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Dear Kropotkin,
Why is Israel building apartments in east Jerusalem?
Realtor, Carrboro

Dear Real,
And I might ask you: what's the point of being an imperial, occupying power if you don't have a nice place to hang your hat? Of course, as Chomsky fans know full well, such acts by the Israeli government are merely business as usual while acts of resistance by the Palestinians constitute "terrorism."

Meanwhile, President Clinton has threatened to send Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to the Middle East. Critics of administration policy, however, charge that such a move will provide the Israelis with yet another blank czech from the U.S.

Dear Kropotkin,
Just what is the "free market?"
Economist, Durham

Dear Econ,
It's like this: you go into Wendy's and there's half a dozen meal deals, each for $3.99. You've got the freedom to choose whichever meal deal you want. The problem is that they all taste like shit, provide few nutrients, and make you want to throw up afterwards. That's the free market. Wendy's owner, Dave Thomas, loves it.

Dear Kropotkin,
What will NC congressional redistricting mean for Congressman David Price?
Democrat, Chapel Hill

Dear Dem,
The NC House and Senate have agreed on a new fourth congressional district that includes both Durham and Orange counties. The possibilities are quite pleasant to contemplate. Could it be that a truly liberal candidate, a Michaux or Gulley perhaps, could step forward to challenge Price? Could it be that Price's vagueness, hucksterism, and proven ability to prostitute himself for the big bucks would be no match for a principled progressive challenger?

And, could it be that the subtitle of Kropotkin's November 1998 column will be "how I learned to stop worrying and love election day?" Who would have thought that an act of the NC Legislature could bring such reveries to hearts on the left? Ah, it must be spring fever...

(Send your questions to Ask Kropotkin, PO Box 16025, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516)

("Kropotkin" refuses to reveal whether he is inspired by Peter Kropotkin, the Russian anarchist prince, or by Kropotkin the Village Idiot, a character in the Woody Allen film "Love & Death," or if it makes any difference.)