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From: Someone

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Working to keep our neighbors awake and informed is our best hope, in my view - that is the only way democracy will ever work.

Historically this has often failed (e.g., the lack of outcry against Japanese internment camps). Neighboors are willing to sell their liberty and their neighbors at the drop of a hat if someone in government promises

----- Forwarded Message ----- them greater security, even though these same liars failed them time and time again.

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Since the New Deal Americans and corporations have become increasingly

reliant on government to provide for them, shield them from their own poor judgement and folly and transfer the responsibility to the rest of us. (Citizens of a like mind should structure upcoming tax filings to deduct Congress' largess to the airlines and others). We cannot depend on these cowards and weaklings.

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You'll notice that no Declaration of War was formally given. Even so

Congress has moved to curtail civil liberties. From my perspective both life and liberty are equally dear. Those that attempt to take either I will treat the same.

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Its time to water the tree...

I'm tired of hearing my fellow Americans referred to as cowards, weaklings, sheep, ignorant, easily mislead - this is a profoundly undemocratic sentiment, the same kind of crap spewed by totalitarian and authoritarian types from the far left and the far right as justification for abandonment of the democratic process and the use of force to impose their ideology on the rest of us.

It is the cry of someone unwilling to do the hard work of actually speaking to their fellow and convincing them of the rightness of the cause being professed; the frustrated rant of someone who is convinced he or she has "The Truth" on their side - the same opinion shared by Timothy McVeigh, Osma Bin Ladin, and folks of a similar ilk.

I wish I had a penny for every such conversation regarding this topic I've had.

I won't deny that I think our government is unduly influenced by factions (from certain labor unions to untold numbers of corporations) with financial and other interests at stake, but my answer is to become a more dedicated citizen, to work harder to educate my fellow citizens and elected representatives about what I think is right and just.

I wish I shared your hopeful attitude. Earlier in our country's history, when the public educational system was functioning a bit better, the average citizen had a broader perspective and a firsthand knowledge of the Constitution. Since the '60s the public system has all but failed subsequent generations leaving most ignorant and uninterested about how we got to where we are today, and easily propaganized. I've spent a considerable amount of time with those younger than 30 and its freightening how few (except for the radicals and a few lawyers) have ever read the founder's documents. Democracy only works when a citizenry is well informed. So what do you do now that you've got a generation of rubes? The political structure has almost precluded representation by those with minority views. The Republicrats are little more than two underworld gangs fighting over turf (us and our taxes) while we only get to flip a coin to determine who sticks it to us. How do you convince them that their leaders have been increasingly operating outside the intentions of the framers by ignoring and "re-interpreting" the Constitution to accomodate popular political sentement or accomodate powerful forces often with hidden agendas?

I encourage everyone to read this book - it says more about the strengths and weaknesses of this country (and more importantly, the "cowards" and "weaklings" who make it work) than anything I've ever read. It is written by an Arab-American and a profound patriot, someone whose life represents the American dream in all it's glory and gore.

America, More Than a Country by Salom Rizk

Thanks, I'll look into it. I'd like to return the favor, Thomas. I suggest reading "The Sovereign Individual : Mastering the Transition to the Information Age." http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684832720/o/qid%3D970264502/sr%3D2-1... In The Sovereign Individual, Davidson and Rees-Mogg explore the greatest economic and political transition in centuries -- the shift from an industrial to an information-based society. Although somewhat repetitve, they raise some compelling arguments about what techo-geo-political factors have shaped governemnt and society and what current and anticipated factors will shape it yet again. Specifically that "the economic return on violence," which is mainly tied to technology, is the most important long term influence on geopolitics. Their prediction is that nation states will be reduced significantly in global influence by the combination of the Internet (especially anonymous digital money) and the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons in the hands of smaller nation states, idiological groups and even individuals. Their premise is that all governments have an implicit or explicit covenant that if citizens agree to be taxed and bound by its laws, they will protect them from harm (both foreign and domestic). If these nations cannot deliver on this basic promise, and the authors they say that's not likely without police state authority, then many wealthier individuals (esp. those who's income and assets are Internet-based and cannot be easily liened) will become state-less and go to wherever they feel safe and free. The masses will left to fight over the crumbs.