Not sure how I found this thread, but I am glad I did since there seems to be some real clarity of thought here. Sadly, my verbal skills are average compared to my analytical skills, and I avoided reading books until I got out of college. With that disclaimer out of the way, I think that the sad truth is that the politicians we rag on so much are mostly a mirror image of the people they represent. I know it sounds trite, but we need to do a real thorough self inspection and fix ourselves first. In a kind of ironic, and wasteful way, 9/11 has served as a partial catalyst for this in my opinion so there may be some positive changes in the near future. As far as what we can do politically, I am more pessimistic. Sometimes I think that this is just the natural cycle of all political systems, and we are powerless to stop it. One thing I do know is that this republic was turned into a democracy in 1913 when the 17th Amendment was ratified, and it didn't take too long for Ben Franklin's warning to come to fruition. Congress was pretty busy that year, they also ratified the income tax amendment.
Someone mentioned something about a government being its people or at least a manifestation of it or something like that. I couldn't agree more. Justice is for the just, freedom for the free, there will never be a democracy in Afghanistan. This is why I think uncontrolled immigration is suicidal, we will certainly choke to death at this high rate. As JohnGault rightly points out, the demand is produced by industry, which is ironically being shipped overseas by way of something akin to the NIMBY argument. Difficult to make sense of that pile of spaghetti and where it is going. A government is its people and some of the stuff I see more and more people do these days makes me nervous. The number of cars parked with their hazzard lights on in front of the grocery store at anytime, is a very visible sign of a sick people, but maybe I am overreacting.
They also passed the Federal Reserve Act.
foreverfree