One “lesson” put forth by the Straussian waltzers, for example, is that “might is always right”, another is that, “…there are no rights … except the right of the powerful to dominate the weak”.

These are, likely, not the lessons to which you refer, being more the mythology of rationalization before complete “success” is attained.

Then there are the lessons of the “pragmatists”, sometimes given to “incremental” notions, but almost always concerned with the status of the quo … before, during and after “success” is attained. We might view the currently popular Sunstein axiom as an example of this type of thinking, perhaps?

Possibly, the wiser (though not totally wise, being human, after all) Founders of this nation considered some lessons which may yet have some merit, today?

What might those lessons be?

Or perhaps you refer to the lessons learned by those segments of the American population who are black or “native” American? Or people in other nations who find themselves in similar “positions”?

The case, generally of the “average” American, today, is closer to “being sold down the river at the whim of the masters” than benefiting from some egalitarian nonsense which pretends a “level playing field”, in which all have the same opportunities, but some choose not to avail themselves of said opportunities, being “lazy” (or whatever else frightened, self-serving white bigots might wish us to “believe”).

What is another “lesson”?

That the powerful will never, ever, willing give up an inch of their “prerogatives”?

That “one should not strike until the iron is hot”?

That the dispossessed should “bide” their time and quiet any rumblings in their bellies, as it is annoying to their betters, and they must always know their “place”.

You see, we are fast approaching cliche?

But, I am certain, you refer to loftier understandings than I have mused upon and I hope you will not mind sharing the lessons and insights you to which you refer?

No doubt, such lessons and insights as you allude to are familiar territory for some here, and it would be a great service to the rest of us to become acquainted with the “geography” of these lessons and insights.

An understanding of the great cycles of civilization, of the profound progress that various forms of governance and wealth accumulation have showered upon the species through time or “history”, as well as the best and most effective means of “change”, would be most welcome, at least to me, and I should hope that some others, here, might agree.

Though perhaps this is not the proper forum for such learning?

And possibly, such learning should never be shared “publicly” but passed around behind closed doors and only by those who “understand”?

I guess that is what true “leaders” do?

You see, timbo, although as deep an understanding of history as is possible, should be our “guide”, from my perspective, after a mere sixty-two years of circling old Sol, it appears that each moment is unique, historically and humanly speaking, and that it is the striving for justice and equality which is the means by which truly worthwhile change may occur, that the deeply felt need of humans to live free of the “encumbrance” of hoary tradition, rapacious greed, or vicious destruction fueled by the whim of mere ambition, is the thread, the very slender thread, upon which such “progress” as we human beings may make, must hang.

This is something I’ve been worried about. a lot.
This militarization is seen everywhere (and it is the worst here in DC):
-increased #s of police presence
-style of uniform, i.e. combat helmets and shields (not like friendly neighborhood police shirts of the 1970s)
-visible weapons (i.e., machine guns)
-quicker threats (I got stopped on Capitol Hill and told my trunk would be searched what list would I be on then?)
-presumed guilt (like the Gates case!)
-bollards and checkpoints everywhere, fences restricting access.
(Have to share my own little protest campaign here: I work in urban planning writing technical reviews for construction and development plans: lately, I’ve been adding for every project an open space area and slapping a public access easement on it. I’m praying we get a first amendment case for one of those!)

I’m wondering if these militarization attitudes seep upward from the prison staffs? prisoner abuse is OK?
Remember those MP and underlings at Abu Gharib? They were prison workers in western MD and PA.

How slippery is the slope and we are sliding on down to complete immorality. Some Christians, huh? Those right-wingers and their church going.

http://www.cato.org/research/s…..pub_list=3

Radley Balko is one I remember for producing some very informative material on the topic at hand.

@110 Deutch being so worried about what happens with classified info is pretty rich, what with his laptop situation, but Woolsey is really an interesting name on the list. I guess anyone who focused really closely on KSM and his torture would pretty much have to focus on Danny Pearl’s murder and people who started him on the paths that ended so horrifically.