I don't look at it as thanking them for these things, but rather the fact that we're all doing those things with our tax dollars and they're the ones getting shot at because of it in my place. To a large extent if you live in the US and reap the benefits of American dominance you're just as guilty. Obviously the problem is - where else do you go? It makes infinitely more sense to stay and vote for a better world. Not blame the working class people the bad voters have abused.