Wabe, I had not seen your aliens before. They are delightful and I'm sorry this happened.

Robyn,  as  (some would probably say) a heathan,  librul who wants the terrorists to win so every God fearing American will have to bow down and have butt seks with Osama Bin Laden, I would hardly dispute you characterization of some of our more colorful mores. But:

r.e. internet censorship for example,*

"Such a sweeping mandatory regime risked damage to Australia's reputation, it [Google] said, adding in a veiled reference to autocratic countries such as China that it could "confer legitimacy upon filtering by other governments". "  http://www.physorg.com/news188542317.html  March    23, 2010

N.B. Law apparently delayed until 2011 under pressure. http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=623865    July 11, 2010

You also have a national censorship body, with the power to effectively ban movies, magazines, etc. - and has banned materials that are readily available in the US. So, Oz is apparently not an unalloyed bastion of free expression in this regard. Again, not contradicting you, just pointing out that we all have our crosses to bear. And I will not chant USA!, USA! OK vewy, vewy quietly as a fully clothed Elmer Fudd would say.

*

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken