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"Tomorrow is another day". I said it almost every day in USA, after a well–known pattern. And every morning is the dawn of a new blunder, I could add at this time. It is well when there is another possibility. Even the water is an alternative for wine, but not daily—too much water could harm you. I am at home now, beginning a new life.

At home again, after my "US–capades", I am eager to put in order my travel notices, even if I am a little shocked by the contact with the realities from here, beginning with replacing T–shirts with pullover and overcoat. So I shall pass beyond my everyday remarks, and try to synthesize global impressions picked up during my trip.

Willing or not, I wrote about what I thought during the travel, so that the result could seem to be something autobiographical. Still, do not forget: "Autobiography is an first class vehicle for telling the truth about other people". (Philip Guedalla) That was not quite my intention, but some things could not be avoided. I hope my friends will not be angry with me for such a small thing, even if "It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend". William Blake said it.

I will continue to write in my journal. Don’t worry! It will be not for long, just to write down some conclusive ideas. The exact dates are not important.

A rich man who enters politics could become richer or poorer. That’s why he will not take such risk. A poor man has nothing to lose, so that he will definitely embark upon the path of corruption, because something will remain in his pocket even after he pays, if he will ever pay for his mistakes. These are our politicians.

Some days ago, I met some young Mormons who came to Romania to convert people to the Mormon belief. As a matter of fact, they stopped me in the street. Since then, I met them several times, as I am curious to know what they say, why they try to convert Romanian people—who are Christians for about 2000 years —and in which way they hope to do it. I am interested in religion generally, as part of the culture and civilization. As a European I am particularly interested in Christianity, whatever church preaches it.

I do not discuss now their impudence. Most of them have become missionaries as an alternative to the military service. That’s why they come here for a period of two years. They proved to be incapable in their own life, but want to teach others. That reminds me of an old caricature featuring a beggar inviting people to buy a booklet to learn how to become millionaires.

We can wonder why the American government discharge them of carrying out the military service, under the condition to go oversees and convert people to the Mormon faith, but everyone knows what politics are, and always were, perfidious and immoral. And these young men are not the right people for this job. Is this job a religious or a political one? It is almost the same, so that it is useless to know.

I have just got rid off the Mormons, and another sect found me. The Christadelphians! I do not know how, from time to time, some booklets appeared in my mailbox, inviting me to contact them. For curiosity— they came from England— and for practicing English, I talked to them. Their "doctrine" pretends to be a Christian one, but it is as simplistic as non–Christian. The main idea is that Jesus Christ will come back to massacre (this word is mine) all the heathens and make masters of the world— of course, the Christadelphians. First, this idea is not new at all. Besides, it’s "meaning" is immoral. Even their booklets are written in perfect English, the authors did not understand a bit about what the Christian doctrine is, or do not want to. Instead they are extremely stubborn in preaching their slogans. In reply, I wrote several very hard letters. I thought they would abandon me. Bah! Without answering my questions, they went on writing the same slogans. I came to the conclusion they are not believers at all. They have an aim, a target, and follow their way unscrupulously. As for their meaning ... I think Hitler was more honest. He probably really believed in his idiot doctrine.

There are lots of missionaries from all kinds of sects on the streets of Brasov, stopping you. And most of them come to our doors. All of them, and particularly the young Mormons, are like children wanting to teach their parents how to make children. Christianity was born here. Not just here, in Brasov, but in Jerusalem, not so far away from here–— To be more exactly, at about 1500 Kilometers namely the distance between Seattle and Los Angeles. Thanks to the apostle Andrew and his followers, our forebears became Christians as early as the first years. During the centuries, the Romanians had to fight against the pagans to keep the Europe Christian. The Romanians are born Christians as nation and are Christians as individuals, willingly or unwillingly, because they are educated in Christian spirit, in Christian meaning For the Romanians, religion is more poem and symbol. It is that "love your fellow man as yourself", which supposes the correction of our primary sentiments. What neo–Protestants propose instead? Scare and fright?

I talked with many religious propagandists, but none of them was able to say something about the essence of Christianity. Instead, all of them firmly allege they are not only number one, but also the only real Christian believers, and all the others are wrong.

Only diseases are contagious, not health. What we receive from the missionaries could not be accuracy.

