A student of history will notice that with the French revolution the civilized word started the march to freedom, and to empowering of people. With the advent of modern democracies we were supposed to reach another important milestone on the road to social justice and the well being of the ordinary citizens. Unfortunately, even as the quality of living for the masses in western democracies continued to improve the evolution of the democracies took the world to the crossroads where the wrong turn was made leading to the reversal of progress and gradual but inevitable loss of freedom and power for the ordinary people.

The mistakes of democracies are essentially of the same nature as the mistakes of the communism. Either system failed to appreciate the importance of institutions and their vital role in creating the might of the nation and people. The communists didn't trust the institutions and were afraid of their independence and authority. Under communist regime the institutions got destroyed by over control and disempowerment. In western democracies the institutions die with the death of neglect and abandonment.

The nation must build and nurture its institutions. In turn institutions build and nurture science, knowledge, services, common wealth and arts. All of these are indispensible to the well being of the nation. None can be cared of by the politicians or corporations.

Institutions are the nuisance and distraction to the elected politicians. They hate the job of the responsible custodian of the nation's most valuable treasure. They are themselves pointing out how lousy they are as custodians, and advocate one single remedy, privatization.

If politicians are incompetent and neglectful custodians, the corporations are like foxes in the hen's pen. Corporations don't understand the wealth of the nation. They only understand the wealth of their top brass and the bottom line of the company, which, by the way, is only as important as the means to secure increase in wealth of the company top officers.

In the US there are few institutions that are well managed and thriving. Strangely enough, the surviving institutions are those that are needed to keep the cogs and wheels of the capitalist engine greased. The Federal Reserve Board and the stock market are the most outstanding examples.

Here is the long list of "other" institutions that didn't make it to the Fortune 500. National Health Service, Science, Education, Public Transportation, National Industries.

Liberal capitalism and the modern democracy are the biggest threat to the well being of the planet today. Democracy is gradually turning into a tool with which the oligarchy deems the governments impotent. People vote but their votes are meaningless. It cannot be any other way. Without institutions the government cannot deliver anything. Is my congressman going to pay my medical bills out of his own pocket? Is he going to offer me employment? I don't think so. So what difference does it make whom I elect?

Democratically elected government makes the mockery of the word "govern". The overwhelming majority of the laws passed by the Congress has something to do with either raising or spending the money. Re-distribution of money is the main preoccupation of the government and nothing can change that. Conservatives protesting the redistribution of wealth by the government are hypocrites. It is their interest and intent that the government does nothing more than playing with the money. Most of the time the money re-distribution benefits the rich and powerful, and it benefits them big time. So why cry when once in a while the minimum wage gets increased or welfare benefits extended?

About the only distraction from the money game in Congress is occasional issue involving emotions, usually with the religious subcontext. Abortions, cloning, death penalty, anti drug crusade serve well their role of masking the government utmost uselessness in fulfilling the role the government is supposed to carry out.

All great empires in our history excelled in building lasting institutions. The legions and laws of ancient Rome, The Academy of Science in England, France and Germany, the Geographic Society and the Navy in England. The humanity was capable of inventing and building great things. But that was before democracy got invented.

Both communism and modern democracy inherited systems rich in powerful institutions. Both proceeded swiftly to destroy the invaluable inherited endowment. It is scary to think about where this course is leading us to. The invasion of barbarians and the end to our civilized world? Perhaps.

If by some miracle we suddenly understood the importance of instututions and started demanding that the government stops playing the money game and engages in building of the institutions how should we start the task? Here are the first steps. Start with the National Industries. They produce wealth of the nation and cut short the silly money game. The wealthy nation does not depend on the money. The wealthy nation becomes independent of the Wall Street and big corporations. The wealthy nation diminishes the power of money to spread corruption.

The second step is to take back the Science and Education. Education belongs to the most talented and not to the rich. Scientific discoveries belong to the nation and not to the corporate treasury.

The third step is to take back the Health Services. Health Services are much more than treating the sick and building hospitals. Health Services are to secure the nation's health, do research and work on extending the life span and productive years of individuals.