<p>The essays in this volume originally appeared over a period of some years in <em>Voice</em> magazine. All were published well before the global financial turmoil of October 2008 to which all are linked. Other essays in <em>Voice</em> covered a variety of topics but those appearing here developed a common theme a belief that representative democracy has not just outlived its usefulness but has become a danger to the survival of humanity itself</p>