Corruption and Success

This thought is a paraphrase of things I've heard recently and rang true the moment I heard them.

What is the key difference between the economic success of the democratic nations (USA, UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia, etc.) and what we call the third world (say The Congo, Venezuela, etc.)? Corruption.

Regardless of political structures, successful nations have relatively less corruption in public life. Less corruption encourages greater citizen faith in institutions and support for the civil structures.  This, in turn, allows the citizen to commit more to the individual and community success because she or he can be (reasonably) assured that efforts will be rewarded instead of shunted off to a well-connected rent seeker.

What Will We Do With Peace?

The world is always a dangerous place but it is the most peaceful and least warlike in my lifetime.  (I'll get the numbers to back that up if anyone posts a comment doubting me.)

The question that just popped into my mind is, what will we do with peace? The history of humanity is one of war, preparation for war, and sometimes the pursuit of peace.

Our societies are organized around war. We have a lot of experience with major war. What shall we do with major peace?

Exactly What is a Fascist?

Quick! Who is the father of Fascism - the man who named the political philosophy?

• Joseph Stalin
• Adolf Hitler
• Benito Mussolini

Actually, it's a trick question. If you do know the answer, leave a comment because I'd love to have a chat with you. I'll bet one person in five can answer the question.

The other question is, what really is Fascism and how is it different from Communism? My entire life, the popular press has equated Fascism with right-wing and right-wing with American conservatism. Well, I'm sorry to say, this is wrong and is close to a slur. 

There's a reason the second word of NAZI is Socialist. Check out this link for a good compare-and-contrast.

Do Not Pass Go!

I'm going to bet that only five percent of Americans have a practical knowledge of World War II. (My own, beloved, daughter could not place the American Civil War in the correct decade of the 19th Century.) If you fall in the 95 percent, here is your chance to see a real, vivid, honest look at a key point in world history.

Go see Darkest Hour, now. Some of its facts are flawed but it is an excellent portrayal of one of the great persons in history.

If, by the time you read this, it's out of theaters, then find it and stream it. Do not hesitate, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Go.

Remember to Pull the Ripcord!

This article at CIO.com says there are nine lies that CIOs tell themselves. (My cynical response is, "only nine?".) Here's my favorite that I wish I'd obeyed more than once, "they start a job search before the project tanks their reputation".

There are eight more and well worth a look.

I Had No Idea!

I've heard for years about the declining rate of workforce participation. In other words, how many able bodied men and women are out of the workforce and not seeking a job.

This chart appeared in Bloomberg News and portrays the percent of able bodied men who are in the workforce.

1948 would be my father's early working years. Ninety-Eight percent of men were working then. Less than 90 percent are now.

A declining participation rate means lower than potential productivity which means lower than potential wealth in the country. Or, so I think.

You Say You Want a Revolution?

Luke Muehlhauser is new to me but I'll have to check out his website more often. Follow this link and you'll see his excellent commentary on the effect of the Industrial Revolution on human prosperity.

You'll need to click on the graphic to see the rather small details here but this is the part I find most interesting, although it sounds macabre: The death rates per capita of major events in world history.

   An Lushan Rebellion                       5.6% of world population

   Genghis Kahn                                  9.5% of world population

   Black Death                                     9.7% of world population

   Worlds Wars + Spanish Flu             7%    of world population

I have to let that last one sink in for a moment. Both world wars plus the Spanish Flu epidemic (which killed a distant relative of mine) were less deadly than the Black Death and Genghis Kkan (as a percent of the population).