Ah Larry!

Swanger said:

You are probably close to being right. I have a great expectation along with others that the
Socialistic type governments of the Scandinavian countries (along with the Nederland's etc.)
will prevail.

I don't know what you mean by socialistic, but you probably don't either, so it doesn't matter. All
the governments of Scandinavia are democracies. Norway's is technically a constitutional monarchy,
but the king has no political power. All the Scandinavian countries have capitalist economies. We
pay high taxes, which are used well, IMO, to subsidize, universal health care, public transport,
public education child welfare, the evangelical lutheran church, and unemployment compensation.

Quoted message said:

However, in the meanwhile, I will continue to take on well trusted business partners from
longstanding acquaintances who find it impossible to do entrepreneurial business in these
Socialist type countries without being taxed half to death. I've seen this happen for the last
three decades.

You have badly misinterpreted your findings. The level of grumbling about taxation is about the same
here as it is in the US. Look at what is happening in the US. Jobs are being moved overseas. Jobs
aren't moving into America. Jobs are moving out of America. That isn't happening in Scandinavia in
the systemic way it is happening in America.

Quoted message said:

We need the liberals as much as they need a certain conservative structure. The U.S. these days,
seems to be a played out battlefield of equally opposing sentiments content on reprimanding one
another. Just as well that absolute powers be questioned in an absolute theater of reasonable
resolution. Ask yourselves why Saddam would have his closest and liquid assets in the form of U.S.
dollars? (I will gladly try to clarify to anyone who ask)

Why is that important? Had he kept them in Euros, he would have won. Currency values shift, but what
does Saddam have to do with any of this? Keep patting yourself on the back, Rick. You should know
more about Europe than you do.

martin

Donald Graft said:

"M.W.Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Donald Graft said:

You libs just don't get it. I am so going to enjoy the trouncing of the Dems in 2004!

Charlatan and liberal, it must suck to be you.

Another compassionate watch-wearing conservative heard from.

Anne Coulter told me liberals were traitors, so I don't owe you any respect, let alone compassion.

:-)

Don

I don't think the main problem with America can be characterized any better than that.

martin

Swanger said:

"M.W.Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Swanger said:

I love it. Yanks getting on the Euro bus to substantiate anti- US
sentiment. Hell, I did the same thing when Clinton was president.

Euros

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thought he was pretty much useless as well. "Oh no, I'm not one of

them, I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

think Bill's a big wuss too!" My Euro buds loved me. I've seen some people automatically agree
with any political Euro view point just to

make

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

friends and have an international feel good moment. I find Euros are no different regarding
political opinions than Americans. Lots of people

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

different and various ideas.

Wow, where did you live in Europe? I don't believe a word of what you

said.

Quoted message said:

President Clinton was and remains very popular in Europe. You know what substantiate means, right?

I've been doing business there for years. As I said,,,Europeans have just as much varied opinions
as Americans. Yes, I've met plenty of Euros who thought Clinton was alright but many more who
viewed him as a disingenuous clown. So what? I've never, nor should anyone else apologize. Every
country or state has plenty to pillory about.

You do business in Europe. That doesn't mean you know anything about Europeans, except how to do
business with them. Since they want to do business with you, and knowing your attitude, why would
you think they would be revealing their true beliefs to you? You wouldn't do business with cheese
eating surrender monkeys, right? I think they probably sense that. I know they do.

martin

"M.W.Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Swanger said:

"M.W.Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Swanger wrote:

> I love it. Yanks getting on the Euro bus to substantiate anti- US
> sentiment. Hell, I did the same thing when Clinton was president.

Euros

Quoted message said:

>thought he was pretty much useless as well. "Oh no, I'm not one of

them, I

Quoted message said:

>think Bill's a big wuss too!" My Euro buds loved me. I've seen some people automatically agree
>with any political Euro view point just to

make

Quoted message said:

>friends and have an international feel good moment. I find Euros are

no

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>different regarding political opinions than Americans. Lots of people

with

Quoted message said:

>different and various ideas.

Wow, where did you live in Europe? I don't believe a word of what you

said.

Quoted message said:

President Clinton was and remains very popular in Europe. You know what substantiate means,
right?

