It appears that the answer lies in the instinct for self preservation. Even more than bringing about their communist utopia, they want to keep themselves in their sine cures. Brown’s win seems to have shaken them into realizing that they might have to get JOBS, jobs for goodness sakes. Now we all know that simply means that they would become lobbyists, but in the coming days, the way the mood is turning, lobbyists may not be viewed with the greatest favor either. That could mean having to get real jobs and work for Pete’s sake. Perish the thought! Thus the IPP (Incumbent Protection Plan) of both parties swings into high gear now, with a dive towards the center. Everybody becomes a moderate, even Uncle Harry Reid, that nice old gentlement who always smiles at everyone (you do remember him, don’t you?). And sweet old Aunt Pelosi, who would not stuff anything down the throat of a fly, why she is up for re-election too, I do believe! Wonder of wonders, what that one ballot in Massachusetts did!

It is hard for a small party like the Libertarians to get the attention of the media. Until we can get good people in there, we are going to be in trouble.

If relevant, I lack a television. Maybe this has something to do with the difference in view, at least as regards the other news media.

I admit that your remark about the crystal ball embarrasses me. For me to tell readers, “I told you so,” is slightly bad manners, is it not?

I have no crystal ball of which I am aware. What I do have is (a) a traditionally Roman Catholic world view (not to be confused with some of the nonsense today’s U.S. Catholic bishops will express), (b) an observation that God seems to have been pleased to create the many tribes of mankind to differ from one another in important ways, (c) a general distaste for hypocrisy, (d) a temperament to allow most folks the benefit of the doubt, (e) a deep-set, prerational patriotism, and (f) family, work-associates and neighbors who have treated me remarkably well for a very long time. Thus I am who I am. The results are what you see.

Maybe I am a Polyanna. You must judge, but doom and gloom would easy for me to spread, whereas I really do feel that things are looking up, that the sky is brighter than in many a year—and, well, though it be arch to say it, that God in heaven, the very Lord of Hosts (as our Evangelical friends rightly never tire of reminding us), is still looking out for us. Such a feeling, I can explain only in part, but there it is.

I hardly know where to start, so perhaps it is best if I do not. I will simply say that I see almost none of the things that you see. I really wonder if things look that different when you live in your state, as compared to living in Iowa. Maybe I need to move to your state for a better view.

I would like to encourage you to write more often. I have missed you comments and really wished to hear what you had to say about the things that are going on. As far as the news media carrying a vigorous public debate about health care reform, I have to assume that you are joking. There is no other way to take that remark at all.