Right there with you. Oh, right, we're not part of America, we're the crazy socialist lefties. Nevermind that northeasterners are descended from the tough m'f'ers who did the heavy lifting to found this country. The problem is that some parts of America (apparently, those "American" parts) no longer value education, intellect, discourse or reason--characteristics those farmers and merchants you refer to held dear. Ack...I'm ranting.