Although America was a young society, America's fascist tendencies maintained close parallels with fascist currents in Europe throughout the 20th century. George Bush represents the fourth generation of his family's power and influence in this country, an influence that extends back to the last gilded age.

The founding patriarch of the family was Samuel P. Bush, an industrialist who made his career in the railroad business. He established relationships at the highest levels of government and corporate business, relationships that the family has built upon to this day. In preparation for WWI, he served on the War Industries Board as a business liaison for small arms munitions manufacturers. His son, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator, Wall Street banker and traditional Republican with many notable accomplshments. Prescott Bush is also known for the seizure of his property under the Trading with the Enemy Act (Nazi Germany being the enemy) in WWII. The assets were returned after the war. George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush's father, maintains an advisory position with the Carlyle Group, The Carlyle Group is a private equity firm based in Washington, D.C. with more than $56 billion under management. Many Carlyle Group investments falter or prosper based on political decisions. Now we have George Bush, a businessman who made his money as a result of oil and government subsidy (i.e, the Texas Rangers) investments. With George Bush we have come full circle, from one gilded age to another.

When Eisenhower used the term military-industrial-(congressional) complex, he was actually warning us against fascism. Fascism places all the resources and economic benefit of a nation in the hands of a political/economic corporate aristocracy. Nationalism is the parent of fascism. Nationalism is also the parent of war. War tends to make certain groups of people (e.g., weapons manufacturers, bankers, oil investors and commodities investors) rich and richer.

We are witnessing a process that has consumed every empire at its zenith: a fight between the forces of republic and the rights of individuals against the forces of aristocracy, monopoly and imperium. That many of the most powerful individuals and organizations in this society should be aligned with the interests of the Republican party is no surprise. The real shocker will be whether or not the American citizenry is able to resist the unrelenting drive to create a permanent corporate aristocracy and a unitary rule. For that reason, like Glenn, I give Harvey Mansfield credit for the honesty of his arguments and ideas.

I have heard Chomsky refer to our government as one party with two factions and I completely agree. The difference between the Republican and Democratic party is the difference between their donors. The problem is that many corporations place their bets on both sides of the isle. Those that don't place their bets with the side most likely to serve their specific business interests.

But there is more to elections and politics than money. An election is not made of money, but of votes. There is also party ideology and an individual candidate's values and integrity to contend with. For some reason values and integrity seem such a frail structure to bet the future of our society on, when weighed against the forces of corporate fascism and political aristocracy. But it has always been that way. For thousands of years.

As does everyone here, you have the right to your own opinions. I assure you, this is the only comment I will ever make where you are concerned.

What is the matter with you?