"It would be enough for me to have the system of a jury of twelve versus the system of one judge as a basis for preferring the U.S. to the Soviet Union. I would prefer the country you can leave to the country you cannot"

This quote by Joseph Brodsky talks to the significance of democracy and the rule of law. He recommends that the presence of a jury of twelve in the United States, rather than the Soviet Union's system of one judge, is enough to make him prefer the U.S. over the Soviet Union. This is due to the fact that the jury system permits a more well balanced and reasonable decision-making process, as it includes multiple perspectives and opinions. Moreover, Brodsky implies that the U.S. is a nation that enables its people to leave if they pick, while the Soviet Union did not. This flexibility of motion is another element that makes the U.S. a more suitable country to reside in. Ultimately, Brodsky's quote highlights the importance of democracy and the guideline of law, and how these values can make a country a better place to live.