[CobaltBlue]

You're talking about tribalism - which is very hard for most Americans to comprehend - and your reference to the Baathists is accurate, although perhaps insulting to the Medici, who had far superior aesthetic taste to Saddam. They don't appear to have been as evil, either, although perhaps Saddam benefits from 20th century advances in industrialization of homicide. Who knows what the Medici might have achieved if they'd had efficiency experts to assist them?

Jest a joke - I to enjoyed the PBS series - and do recall the bit about the Medici (can't remember name) who modernized the organization. The setup looked remarkably like late 19th century grand style offices such as you see in federal cabinet level department buildings (the old Commerce building, for one) and corporate headquarters of that era (I am thinking of some insurance companies of the time - Aetna?)

[DoctorMichael]

Thanks. Apparently 'Revelation911' found my comments "biggoted" though (#17)......LOL.

Oh well, maybe it was a little too close to home. Some people here just spoil for a fight; it wasn't meant the way it was taken.