A battle of overly influential nerds

These battles happen often - in science, medicine, business and many other fields. The rest of the world either joins in, waits and watches, or is subject to gross misinformation as the battle rages. The health care debates are a case in point, although those with the greatest bark are not the nerds, but the idiots. This post, though, is about the economics debate which has taken aim at a standard bearer of our learning - free market capitalism.

When Adam Smith wrote his book, he was not the only "economist" in existence. Yet his story survived and we relegated the notions of others, like Hobbes, to philosophy. Now, the debate is back. Milton Friedman has found his match, and his match wants to be heard. Joseph Stiglitz is not a 'nobody'. In fact, he's a nobel laureate. But in his views, government regulation is necessary, and must absolutely be a part of a well functioning economy.

Now, George Soros, who, ironically made his money as a financier on the free market, wants to fund studies which promote government regulation and other, older economic theories which have languished. When our academic White House, which is faced with a number of knotty questions, is struggling to understand which theoretical viewpoint to embrace, we have a problem.

George is to the rescue.

High altitude inspiration

Although just a year ago, my trek in Nepal seems to have been a voyage from another lifetime. It is so easy to get recaptured by the trials of life - that ever present and somewhat cliche hustle and bustle. Yet, if I try, I can recall the feeling of breathing in the cold, crisp, oxygen depleted air; of listening to the sounds of the bells which announce the yaks and djokpes, of walking on those sandy, steep switchbacks.

Among other things, that adventure resulted in me experiencing 2 of the most physically challenging days of my life. When I tried valiantly to hold back the tears which threatened to reveal my exhaustion, reminding myself of the glorious surroundings did not help. Nevertheless, what I learned from those travails will provide me with the energy I need to finish the tasks ahead. Personal challenges, where my only competition is myself, are some of the most difficult. But if I can only channel that crisp air and the sound of the rushing rivers beneath, the climb ahead will be made that much more meaningful.

Someone just wrote about this in the NYTimes, the little inspiration I needed to share my thoughts this morning.