Maggie's Farm

Over the course of our history as an English speaking country, established by what historians agree were some of the brightest minds of any age to come together in one place at one time we have been unique.

Beneficiaries of the Enlightenment it was not unusual that those who lead this country into nationhood could read and write Greek and Latin, knew of the most contemporary sciences and astronomies and were for the most part religious.

Fighting initially for simply representation in the English parliament there developed a movement for independence. A war the Revolutionaires "could not win" went forward against the greatest power then on Earth. The largest armada in history was dipatched to our shores with tens of thousands of troops and mercenaries to quell the uprising, but we prevailed. Manifest destiny was the only logical course to pursue given the wars of proximity our forefathers had witnessed and so that was fulfilled and an American culture developed modelled along white English tradition. Soon other European cultures migrated to the New World.
It was the opportunity to be free under inalienable rights and make change under a framework flexible enough to accomodate peaceful, legal, change. A Benthemite theory of the greatest good for the greatest number but with safeguards for the few.
We warred to right the wrongs initially built into our system. Those wrongs were a necessary but unsustainable compromise made to initially form the United States but right prevailed for mankind.
But no nation can sustain it's heritage under an assault unchallenged, by a government involved sub rosa in dissolving it's very unifying character. This is where we are today and only ill can come of it.
We do not say, do not come. But we do say follow the ways we have fought together over the centuries to establish, the ways of our laws and culture. Do not come to feed on us but rather with us. These things we can and always have done, but in the fullness of debate in the light, not in the dwellings of the whispered word and the shadows of the darkness.
We, as a people have not sacrificed our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers throughout our history to return to being ruled, not represented. Those who would do so can expect but one outcome.....civil war. We the people will not be ruled ever again, but represented always by the just laws we place in our social contract.

I wrote that.

I thought throwing in Jeremy Bentham was a nice touch since one usually hears more of Locke, Mill, and Montesquieu in tracts such as my offering. Bentham is far to overlooked as a contemporary of the others and his influence was notable.

LM,

Thank you for the kind words. We're in a bit of a pickle.

Sean,
I believe there are more derivatives to this calculus than either side is willing to admit to. The stakes are obviously very high. They know the stakes are high or they wouldn't be fighting as hard as they can against an almost universally negative electorate on this issue.
In our system however you can ALWAYS identify the one derivative that is the most important one that both sides want, POWER.
Should this go forward it will clear the decks for the North American Union and the SPP to go through in a more legitimate fashion than simple Presidential edict. It just so happens that the alignment of the derivatives on this issue will help a president avoid an impeachable overstepping of authority and allow the Democrats control of the government for decades, perhaps scores of years to come. That means Hillary gets her universal healthcare, the Democrats will reconfigure the Supreme Court and the lower courts as well as Congress itself, and big business gets very cheap labor. The next way we can affect this is in 2008 during the elections and the powers that be know that so they want it NOW. They know this is their last hope. Whether our voice at this point is strong enough to stop it is problematic, as we thought we had it defeated only to see it resusitated by the "leadership" of both parties.
Hang on, it should be an interesting unfolding that will no doubt lead to some very unintended consequences. Such is way with derivatives. Just read the history of the derivative company, Long Term Capital Management.

George Soros, the king of derivatives, when asked the question before Congress, under oath, how derivatives worked he responded, "I don't really know" Well, we are entering that territory.