Maybe it is elitism, where the guys already on top somehow have more rights. Because welfare would again be that the little people get something because they have not enough (though I do not know if Celine Dione is on top of anything).

And It sucks you have to pay that much for renting a space even if you do not make music. Here in Germany, you pay for playing music in a business: if you own a little shop that is open 5 hours a day 5 days a week and plays some soft music for the clients you pay as much as a club playing loud dance music 24 hours a day. Luckily it is not that much.

I'm sorry but this is the exact opposite of Socialism. In socialism the more earning guys would get a smaller percentage than the guys who earn less. I think you mean this is totally capitalist.

Or Heineken for the Netherlands

I think you mean Marxism of the Leninistic Flavor did not work - according to Marx you need an Industrialized society before communism and a whole bunch of extra conditions before it gets going. In short none of the things Russia was. and then you had this Stalin guy... And then again, that is communism, not socialism. Socialism is an important force in European politics. And Europe did not start this crisis...

The freedom of your country is forcing the world stand by and watch your country commit war crimes. Taking action against global warming (or even mentioning it) seems to be problematic in the US. Same goes for simple things like handing out condoms to help stop aids. Mention the word socialism and the whole amercian system throws a tantrum - which totally blows my mind since socialism is well respected political movement in Europe that plays a part on government level. Somehow that seems to be the price of the Freedom you mention.