Since GUEST does not deign to respond to my request to come up with a plan, I presume that he/she doesn't have a plan. Or a clue. Since I've been this route before with some of the Sixties revolutionaries, I didn't really expect one. All complaint, no solution. But, of course, the implication of their rants is that we should take arms against a sea of troubles, man the barricades, take up torches and pitchforks and storm the castle! Load up your guns (thank God for the Second Amendment)! Prepare the Molotov cocktails! Start the Revolution! Now!!

Well . . . the chances of that actually happening are about as good as the chances of George W. Bush being inducted into Mensa and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on the same day.

Unless things get worse in terms of infringement of people's freedoms and civil rights--whole lot worse-- I think the chances of any kind of united action such as a rebellion or even the general strike are pretty damned slim. There are a lot of people who are alert and concerned, to be sure. And who are trying to do something about the state of the nation and the world. But when the main concern of the major bulk of the population consists of being caught up in the latest television "reality show" (failing to realize that Life is the only Reality Show), or the latest vacuosities of Paris Hilton, or trying to decide whose relatives to visit on Christmas, or the perpetual plod of paying off the monthly credit card debt, I don't see any vast social movements about to take place in the near future.

True, on the eve of the Iraq war, there were marches, demonstrations, and vigils all over the world. Some 30,000 people participated in a march and candlelight vigil in Seattle, but that represented less than 6% of the city's population. Even that was hopeful. But as I say above, I think things would have to get a lot worse, and effect, large numbers of people in a very personal way before we'll see anything like an effective nationwide mass movement.

In the meantime. . . .

Like you, Little Hawk, I am a philosopher. I love the study of metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and ethics.   I love history and what it can teach us, and I try to take a longer view of things.

Every empire has a life-cycle. The Roman Empire probably lasted longer than any of those since. Portugal and the Netherlands each ruled the world for a short time in the early days of colonization, to be supplanted by one of the more powerful empires in world history:   Spain. And Spain, in turn, was superseded by the British Empire. Being deposed from that position may be a bit of a wrench for the fat cats and profiteers in a declining empire, but when the United States came along and assumed the position, it allowed Great Britain and the other former European world empires to settle into the beginnings of a mellow maturity. Signs of that maturity are an extreme reluctance to go to war (God knows, they've experienced enough of it!), and a growing interest in the well-being and happiness of their own citizens.

The United States had a pretty good run there for a bit, from the mid to late 19th century and up through the 20th, throwing its weight around and indulging in the usual exploitation of its colonies (in most cases, it's economic colonies, which it's still trying to hold onto). Its main competition during the latter half of the 20th century was, of course, the Soviet Union, which folded its tent and silently snuck away about a decade and a half ago. But in retrospect, it was no contest, really. Now, the United States is King of the Hill. And the various Corporate Emperors, and their political flacks, the neoconservatives and miscellaneous other Republicans (and all too many Democrats) have a steely-eyed, tightlipped determination to maintain that position.

But when one is King of the Hill, there is only one direction, one can go.

Down.

I believe Empire America is teetering on the brink, about to head downhill on the inevitable toboggan ride. I also believe that the Corporate Emperors and their neo-con toadies fully realize this in their shriveled up, raisin-sized hearts, even if in their minds, they refused to entertain the idea. And some of their court jesters (we call them "presidents," "senators," and "congressional representatives") are just plain clueless.

Am I filled with angst over the decline of Empire America? Not at all. I look forward to it. I look forward to the United States settling into that mellow maturity that I spoke of above, with all the potential benefits for its citizens. Let some other country tussle with the sturm und drang of trying to be emperor of the world. Maybe just about every country of any size has to give it a shot at one time or another, go through the cycle, and learned through experience just how stupid the whole thing is, before it can settle in and just be.

This may very well be part of the process of humanity as a species growing through stormy adolescence to eventually reach mature adulthood. That is, of course, if we don't do something incredibly stupid in the meantime. Unfortunately, that's a distinct possibility.

But if we allow ourselves to grow up, this may very well become a mature and mellow planet.

Don Firth