Yes, Amos, and it seems those fearless statesmen leading our are as easily duped as the most ignorant mouth-breathing Limbaugh followers.

After 9/11 the local paper asked its readers if their patriotism had changed. Kind of an odd question, I thought. But I wrote that my patriotism consisted of a loyalty to the land itself, and to the principles set out in the Constitution (rather than the people in the government) and it hadn't changed any.

Then in the second paragraph I said something to the effect that I hoped a misguided patriotism wouldn't lead us into excesses like the internment of the Japanese in WWII.

I didn't even say anything about My Lai, but the paper cut that paragraph out. Actually, I was surprised they kept the first paragraph, because it was a my-country-right-or-wrong-follow-our-leader time then. You remember.

But if a retired hack artist could see that much why couldn't the people in congress see even more? They're professionals.

Of course, I've heard that professional con men are easily conned.

clint

--Anyway, like I said, that image of speeding on a bad road with a useless driver described my feelings well.