I left the United States of America for good in 2004. There were many reasons for this. I felt betrayed after Howard Deans loss in the primary and I felt disillusionment when Bush won his second term. I can remember clearly hearing Bush accept his second term speaking of "political capital" and it drove me to think seriously of leaving as many of the bumper stickers at the time said "America: Love it or leave it".
And I did. I left, not because I didn't love my country which (growing up in liberal Massachusetts) I loved and questioned her when I felt she made mistakes. I left because it was a new horizon and a new beginning for a searching soul. A new chance to see what the world had to offer.
After spending the last 4 plus years in Japan I have felt something recently which I never thought I would feel for my former homeland.
I feel pity, which is a strange revelation. I was raised singing the Pledge of Allegiance believing we were the greatest country on the face of the Earth. We were that shining light which Reagan spoke of so eloquently, in my minds eye.
But after seeing the recent debate about health care in America (and following it closely as I do) I have begun to wonder why it is that Americans can not have the same level of basic care I have here in Asia guaranteed as a basic human right as I do.
And I thought about the millions of Americans who must suffer while the folks in Washington debate this issue, hoping to get the table scraps thrown their way.
You know today there was a major election in my home country of Japan. This was held between the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), two incredibly liberal parties (by the US standard) fighting for control of the second largest economy in the world.
As a huge update the Democratic Party of Japan won and won hugely. They ran on providing ALL families with a $200/month subsidy to all families (not considering income) for children born. This will be a huge boon to a shrinking population and a huge boon to families trying to get by.
Seeing this debate between two liberal parties here trying to "out liberal" each other made me feel a deep sympathy for my fellow Americans.
You see trying to even debate the National Health Service would be a sure path to political death here. You wouldnt even get enough signatures to qualify as a party.
Yet, back home you are all fighting for a basic right here provided by my government.
And I feel sorry for you, and I never thought I would have that feeling for my fellow Americans.
I hope and pray you win, and I still will donate to the cause. But until you do I will always feel a bit of guilt as I am treated when I walk into my government provided health clinic while I know my fellow Americans are going bankrupt just trying to get basic care.