This is the difference, I think. So many non-American people don’t understand the particular way our political things are screwy, and when they make blanket pronouncements about it, it’s sort of a different conversation than when an American does.

Several times I’ve discovered the person I’m arguing with isn’t an idiot or a right-wing nutjob, they just don’t know the peculiarities of American politics, because they’re not American. Like how unlimited money is allowed to pour into campaigns and are essentially bribes. Or the revolving-door lobbying that happens. Stuff like that.

Idiots and right-wing nutjobs abound here so it’s always a little disconcerting to have to say, “Oh. Oh, sorry, I thought you were a voter and that’s why I cared so much that you had all the information. No, if you’re not American, we can just agree [whatever the thing is] is [stupid] and leave it at that”