Reply #9: Spot on CCK.....................

[socialist_n_TN]

You know your history. In addition, the New Deal (and WWII) was the reason that we didn't wind up with a real socialist government. More Socialists were elected in the USA in the 30s than (I believe) at any time in history. Without the New Deal incorporating some socialist ideas, Socialism would have taken over at the ballot box during the 30s.

The only place I MIGHT disagree a little is your last paragraph about the stasis. I see how there could be RW dictatorship before stasis and then a reaction to that RW dictatorship. Change happens MUCH quicker now than it did back then. The quicker the change, the harder it is to keep society and politics locked in place without authoritarianism. I'm not predicting that it WILL happen this way, but I DO think that it COULD happen as easily as status quo.