I completely share your views, Barklessdog, and can relate to them very much. However, there seem to be many Americans who most likely aren't going to agree. The part about the erosion of freedom of speech here is probably what bothers me the most. I've even had people say that I was unpatriotic because I am critical of the American health care system. I don't know what can be done about this lack of openness we now have here. As far as I can see, freedom of speech is rapidly becoming a farce in the U.S. I don't know how much of this is related to 9/11, but in the U.S. there now seems to be such unnecessary tension and hostility in many places. People don't even know how to relax anymore. What a contrast Ireland and Holland were. Furthermore, people seemed to be engaged in the art of conversation in both of those places, something which seems to be a lost art here.