As for being strangled economically, every jackass regulation they (all levels of bureaucracy) dump on business increases the paperwork geometrically, and Lord help the poor sucker who tries to do it himself because he can’t afford an accountant. As a matter of fact, Lord help the poor sucker who screws up ANY of the paperwork ’cause the full force of that level of bureaucracy will be on him like flies on a dung heap.

And bureaucratic regulation is (in my opinion) solely responsible for the incredible prices of property we see now, having virtually eliminated the supply of land anywhere people would wish to build. The sad thing about the regulation, though, is that the regulators can’t for the life of them see what’s wrong with what they’re doing! Personally, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings a bit if all building and land use regulations in my state (Oregon) were made null and void, and a new, common sense approach were made to those regulations.

But enough of this rant. Your points are well taken, T.A.

As to the genertal concensus for democratic institutions and ideals, all you have to do is look at the marxist lunacy that shows up on here once in a while or from the useless idiots in San Francisco under the guise of tolerance and diversity for the queers to see thats going down the toilet.

And your right, ever since the public schools lost true local control, they have gone to hell. History and geography have been replaced by sex ed. so the preverts on the faculty can get their jollies showing kids how to put rubbers on bananas.

Second, since the education system was federalized, a “literate” population has become a thing of the past.

Last, the “potential” for economic growth has dwindled significantly, and the “free enterprise” portion of our economic system has virtually disappeared, being killed by the incredible and strangling web of government regulations.

Ever since FDR convinced the public in general that it was the government’s job to ensure happiness for everyone, and since Mr. Lincoln took states’ rights away from the Constitution (not saying ending slavery was a bad thing, just that in the process he opened the door to federal intervention in every aspect of personal lives), the citizens of this country have been shortchanged by “our” representatives.

Even down to the local city councils and county commissions.

As far as Iraq goes, I have a hard time believing any Islamic-based government will survive as “democratic”. It goes against everything taught in Islam.

The sooner we start using technology now available (nuclear power) and find a new, viable power source for powering our transportation, the sooner that portion of the world becomes totally irrelevant again. So much better for the sanity of earth.

But thats not up for us to decide in Iraq, all we should working for is a friendly government, and let them take it from there however they want to. We’ve had benevolent dictatorships before as allies: Chaing Kai Chek, Juan Peron, South Korea in its early days, and don’t forget democracy didn’t take long to start in Japan, (once we beat the crap out of Tojo).

Joe, did you know that aout 1,000 people a week are moving back into Baghdad because its suddenly getting safer, or that terrrist attacks are down from 30 to 40 per week to 5 or 6, or are you one of those in group 3?

Will ‘armloads’ of US cash buy tribal loyalty?
The US policy of paying Sunni Arab sheikhs for their allegiance could be risky.

By Sam Dagher | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the November 8, 2007 edition

“[The US military] threw money at [the sheiks],” says Col. David Hsu, who heads a team advising Iraq’s armed forces in Salahaddin, Saddam’s home province. He shows recent digital photographs he captured of smiling sheikhs holding bundles of cash as they posed with US military officers. “You are basically paying civilians to turn in terrorists. Money was an expedient way to try to get results.”

US military officers on the ground say there is tremendous pressure from high above to replicate the successes of the so-called “awakening” against Al Qaeda in the western Anbar Province. The drive reached its apex in the run-up to the September testimonies to Congress by the top US military commander and diplomat in Iraq, US officers say.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1108/p01s04-wome.html