I've been doing business there for years. As I said,,,Europeans have

just

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

as much varied opinions as Americans. Yes, I've met plenty of Euros who thought Clinton was
alright but many more who viewed him as a

disingenuous

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

clown. So what? I've never, nor should anyone else apologize. Every country or state has plenty
to pillory about.

You do business in Europe. That doesn't mean you know anything about

Europeans,

Quoted message said:

except how to do business with them.

Spoken like a true Socialist (not necessarily a bad thing) I can't deny your comment other than to
say maybe we are all only as good as our word (whatever that's worth) And nothing gets people more
intricately involved than fighting or business deals.

Since they want to do business with you,

Quoted message said:

and knowing your attitude, why would you think they would be revealing

their

Quoted message said:

true beliefs to you? You wouldn't do business with cheese eating surrender monkeys, right? I think
they probably sense that. I know they do.

Never second guess the importance of a sincere cheese monkey;-) Maybe I should clarify. I have
many European close friends and business partners that I have known for a number of years. From
Scandinavians to Slovakians. My initial reaction to your comment would be "exactly my point".
Why apologize or bow down to Euros who may not know what they are talking about or don't reveal
their true beliefs. No different than typical liberal Americans looking for a feel good
international moment. However, when it comes to business you will find one consistent
underlining theme that prevails no matter how liberal or conservative one views the world. Is it
creative or not. Lets just say the U.S. enjoys a lot of incredible talent from Europe that would
otherwise go untapped in altruistic pursuits of Socialism (not necessarily a bad thing) With 80%
tax rates or more, I'm hoping good things will prevail as a consistent role model for a scaled
down version for certain capitalistic economies.

Rick Swanger

Swanger said:

Spoken like a true Socialist (not necessarily a bad thing) I can't deny your comment other than
to say maybe we are all only as good as our word (whatever that's worth) And nothing gets people
more intricately involved than fighting or business deals.

Do you even know what a true socialist is? I doubt it. There are no true socialist states in the
world today, and there never have been any. Not a single one.

Quoted message said:

Never second guess the importance of a sincere cheese monkey;-) Maybe I should clarify. I have
many European close friends and business partners that I have known for a number of years.
From Scandinavians to Slovakians. My initial reaction to your comment would be "exactly my
point". Why apologize or bow down to Euros who may not know what they are talking about or
don't reveal their true beliefs.

If that is your point, then it is irrelevant, since nobody said anything about bowing down to
anybody. You did, but you raised a red herring.

Quoted message said:

No different than typical liberal Americans looking for a feel good international moment. However,
when it comes to business you will find one consistent underlining theme that prevails no matter
how liberal or conservative one views the world. Is it creative or not. Lets just say the U.S.
enjoys a lot of incredible talent from Europe that would otherwise go untapped in altruistic
pursuits of Socialism (not necessarily a bad thing) With 80% tax rates or more, I'm hoping good
things will prevail as a consistent role model for a scaled down version for certain capitalistic
economies.

Keep patting yourself on the back. While you do that, the rest of the world will continue running
ahead. Sorry, swimming ahead.

martin

M.W.Smith <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message : [email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Totalswimm said:

Quoted message said:

>its brave citizen so lonely, threatened and afraid when they walk

across the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

planet, for the few of them who will still dare that...>>

(snip)

Quoted message said:

I have yet to meet an American who has experienced any problem in Europe

created

Quoted message said:

by the apparent differences between the stereotypical political views of

the US

Quoted message said:

and Europe.

Don't misunderstand my words. When I spoke of "lonely, threatened and afraid" US citizen walking
around the world, I wasn't thinking about them in Europe. Despite what some media can say, it's
perfectly safe to walk (or swim: I just swam today with 2 american girls!) here in France for US
citizen - and in fact, probably much safer than in the USA, considering respective murder rates. You
may have some passionate discussion with new friends in a café, but that's it.

I was just thinking of some 40 or 50% of the world (including the islamic world) where I wouldn't
feel comfortable as a US citizen right now... And the sad thing is that because of Bush I'm now not
much better off there as a french man. Let say I can still comfortably go in 80% of the world. For
example, I was in Algeria a few years ago, and I wouldn't do that now. In many countries, some
people are so infuriated by recent events that they will not make a difference between all these
white / christian crusaders...

