Forgive me I don't quite understand. Do better than Americans? Do you mean if the UK was in the EU proper, we Brits doing better than Americans? If so, Im not

Forgive me I don't quite understand. Do better than Americans? Do you mean if the UK was in the EU proper, we Brits doing better than Americans? If so, Im not really referring to the NSA thing, rather our social economic position in general. As for spying, and what not, no. In many ways we are worse off, with less ability to do much about it. Yes, we in the UK have more CCTV than any other country on the planet. Yes we just "got used to it", apparently. No, we don't have a constitution to protect us, but even then it seems the US gov can still circumvent the constitution as and then it sees fit. If you mean a choice between being in the EU proper and being a 51st state, then I think it ridiculous to even think about being a 51st state. If nothing else, geography and culture. Despite the shared language, we actually have less in common with Americans than the French, but confuse similarity with a shared language. The comment was intended to be flippant. The idea of American courts fills me with dread. I would genuinely, hand on heart, rather kill myself than face the US idea of justice. Which is one of the reasons I oppose our amusing one sided extradition treaty where the US only has to accuse, no evidence required. But if we want an American for trial, we have to provide evidence, and go through much more due process. We signed up in good faith for an equal deal, we ratified it, the US ignored it. Because we Brits are spineless suckups, we keep to our side of the deal, with out any complaint. This is why you might see me say things like our gov will happily betray its own people to the US. Despite our problems, I'd rather have our problems, and EU problems, than US ones any day of the week. I would never ever want to be American or governed by Americans. Simply, US culture is not something I either understand or identify with once you get below the surface. No problem with America existing as it stands, and if that is how Americans want to be, then I completely support that, in the same was I support people who want to have, say, an Islamic government. Its their right to choose. Also, always remember our histories. We, US, UK, and that hypothetical Islamic country, all have different histories and reasons for being where we are. We are different. Equally valid, but different. And as the French say, vive la différence. I really hope that answers your question. If I have missed you point entirely, after all that, then I'm going to cry under my desk!!!!