Melissa wrote:
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Hi Michael Daly,

On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 20:32:55 GMT, you wrote:

The Tinkering One:

I see them as two sides of the same coin, you don't have a
political system without an economic system. They are joined at
the hip. You can't deal with one, without dealing with the other.
Though I can understand your fine line distinction.

Mike:

There are democratic socialist countries, totalitarian capitalist
regimes and everything in between. The choice of an economic
system does not dictate the political system.

Well said. Here in the grand ole US of A, our political
debate/discussion is often driven by, and caters to, the lowest
common denominator, so that issues that are, in reality, not so
simple can be seen as simple black or white propositions.
Unfortunately, this results in an all too often painfully over
simplistic world view, and even more unfortunately, our often
simplistic "solutions" cause more worldwide harm than good (here as
well; not just for others around the world).

Because of the worldwide scope of US "power", it is never enough to
say that either "we deserve what we get", or that it shouldn't matter
to others around the world what we here decide to do with "our own"
politics. If we were a small and quiet nation without such delusions
of grandeur that we do indeed seem to hold so dear, it might no be so
important to the rest of the world what we do, but this is not the
case.

In general, I see US politics as being particularly solipsistic in
nature, and this, in my view, is never a good thing. Add to that the
very "patriotic/nationalistic" nature of much of US political/social
culture, and most "American's" comprehensive ignorance of the rest of
the world, and "we" are indeed a very dangerous nation. :-(

I've said my bit here, and don't really wish to get more involved
with
this thread, but I would like to thank Mike, Wilko, and frtzw906
("BCITORGB") for their persistence in trying to carry on this
discussion with their well reasoned arguments; above and beyond the
level of discussion usually found here in the USA. :-)

- --
Melissa

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Dear Melissa, you don't think you can come in to this frackus, and not
get involved with this thread do you. You have been very helpful to me
in the past, and I certainly want to express my appreciation, however
there are no free passes that I have heard about. Especially if you're
going to use those big words around us simple black and white types,
that are just oozing with Patriotic/nationalistic pride. Then you
cuddle up with the boys from up north and across the sea. She must be
from out on the right coast!

But being from the right coast and being enlightened that she is not
the only individual in the real world of the right coast (now that is
reality), maybe you can point me to a Totalitarian capitalistic
country. Especially since you complimented Mike D. on being "well
said", you must know of a defining example.

If you can answer that for me I will give you a pass on the rest of
what you said. "The Tinkering One", TnT