What Fred says is very true. But what is also true is that the Oscar bestows a certain legitimacy based upon box office receipts, that will now make it somewhat easier for Moore to raise money for future film projects. I consider that a triumph (albeit a fleeting one, to be sure) over Hollywood cynicism. It allows us to occassionally have a last laugh.

'Bowling for Columbine' is hardly the best documentary ever made. But it is the most financially successful documentary in history. And that fact, combined with the huge success of his bestselling book, probably means something in socio-political terms, although it is difficult to put a finger on what exactly. For the most part, I think it is simple--Moore has gotten away with saying the political and corporate elite have no clothes, no scruples, no morals.

But does that signal the welcome end of this era of Dixiecrat corruption, graft, and greed? Well, none of the crooks have gone to jail, and even when the politicians are found guilty of crimes and wrongdoing, they keep their jobs. Not a single corporate executive has gone to jail for looting their companies, cheating the citizenry out of billions of desperately needed tax revenues, and engaging in widespread fraud and deception made legal by the votes they bought in Congress.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel, or is that just the train coming at us?