-- Olivier

Quoted message said:

You do business in Europe. That doesn't mean you know anything about

Europeans,

Quoted message said:

except how to do business with them. Since they want to do business with

you,

Quoted message said:

and knowing your attitude, why would you think they would be revealing

their

Quoted message said:

true beliefs to you? You wouldn't do business with cheese eating surrender monkeys, right? I think
they probably sense that. I know they do.

Agreed.

I (cheese eating surrender monkey) was in Washington DC last week for business (just for 24 hours,
couldn't even try to have a swim there!). We carefully avoided any conversation on politics. At
lunch time, we just talked about cheese and wine. Never mix business and politics. You wouldn't want
to blow a deal for a political dispute! And when you talk about politics, you are almost sure that
there will be a hard, personnal battle.

Plus one thing: most of the people in the international business community are naturaly on the
conservative side (wealthy, tax haters, american friendly...). They are definitively not a
representative sample of the people of the country where you are.

-- Olivier

"Olivier" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You do business in Europe. That doesn't mean you know anything about

Europeans,

Quoted message said:

except how to do business with them. Since they want to do business with

you,

Quoted message said:

and knowing your attitude, why would you think they would be revealing

their

Quoted message said:

true beliefs to you? You wouldn't do business with cheese eating

surrender

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

monkeys, right? I think they probably sense that. I know they do.

Agreed.

I (cheese eating surrender monkey) was in Washington DC last week for business (just for 24 hours,
couldn't even try to have a swim there!). We carefully avoided any conversation on politics. At
lunch time, we just talked about cheese and wine. Never mix business and politics. You wouldn't
want to blow a deal for a political dispute! And when you

talk

Quoted message said:

about politics, you are almost sure that there will be a hard, personnal battle.

Plus one thing: most of the people in the international business community are naturaly on the
conservative side (wealthy, tax haters, american friendly...). They are definitively not a
representative sample of the people of the country where you are.

Somewhere my point got lost. However, I do agree with your "representative sample" statement
although not always "naturally conservative". In a previous post, I was not intending to imply
that this "small sample" was indicative of all. Nor are my observations on varied political views
in Europe restricted to a small "representative sample" of these conservative, American loving
tax haters.

Rick S.

"M.W.Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

(snip)

Quoted message said:

Keep patting yourself on the back. While you do that, the rest of the

world will

Quoted message said:

continue running ahead. Sorry, swimming ahead.

You've made some very good points Martin. I'm afraid I've loosely thrown around a few terms that
should have better remained not said at all. Simply because few can completely agree to their
extent. (too much Thanksgiving Pinot last night) Generally I'm repeating what's come up in
conversations with friends and clients over the years who trust me to be just as honest in return.
There has certainly never been any chest beating on anyone's part or claims of "running ahead".
Again, I find political views to be just as diverse among Europeans as they are in the U.S. The
swimming world will eventually prevail and we'll all be wet with spiritual enlightenment that comes
from a solid crawl stroke.

Rick Swanger

Swanger said:

Ask yourselves why Saddam would have his closest and liquid assets in
the form of U.S. dollars? (I will gladly try to clarify to anyone who ask)

Because over the past several decades it has proven to be the most stable, and most liquid currency
out there. Quite a few unassociated nations use the USD. The Euro has been running very strong
lately, but not too long ago it languished, and ran 90cents on the dollar. The yen came and went.
And after that, what's left?

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

Olivier said:

I was just thinking of some 40 or 50% of the world (including the islamic world) where I wouldn't
feel comfortable as a US citizen right now... And the sad thing is that because of Bush I'm now not
much better off there as a french man. Let say I can still comfortably go in 80% of the world. For
example, I was in Algeria a few years ago, and I wouldn't do that now. In many countries, some
people are so infuriated by recent events that they will not make a difference between all these
white / christian crusaders...

