Dear Despots,

You are not doing well. History is not rewarding might over right. In fact, the numbers are really against you. In 1776 representative democracy was given its first opportunity to govern a modern nation. Today, three-quarters of the world's governments are representative democracies.

And the record on your side, since then..............

Louis XVI..........off with HIS head!

Napoleon............dead and alone on an island in Nowhere

the Czar.............Anastasia screamed in vain

the Kaiser..........retired

Hitler..................a big mess but gone in the end

Franco................yes, he's finally dead

Idi Amin............gone begging to

Ghaddhafi..........who finally gave up

Ceauşescu...............shot with the wife on Christmas day

Stalin..................the most successful of the lot but the Commies eventually fell under......

Gorbachev.........who retired to California

Noriega.............got him to surrender with heavy metal music!

Saddam.............got to see him hit the end of the rope! Love the Internet!

Taliban.............persistent and tough. We should kill them sans merci.

Kim(s)..............this is what happens when the Mafia takes over your country

So China, Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan,

and all you little petty tyrants of every race and land;

you all take heed and listen well,

tyranny buys a trip to Hell.

At the end of a rope or shot by firing squad,

your last hope is forgiveness from God .

L Lawless