now seems perfectly meaningless.Of course, I admit, it was only a sort of talisman, a ritual of hope I engaged in because I could not face the world my children were born into, and I wanted to act in a way that showed them there was some meaning and hope. Because really its my kiddos that make me despair in all this, their bright hopeful faces when I went to vote, the idea that voting might make a difference--a kind of fairy tale for them, now I see, to keep their hopes up, and mine. But this column you have written here is the death knell of all that for me. What we need now is people to teach us how to live in an empire--a strange, modern corporate empire.

I have appreciated what you do here, Glenn: you have limned the terrible contradictions of our political realities so clearly. I can only think you do it as an act of personal integrity and bearing witness in your own way to the truth. I don't think I will read or comment any more here, because I think I have learned all I can about this: back to studying and teaching philosophy for me,which is where my real gifts lie, and where I think I can have the most effect--teaching philosophy, and the idea of the integrity of the soul. You know what Socrates said in the Republic, don't you, when Glaucon said a man seeking justice would not involve himself with politics?

By the dog of Egypt, he will! in the city which 's his own he certainly will, though in the land of his birth perhaps not, unless he have a divine call. I understand; you mean that he will be a ruler in the city of which we are the founders, and which exists in idea only; for I do not believe that there is such an one anywhere on earth? In heaven, I replied, there is laid up a pattern of it, methinks, which he who desires may behold, and beholding, may set his own house in order. But whether such an one exists, or ever will exist in fact, is no matter; for he will live after the manner of that city, having nothing to do with any other.

I see you as living after the manner of that city in your own way. Thanks for what you blog has taught me. I hope you flourish in all you do, and that we all manage to learn to live with integrity in this strange modern empire we find ourselves in.

I have never posted on your part of this site, but I have regularly read your columns. I have come to appreciate very much the personality revealed by your advice--to appreciate you: an honest and witty voice that I enjoy hearing. I have recently struggled with a strange illness myself that was eventually identified and is now being treated, and it was and is a strange time indeed, full of pain and uncertainty. What kept me going was the focus on the basic goodness of simple things found in daily life: sounds,colors, smells, tastes,and the many tiny incidents observed around me in the life of my family and others. I see you also read Pema Chodron, who has been a real saviouress-bodhisattva for me too in her writings. I know you know these things,and know well how to approach all this, but I just wanted to say I will think of you and I am wishing you well, sir, as you go through this.

Sincerely,

Jim Goetsch