>While I have indicated reservations about the claim, the fact that
>"these actions" are being publicized could be evidence _for_ the claim
>of an improvement in "civilization." Correctly so, perhaps. My
>reservations concern the ridiculousness of the adverb (such extravagance
>weakens the claim) and the ideological role which the terms "civilized"
>and "progress" or "progressive" play in popular culture in the u.s.
>(Those who think culture important should take such questions seriously.
>But perhaps culture isn't important to politics.)
Like I said the other day, I've got Noam's private email address, if you'd like to take it up with him.
Doug