And it wasn't, quite obviously, possible for Russia to skip any steps. I read somewhere the other day that there are something like 13,000 families with more personal wealth than 20 million families in this country. Sounds about right. Spoke to a client the other day, a good friend as well as a client, and I said that I thought that computer technology had been a "net negative" on society. He was surprised I said that, even more that I meant it. When he said, "But look at the wealth that has been generated by widespread use of computer technology," I said, "Yes. It's been a good ride - for the winners. But suppose you aren't one of the winners. Are you better off because a Fanuc robot can put you and two of your peers out of work forever?" Imo, the embrace of computer technology will hasten a revolution. A society cannot withstand all the "excess labor" that automation generates, nor can it long tolerate the polarization, extreme polarization, that arises.

bcnu after the bloodshed (I hope),
Mikem