I couldn't resist..... here's part of my answer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Short_History_of_Progress

Good read. Rather bleak in some ways, but food for thought IMO.

VC: if things get really bad, I'll pack er up and live in my
Westy..... down by the wivah.

<tongue ever so slightly in cheek> ;)

Neil.

On Sat, Nov 8, 2008 at 1:16 PM, Allan Streib <streib@cs.indiana.edu> wrote:
> John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET> writes:
>
>> Why, then, for Pete's Sake, has this country been engaged in War of
>> one sort or another almost continually since 1776.
>
> Human nature.  I can't remember who said it, but there's a quote
> something along the lines of "the natural state of mankind is war"
>
> Allan
> --
> 1991 Vanagon GL