I watch CNN's coverage of the inauguration yesterday and almost blew a gasket. All those sill self congratulatory platitudes about democracy - the 'greatest' democracy even - and those statements about a peaceful transition of power.....

OK. I lived in the US for over 15-years. I have a US passport and I pay the IRS every year. I experienced American democracy first hand. Being European though I can tell you I am thankful that I was not born in America and can compare and contrast America with other countries.

Let's revisit those CNN statements just a little shall we....

Peaceful transition of power... is there some other way then??? I mean, most all European countries have had peaceful transitions of power for not decades but 2 centuries or longer. Hell, even here in the Czech Republic - a former member of the Soviet Communist block, peaceful transition of power happens routinely every 4 years or sooner and no one bats an eyelid nor feels the need to comment - oh look - another election, change of government and no blood on the streets - my oh my - what a bloody miracle!

Greatest democracy on earth? Really? Try burning an American flag in any major US city as a form of protest and see just how long your civil and democratic rights hold up. More likely if not shot to death by some over zealous, over patriotic American citizen you'll be beaten to pulp and dragged by your hair off to the local Pen. Even here I can burn the Czech flag, shout nasty things about the Czech President and generally make an ass of myself and passers by look in sympathy at my drunkeness and/or mid life crisis issues.

I could go on and on about this. How the US has the greatest of extremes between rich and poor, how rascist it can be, how big business really controls Washington through lobbying, how money is used to influence supposed democratic elections (illegal in most other democracies) and much much more.

We like the US generally. We are open to US leadership at times. We don't mind American tourists who seem to think everything is quaint and pretty here. But we also look at your democracy understanding that it is immature, lacks confidence and is overly patriotic. We know that when CNN or some American politician makes these silly statements they are trying to convince themselves and their fellow Americans that it is true. It isn't.

In the UK we don't need a constitution and reams of judges to interpret it. We don't argue about whether burning the national flag should be an allowed act of dissent. Why? Because as a mature democracy we have a historical tradition of free speech, democracy and we have the confidence born of hundreds of years of status quo to know that something that has always been so doesn't need to be written down as law. It is just that way. It is confidence in our ability to be free, act freely and speak freely. Something America can only grow in to.

And, if I want to burn the flag or hurl abuse at the Queen or Prime Minister I can. It is my right as a citizen.

If you are American and ever visit London drop by Hyde Park. There we have a tradition of free speech and you can stop and listen to all types and persuasions rant on their soap boxes - yes and burn flags if they so desire....