>>That's in theory too. I don't see any practicable way of having a third party here - it's a vicious circle. And even if the web may lay technical grounds for direct democracy (how about a daily referendum on issues, vote via your browser or cell phone?), I don't see it happening in any future here. Refactoring? By the time people wish for one, it will already be too bad, probably beyond repair.
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>I think the refactoring is an on-going process. The very imperfection of it all allows for progress despite imbalances.

I don't see that as refactoring, more of adjustment on the fly. Refactoring would, IMO, entail changes in the design and even framework code.

>American society is fluid, to say the least. I used to read a lot of Adam Smith and I tend to agree that people acting in their own self-interest will ultimately make decisions that benefit all, as long as government can create stability. Hard to have markets if people are shooting at each other. The amazing thing to me is always how little of that has gone on here. ( I guess I am an optimistic cynic < bg >

That's individualism. Don't need a civil war when you got so many guns around - people can just shoot without any need to get organized about it (coming from a... just cynic ;).