One of the most interesting social experiments in recent centuries, I believe was the deportation of prisoners to Australia from Britain. It's fascinating to compare english speaking countries nowadays - and see the differences in people's character, aspirations, and wit. I personally think that Australia looks like one of the best places to live. I've started studying it recently through the fare provided by mass media broadcasters, and the video feed from their parliament. People in Australia seem to be caring, to be smart, they think of the good their community - rather than the individual. They are lovers of literature. Ethics are a profoundly important part of their discussions about social issues.

I was born and raised in the Usa, and I've spent nearly my whole life here... and I see folks in the Usa as being very dumb and selfish, by comparison. Looking at our mass media, you see what a farce conversation about important topics is, in the Usa. People may be wealthy here... and they do work hard - and they're very innovative, but for a person who is a deep thinker - or a left-wing idealist - I think life in Australia would be far better than life in the Usa.

So would it be true that the poor, the suffering, the ruffians and the discontent are society's greatest resource?

I've spent long hours in recent years at a link sharing site called reddit.com that attracts a lot of poor and discontent people. Discussions reek with sarcasm, mean-spirited attitudes, insults, and foulness. But, people are also very much smarter than most other folks. And they think, and they reassess, and they're passionate about what they are musing about.

I wonder if it would be true that social experiments that have been a bit longer in process - religions - have shown themselves to be successful, largely because they overtly reach out to the poor and the discontent.

There's something to be said for diamonds in the rough.