UnderseaLcpl, that was a great post, really, it's so nice to read something of that quality!
Yes, I don't know how I could forget that part about schools in Sweden. Just to summon it up: Here you can search to any highschool you want (some restrictions depending on distance). The limit to where you can get in is not based upon the size of your wallet, but rather the size of your brain. To put it more properly: The better grades, the better school. Same goes for university ofcourse.
I find this particular system great, since it means that people are educated amongst others that share their aprox. abilities. Some schools are better than others ofcourse.
But I wouldn't say that I'd like to see the U.S try this, yet, because you just can't change things overnight. You can keep your political system, it's really none of my business. But it might be good to know that other democratic countries work well using socialism. It doesn't always lead to communism. The people of Sweden has alot to say about when it comes to politics. It was a public vote about changing the currency from Krona to Euro, and the (majority of the) swedish people said no, and we still have our old currency.
I would just like to throw in my biggest irritation of the political system of the U.S: The ability for a man/woman to become president even if the majority of the american people voted for "the other guy"...
Might as well add that Sweden hasn't been in a war (officially) since 1814. We gave Norway it's independence 1905, without bloodshed. The swedish government has the people's security as a top priority during crisis, as any good gov. should have. (And have).