“It may be a reflection on human nature,” Madison wrote in a famous passage in FederalistNo. 51 describing the checks in the Constitution, “that such devicesshould be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what isgovernment itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were togovern men, neither external nor internal controls on government wouldbe necessary.”
The Constitution’s negative character reflected its basic goal: toprotect people in their liberty. In starkcontrast, Europeanconstitutions, even prior to World War II, established positive rightsto government benefits. As Mary Ann Glendon notes, these differences“are legal manifestations of divergent, and deeply rooted, culturalattitudes toward the state and its functions.”
This framework of freedom made possible the flourishing of the greatest commercial republic in history.

In a telling coincidence, the publication of Adam Smith’s world-changing free-market classic, The Wealth of Nations,coincided with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Many of theFounders read the book. Without the medieval encumbrances and thepowerful, entrenched special interests that plagued other countries,the United States could make Smith’s ideas the basis of its economicdispensation. Gordon writes, “The United States has consistently comecloser to the Smithian ideal over a longer period of time than anyother major nation.”
In the latitude provided by this relatively light-handedgov*ernment, a commerce-loving, striving, and endlessly inventivepeople hustled its way to become the greatest economic power the worldhas ever known.
In America, there really hasn’t been a disaffected proletariat — because the proletariat has gotten rich.

These are just a few paragraphs from this wonderful article on American Exceptionalism.
Here is the rest
********tinyurl.com/ybpzkhp
(warning: for intelligent users only).

Маша, сорри - я влезла..we posted at the same time..:-D (v)
great article (Y) too bad people can't get it..*-)

They all can get it physically by opening the URL.
But not all of them can get it :-| (H)

"But not all of them can get it"
- it would be at least polite not to consider people who differ in opinions and platforms as total idiots.

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Happy New Year to all! Virtual hugs!

People who differ in opinions and platforms


You mean people who want change this country?

They are may not be idiots. Just stupid.
But those who act on it - are pure evil enemies and should be ostracized.

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Global Cooling for the next 30 years!!! - Does not expire!!!

"They are may not be idiots. Just stupid."
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- I hope moderators will respond to this appropriately.

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Happy New Year to all! Virtual hugs!

Они будут строить в моей стране коммунизм , а я буду посыпать голову пеплом из-за политкорректности!
Where is John Gault!
Yeah! I am reading Atlas Shrugged and living it...

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Global Cooling for the next 30 years!!! - Does not expire!!!

Julia, I think you better take a closer look in a group where you are a moderator :-) ..does this sound familiar огромное количество самовлюблённых идиотов?? when speaking about the people living in TX who changed the school curriculum ... and you laughed to it..
there is also tons of other insults of those you don't agree with..how is this for a topic - For the love of Glenn Beck and other right-wing nuts?? ;-)