Reading back my Britain vs America post, I can see now that really what drives this is the fear of change.

In a big country, geographically, and by population, change is something you don’t want. It is too easy to get lost, to be left behind.

It explains a lot of the things that have been said and done during the recent US Presidential Election. People are afraid, either if the President was re-elected, or if Romney got in, that things would change.

Generally even in the less wealthy areas, among the poorer people, change is undesirable. It’s easy for the those not on benefits to see those that are, and demonize them, even if they are only marginally better off, they are afraid that the burden on the government by those on benefits will pull them down too. Those that are on benefits, see those that are not as those out to get them and take from them the only things they have. And so it goes, up the chain. The rich are fighting the tax reforms and the Presidents stated objective of “raising taxes for the rich” not because they need the money, but because they too fear change.

Everyone, in some way, is comfortable. When I went to look for a graphic to illustrate this post, I found HUGH MACLEOD @gapingvoid.com cartoon, which says it all really. America has got to learn to change, because change is inevitable.