In the June Newsletter, Point of View Article:  SO, I ASK AGAIN: WHERE ARE WE GOING?  my question then was, “Where were we going as a war economy?" Since then, a mere two months ago, our domestic economy is now headed for collapse. I, for one, as I stated in the beginning of this administration’s rise to power, am feeling my own personal crunch. At least the last time I was in this kind of vise, I was young and healthy enough to recover my losses but I was not able to forge ahead enough to create a buffer against another Republican onslaught such as we are faced with today.

So, I ask again: Where are we going? What has happened to our economy now?

Greed? Yes! Corporate responsibility? No!  What has this man, whose party had accused our previous president of coming to the White House with dirty hands, done? How about his record of cashing in on family influence, insider trading, running with con men, and stealing the taxpayers blind? Can you write all that on a fancy backdrop, George? Oops! Excuse me! I made a solemn promise to call him Mr. President or Mr. Bush!

With corporate scandals dominating the headlines, progressive pundits are watching with glee as President Bush tries vainly to distance himself from his longtime allies among the business elite. But those on the left who are busy exulting in the Bush administration's discomfort should take a lesson from history.

Corruption can sink governments, but it doesn't necessarily float reform. The market's bubble has burst, and we'll soon see how much tensile strength the Bush bubble has left.

Moreover, his inner circle and their collective lack of business ethics provide us with daily revelations about Bush. And each week, the nation's newspapers come forward with unremitting investigations of Bush's slick, slimy history of deal making and favor-taking -- a record that is easily matched by that of Dick Cheney.

This roaring of hitherto stifled sentiments is healthy and welcome, as overdue sanity always is, but it's not enough.

It's not enough to beat up on George W. Bush, the whiny rich boy who, thanks to other people's money, oiled his way into power. It's not enough to have a few old-time left-wing religionists to flail away at capitalism's 'inherent flaws,' as if some more fruitful economic system were really on offer. What is worth considering is what kind of capitalism we are to have. We know now -- if we didn't know before -- what unbridled management looks like. We know the depths of corruption to which it can subject not only employees and stockholders but also the citizenry and, often, much of the rest of the world.

What we don't know, at least not yet, is what a more decent system would look like. Would we have the same ills now if Al Gore had not lost his bid for the presidency in 2000 by the 500 votes that swung Florida to the other side? Much to my dismay, I would have to answer yes. The tragedy of 9-11-2001 was a long time in the planning and was inevitable. The Middle East eruption was long overdue and even a current events high school student could see that one coming! And the corporate corruptions were a long time in the making, making the Microsoft’s antics look like a kindergarten’s playroom, and poised for eruption no matter which party was at our nation’s helm.

So, hang in there, America! We’re in for a long, white-knuckled ride!