The only constants in the world seem to be hatred and cruelty.

[Cyrano]

Call me cynical, but I'm surprised the human species has survived this long. For every step forward, we pay with two back. Acts of kindness always seem to be far outnumbered by countless acts of cruelty.

The enlightened American advancements of the 20th century, -- women's suffrage, the right to unionize, Social Security, the minimum wage, Medicare, Medicaid, the equal rights and voting rights acts -- have all been under attack since the first day Ronald Reagan took office and initiated a march back to the dark ages. And over the past six years, cruel, hateful individuals have stolen our country and turned that march into a blitzkrieg. (Why is it always so much easier to destroy than to build?)

I don't think I need to point out that over the past 100 years, the building of a just society was achieved by Democrats while the destruction was the work of Republicans. This doesn't mean that all Republicans are hateful and cruel. But it certainly does mean that their party is controlled by those who are, and far too many people have gone along with it. Perhaps cruelty and hatred are more contagious than human decency.

There are still two years to go before the enlightened people of this country may get a chance to start rebuilding. But this is by no means a given. Most people tend to play by the rules out of a sense of morality. The destroyers think that rules and morality are for weaklings and fools. It can't be taken for granted that the levers of power can be ripped from their bloody grasp in 2008. Count on them doing anything necessary so as never to be held accountable for their acts.

All that people of conscience can do now is keep fighting the good fight while hoping that the endgame will see the birth of a new American renaissance.

[pocoloco]

1. Don't forget greed!

[porphyrian]

2. I guess you've been ignoring the cycle of life and death. - n/t

[Cleita]

3. There are nations who take care of their citizens with good

social programs and who manage to have flourishing economies without going to war. We never seem to hear much about them though unless it's something bad (like Holland is full of dopers, which is not the whole picture of Holland's enlightened policies towards drug addiction.}

[Jim Warren]

4. There are more

things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

[Greyhound]

5. You must take into account that the rules were made by the rulers to

ensure that they would remain the rulers.

Enlightenment invariably occurs when those that hold power agree to surrender some portion of that power, this indeed is a rare occurrence.

[bryant69]

6. You know at least you got options

Think how boring it would be if all you got was hatred.

Bryant
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