[Kevin]

It's all a matter of perspective.

In a capitalist system, unless businesses exist, none of us will have jobs. Therefore, for us to not be dependant on the government for our existance, business has to be successful. The success of business is also crucial to many of our seniors' retirement. So, yes, a case can be made that it is the government's responsibility to create an environment in which businesses can succeed.

The tax cuts were given to every American. In fact, the largest percentage cuts were given to the lower income folks. Did you know that the top 1% of wage earners pay more than 50% of the total income tax collected? So yes, even a small reduction for them is always going to have a great effect on tax revenues. In my opinion, it's fair. If you make that much, you did something to get yourself there in most cases. I hope to be in that tax bracket. If by the time I'm making that much money, I really hope we don't have a confiscatory/socialist tax program like Canada. I hear the upper income earners are really taken to the cleaners up there.

I don't think you have to worry about anti-abortion people. In some cases, such as partial-birth abortion, I'm with 'em. If the Supreme Court were ever to overturn Roe v. Wade, it'd just be a matter for the states to decide. Roe v. Wade is considered by many to be unconstitutional -- I tend to agree.

Your right though, checks and balances are being ignored. The judicial and executive branches are running roughshod over spineless legislators. I don't know if the founding fathers ever envisioned such an divided and inactive legislature. The judicial branch is filled with activist judges that make new law when they are "interpreting" old law. We have executive regulatory branches that are able to create, enforce and interpret law (like the FCC, EPA, etc).

As for the environment, there are still many people out there that don't really think that humans have a lot to do with global warming. The eruption of one volcano creates more pollution than humans would in YEARS. As for what we're doing to our water, I agree, that is a resource we need to be a better steward of.

How frenchman feel about me is the least of my concerns. I'm not embarassed at all to be an American. I'm proud. These folks around the world that many assert "Hate us" are in my opinion foolish and afraid of anyone whose culture and values don't mirror their own. Europe is in a confused place right now. They're not sure what to do. They are attempting to be a superpower, but I don't think that level of cooperation will ever exist among the EU so as to make them behave as one entity. Their stance on terrorism is almost comical considering their history. Appeasement has always worked so well for them.