And yes, we as Americans have chosen to have a higher standard of living than the rest of the world.  If you want to live in a nanny state where you can sit on your ass and have the gov't take care of you, why don't you relocate to Europe.

The US doesn't 'protect' Europe with the US's military power. That's Hilarious! Truth is the Europeans are Genius. You don't win wars by how much tech or how much money you pour down the drain. You win it through diplomacy and the Europeans know that, Americans seem to be too gun-ho. Fact that most world leaders turn to the European states.

Yes, you need the need to defend but you can be certain Europe can defend itself if it really needed too. It's done it for thousands of years, long before America even existed. Plus America NEEDS to keep Europe sweet as so does the rest of the world, it is today the largest consumer market on Earth. So much so its the Europeans that dictate world trade law.

FACT: The US will not remain the richest country on earth forever, China is already hot on it's heals. BUT there are both good and bad in everything. America the wealthiest nation on earth and yet people die of starvation, because they lack access to medical care. Americans live to work. Its just a difference of opinion.

You ask any European and they will tell you dead straight. Keep your bigger house and your slightly bigger wage, its not materialistic's that drive them so hard. Europeans consider quality of life far more important and you can have one of the best standards of living in the world in Europe.

A European would NEVER accept an employment contract of 9-14 days paid vacation and 40-60 hour weeks. They would laugh in your face and tell you where to go. Its the norm to have at least 30 days paid vacation, bank holidays (England has 8 days a year when companies shut down) plus a 35-40 hour working week. Thats an ok deal with Europe, not great but ok.

Europeans believe it to be the states responsibility to care for the citizens hence national health care – you need treatment you get it. Don't be stupid enough to believe in all the horror stories you hear, that makes NEWS – it doesn't reflect the true position. Their healthcare systems save thousands of lives every year. These are the countries where if you are a family and you are pregnant you can take 6-12months off work to spend quality time as a family and with your new born child. Employers are required to pay you at your full wage for 3mnths then the state pays the rest.

Europeans believe this is a standard human right. So don't cuss each other for this and that, if it works for American it works for us to be so 'You survive by yourself' – great. If it works for the Europeans to work collectively and enjoy their lives then great. ITS JUST A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT PEOPLE FIND IMPORTANT. Europeans DO NOT CARE one single bit about being the most powerful and the richest, they've been there and done that. Its old news. Now its about enjoy their life, spending quality time with their loved ones and THAT is what we should stand back and see as fantastic. On a last note, it is worthwhile seeing if you live in Europe, your life expectancy is higher…. Food for thought.

The points you make sound good, but much like an Obama "feel good speech" it's only half the story. Europe and Canada (a.k.a socialist stressless nanny states) only exist as they are because of the free military protection the US so generously provides. Socialist "free" substandard healthcare is not free, it's paid for by their onerous income and VAT tax rates's. The US picks up the tab again by funding the development of drugs. In return, the US citizen pays far more for those drugs in order to subsidize the socialist countries that can't afford the tab. Redistribution of wealth on a global scale, Obama'a loving this!

Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain (a.k.a. PIGS). These four countries in your socialist utopia will be the catalyst that will drag the EU down to its knees. The first to fall will be the cradle to grave state of Greece. I can confidently predict that the Euro will be trading below the dollar (where it belongs) in less than a year.

Andrea, I suggest you move to one of your European eutopian states before they crash. Oh wait, the US won't let that happen. Obama will make sure we bail them out so he can claim that the US should be more like them.

Isn't everyone familiar with the huge failure that is Social Security and Medicare? (I hope that Andrea didn't vote, but she probably did. Sometimes I think that there should be a minimum requirement of political knowledge before being given a right you don't appreciate anyway, the right to vote).

