John:

I find most of your posts to be well informed and thought-through.

In this case I take exception to your comparison of Post (and Pre) war Germany of the 1920's with the US of today.

The people of the United States were and are miles from where the people of Germany were in the 1920's, or even where the people of the US were in the 1920's. In the 1920's 10,000 members of the Ku Klux Klan could (and did) march through Washington D.C.

The fundies of today are miles from the racist bigots of the 20's whether or not you're talking Weimar or America. They can be irritating in the extreme, many of their beliefs in my opinion, have gone too far into the American power structure, but this has happened, as you rightly say, as part of democratic expression. It is used by politicians as they use everything they can use.

I am unhappy with the quality of leadership in the US, but I think it's a reflection of the electorate, and I hope for better. But what I hope for is not what a lot of other folks in this forum hope for, so the struggle continues.

'W' and his crew may not be the best available, but they're the ones who were elected and they actually could be a lot worse. A LOT WORSE.

Just last week I saw some program on the rise of Goebbels, and there was a shot of Hitler addressing an open gathering of workers "Many of you are upset that I have eradicated the Marxist Party, but you must remember I have eradicated ALL THE OTHER PARTIES!" It was a grimly humorous remark but there was no humor in the soon-to-be Fuhrer.

I do not think there is an analog to that left in the Western World.

I find comfort that you find cause for concern, however. In that we are alike. One of my guides is that as long as people are worked up and unhappy and vocal, times are normal. It's when everyone is shouting how wonderful and perfect everything is that it's truly dangerous.