Now, from the political point of view, Romania is sought after in the European Union and NATO, because they would become larger and stronger. But from the economic point of view many groups of interests put up resistance. That’s why the Romanian economy is not really assisted to develop. On the contrary, they destroyed most part of them— to eliminate a potential competition. Some Romanian leaders received huge commissions for that. We have corrupted men and the West has the ones who pay the bribes. On the other hand, Romania receives funds for making our market similar with that of EU, preparing in this way our join. But this money arrived in the pockets of the same corrupted leaders. In this way, the Romanian’s population is divided in two: those very rich paid in dollars or Euro, and those very poor paid in national money. As more and more products will have European prices, in several years, common people’s incomes will be close to zero, as medium income is about 100 dollars per month. What we build now is not a new democracy, but a "Demon–crazy".

Many people say that politics does not interest them. I say the same thing, but since I feel its effects on my skin and in my pocket I can’t help seeing that it exist. It is not an honest way to hide ourselves behind the mask of innocence. Embarrassing is that people benefiting by politics of their country pose as innocents. Of course, I cannot persuade them to renounce at their advantages, because politics of their country is bad, but I am sick of their false innocence. I am not a fighter— I never was— so that in depressing moments, I find refuge in reading. It is pleasant, but I realize that it is neglect. Less embarrassed, but ... Yet, I am not a hero. Also, I wish I could meet a man from the USA who leaves his job, because he had realized that the products of the company he works for are used in a war.

The politicians are like ingredients in the food. One takes a potato that is far from perfect, yet it is peeled, all the imperfect parts removed, it is washed, and finally it is thrown in the pot. Then, one takes a carrot, maybe less perfect, and follows the same routine. Afterwards an onion, and so on! It depends on the cook’s talent whether the soup will be tasty or not. The ingredients are not perfect. The politicians are not perfect, but they may give good results— if the cook is skilled enough. The cook is the nation, which knows better or worse to clean and mix the politicians and to boil them on a small but prolonged fire.

For do not be too malicious, here is a more positive comparison: a politician is like a bus driver: he is not the nicest, strongest, cleverest, or most educated man, yet people accept him as he promised to drive them to their destination. Unfortunately, we are not quite sure about the destination.

I have pen pals from many countries with different political orientations. It is easy to remark that those from countries with former socialist regimes are of right orientation, while those from countries with market–driven economy have left orientation. There always is a problem to know how much to the right thinks someone coming from the left and how much to the left thinks someone coming from the right, and how far is his or her relative position. It seems that, in people’s opinion, the best political system is anything else except that in which they are living. (The grass always is greener in another field) Is there an ideal political system? The question is not new at all. The ancients were very concerned in such topics, much more than we are, and we are often surprised how deep their concepts were. One of the most comprehensive belonged to Aristotle, in his Politika. He identified three main theoretical types of political systems: aristocracy, monarchy and republic. None is perfect. Every one of them has good qualities and flaws. That’s why the society usually turns from one type into another in a perpetual cycle: monarchy, democracy, aristocracy, monarchy and so on, passing through some degenerated forms. Dictatorships are degenerated forms of the democracy, before its fall. (Aristotle said.)

I had the misfortune to change three types of political systems in the same country. Despite this misfortune – in any evil there is something good–– I was lucky by having the opportunity to see for myself what really happened here, and how people behaved during these changes. Before the WW2, Romania was a monarchy in full development. Soviet Army suddenly broke its evolution. They imposed us their democracy in fact one already degenerated. In less than fifty years, this political system broke down in all the occupied countries, starting with USSR itself. All of these countries are now trying to adopt a market–driven economy.