It is not new news for most, but could be helpful to those who think that large government programs will save us all.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/23/politics/main682545.shtml

Do we want these folks taking more money and power for more programs like health care? I leave that to you, but consider this: If you believe that the evil capitolist's should be stopped, then stop buying their goods, they will eventually fold. On the other hand, if we give all of the power and money to a government, (this is called tyranny), it is impossible, short of armed revolution to take it back. Once we have given up our freedoms and powers to a government, we no longer deserve them anyway I guess. And for those of you who believe that a socialist government with incredible powers will not behave like the "evil" capitolists I suggest a world history class.

This country is unique, there is only one like it on the planet. It also happens to be the most successful. On the other hand, the world is full of tyranny and socialism, why don't socialists go there instead of destroying our system? Your socialism is only a short drive North. Try and get a kidney transplant there, if you need one, you will wind up in Michigan where my mother waited unsuccessfully for 13 years due to the high Canadian attrition. The emergency room will not send a bill, the government just takes it out of your check every week, but a specialist is almost impossible to see. They are few and they are busy. There is no financial benefit to go to school for a specialty, nor is there money in research. If you are waiting for a socialist system to invent something or to cure cancer, don't hold your breath.

At the University I attend, most feel as if Marxism is the key to our salvation. Please compare the EU system to ours, GDP, housing, annual average income all fall way below ours here in the US. So has socialism wiped out homelessness or other social ills it claims to cure?

Barrack Obama has never claimed to be Marxist, but don't actions speak louder than words, or are talking points and bumper stickers more important than factual evidence?

Europe would be a basket case if it were not for the free protection the U.S. has been giving that continent of freeloaders for the past sixty-years plus.

Actually, Europe's socialism is like a giant parasite that can grow only under the full protection of U.S. military might. Without the U.S., Europe could not affort the economic folly that is socialism, right?

The delicious thing about this election is that, whoever wins, this protection will diminish — albeit faster if, God forbid, B. Hussein Obama wins than McCain, but shrink nonetheless.

And besides, how can anyone defend Europe when those countries continue to allow the social cancer that is Islam grow inside of it while at the same time commiting demographic suicide in terms of its native population?

I seem to remember the Reverend touting the Euros' 'more intelligent' society and implying that's what The One is going to deliver, quite recently. The King's post is no strawman.

Consider…

Should King stop driving on our socialized roadways? Should he discontinue visiting our socialized national parks? Should he not participate in a few years, when he and I are eligible, in our socialized Medicare program. Should he refuse to cash that socialized SS check when it comes?

America has long ago agreed to accept some common good programs. In doing so, we have never, ever, considered our economy a socialized one.

And those limited common good programs are not bad for the nation….they are good.

Now in 2008, the richest country ever is deciding that the threshold of the common good should be lifted to include health care for all. This, somehow, is being labeled a bad thing by economic extremists. It isn't. It will make us a better country…a more prosperous country in the long run.

The issue to consider is not GDP or how big your house is….the issue is overall standard of living. America, the richest of all, lags many countries, coming in at 17th overall, when standard of living tests are applied.

Obama and the Democrats are far from socialists….if anything….they are still too beholden to corporate capitalist concerns.

We have a $13 trillion yearly GDP. The largest in the world. That didn't happen because we are falling into some national socialistic trap constructed by closeted communists in the Democratic Party. That's just silly.

Now take that straw man down King….Halloween is over.

As for taxes let's remind us that it was McCain who also once voted against Bush's 2001 tax cuts and voted against his 2003 tax cuts. McCain once said "I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the more fortunate among us at the expense of middle-class Americans who need tax relief." But now to win over conservatives he changed his tune. Purely to get votes.

What has happened under Bush is the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. I personally do not share your views on Europe having spent time visiting different places having relatives living in Europe. Perhaps the rich are not as rich as we but they do not have to worry about health care if they loose their job. There is a certain amount less STRESS and more relaxation, they have vacations of a month off and along with this many Europeans are just happier. Stress is what kills us Americans. This is not just my opinion but it is a opinion shared by many when they rank best places to live. While Capitalism has its benefits because of accelerated economic growth and prosperity a little socialism doesn't hurt and can actually be good for many of us middle class. Our lives can be less stressed. This is somethign we need to learn from the Europenas not fear it.