"You know the Germans make good stuff."

I'm currently in Heidelberg, Germany studying on an exchange program through my university, hoping to improve on my German while I'm over here, meet some new friends, travel around, etc.  However, I couldn't help but think about the political turmoil that's happening back home, as well as the recurring thoughts of conservatives in America calling Europe a "socialist shithole" where you have to wait in long lines, and a place where you're not truly happy, because after all, the Muslims are running over Europe apparently, and economic freedom?  They're socialists!  They can't be happy, of course not!

Me in Heidelberg.  Most beautiful place I've ever visited.

However, while they continue to delude members of their own camp with this tiring rhetoric, I would guarantee that 90% of the people that spout this bullshit have never even been to Europe, and I would be willing to gauge that half of them haven't even visited another country outside of the military.  While right-wing politics continues to engage voters with this constant spiel of the downfall of Europe, I thought it would be best to try and dissolve some of these retarded beliefs.

Take for instance, the "socialist health care."  My friend who is studying over here with me recently got pink-eye (and no, no farting on the pillow) and needed bacterial drops.  Less than 10 Euros and maybe a 20 minute wait, voila!  He has his eye-drops, and he's not infecting anything else (well, at least not with his eyes).

Since 2007, Germany's budgets have been hitting SURPLUSES, not DEFICITS.  While the United States and conservatives like to criticize them for being "socialist," why is it then we cannot seem to keep even a balanced budget?

It just pisses me off that we're so blinded by political affiliation that we cannot even be honest with ourselves.  I'm not asking anyone to like a certain political belief or become something they're not, but the intellectual dishonesty and blind attacks on the things you're afraid of have to come to an end.  American politics have always been in the shitter, but it's become dangerously close to madness.  We're too polarized.  Too many conservatives and liberals voicing their opinions, but ignoring the facts.

Thoughts?  Comments?  Let me know in the comment section guys!