Well, Louis, consider all what I am telling as newcomer's remarks. I know about facts that you listed and I agree with you almost on everything except that it is possible in the nearest future to "reverse these trends": as far as I know, the majority of citizens support the administration.Yuri - You've been watching too much MSNBC! These east cosat networks have an agenda - but it's certainly not ours.
These networks told us that Iraq (for sure) had WMD's - well where are they - and if we can't trust em on that point where can we trust em. The purpose of a poll is to get those who are afraid to make there own decision side with who the status quo. They want you to jumb on board. They want you to think they are doing work for an authority beyond space and time.
Remember elementary school and the lessons on decision making. Remember "glittering generalities","flag waving", and "jumping on the bandwagon"? If you feel good getting sucked in - go with it - however - life is too short not to think for yourself.
You need to start listening to the foreign press - or at least - the news on your local college radio network. Fair and balanced is a joke - MSNBC is happy with the administration - the suit was dropped. How about Time Warner and Murdick (Faux News) - look at what Colon Bowells son (FCC charman) did - he gave the big distributers a free pass on our (your's too!) bandwidth.
Make you're own decisions - don't choose based on who you think will emerge as a winner - in a couple of thousand years we will all be fossilized worm feces anyway.
Who has profited:
1) MS - Law suit dropped (thanks MSNBC).
2) Carlyle Group - Dubya's dad's defense brokerage
3) Media outlets - Our secreatry of state's son gave away
OUR bandwidth.
4) Israel - 17 Billion in loan guarantees - thats enough to run the state budgets of four Arkansas sized states (meanwhile my libraries are closed on weekends and my property taxes have gone up).
Who lost:
You
Me
Our descendants
SET RANT OFF
Imagination is more important than knowledge