You're projecting your fears - I am not worried about 40% of the world. And you were in just as much
danger before from the fun people in the middle east - their entire system of oppressing their
people (esp their women) can't endure in the face of western civilization. If the US ceased to be
the bad guy, you would fill in nicely. It's also why 'playing nice' will never work.

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

"Jason O'Rourke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Swanger said:

Ask yourselves why Saddam would have his closest and liquid assets in the form of U.S.
dollars? (I will gladly try to clarify to anyone who

ask)

Quoted message said:

Because over the past several decades it has proven to be the most stable, and most liquid
currency out there. Quite a few unassociated nations use the USD. The Euro has been running very
strong lately, but not too long ago it languished, and ran 90cents on the dollar. The yen came and
went. And after that, what's left?

Of course these dollars by themselves are only paper. That's why I found it interesting that one
of the ultimate Yank haters would entrust billions in cash on nothing but the U.S. name printed
on these bills that guarantees them. If somehow the U.S. could be the recipient of true massive
destruction, those truck filled billions and other massive cash stashes would be rendered to
pennies on the dollar.

Rick Swanger

"Totalswimm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Like it or not, George Bush IS the President of the United States and, he has taken an oath to
protect the US

The oath notwithstanding, his interpretation of it seems to be "protect

the

Quoted message said:

interests of corporations, polluters and his wealthy cronies." The US was in no danger from
Saddam. On the other hand Bush's version of a

"war

Quoted message said:

on terror" (whatever happened to that - where's Osama these days?) has

been

Quoted message said:

effective mainly for creating thousands of new recruits for the terrorists elsewhere, and
abrogating civil rights at home.

Terry,,,not again:-) The U.S. is damned if they do and damned if they don't. Bushwacker or not,
we're still the unsightly Americans no matter how far right or left your sentiments lie. You've
got a well respected business that charges fees for your services for a profit, yet plenty of
folks would say you're inordinately rich and succumbing to and becoming "the man". You heard
some of our fellow swimmers reply here on RSS that "the business contingent is not an accurate
assessment of the population". They (them business folk) don't matter. Even though all our jobs
do rely upon it, making everyone part of the business community. You are walking proof that
political opinions are definitely diversified and do not necessarily follow typical
stereotypes. This is true from, my observations, just about anyplace where laws or peer
pressure permit such things.

Rick Swanger

Swanger said:

"Totalswimm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Like it or not, George Bush IS the President of the United States and, he has taken an oath to
protect the US

The oath notwithstanding, his interpretation of it seems to be "protect

the

Quoted message said:

interests of corporations, polluters and his wealthy cronies." The US was in no danger from
Saddam. On the other hand Bush's version of a

"war

Quoted message said:

on terror" (whatever happened to that - where's Osama these days?) has

been

Quoted message said:

effective mainly for creating thousands of new recruits for the terrorists elsewhere, and
abrogating civil rights at home.

Terry,,,not again:-) The U.S. is damned if they do and damned if they don't. Bushwacker or
not, we're still the unsightly Americans no matter how far right or left your sentiments lie.
You've got a well respected business that charges fees for your services for a profit, yet
plenty of folks would say you're inordinately rich and succumbing to and becoming "the man".
You heard some of our fellow swimmers reply here on RSS that "the business contingent is not
an accurate assessment of the population". They (them business folk) don't matter. Even though
all our jobs do rely upon it, making everyone part of the business community. You are walking
proof that political opinions are definitely diversified and do not necessarily follow typical
stereotypes. This is true from, my observations, just about anyplace where laws or peer
pressure permit such things.

When you talk about anti-american sentiment, or refer to it obliquely as you've done here, you
always make it sound like the world doesn't like Americans. That is emphatically not the case. It is
the Bush administration that is the object of anti-american sentiment in Europe, not Americans.
Americans don't have political problems living in Europe. There is no dislike of Americans here that
I have detected after eight years. Nor did I detect any in Australia over seven years. I expect this
is the same everywhere around the world. When you hear or read "anti-american" in a news report or
op-ed piece, you really should think "Bush administration and its policies and actions" because
Americans, American culture, and American business are not disliked in Europe, and I think that is
the same everywhere (with the exception of fundamentalist Muslim clerics and their archons).

