[Pessimist]

Wow!

What a difference from Meirs writings, huh?

Now THAT is a conservative.

One interesting line that might escape notice though:

"Indeed, one of the grave errors of American foreign policy is the assumption that merely installing the forms of a regime like ours — without its foundation — will automatically lead to freedom, stability, and prosperity."

I think she's got that right too.

[JeffAtlanta]

JRB: "Indeed, one of the grave errors of American foreign policy is the assumption that merely installing the forms of a regime like ours — without its foundation — will automatically lead to freedom, stability, and prosperity."

You: "I think she's got that right too.

You both got it right. Without a firm foundation, constitutional republics turn into democracies within a few years with the constitution being rewritten or amended every time a tough problem arises.

The democracies then become benevolent dictatorships as we see in latin america and almost all of Africa.