For sure he writes great speeches. "Demagogue" is harsh, because it implies he's out for profit. But "motivator" would be well on the mark. I guess he's difficult to argue against because he *does* use well-reasoned arguments based on historical precedent, and his arguments *do* attempt to show multiple sides to the problem, even if he comes down on one side in particular.

Yes, I can see why John disagrees, and it's the same reason any European (living in a continent in which fundamentalist religious doesn't have any significant stronghold) would disagree if they read it as a description of *all* religion.

The problem is that the current US President is a fundamentalist Christian. As a man of conscience (I assume), he would clearly feel that he *must* use his position to impose a belief system on the nation that he considers is the only true system. But these beliefs of fundamentalist Christianity are incompatible with the governmental obligation to treat all citizens equally, regardless of race, sex or religion.

Anyone think of a recent example of modern America? The British Empire in the mid-late 1800 comes more and more to my mind. A great nation, producing vast wealth and ingenuity - but underpinned by crushing poverty amongst the working classes. And the whole system ruled by patriarchal factory-owners who financed the local churches and hence could influence what sermons their workers heard. Fortunately the British Empire crashed and burned. Not only did the countries of the Empire take their freedom, but America took all Britain's inventions and knowledge and ran with it to produce the next great superpower.

So what next? My prediction is that in about 50 years, it'll be over. By then, Americans will finally have got over the God thing and the ultra-capitalism thing in the same way that Europe did, and America will finally get some kind of social democracy in place which ensures the poor *can* get food, healthcar and education without the assistance of charities. The oil will be running low, so conspicuous energy consumption may have dropped off. And "developing nations" will have taken America's knowledge-based industries and beaten them to death. My money's on India - but my money's also on America not wising up for another generation or more.

Shit, I've just realised I'm writing polemics too - just not as good as Bill Moyes. Ho hum. ;-)

Graham.