What we miss about the United States

In one word, EVERYTHING. If you have never "lived" (not visited but lived) outside the United States you can not imagine how others live. We have so much in the United States we often assume others have it too or something close to it. For those who have fallen for anti-capitalist rhetoric and have probably never lived outside the U.S. let me tell you what capitalism does. Capitalism provides opportunity and options. Opportunity abounds in the U.S. Opportunity to accomplish whatever dreams you have. Opportunity to be what you want to be and live the kind of life you chose. Now don't get me wrong opportunity does not mean equal outcome. It just means that we all have equal opportunity to make the most of our lives. Options. This one effects us the most here. Do you know why you can get fruit year round at Costco? You have probably never thought about it because you have the option every day to purchase anything you want to. But here options are limited. With that said I must say there are more options this time around then when we lived here before, but still, nothing like in the U.S. If fruit is out of season it is not available, end of story. Costco has fresh strawberries year round because they import them for you from somewhere and you probably didn't even think about how amazing and great that is. But trust me, I think about it every week when I go to the store. Another example of options is snack food. I thought I had struck the jackpot last week when I found beef jerky at Mega Depot; an item that can be purchased at any convenience store in the states. I fought tooth and nail to purchase as much as possible because it is scarce. Not because there is not enough beef jerky in the world but because it's just not here; it's not an option. Malcolm says we live in a constant state of hunger. There are only so many options of snacks and foods. After awhile eating becomes a burden because you are eating the same things day after day and you have to think so hard about it. I know what you are thinking, "why don't you just make food and snacks." Yes, that sounds so simple to you who have a Walmart, Trader Joes or countless other grocers within a 50 mile radius. A few weeks ago I wanted to make cake balls. Simple enough recipe. My choices of cake mixes were chocolate or yellow and sometimes white. Frosting choices were the same. Now all I needed was dipping chocolate. One trip to Michael's, JoAnn's, Walmart etc in the States and I could have bought all the chocolate I wanted. After checking all three grocery stores in my area, one specialty cooking store and driving around for two days I finally found bags of dipping chocolate for $8.50 a bag and the only flavor they carried was dark chocolate. The moral of this rant is defend the free market system at all costs because you have no idea the impact until it's too late. Sometimes I see photos from home on friends blogs or facebook and I just want to cry. The United States is a miracle. Capitalism is a miracle; it is the engine of opportunity and options. I see pictures of kids playing organized sports, running around neighborhoods having adventures, driving and dating, shopping, creating, going to plays, ice skating rinks and a thousand other options to spend their free time. These are the fruits of freedom. Don't give them away. Don't vote them away thinking that government can give you more opportunity and options than capitalism. What government gives is scarcity and rationing. Take it from one who knows first hand the reality of scarcity. If you don't believe me I encourage you to move out of the United States and live where governments empty promises are in force. Then if you still hate capitalism you can return and vote against it but bets are you will kiss the ground after de-boarding the plane and never take strawberries in January for granted again.

This is Kalie, Lulu and Lucy making above mentioned cake balls for a young women's activity.