[betwixthewires]

In a collective endeavor, which the administration of a state undoubtedly is, especially in a democratically structured system, each individual of course contributes negligibly on average. It is the aggregate of their activities that we end up looking at when we make these determinations. And of course some people pull more weight than others, and a few disproportionately so. But we all play our part, however small.

[palmetieri2000]

I agree with you entirely, my point is that in the rest of the world many people would not feel comfortable using that contribution to justify a parochial perspective or ignorance of the rest of the world.