All you need to read is the books which comprise the History of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant - the catchall primer in history and culture for the flying monkey. They are entertaining once you get into them. They seem long but Durant does a fine job of keeping to the meat of the matter.

Rousseau is covered adequately. The net will also fill you in quickly.

I would prefer they addressed conservatives as tin men rather than as flying monkeys. Flying monkeys weren't all too swift. Tin men appear cold on the outside but are always protective and conceal hearts of gold. Besides, the tin man symbolizes the future! Robotics, hardly existant in 1938 but introduced in the Worlds Fair and hard work and industrial efforts are required to create a tin man.

Elektro - a Westinghouse robot at the 1939-40 NYWF

I am always surprised at how many people want to throw away our progress in a self-sustaining guilt trip. The progress of MILLIONS of minds that made the USA the most advanced nation on earth. We are the world's superpower deservedly - we earned our position by selfless acts, freedom and a dedication to technological progress!

When one sees the optimism our nation mustered while europe was in chaos and Stalin was barbarically executing millions, it is simply enthralling!

Look at the sign on the wall "Yesterday world without electricity". We used to rejoice in our progress and remind folks how life was prior to US progress. The US thorough minds like Tesla, Edison, etc. made power and electricity available to the world.

Now progress, and we, are accursed as an evil thing by small minds who wish to return to the dark ages - or wish to keep others impoverished and without technology now that they have their share.

Here's another parting shot...

All this US based progress over 62 years ago helped bring about the modern world. Those who reject the US - not ironically are the MOST BACKWARDS NATIONS with the MOST SUFFERING on earth.

The US rules the WORLD!*

SDAI-Tech1

*Jingoism at its best! As you can tell I want to rile some peoples sensibilities.