Americans still have it better than most people.

I know these are troubled financial times, with Americans losing houses and jobs right and left, and those more fortunate seeing their investments dwindle. No one wants to spend the little they have left, and the retailers are suffering: stores, even big national ones, are going out of business almost every day. It's belt-tightening time, assuming you still own a belt.

But the truth is that we live in the most prosperous nation on earth, and there are bargains not just to be had but that are built into our system. No, we don't offer universal health care -- sorry about that (I'd vote for it any day) -- but we do have non-profit clinics where you can take your kids to be vaccinated and emergency rooms where anyone can be treated for any illness. Granted, you might be billed later, but if you don't have the money to pay, no one is likely to track you down and lock you up. The hospitals just eat the expense.

That's not what I'm talking about. We do lag behind other countries that way. (As I've said before, even Cuba gives its people free health care.) No, I'm talking about the things we Americans take for granted.

Here's a sampling:

1. Postage. We pay 44 cents to mail a letter to anyone anywhere in our country. That may be cheaper than a phone call. I'm not current on the latest changes, but I'm thinking it's something like 28 cents to mail a post card.

2. Waste removal. Every three months or so, I get a bill for less than $100 for hauling away all my garbage weekly. There are countries in the world where your waste material is your own problem. No service? Dump it in the street. Or the river that runs through town.

3. Groceries. We have access, year-round, to fresh fruits and meats and veggies from around the world. And our supermarkets brim with two-for-one deals and other discounts. Granted, you could get fresher produce at a market in Paris, but you would pay more -- and you would have to go there every day to find what you want. Our grocery stores are amazing in their variety and pricing. Have you ever shopped for food in London? Good luck.

4. Lodging. We Americans are truly spoiled when it comes to where to spend the night, whether we're on business or vacation. Any Holiday Inn in any city in America puts to shame what you can find almost anywhere else: a big bed (or two), clean floors, an ice machine, room service, and maybe an attached restaurant. Plus lots of lamps and lots of pillows. Have you ever stayed in a hotel in Paris? The rooms are the size of a Holiday Inn bathroom. I had to ask for an extra pillow -- twice -- before I got one.

5. Parks. No matter how poor you may be, how out-of-work, you can always find, in almost any city, a place you can take your kids -- or just yourself -- to stroll around, to lounge (maybe to sleep, if you have to), to just relax. And all for free. Taxes pay for it. The national parks charge a fee, but it's about $30 a year. Have you ever seen the Rockies? Yosemite? Yellowstone? Pay a camping fee and sleep in your min-van.

6. Gas. We complain about what gas costs, but the Europeans have been paying many times what we pay for years. That's why they have all those mini-cars. We have a long way to go before we match what is paid in other parts of the world (except the big oil-producing countries, where gas is almost free).

7. Roads. We take for granted that every road or highway we travel will be well-maintained: smooth and free of cracks/bumps. And that we can travel from coast to coast -- or north to south and vice versa -- with no troublesome detours through small towns, replete with stop lights, etc. Well, that started with President Ike, who, in the 1950s, saw the need for a highway that let the military transport its equipment cross-country, in an emergency, with no delays. Not many other countries enjoy this fast-transit system for the average driver. Have you ever driven a car in another country? Try Mexico. Tell me you want to do that again.

8. Friendliness. I don't think any country can out-do us on hospitality. We welcome everyone. When you check into a hotel/motel or sit down at a restaurant, you're almost never asked if you belong there. We all belong there. I know there have been some episodes at particular chains, but I suspect that has more to do with local ignorants than it does with the company policy. In America, anyone is welcome to sit down at any restaurant and order any meal. Do you think that policy applies in other parts of the world. Try being Jewish and travelling. Try even looking Islamic and see if it works. In America, all you have to do is lay your money down, and we're ready to serve you.

9. Opportunity. We just elected a black -- okay, a half-black -- President. There are many countries where this couldn't have happened. If you're black or Hispanic or Asian in America, you can not only open your business but also run for office. America remains the main place you can come and be who you want to be. We've had so many ethnicities come through our ports that we're very nearly color-blind. If you have some food we want to eat, or some product we want to get from overseas, or some new idea we hadn't thought of before, we welcome you. Despite what it says on the Statue of Liberty, though, we don't want every other country's refuse. We want people who are looking for a new life and who can make us an even better country. Don't be like Castro, trying to send all his criminals this way. Send us solid citizens, even if they've been repressed in their own country. We want the best you have to offer.

10. Privacy. This is something no one talks about, but it's possible in America because we're so big. If you want to just be by yourself -- legally, not avoiding the law -- you can move up to Montana and no one will ever see you again. But you have to promise not to cause any trouble, as the Uni-Bomber did when he moved up there. If you're willing to live by yourself, in the wilds, America can accommodate you. Mind your own business, and be a good citizen. I can guarantee you'll be left alone. Hey, take that time to write that next Great American Novel!

I'm sure you can think of other reasons we're lucky to be Americans. These ten are only a start.

But even those of us who are suffering the after-effects of the financial meltdown can appreciate the benefits we enjoy as Americans, no? Lots of free things to do. Lots of scenery to enjoy. Lots of cheap things to buy: Hey, don't forget The Dollar Store. I buy all my reading glasses there. A dollar a pair vs. ten dollars or more (much more) at any other store. And, of course, we have that many-branched national garage sale called Goodwill (and all the other thrift stores). If you don't insist on name brands for everything you buy, you can live quite cheaply in America.

So I say long live the American system of capitalism! Yes, it needs some tweaking -- even, in some areas, a major overhaul -- but I'm still behind it, even as it flounders.