It's too big now anyway.

We need to have smaller geographical areas to govern if we really are going to make a transition to something resembling civilization once the oil runs out.

And yes, Screaming Whatevers, we are heading towards a major population crash. (Environmental science is a bitch.) I rather think the fat rich white Americans will be the last to feel it, but then we can always dream, can't we?

Personally I look forward to whatever the name of my post union abode is, being apart of a coalition of the willing, to invade, conquer, and reeducate California.

We must destroy everything invented since the 'renaissance' aka the first Nabka and erect a new agrarian pre industrial society. If 95% of humanity is wiped out that can only be a good thing, as long as they're fat white Americans.

I've been saying this for years now. Historians will look back on the 1990's--the decade Communism was "defeated" and history "ended"--as an anomalous interlude. The demise of ideologically-fundamentalist capitalism was pre-destined the minute the USSR imploded.

The USA faces many of the same problems the USSR faced. Most importantly, people have stopped believing in the state ideology of democracy, freedom and free-market capitalism, as it's becoming increasingly clear that Americans possess neither.

The massive bailouts of the collapsing financial system have only accelerated the decline as people realize that the quasi-religious brand of capitalism in the US is actually an empty shell, designed to benefit the elites and rich who actually run the country--just like Communism turned out to be in the USSR.

I said to many people (and was completely ignored) that "capitalism" won't be far behind.

No matter what the system of economics and governance, we good old garden variety human beings are always the monkey wrench in the works.

When the government refuses to take human nature into account - in it's most basic form that given the opportunity and little chance of getting caught, a surprisingly large number of people, rich, poor, or middle class; workers, CEO's, or middle management; civilians, those serving in the military, politicians, even clergy will cheat each other and the system (even their own mothers, in many cases) - the society over which that government presides will eventually go through massive crises.

Worse, I'm not convinced that this bailout will restore the banking system. The problem is not the lack of money, but the lack of faith. See, the bankers all finally figured out that every other person they were borrowing from and lending to was lying just as much as they, themselves were.

They suddenly realized that nobody could believe anything anyone else was telling them. That's why the won't lend to each other right now. That's what this crisis is. It's a crisis of TRUST... the bankers and CEO's and investors discovered they can't trust each other.

What's really needed is a massive number of carefully-controlled audits so everybody can find out where the truth lies and start from there to tell each other the truth. Pouring more money in will just keep the liars, lying and allow the bubble to reinflate until it pops again when it's gotten even bigger.

will be in their element. From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

thank you, Central Brain.

...you don't respond to trolls (particularly with obvious names like "The Screaming Steam Hammers of Hate").

"Learned to love Soviet communism"? Where have I given evidence of that? Or anybopdy else here, for that matter? Oh, I guess you're just spicing up the dialogue here, but that's a bit much.

Actually, I grew up very conservative, believing in law-and-order, the duty of military service and hard work and all that. I became more-or-less middle of the road Mike Royko-ish because the Republican party, somewhere in the 1970s, turned so far right. The breaking straw was when Ronald Reagan looted American armories to sell 2,500 missiles to Iran, and then lied straight-faced about it on TV. "It was a small quantity of defensive weapons (note to Ron: in the arms trade, all weapons are "defensive") that would have fit in a single room" (he didn't say how big the room would have to be for 500 Hawk missiles and 2,000 TOW antitank missiles).

I think Garrison Keillor nailed it the other day when he said the Republican party used to be the party of gimlet-eyed bank examiners, practical, realistic men, who folowed the rules and acted as a reality check for liberals. And somewhere along teh way they learned that if they embraced belief in End Times and Bible-whomping and demonizing anybody who does something strange in teh bedroom and total lack of responsibility for the national finances, they would be rewarded with power. Lots of rich, ripe power.

Starve the rest.

The breakup of the US is long overdue. The Reds and their 30 percent "but I still think John McCain is the best solution" no-hopers can have their Christian theocracy, unregulated free market-taxpayer-supported economy, no fancy book-larnin' gut smarts and unbridled security state and be reduced to Afghanistan status within a decade.

The Blues, on the other hand, can go back to building the promise this nation once held to be a leader in the world.

Aren't you the folks who all learned to love Soviet communism when you were in high school? You would think this is the greatest thing ever.

I live in Norther California. I'd be happy to to have a Civil War do over only this time let the Confederacy secede but only if they promise to take Texas.

Granted, I thought it would be over stupid things like gay marriage and abortion, but still.

This isn't the first time on Salon recently that comparisons have been made between the US of today and the USSR of yore. This week's strip is brilliant, but way too close for comfort.

wow, I'd actually wish that last panel would come true except I live in a stinking red state... no change!

Upper Case:

А Б В Г Д Е Ж З И Й К Л М Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ъ Ы Ь Э Ю Я

Lower Case:

а б в г д е ж з и й к л м н о п р с т у ф х ц ч ш щ ъ ы ь э ю я

Я должен знать, я говорю русского (I should know, I speak Russian)

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