wanderingphotographer

The Roman Empire, arguably the first real democracy (it started out that way anyway), fell from within. As I understand it, the leaders started to make decisions based on what was best for them, and not what was best for the people. The people had no say in the way the leaders ruled because they started electing people to lifetime terms, and then only approved people were allowed to vote.

Are we destined to the same fate here in the United States? When will our representatives start representing the people who elect them? Have we just simply become a nation of large Corporations buying representation?

My Brother and I are building a 30 foot sailboat. We are both in college and plan to sail from Florida to the Caribbean (St Thomas and St Croix) for pretty much the entire summer break during 2009.

A friend of mine said not to expect our girlfriends to want to come. She said that it would be "wierd." Does that make any sense?

Now, get the idea, this is a pretty big boat. It has a bathroom with shower, small kitchen area, two double bed cabins, and two 3 cusion sofas with a table between them that has wings that fold up to make a dinner table.

I am an engineer and have had a marine engineer double check all of the plans. The boat is being built well beyond the US standards.

I am trying to find a documentary that I believe was called "Rise of the Megachurch." I believe it was on A&E, the Discovery Channel, or the History Channel. It was a show about the increasing numbers of Evangelical Christian Churches and the size of these churches.

This is a serious question. I have found that people who supported President Clinton cannot admit he had any faults, and People who support President Bush cannot admit he had any faults. Worse, people who said "Support your President" under President Clinton are now speaking out against President Bush, and people who spoke out against President Clinton are now saying "Support your President" in regards to President Bush.

I feel that in this great system we have it is our duty as American's to questions are leaders no matter who the leader is. Blindly supporting a person of any party is irresponsible. Not man, or woman, is beyond reproach. This includes Presidents, Congressman, Senators, and Citizens alike.

Rather than putting down someones statement simply because they made it, why not get facts that rebut what they have said if you don't like what they said so much? I believe we still have freedom of speech at this time.

I sent this to a friend of 2 years and she freaked. She had some problems with a couple of her friends ignoring her. I just wanted to say that I wasn't like that. Did I mess up?

If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it just for you

And share with you it's beauty, on the days you're feeling blue

If I could make a mountain you could call your very own

A place to find serenity, a place to be alone

If I could take your troubles, I would toss them in the sea

But all these things I'm finding are impossible for me

I cannot make a mountain, or catch a rainbow fair

But let me be what I know best, someone for you who's always there

Standing by, every day

Here to help you find your way

Just being there through thick and thin

All just to say, you are my friend.

I have a friend whom I fell in love with. We have talked and agreed that things would not work out between us in a relationship. She now has a boyfriend that hates me entirely. He has sent me emails and has called my house harassing me and then denies this to her, even when I have traced the IP of the emails to his ISP.

She swears that I am her greatest friend, but she doesn't want him to be mad at her. There have been times when she would not talk to me for 10 days or so. Later she explains this and says that he was mad that she was talking to me and she didn't want him to be mad at her. I asked her if it would be easier if I left. She cried and said please don't. I feel really bad about the entire situation. Would it be better if I cut off contact with her? Would it be better for her to not have the issues with him regarding me? She is convinced that she loves him, and I wouldn't want to interfere with that. I just want her to be happy. What should I do?