"Richard, I don't understand what motivates you to open threads which comment on some disagreeable fact or other about the USA. I don't understand your reasons for opening this one in particular. It deals with a topic which has been discussed over and over again, ad nauseam, ad infitum, with the same points made endlessly by the same people."

Will - I couldn't agree more. The assumed superiority of a small number of English posters here has always amused me. Life must be good indeed if one has to look at foreign countries for problems to solve. The sun has set on the British Empire indeed.

Thanks for the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and especially the Who however. That's one export we love. The superior attitude - not so much.