[highlander_UW]

No we're not going the way of Rome (other than the decadence)we're going down a trail that IMO is without precedence, remember Kruschev when he said we would be destroyed. Not by the means most think.. it's a battle of propaganda. The truth cannot be spoken without fear of being muzzled..

While I agree that there are forces that seek to muzzle truth, but that is missing the forest for the trees. Look at the message those forces wish to promote. National health care, a welfare state, tolerance at the cost of individuality and freedom of thought. Essentially, socialism, the same sort of problem that brought down Rome. It is no coincidence that all 9 of the 9 dwarfs want to raise taxes, and in particular upon the rich...and after there is no rich (with the exception of those in power) they'll need to resort to taxing the middle class. I believe we are in very real danger of just such a fate.

[Zipporah]

While I do agree with you.. peel back a few layers and you'll see it's so wide spread and there are so many factors that it's almost like the 'spinning plates'... one is about to crash as you are getting another one going..