannot compare with the US for reasons I'm sure
>>you would understand....ie the history of the US, where we came from...

When I last studied American history, you'all came (some willingly and some
not) from all over the world including Scotland, just as Scotland is now
full of people from all over the world when last I heard. So is Australia.
Personally, I think we have a great deal more in common than Diana
realises, including our problems of too little power to the people and too
much to commercial forces, so that poor babies can go hungry in the richest
countries in the world. Sinful to me.

>>we are the greatest, free-est country in the world

Some outside the USA think that inaccurate. Some don't like some freedoms
America has promulgated, via Hollywood, or the NRA, for example. Right or
wrong, no one in any country with any conception of how OFFENSIVE such a
statement is would ever put it in writing. Please learn to edit before you
hit the reply button. And stick to lactation. I will if you will!!

Janet, thanks for reassuring me that there are truly patriotic Americans
who care about and are working for justice in the land of the free and the
home of the brave. Patriotism is not jingoism, but the reverse.  BTW,
Bolshie refers to those dread Bolsheviks  who overthrew that Tsarist
tyranny, then went on to evolve into a new one. Mary however, just means
left-of-centre politically.

Maureen