re: #64 Obdicut

Really? I haven’t seen much proof of that. Can you explain what makes you think that?

Having read that revolutions tend to start when conditions are improving, I grant that my assertion is not clearcut. Otoh, I also read that the Chinese leadership is trying hard to keep the economy growing in order to prevent popular unrest. I persist in the attitude that, all else being equal, a growing pie should be easier to redivide than a shrinking one.

As for the Gilded Age: Yes, Reconstruction was shameful. At the same time, the country was attracting waves of immigrants.