Hm.... think we can make "Clarkepunk" into a genre??Actually that's the last thing I'd want to do... at least by name. The who "punk" suffix has become an uncontrolled monster. The only thing worse would be a genre that took an SF/alternate history look at political scandals: "'Gatepunk". Or "Punkgate". Or "Gatepunkgate". Or.......That said... I'm with ya. I miss that bright future that we could almost touch. I've thought about the possible political outcomes next year... particularly what would happen if the GOP got control of the Executive and Legislative branches (they've already got the Judicial in their corner). If they could suddenly make all their mad dreams come true, would they do it - or would reality suddenly snap into focus and give them pause? It seems like each election cycle in the past 12 years has had more and more at stake - basically because one side sees one set of problems (climate, out of control military spending and a drained middle class) while the other side sees another set (too much taxes, government, and not enough God), with little ground in between. Each side sees the other as wanting to drive the car off the cliff. *sigh* I forget who said it, but one of the most sage observations I heard this year was a pundit's comment that we were now in a "Cold Civil War" in the U.S.My faith in humanity tells me things will get better.... but recent history and my experience with human nature tell me things 'll get worse before we get there. *sigh again*