Originally Posted by damorgan
That's a fascinating statement. As a non-American, I find what is going on at your airports completely American. Not so much the things being done (much of which applies elsewhere in the world) but certaily the way it is done.
I'll articulate briefly. Problem perceived; immense machinery deployed; strict adherence to nth degree of letter of the law; total lack of subtlety.
Sorry if that sounds a bit caustic, but do you see the point that I make? There are analagies elsewhere.
I definitely see your point.
Unfortunately, most other Americans do not travel abroad so they are just fine with the global definition of "American".
However, by the domestic definition of "American", the crap going on in our airports and elsewhere in the US is definitely akin more to the kind of nonsense one would expect to find in North Korea or in the former nation of East Germany.