Ken,

The story tells us what the protagonist felt but not much about what happened.

The loved one doesn't seem to offer much to love other than, perhaps, remembrances of the past.

Is the other side of love anger?

The problem I find with your plan is that it seems to be based on the assumption that there is something we can call good government, per se. But I'm afraid that's not true. In politics we have to address the question, good for whom? And unfortunately, what's good for me might not be good for the next guy -- or, at least, he may not think it's good for him. Certainly, I don't want to live in the kind of country George Bush wants. But I have to admit he has the right to push for his vision of the country as much as I do for mine. This being the case, it seems to me that getting corruption out of government isn't the most important issue. What we need is a way to get sense into it, and that can happen only if more people start paying attention to how government power is used. If I were formulating my dream party, the first plank in its platform would be to withdraw support from any politician who flattered the people and told them they were the font of wisdom. Right now, that's the main device being employed to turn our gaze away from actuality, which is a government devoted to imperialism abroad and oligarchy at home. As long as a majority of people can be manipulated into believing that the government respects them and is on their side, that's what politicians will try to do. And to do it, they need money. So I think we should work first towards an electorate that doesn't demand to be flattered with nationalistic claptrap. That may be just as pipe-dreamy as your scheme, but it perhaps, over time, it could have a chance of catching on. People have the ability to develop good taste. I don't think they can ever learn not to use money to chase after power.

I have always eaten just about anything. But I confess there have been two foods I've never quite been able to get down. One is liver and the other is hominy -- which I don't suppose people eat much any more. But I've known many people who love liver and their liking it has never bothered me. It's curious how many people enjoy being dogmatic about food, declaring it either good or bad without taking personal taste into account. I once knew a guy who didn't like cherries and said they were disgusting.

An interesting article. And you may be right. But evidence, I think, can support other analyses. Mr. Bush may well be under the influence of an obsession he doesn't fully understand. But, it seems to me just as likely he knows exactly what he's doing and why he's doing it.

Let's assume the Bush administration wanted a foothold in the Middle East, a place in which they would have free reign and from which they could militarily dominate the region. In that case, Iraq becomes a perfect target. It has an unpopular leader. It can easily be portrayed as violating U. N. resolutions. And most important of all, it is impotent as a military force. It presents no danger of offering effective resistance. So, why not go get it?

I can think of no reason -- that is, not from Bush's point of view.

Yours,
John Turner
jrturner@adelphia.net