Mongoose:

remind me again about that historical Fascist state that “corrected itself”. Point taken. By “self-corect” I mean war. And I do apologize for the cavalier euphemism. Very poor writing. I was trying to speak to the Fukuyama thesis, which if valid, faces serious obstacles this millenium.

It sound like you have gone over. No. The equivocation you hear is something else. I will think of a description. FWIW – I am reading the 2-part Ledeen piece on fascism now and that is making more sense to me, in terms of defining the present junction of long-term institutional threats to life, liberty, and pursuit. The corporate state is a failed experiment and yet – as I see it – the majority of people in this country at this time favor government intervention in business. Makes the events of 2008 look a little less innocent.

Time out for some informal and direct chit chat. My biggest problem right now is that the leaders and masters of the universe f^cked up big league big time huge. So I trust no one – not Paulson, Geithner, Obama or you. I’m back to basics which means I’m on my own dime – economically and intellectually.

Let’s continue this conversation after the banking crisis has been resolved. The spending bill was same-old same-old, as per 2×4, but the banking issues are mission critical. If WonderBoy Geithner pulls it off without nationalizing the banks, then we have a different set of boundary conditions.

I agree however, from my distance, that the state of UK is alarming/sad/bad.