I really appreciate your reply, and with a lack of vitriol.

I'm curious because people constantly berate the states. And I think there's plenty to admire and love about this place.

My issue is I think people have a fundamentals misunderstanding of history and where their lives have managed to be plopped into on the time scale

Sure, there are things left to be desired. But to flat out say the US is this horrible, monolithic entity is just ... Fucking moronic AT BEST.