You're a fascinating guy Mr. Mountain, I'll give you that. And your worldview is, I think, uniquely American. At least I am unaware of any other culture- except perhaps Australia- where the ideology of self-reliance, and the inherent suspicion of the motives of others is so pervasive. It is the legacy left us by the Puritans I suspect.

That said, I don't think I ever said that 'government holds all the answers for all the people' or stated my ' abiding faith in government', or however you put it. No one living thru the nightmare of the Bush Presidency, no sane person anyway, could seriously make that statement.

I find your rigidity and your orthodoxy to be kind of an affectation; a conceit if you will. You live in a country that has given you paved roads, a public education, free libraries, public health, a fire department to come help you when your house catches fire, and yes ... when you have a heart attack they will still treat you even if you don't pay for Medicare.

In short, despite your disdain of the social order- the social contract - you benefit from the sacrifices that others made, and make, and choose to live in a barricaded bunker of your own mind, confusing socialism with fascism, and a moderately progressive social agenda with slavery and the Communist Manifesto.

PS. I looked up 'demicide' at your suggestion:

1. demicide N. Describes events in which someone injured him- or herself notably while doing something rather stupid. Used like "suicide," but for events which were not lethal (perhaps by a stroke of luck). Generally also only used when the injury was sustained as a consequence of an intentional act, rather than sheer accident following a somewhat amusing streak of bad luck.

"Mike committed demicide by attempting to stand up on his bike pedals as he went over the speed bump. He was fortunate to have survived the event, but his friends later wondered if he had a death wish, or was merely being an idiot".

I guess I don't know what you're referring to when you say 'demicide'. It sounds like the Darwin Awards ...