Quite a compelling read.
It's not a superfical "bad Dick Cheney" story.
Midway, the bit about Wyoming, from what I've picked up living here for a few years, is spot on.
All this sort of reminds me of the hippies is a very wierd way. That is cranky idealists (regardless of what their ideals look like) can get so insular, turned in on themselves, that with the right set of events, it all gets very wrong within a decade or so.
Thinking of the neocons also, disaffected hawkish democrats.
Yes they existed before caricature politics became a very damaging art form helped by 24/7 tabloid news needing something to say to lure viewers and bamboozle advertisers.
Then there's the whole Hearst-like spooky side to it all.
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1597226,00.htmlThere's the link.
The lesson I take away from it is it's not about knowing the most, or knowing the right thing to do, but if people are willing to submit themselves to the entire political process of checks and balances that characterize the American experiement.
Though I'm very much in favor of knowing the most, and knowing the right thing to do.
Republic or Democracy. Of course we're a bit of both. And when the pedulum swings both sides have their weaknesses.
All the Best,
hap