[jimrockford]

I don't care what anyone says, things are better now than they've ever been. Life is so much easier than it was 100 years ago. Hell, easier than it was 30 years ago. The technical advances made over the last 20 years have transformed life in America and the world. We're safer, healthier, and better informed. We have far more entertainment options than were available just 10 years ago.

But, gas is more expensive! So what? We spend much less on food and other products than previous generations did when gas was cheap. That offsets the cost and evens out in the long run.

But, our economy is being ruined by war! Sure, war is expensive. It always has been. Really, though, how has that affected you? During World War II, rationing affected everybody. Today, even while fighting two wars I can pump as much gas as I want, buy all the meat and sugar I can fit in my SUV, and line my closet with unneeded shoes. And that doesn't even touch on the shockingly low death toll in Iraq. A little over 4000 deaths in 5 years of fighting? Compare that with 400,000 deaths in World War II in a shorter time span.

I could keep going but I won't. I love this country and I'm proud to call it home. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.