I guess (mind, guess) is that the reason we did prove somewhat of an exception is that we had established an efficient (as such things go...) state in which the

I guess (mind, guess) is that the reason we did prove somewhat of an exception is that we had established an efficient (as such things go...) state in which the electorate trusted PRIOR to hitting the hydrocarbon jackpot. Also, it probably helped that we were a society with (relatively speaking) small differences and no real tradition for a pronounced upper class. This, however, is just unfounded musings on my behalf.