we get a post dropped in here with no other purpose but to remind us how clever and virtuous some businessman is, or how stupid and evil anyone who dares oppose or criticize him must be. They're written as if there were an audience (other than those of us who respond) outside keeping score and passing judgement, giving their blessing and approval to the poster's courage and wit when he stands up to power and takes on the evildoers.

The frequency and snarkiness of this propaganda bombardment suggests it is merely that: ideological propaganda. But the fact that there is no outside audience or scorekeeper on this barren outpost tells us that this constant barrage of "Ahas!", "Gotchas, "Take That's" and "So Theres" is not meant to instruct or inform, or even persuade, but to reassure the insecure poster that he is right, that everyone else is either a villain or a fool, deluded by sinister forces who only want to plunder his loot. The poster gets to congratulate himself on his icy logic, folksy common sense, penetrating insight and devastating wit. And he gets to justify and validate himself, to himself.

This isn't about discussing politics or economics, or even communicating an opinion or persuading someone. No one here opposes free enterprise, no one here hates business, we're just capable of seeing that like any other social activity, it can be taken over by thugs and bullies, criminals and opportunists, abused and misused by cynical and unscrupulous people using their ideological get-out-of-jail-free cartes blanches to get away with common ordinary theft and extortion. This pirate management krewe is not a corps of entrepreneurial heroes, they're a posse of common criminals. Recognizing that and pointing out the obvious doesn't mean you're a communist. But refusing to even consider that when its right in front of your eyes might just mean you're a fascist, or at the very least, on their payroll.

No, this is all about feeling better because I "showed them", I "put them in their place", I "wiped the floor with them". It's about a desperate plea to be recognized, to be justified, to be believed, no matter who gets insulted or abused. It's all about "See, I'm right and they're not, and everything bad that's happened to me is all their fault because "I got the last word". Or in this case, the first shot.

It's all anomalous behavior and conspiracy theory, served up like religious fanaticism: "Please tell me I'm right. Please reassure me. Please tell me I'm not just making this all up because it helps me feel better."

No. When you go invade another country, it doesn't matter how good you think your reasons are, you have to expect the inhabitants to shoot back.