ceratinly all this over the top pc culture is bound to implode at some time and the ill feeling it causes surely must be recognized by those in power before extremism of the opposite side moves from Victor Meldrew grumblings to actual violence. Where has the common-sense and genuine tolerance of others gone? But Rods2 is sadly mistaken if he thinks that the "freedom of speech" seemingly enshrined in the American constitution has really led to a better society over there. I dont doubt that the USA is not so ridden by such ridiculous "pc" brigades as we are, if thats what Rod means, but a cursory look at the increasingly "big brother" measures of the "war on terrorism" and continued issues around civil rights and the ever widening gap between rich and poor all seem to point out that America perhaps is not so much the land of the "free" nor of the "opportunity" it would like to be seen as.
The PC culture started in America and accelerated during Clinton's time, with his wife, (like Blair's wife) in full support of such policies, but the US supreme court has consistently ruled in favour of freedom of speech over PC correctness. I agree with you the US as a declining Western power has many problems, including mainstream PC correctness like at Christmas they all give "Happy Holidays" cards so as not to offend other religions. Their work place discrimination, sexual harassment rules etc, etc are even more anal than ours when you see some of the law suits brought, not too mention their no fee, no win lawyers culture and the law suits far outstrip anything in this country.
The US has many problems with the current recession highlighting some of them. Clinton scrapping many of the banking regulations, like Brown did, has allowed banks to do many of things that they shouldn't have done and Clinton's policy of MAKING banks lend a percentage of their loans to Ningas sowed the seeds for the current banking and US property crisis.
The US and UK governments have encouraged excessive borrowing and consumption as it makes the GDP growth look good and gives them more tax receipts to waste. When things are going well it is easy to get carried away (and the majority in the US and UK have done this), that it will continue forever and to buy lots of Chinese tat instead of putting money by for that rainy day.
In the US you only get the dole for 99 weeks after that you get nothing. In a prolonged recession like this one, that makes it very, very, tough on on the long term unemployed, but in good times you don't get the problem you have got in this country, where in many cases the long term unemployed are claiming benefits as a lifestyle choice!
The US like all Western societies have got to face the challenge of Asian cheap manufacturing costs and their rapidly increasing education standards and work place skills. Our cost base, tax levels and wages have to drop, and education and work place skills have to rise, but to-date the politicians in all countries have all found it politically easier to keep their heads firmly stuck up their butts on this issue as the electorate aren't going to like the message of falling living standards and cost base (I estimate somewhere between 30 and 50% in the UK) before we are competitive again.
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