*sigh*
Though I've only skimmed the majority of this thread, I feel a bit disheartened by the whole thing. Since when did it become cool to bash others for their beliefs? I do realize many people have made sensible debate, but some of the posts are just brazen hate-spewing filth.
I am an American. A very proud American. There are many pitfalls to my country, and there are many beautiful things that no other place in the world could offer (Go ahead. Tell me you have something like the Grand Canyon!). My constitution allows me the freedom from any one religion. I have the freedom of speech, which many people do not fully understand the beauty of. I am afforded an incredible judicial system - a system that has been adopted by many other governments around the world.
Same sex marriage may not be legal in all states, but my friends have the freedom to express their love. And should they be attacked by bigoted individuals, my laws PROTECT my friends from harm.
My constitution affords me the right to bear arms! A right I excercise daily by carrying a concealed weapon, which I am permitted to do via law and license.
One point of contention I have with DYKWIA (there are many, but I won't go there) is his assumption that if you don't have some form of health care, that you must be either lazy or irresponsible or without a job. It is unfortunate that this is his perspective, because I am a person caught in the middle. I am quite successful, have a thriving freelance business, yet I do not have health insurance. This is NOT of my choosing, and I do have MANY qualms with the US healthcare system, but it is NOT a bad system. The INSURANCE system is the one that needs an overhaul. I can not get insurance independently because of my extensive health history (I have been blacklisted from every legitimate insurance company). I don't qualify for state OR federal assistance because I make too much money. I DON'T, however, make enough to "put away for a rainy day", because my rainy days include frequent hospital visits for my many ailments. I am one of the hundreds of thousands of people that fall through the cracks in the US healthcare system, and nobody cares about us. We just get lumped in with the "lazy, unemployed" type of people.
Not all Americans are ill-informed, racist, bigoted or brazen. Sure, I carry a gun, but that doesn't make me a gin-swigging, racist redneck with no clue of international culture. I see both sides of the fence, and I appreciate the diversity my country allows. Are there bad people here? Sure. But there are bad people everywhere! We're a collection of 50 independent states (edit: 50 states, and many popular territories), and I guarantee you the people you find here in Florida are ENTIRELY different than the people you find in Alabama, even though we share a border!
America is a great country. The UK is a great union. Every place has its pitfalls, but it feels like to many people are focusing on old stereotypes that simply don't exist here anymore.