I have my computer and time now, so I can respond more clearly.

In regards to your final point, you can compare transportation costs to the extent that using it gobbles up a lot of your income in both countries. However, clearly the average person in Brazil has a considerably harsher situation than somebody in the UK. Someone with an hour plus commute everyday and doing a pretty average job is no doubt spending a small fortune in commuting costs in Britain and yes, moreso in Brazil in relative terms. That is where I brought in affordable transportation as you can have excellent and affordable transportation and none of that late slow train British nonsense, but a high speed rail network that will have you from North to South in no time. If you don't book days in advance in the UK you will spend 100 pounds plus for the same thing. It is absurd and you know it is. Completely out of control.

Britain is expensive and as has been clearly revealed now by mainstream media, it also has the hallmarks of a police state. You can disagree with that all you like, but they are monitering you. The surveillance alone is a telltale sign and with all the anti-terror nonsense Britain has quit with the pretence at being anything other than a police state. It has become increasingly fascistic. In the past it only really displayed itself in abhorrent foreign policy practices, but increasingly you are seeing it in government and secret service behaviours at home. You know all this.

Also, I resent the notion of being called a 'foreign scammer'. For all my criticism I am British and that is what it is. I have never tried to scam Britain. I seldom used the NHS. I returned home last year as you know and the medication I use does not allow for extended prescription. I had to go to a doctor in the UK and it was one that I have been registered with for many years and I duly paid my expensive prescription costs. It is a fact that it is expensive and I don't understand why you would get petty over that. I didn't return home to get major surgery or anything like that, so pack that in. You should be better than that. Things have changed and for the worse and it is a valid observation that prescriptions are expensive and they do refer you to private practice first. I have observed it firsthand as a British citizen. Furthermore, you would find plenty of developed countries to give yourself and your family effective treatment without fleecing you. It is largely America with the health care cost issues.

All of that though is a deflection and as you rightly admit is not related to the curious case of Edward Snowden. I also don't dance to anybodies tune either. The key thing is do you trust your secret service agencies and do you agree with them going after Snowden rather than reflecting, which as we know is not an American strongpoint.