WHITHER "VIRTU"???

With the impending Fiscal Cliff, real or imagined, one returns to Machiavelli's basal political question: How does one sponsor Virtu? Virtue, in a republican polity, is the consitution of order and progress. Above all, however, Republicanism is defined by the principle of Civic Participation. _____ Our leaders have truly - (squarely and succintly) - failed us. But we cannot call defeat in as much as we cannot claim victory. Republicanism is Struggle... _____ Without the struggle of arms, Republicanism is the struggle of conscience. Dear leaders, choose (and perform) the right thing.....