What used to be a medium of exchange has usurped the place of fundamental values, reversing the relationship postulated by economic theory. What used to be professions have turned into businesses. The cult of success has replaced a belief in principles. Society has lost its anchor. I envisage the open society as a society open to improvement. We start with the recognition of our own fallibility, which extends not only to our mental constructs but also to our institutions. What is imperfect can be improved, by a process of trial and error. The open society not only allows this process but actually encourages it, by insisting on freedom of expression and protecting dissent. The open society offers a vista of limitless progress. This is Soros at his best -- an outstanding piece of work. The article is essentially a summary of his 2000 book, Open Society, a first edition hardcover copy of which sits on my book shelf. I hope that he returns to this message in the next ten months, rather than allow himself to get wrapped up in the Democrats' anti-Bush mania. His Bubble book was conceptually interesting in parts, but rather shrill in delivery throughout. The Capitalist Threat - George Soros | 