If you want to eliminate this anti-american sentiment, the first step is to elect a new broom in the
whitehouse. Vote for Wesley Clark.

martin

"M.W.Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

If you want to eliminate this anti-american sentiment, the first step is to elect a new broom in
the whitehouse. Vote for Wesley Clark.

martin

Given your pro-Clark stance I have no doubt his election would go far to eliminate your
anti-American sentiment, but do you really believe he alone can eliminate the World's anti-American
sentiment? That's stretching it a bit....

BTW, your view of Clark is not universally shared.
worldnetdaily.comarticle.aspOpen ↗

I'm not saying I wouldn't vote for him....but I'd sure do my homework on the allegations that
surround him before I voted for or publicly supported this guy...

Bill

"M.W.Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Swanger said:

"Totalswimm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

>Like it or not, George Bush IS the President of the United States and, he has taken an oath to
>protect the US

The oath notwithstanding, his interpretation of it seems to be "protect

the

Quoted message said:

interests of corporations, polluters and his wealthy cronies." The US was in no danger from
Saddam. On the other hand Bush's version of

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"war

Quoted message said:

on terror" (whatever happened to that - where's Osama these days?) has

been

Quoted message said:

effective mainly for creating thousands of new recruits for the

terrorists

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

elsewhere, and abrogating civil rights at home.

Terry,,,not again:-) The U.S. is damned if they do and damned if

they

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

don't. Bushwacker or not, we're still the unsightly Americans no matter

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

far right or left your sentiments lie. You've got a well respected business that charges fees
for your

services

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for a profit, yet plenty of folks would say you're inordinately rich and succumbing to and
becoming "the man". You heard some of our fellow swimmers reply here on RSS that "the business
contingent is not an

accurate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

assessment of the population". They (them business folk) don't matter. Even though all our jobs
do rely upon it, making everyone part of the business community. You are walking proof that
political opinions are definitely diversified and do not necessarily follow typical

stereotypes.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This is true from, my observations, just about anyplace where laws or

peer

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

pressure permit such things.

When you talk about anti-american sentiment, or refer to it obliquely as

you've

Quoted message said:

done here, you always make it sound like the world doesn't like Americans.

That

Quoted message said:

is emphatically not the case. It is the Bush administration that is the

object

Quoted message said:

of anti-american sentiment in Europe, not Americans. Americans don't have political problems
living in Europe. There is no dislike of Americans here

that

Quoted message said:

I have detected after eight years. Nor did I detect any in Australia over

seven

Quoted message said:

years. I expect this is the same everywhere around the world. When you

hear or

Quoted message said:

read "anti-american" in a news report or op-ed piece, you really should

think

Quoted message said:

"Bush administration and its policies and actions" because Americans,

American

Quoted message said:

culture, and American business are not disliked in Europe, and I think

that is

Quoted message said:

the same everywhere (with the exception of fundamentalist Muslim clerics

and

Quoted message said:

their archons).

If you want to eliminate this anti-american sentiment, the first step is

to

Quoted message said:

elect a new broom in the whitehouse. Vote for Wesley Clark.

Actually Wesley Cark would be just fine. He's a swimmer. I appreciate your comments regarding
anit-american sentiment. Some of my original comments were that opinions, be they political or not,
are just as diversified in Europe as here in the U.S. My comments may certainly seem too broad if
they do not apply to where you happen to be from. But overall I understand that sentiments are
greatly varied. And plenty of anti-Busch sentiment is as well, broadly applied. Remember, almost
half the voting population voted for him.

Rick Swanger

I've kept out of this political argument so far, and will do so after this, but i just wanted to say
that Anti-Americanism, doesn't just stem from the Gulf-saga of the last 15 years, even before that
it was there.

Not the the hate of Americans, rather the rolling of the eyes, as the the chubby american tourist,
once again with his hawaiian shirt and camera, grossly mispronounces another regional english word,
announces it to be disappointing compared to "the one we have at home", complains about the food and
basks in the glory of his blatant lack of sophistication 😉

However, as Eddie Izzard said, when tackling the problems faced by american citizens due to your
foreign policy, "Just say you're Canadian"...

