George,
Though it might surprise you, the decline of the family in Scandanavia is more pronounced than in the USA. The Illegitimacy rates in Norway, Denmark and Sweden are all over 50% while Iceland's is about 65%. In comparison, America's rate is about 30%, much of that due to the USA's far larger Third World population. True, the traditional family way is in trouble in America. However, the traditional family is almost moribund in Scandanavia.

It is Europeans like Angela Smith who make me angry that we stationed troops in Europe these past 55 years. I am sorry we ever kept our troops there after 1945. America is uninvadable; we did not have to keep troops in Europe to stay free of the Soviet Union. Europe would be RED today if not for America's contribution in the Cold War.

Derek

Red??? Perhaps just a light shade of pink ;-)

Derek. The Americans we all know are the worlds policeman. I have no problem with that. However, that is the choice of the Americans, which in part is due to controlling potential threats to the US. Being in Europe during the cold war brought the Americans to a front line thousands of miles from their own territory. This was the primary concern which would have brought first line devestation to the European civilian population and not that of the Americans.

What threats? Did the USSR ever have the capability of pulling off a Normandy-style landing in the USA? Could the Soviet Navy ever have blockaded the USA? All no answers. The Americans provided the backbone of Europe's defense for fifty years and earned only the scorn and hatred of the ungrateful European peoples for doing so. So be it. But mark my word- isolationism in foreign affairs (but not of course in travel) is on the rise in America and is intensifying since the collapse of the Soviet system.

Jen has a good solution to the "unfair" situation. I also take unpaid time off to get an extra couple of weeks to travel each year. I also have changed jobs more than average to obtain the perks that I have wanted. I don't expect someone else to pay for my choices. The person who said that the middle class would pay is absolutely right. Derek also has a good point My German relatives on my '85 visit were moaning about the missile silos on their mountain- but later didn't want the "policemen" to leave.

Derek,
Nobody is ungrateful. I appreciate all the Americans do , as I do the French, Canadians ect.
America, with regard to recent wars is uninvadable partly due to its relative geographical isolation from the European continent and the hot spots here.
Wherever I have met Americans I have always found them so welcoming and friendly, both here in Europe and in the States I am sorry therefore that you feel the need to personalise the discussion it doesn't really do you justice.
There are many thousands of British troops stationed in Europe doing an equally important job and working alongside their German and American counterparts, and working well together.