The famine that occurs in North Korea today is of Korea's own making - through the 1960's North Korea has a powerful economy, as Russian and Chinese aid dried up, it nose dived.

Today North Korea spends 35% of the GNP on the military, and despite promises to shift resources towards light industry and agricultural, they continue to focus on their military.

In Russia, Stalin killed far more of his own country men than Hitler killed throughout the entire war.

In Cambodia Pol Pot killed millions - anyone with glasses (who could therefore read), even train conductors were eliminated.

In China the government is engaged with putting down revolt in the occupied Xiang-xang province, while also repressing the Tibetans, and stripping away the democracy in Hong Kong - and they continue to maintain that they have the right to use military force against the democratic Taiwan. And we won't even touch the millions that the Great Chairman Mao was able to knock off with his illfated plans.

No, Steve, communism is no better than "American Imperialism," except that it has managed to kill quite a few more, I'd wager.

Regardless, my original thesis holds - government is the root of evil - not capitalism.

And since communism requires a powerful centralized government, I'm afraid I'm just not comfortable with it... I'm not even comfortable with the amount of power our federal government has slowly been usurping since the Civil War.

And Denialsan, I won't disagree that the police certianly violate rights more often than they should - but at least local governments can retain a modicum of control over the police forces. In most other countries it is a national force accountable only to the national government.

I think there are plenty of problems in this country, the problem is that who we blame generally goes after the wrong people - citizens in this country have far more control than they perhaps realize - but with less than 50% even bothering to vote, it is quite apparent that their apathetic attitude shows they don't quite mind the current state of repression.

If the Sheriff's department is so bad, why does Mark Tracy keep getting re-elected, if the democrats and republicans are so bad, why do they keep getting re-elected, if Walmart is so bad, why do people shop there? I don't shop there, I hate Walmart, but... What can we do, enough people apparently shop there.

Honestly, the root of all problems in the United States can be explained with the simple fact hat people in this country have lost their since of Civic duty, they are happily ignorant and apathetic, happily unquestioning.

As for the police being merely a tool of oppression, here are the call logs for the SC Sheriff. I have a hunch the Sheriff spends more time responding to these calls rather than breaking down the doors of the local communist affiliate and oppressing the unions...

Calls for Service by Sheriff's Office Beat - Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, 2003

Area

# Calls for Service
Miscellaneous
3,706

North SLV
6,479

South SLV
8,140

Live Oak
18,428

Soquel
8,874

Aptos
10,681

Watsonville
7,583

Total
Unincorporated
Areas of County
63,891