Re: [FT universe]

You wrote: 

>I'm intrigued as to how the ESU would differ from the NAC if we 
eliminate >old communist economic  policies from the equation.	Do the 
secret police >hold sway? Freedoms are more restricted?  The NAC being 
a more class >oriented soceity has it devolved back to the old ideal of 
an aristocracy >and their cronies running things?  

Depends.  If they pay lip service to Marxism in any way, then they are 
convinced they have a historic destiny to conquer the entire human 
race.  And while today we see a blossoming of economic liberty in 
certain carefully restricted areas (both by industry and geographical 
area), we are still not seeing private land ownership, privatization of 
heavy industry, removal of certain price controls, or any polical 
liberalization in any way.  They still use rebuilt T-55s as riot 
control vehicles and throw students in prision for making speeches.  
They still consider torture to be a normal way of collecting evidence 
of various crimes.  They still engage in slave labor.  At least they've 
given up cannibalism.

John M. Atkinson