From: kharin (hidden@lucifer.com)
Date: Tue Jul 09 2002 - 06:01:52 MDT
The fact still remains that even our "anti-American" enemies, if given the chance, would move to America.
According to a recent survey this is true. The survey also showed that Germany and Britain (both of whom having very different conceptions of liberty to the US) were not far behind; as indeed was that well known bastion of liberty, Egypt. Based on that, I would suggest that any old country with a reasonably open door and some economic success would do; which makes your statement rather less the accolade you intended.
Bush, Jr. may be an idiot, but it's the people that lead. We influence the government more than you think.
I seem to recall that Gore Vidal's autobiography contains an illuminating passage wherein Vidal's politican father snorted upon hearing the phrase 'age of the common man' and tartly commented that there had never been such a thing and never would be. Certainly, one of the things that has interested me about US politics has been the formation of elites and dynasties. Within a few years of the rejection of monarchy two members of the Adams dynasty had held the Presidency. The Roosevelts produced two Presidents. The Kennedy dynasty are another example and the Bush dynasty is another. Indeed, the Gore dynasty is yet another; Gore Vidal being related to a certain Al Gore. In state government the same pertains; Ohio has the Tafts; Chicago has the Daleys, and a certain California had the Browns [http://www.brook.edu/views/op-ed/hess/20000227.htm]. As for the issue of political influence in the United States, I simply like a quote from a Chinese official; 'Washington is like a subway; you put in money and doors
open.'
---- This message was posted by kharin to the Virus 2002 board on Church of Virus BBS. <http://virus.lucifer.com/bbs/index.php?board=51;action=display;threadid=25647>
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