That is one of the most remarkable things about FreeRepublic. I learned a great deal about such things since first joining. The OP provides the bread crumbs and I wander off in search of books/articles/etc. to learn more. Don’t take my word for anything, merely use it as the impetus to find the knowledge for yourself.
There are many great minds on this forum that I have learned from. Yourself included.
The only thing great about my mind is how great the propensity for insanity and ranting is.
But you are right about the board. Intelligent, witty, at time downright hysterically funny posters, all of the thing the left wishes they were.
I thought Vietnam was a fairly new country before I joined this board :)
What I learned on this site could fill a 1,000 page book.