"As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless."
President Abraham Lincoln, Nov 21, 1864, in a letter to Col. William F. Elkins - Ref: The Lincoln Encyclopedia, Archer H. Shaw (Macmillan, 1950, NY)
~:~
Dear President Lincoln,
Your suspicions were prophetically on the mark.
It's taken a while, but destruction of the Republic by the wealthy class is well under way circa 2008, and the common good means absolutely nothing to the majority of them.
Prejudices are played upon shamelessly on every side and no one is immune from character assassination in what passes for presidential campaigning - with election outcomes decided by rich puppetmasters, not by the people.
Mr. Lincoln, you've never heard of the place, but Dubai's siren call is in their ears - and hubris, and lust for power and gold are deeply embedded within their hearts.
Can't tell you how sorry I am that we let the rot get this far in spite of your best hopes for our nation, a nation for which you and many others have sacrificed so dearly.
Sincerely,
Jude
image credit goes to Currier & Ives
