The rest is the list

[Mike Weaver]

I'll second that, Kurt.
Whether P remains a political writer of relevance remains to be seen. M&D 
for all its artistry and humanity has not, for me, ever been more than the 
sum of its parts. GR is a zeitgeist novel which may never be surpassed this 
side of the supercession of capitalism. I don't agree with those who are 
saying that GR is a Cold War novel. IMO it goes with Marx's 1844 
manuscripts, and the works of Gramsci and Chomsky as a signpost to the 
horrors and illusions of this particular epoch. The end of the Cold War was 
the end of the first major challenge to capitalism, not the ultimate 
triumph as Fukayama and allies had it.
	My focus of interest since I was a teenager in the late 60s England has 
been U.S. culture and politics. Watching the U.S. American Empire develop 
out of the 1914-45 wars has been a key part of my political development. In 
all honesty the only reason I continue to read this list is as a means of 
sampling a range of mainly U.S. political/philosophical opinions (and 
occasionally engaging with them).

	Like a river the list meanders its way across a valley floor, floods, 
landslides and the simple passage of time altering its course this way and 
that, the biodiversity changing in response to internal and external 
factors. In recent times the (contributers) list has become an utterly male 
preserve, aggressive attributes an advantage, and with that the ascendancy 
of imperialist assumptions is not surprising. The fascist/Bush supporter 
arguments are a red herring IMO - the average expressed opinion on the list 
has moved right, but I would be loth to suggest that particular individuals 
held a consistent position.

Whoever Barbara is she isn't Doug and is most likely a he. Monica is likely 
to be Terance and so may be publicdomain - Terance having long displayed a 
split personality, this only makes it public.
Monica -monicker - St Augustine's mother, or is it from the Greek 
-solitary/alone. Belevan -ancient word for belief. The only believer is it? 
Joycean artistry reduced to cryptic crossword compilation!

As an affectation the use of female pseudonyms by men on the list is deeply 
reactionary as it invites suspicion to be visited on the contributions of 
any women attempting to join the discussions. Come on Barbara, get out from 
behind the mask - you don't need it. Terance - your punning is fun but your 
affectations are shite.

The question here is whether collectively we wish to acknowledge the 
unhealthy state of affairs and try steering the flow of interchange on to a 
more welcoming course. Or not.
	
TTFN
Weavercreature - off work with a broken hand -obviously too much time to 
spare...