[OFB Cafe] lightening

[saki]

Peter Hollings top-posted:
> <snip>  The American
> way of life is being destroyed. <snip>We are
> managed like a herd of sheep, herded towards a goal established without
> our knowledge or consent.
> 
> Unless we break this cycle we will continue to function like serfs.
> 

Actually,  Peter, it was a joke (or at least, an attempt at a joke, 
prompted by the juxtaposition of Patrick's- to me- justified unhappiness 
with his expected medical cover, and his disire to go hunting).

However I don't think the "American Way of Life" (tm) is likely to be 
destroyed. There were no employee benefits in the building of the 
country until the 20th century (at least other than very small, very few 
schemes, affecting very few workers), and "the way West" was rugged 
individualism, not unionised, anonymous muscle.

I think America's strengths will continue, no matter where your cars and 
television sets come from.

In any case, comparative economic advantage will continue to dictate the 
way commerce works globally, in the same way we all look for bargains 
and low prices when shopping locally.

My tuppence worth!

Terence