End of Semester is Near

As 2010 draws to a close I must admit that I have not been a very good blogger this year. The time when I probably had the most time and incentive to post was while I was in China this past summer. Yet alas, the Chinese censors blocked access to this blog. Then upon returning home life was less interesting and busier. Well here's hoping that I do better in 2011.

Some musings: I'm one of those who according to the pollsters is in the minority on our government's fiscal irresponsibility. All the tax cuts should expire! Close the loopholes! And cut spending where feasible (ag supports, defense). At the same time we need to invest for the future by spending more on education, energy transformation, and infrastructure. It is disheartening to see the poor state of education in this country, to see crumbling roads and bridges, and to not see the high speed rail network, subway lines, the growth that I see across China and Taiwan. Perhaps we need to suspend democracy for a time and let a benevolent dictator, who is not beholden to special interests and the whims of a near sighted populace to run things for awhile. Perhaps Plato was right to design a Republic run by philosopher-kings. The smooth talk of Alcibiades that persuaded the Athenians to invade Sicily led to their ruin and defeat at the hands of the Spartans. Will this country look upon wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a 21st century Sicilian fiasco?

On the other hand, I would not want to live in a place like China where rulers are unelected. Sure they maybe more efficient. But then they may be replaced by crazy tyrants, like Mao, or Kim Jung-il.

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