THAT, my friend, would be the ultimate progressive book. I'm extremely excited about such a historical reference. Government isn't everything, and checks and balances are a definite precursor... but as you've stated, government can accomplish things that the free market can't... because the government doesn't care about profit or competition. This is all, of course, a central central leg of the progressive movement. We can't effectively run government, if we are anti-government... and, effective government is the check and balance against the excess (and potentially crippling effects) of the free market. So, the solution isn't to get rid of government but to find how to make government more effective yet still respecting our rights. And history is always the best guide...

Well, I'm sure the crazy attacks on the Obama administration after January will relight the fire in both of us. I'm almost 100% positive that it will be as bad if not worse than during the Clinton years. I hope I'm wrong, but I do think its coming. Am I sounding Biden-like here? :-)
Of course, maybe the criticisms will be on point. Crazy, I know. But who knows?
None the less, my current focus is discussing with people what it would take to get the Republicans (or any new third party) back on track or for that matter, maybe even win me over. The Dems, of course, aren't perfect, and I'm definitely still open to some other political world view that might be able to challenge Democratic orthodoxy.
For instance, would the Republicans be able to regain their power if they stopped being so anti-intellectual and went back to the days of Buckley? I wouldn't necessarily agree with them, but I would have a harder time arguing or being AGAINST them. And in the end, I would more feel more trustworthy of the people running our government if there were more solid arguments and principles that WERE being followed. Currently, the Republicans make arguments based more on caricatures derived from their xenophobia, homophobia, and pro-life views. What about the economy? What about jobs? What about global warming? What about torture? What about when it is right to go to war? What are its policies instead of a list of everything that they fear and want us to fear?
I just think that things will turn around for the party (or maybe for some other party)... so the question is... if and when that happens, what does an effective opposition party look like? How do they again appeal to the American public at large?