We are lucky in so many ways

I realize there are alot of problems in the US and many things we don't agree on. The war, healthcare, hurricane victims and that at times it can seem overwhelming.

However? We have come a long way and many other countries would love to be where we are. Yes, the ever famous life is always greener on the other side of the septic tank.....

I recommend the full Washington Post article linked above, but some excerpts:

For Dadas Alisov, a candidate in Azerbaijan's upcoming parliamentary elections, most voter meetings begin with several tense minutes of pure rage. He listens as old men hammer him with questions about their future and whether they will ever see their homes again.

In one campaign meeting, he told a small crowd of men not to give their identity cards to anyone in the days before the election. Collecting these cards, which are necessary to vote, he explained, is a common technique by local authorities to control the results.

Although the government opened up the registration process, it has also told candidates to post their campaign materials only on officially sanctioned poster boards. With dozens of candidates running in some districts, there's not room for everyone's literature.

"I'm sorry," he began, quietly. "Please don't think that I'm trying to teach you. I am a refugee myself." He went on to tell them that the United States won't come to fix their problems, that Azerbaijan must work to build support for its position in Europe, and that the only way out of their poverty is education.

He promised little and, in the end, he left with pledges of support. But later he said that these are often just a form of politeness among people who are desperate for anyone to listen to them.