No matter where in Europe you go you will find more intellectual life than in most of the US these day, sadly. European kids may be gaining weight due to overconsumption of TV and McDonalds hamburgers but most adults still think for themselves. Polls conducted here show that, asked to choose between Obama and Romney, about 75% go for Obama. No contest. I decamped for Europe a couple of years after Nixon's election and every time I think about returning to the US, another Republican is "elected" president, and I am happy to stay where I am.