gee Doug, isn't this the kind of thing that starts someone down the road to neo-conservatism or the 'socialism' of the *Dissent* crowd at least. ..maybe hanging with the *Bad Subjects* folks - and their knowingly playful and self-reflexive readings - can prevent that from happening.. .and what was it that Gramsci said about 'pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will?' (I think someone said it before G but I can't remember who it was)...Michael Hoover