SH> several countries other than the United States and if an Academy ever
 SH> emerged in Washington, its rulings would not be likely to wash in
 SH> Toronto or Brisbane.

   Of course not! They all rely on The Queens English.

   But let me see if I've got this straight?

   a) You (the US) have no body that establishes even common practice, you
all, obviously, rely on what the text-books in school says.

   b) But then you don't have a central school authority either, that tells
you what text-books should be used. You rely entirely on some local
politician(s) to decide what books the schools in that district should buy.
Right?

   So, let's say that one of those local politicians have a brother-in-law,
that has written a geography book, that said politician decides that the
schools should use. This book, on the last four pages that handles what's
outside of the US, lists the Juropean cities of Lunden, Parris, Birlin,
Mudreed, Room and Athins. Isn't it true, that now a new generation of
Americans, from that district, will grow up with the firm belief that this
is how this continent and those cities should be spelled, and f*ck any
stupid Juropean that tries to tell them otherwise.

   Is that a fairly good picture of the situation "over there"?

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