It is in fashion nowadays to say communist instead of socialist when they speaking about Eastern Europe countries, in order to spare the feeling of the members of some Western socialist parties. Do not allow this to fool you! It is the same. Communism equals Socialism. As a matter of fact, till 1989, we used to say socialist, not communist. I am sorry for those who think that the socialism is a possible solution, even after it failed everywhere, not only in Europe. Those who think that we did not have democratic rules, universal vote, etc., are also wrong. On the contrary, theoretically, we had all of these rules. Officially we used to say that we were the democratic system, while the Western countries were belonging to some "capitalist", "imperialist" systems. They used to say that we were the good ones, and the West the evil. The communist system would have been a perfect democratic one. All of the adults used to participate in the election. The right to vote was more than assured: it was compulsory. Unfortunately only theoretically! Reality was the opposite. The border guard was there to keep us away from the border so that we could not go abroad, not to keep away the enemies of our country. The result of the elections was always the same: over 90% for the "beloved leaders". They upturned all the scales of values. Maybe Lenin really wanted to build a socialist system. Maybe! We saw the results. Aristotle was right. Democracy degenerates in dictatorship. How is that possible? Firstly, democracy causes corruption and hypocrisy. Then the leaders learn how to use democratic rules in order to handle people. From the corruption to the terror mentioned with the political policy, all the means are used. Dictatorship is the last stage. After that only the fall follows, due to economic decline. This is exactly what happened here. The main cause of the hypocrisy is simply the universal vote. It is a paradox to ask stupid people to choose clever representatives. In order to obtain their votes, the sly politicians make unrealistic promises. Politicians everywhere do it. Of course we do not want to renounce the universal vote as long as we do not have a better solution. People from some countries know to use it reasonably while those from other ones are easily deceived. It is a matter of how to use it. Our system had the most hypocrites that humanity has ever invented. I know some people will say that there is corruption, hypocrisy, etc in the Western countries too. Yes, but not to the same degree and not so widely spread. Italian Mafiosi are beginners in comparison with some communist leaders. We practiced "State Mafia". The whole political system used to be of Mafia type.

Yes, the belief that communism is something promising is wrong. Both socialism and communism are words defining an ideal political system. In fact an Utopia! We may ask why the Eastern democracies dropped so fast, what was wrong, or what were the differences to the Western countries? The explanations to these questions only regard the past, but the morals are for the future because such perils are possible whenever there is a democracy. A common saying is: "The wise man learns from the other’s experience; the fool not even from his own." An ideal is a theoretical notion. It does not exist in reality. Society belongs to nature, and nature is not perfect. It is contradictory, complex, uncertain, unforeseen, and in perpetual motion. Nobody could control it perfectly. Trying to suddenly build a perfect society was the mistake the Marx, Lenin, and their disciples did. It is an intellectual naiveté to think that someone could conceive a new society. We are unable to conceive of a simple blood corpuscle or human being, how could we conceive a whole society?

In my opinion, the system in which we live is not important. None is perfect. Our duty is to try to make things tolerable and to improve it continuously. The key to progress is not in politics but in morality and economy. Politics is unavoidable. The economy must be efficient, because the more efficient it is the easier people succeed in annihilating the stupidity of the politicians and lead their acts. The Western countries have different political systems. Some of them are monarchies and others republics, but all belong to the same community: the community of prosperous countries. People want to improve their lives only when they can trust their political system and respect its rule. That’s why we can accept some small imperfections if the system is a prosperous one, and people really want to improve its step by step because they trust in their morality. What impressed me most when visiting Western countries was people’s preoccupation for well–done things. They know that working well is to their advantage. Our elder generations used to do the same but the younger ones have a "socialist education". This is what we need to change.

It is clear that we do not know how a society could be like, but we know how it not must to be. That’s why we should be concerned more on these social mechanisms, which would be able to prevent the society to go on dangerous paths. For example, the absolute majority in a parliament for a political party must be forbidden, in order to hinder some politicians to impose their will. Only a general accepted law is good for all people. Also, the algorithm for counting tax proportional to income comes from the times when great landlords were the leaders of the society at the same time. They really felt responsible for their estates and people working and living on it. Of course, they were the ones whose contribution— directly proportional with their estates — used to make most part of the national budget. It was correct for that time, but it has nothing in common with democracy. Why the one who works harder must pay more? Nonsense! Everyone is indebted a small amount while he continues living, and government spends money on police, army, public works, health, etc. If he lives in a large town, his tax must be greater for sanitation services, and so on. Shortly, everyone should pay for what he consumes, and not for how much and efficiently he works.

The deepest effect of the communism was the deterioration of the meaning of life. That’s why people need meaning now more than ever.

For attracting visitors to my studio, I have hung a banner under the windows of the first floor (the second, in the American English) of the building. Surprisingly, people do not observe it, because the Romanians walk bended, looking down.

When you win, you never now what you lost. When you lost, you never know what you won. I said it! Anyway, an experience is a gain.

I am glad now that I visited USA and met the American people at their home. According to expectation, they are normal people, some good, some less good, as everywhere. I have now a more realistic image, and can judge the Americans by thinking of the people that I met there. The true Americans are at their homes.