"Totalswimm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Second, about the diversity of the business community, I suppose I'm still

a

Quoted message said:

bit surprised when I meet or read about a high level business person whose politics are as
progressive (or liberal if you prefer) as mine, but I have

the

Quoted message said:

greatest admiration for those businesses who:
(a) are fundamentally motivated by a passion for doing something well -- whatever you might say
about Starbucks, they became tastemakers because

Howard

Quoted message said:

Schultz really cared about coffee that was full-flavored and prepared with great care. (I'm not a
coffee drinker myself, by the way.)
b) view business and profit as a means of advancing social equity - Ben & Jerry's, Newman's Own,
Stonyfield, The Body Shop are examples. I hope TI

will

Quoted message said:

soon have the means to make quality swimming instruction available on a

pro

Quoted message said:

bono basis in resource-deprived areas here and elsewhere

And I am equally repelled by businesses that value profit, executive compensation and/or
shareholder return over all other outcomes, often with

no

Quoted message said:

regard for how their sheer greed affects other stakeholders. The mutual

fund

Quoted message said:

scandal, Enron, HealthSouth, etc. TI videos and books will never be sold

in

Quoted message said:

Walmart, nor will I ever shop in one because I'm repelled by how they

exploit

Quoted message said:

their employees and take extreme measures to keep from paying them a

living

Quoted message said:

wage.Such examples of business greed tar all businesses by extension.

Maybe with a few caveats, I can't imagine an honest staunch conservative disagreeing with the
points you just made (except possibly Walmart). A lot of us probably fall within the invisible
third party realm that's situated pretty much in the middle. My favorite topic with regarding
the quasi third party is the subject of a single conservative-liberal company. Here's a company
that strives to be smart and starts with proven conservative and honest concentration. The
president doesn't pull in millions or anything close to it. Hefty wages amongst employees
abound, while benefits are incredible and would even put a Scandinavian to shame. (that's an
exaggeration) Is there enough incentive here to consistently attract people who "think big"?
"Fundamentally motivated by passion for doing something well" I agree, is the operative phrase
here, but we should not confuse with being solely conservative or liberal. Nor is overt greed
mutually exclusive to either. Interesting the comments you heard in Australia "if you weren't
American, TI would never have become a Global thing" along with "confident and think bigger than
people in other cultures." Personally, I don't completely agree. (definitely not just an
American phenomenon, although I've also heard the same comments) However, those comments could
be considered a ringing endorsement to honest conservative, business focal points that are
successful world wide. A few books such as "Carnage and Culture" and "Guns, Germs and Steel"
have explored the predisposition of ingenuity within cultures based on their concepts of
"inventiveness, adaptation and citizenship." It seems the Euros provide one of the most shining
examples of ingenuity throughout history.

Rick Swanger

"diablo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Just say you're Canadian"...

Speak for yourself, idiot. I'm proud to be an American. And even prouder to be a conservative and
strong supporter of our distinguished President, George W. Bush.

diablo said:

I've kept out of this political argument so far, and will do so after this, but i just wanted to
say that Anti-Americanism, doesn't just stem from the Gulf-saga of the last 15 years, even before
that it was there.

Not the the hate of Americans, rather the rolling of the eyes, as the the chubby american tourist,
once again with his hawaiian shirt and camera, grossly mispronounces another regional english
word, announces it to be disappointing compared to "the one we have at home", complains about the
food and basks in the glory of his blatant lack of sophistication 😉

That's not anti-american, though. That's just the jaded attitude that comes from witnessing the bad
manners of tourists so often. They roll their eyes at other tourists just as often, maybe for
different reasons, but it isn't anti-american, unless you mean that bad manners and slovinly
behavior are American and ought to be accepted as American norms. I think they are not.

Quoted message said:

However, as Eddie Izzard said, when tackling the problems faced by american citizens due to your
foreign policy, "Just say you're Canadian"...

I've known a few people who did this, and it apparently does work on a superficial level, but as I
said, Americans don't really have any difficulty living and working in Europe, unless they get
homesick or are unable to absorb the culture shock, which is a problem for a lot of people.

martin