i think we re entering a period when it s less obvious to other governments that the u.s. is in less of a position to play a deterring role. that doesn t raise the risk of someone saying, let s start a nuclear war. i think that s highly unlikely. it s what we learn from this story of human cultural evolution. while we can t wish war out of existence like the song suggests, we are looking to respond to changes in the environment, and that s what really makes large-scale wars a bad, bad thing for everybody. thank goodness we can end on an optimistic note. pleasure to have you here. thank you. whatnext up, what s wrong w western politics? my friend has a diagnosis and a prescription. we ll be back in a moment.