I think future historians will write that the midterm elections of 2006 were the most important in American history. Had the results gone the other way, either through scaring voters or outright corruption (here, here) , we could probably kiss our Constitution good bye, and settle instead for an elective Caesarism supported by massive corruption, or domestic violence. Signing statements, the assault on habeas corpus (here, here, here and here ) torture as a official part of American policy (here, here, here, and here) the “Bush Doctrine” of aggressive war, the indefinite seizing of even American citizens, eliminating sections of our government once they began doing their job at catching criminals allied with the Republican Party (for one example, here, here and here) , and unprecedented lying (anyone needing links on this one needs to ask themselves whether they really love their country – but here’s one even the most sociopathic right winger may have trouble explaining away) all showed steady escalation from the time the Republicans took hold of the Presidency, House, and Senate. They had raised the stakes so high the country could no longer afford for them to hold power.

Now decent Americans have representatives in Washington who can use the power of supoena to finally get to the truth. Rome had its Cataline Conspiracy. This may be ours. Hopefully, unlike the Romans, we will be goaded into making the changes we need to make sure our free society will not be able to be so threatened again. The Romans did not, and they ended up with Caesar. In the process we need to pay attention to efforts by the radical right and corporate oligarchs to undermine our efforts, but that task will be far easier than fighting against a one party state. Soon, I think the Republican coalition will splinter due to its own internal incoherence and depravity, and the party’s decent elements will have the chance to pick up the pieces. I hope so.

And increasingly I will return to the issues I really love exploring – those dealing with the environment, emergent order, spirit, and increasing human freedom and well-being rather than fighting for their survival. From here on I anticipate that current events will play a smaller part on this site.