Today's reason why Japan is superior to America.

Japan has a wealth of issues, but Japan would never try to take "punitive action" against an American who violated an American law while living in Japan. You know, because they're different countries.

With different laws.

American bureaucracy, otoh, would do somthing this retarded. Because obviously, American morality and regulation really should be in charge of the whole world. I mean, if we've learned nothing else...

Reason Magazine - Hit & Run > Feds Continue to Assert World Jurisdiction:

"Federal officials are contemplating 'punitive action' against Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. Seems Matsuzaka endorsed a brand of beer and, in a television commercial, actually took a sip of said beer. That's a violation of (stupid) U.S. alcohol regulations.

Here's the problem: It was a Japanese beer. And the TV commercial aired only in Japan."

I for one, salute Matsuzaka's imbibing. Even as a kid, I reaaaaaaaaaally didn't need need the government "protecting" me from the idea that - OH MY GOD! - a professional athlete might actually drink alcohol.

God save us from the nanny state, please.