Props to where it's due - 對於老中醫雄文的看法

If you don\'t mind me chiming in, although your post was directed at 老總。

First, I would like to commend this well thought and written piece. Second, oddly enough, for the first time, I think I agree with almost all of your points in your post. Third, since I missed yesterday\'s exchange, here my 2 cents:

Once again, let me reiterate, US is in a crisis, and a severe one. Economic growth, social security, health care, political environment, education, and the whole tax system (I want to add this to your list I agreed upon), they all have their current problems or even major flaws.

Economic growth, US used to lead with productivity and innovation. Unlike the 90\'s Internet and Biotech revolutionary development, there is no major noteworthy industry- or society-changing innovation nowadays. It was no coincidence that around that time, US became the undisputable lone super power in the world. People around the world just wanted to adopt everything from US, science, technology, life style, political system, and ironically, the whole Wall Street gig. It\'s just nature and rightfully so.

We often are too focused on the difference between all races and nationalities. But on the end of the day, Chinese are no different than Americans or Germans, from human nature. People just want better things for themselves and to lead better lives in every single possible way. The problems you listed out, are NOT exclusive to US, and I would like to call that 富二代 symptoms.

In the early 90\'s, Japanese amazed the whole world with their technology and wealth, the quality of their products and the effective almost mysterious business organization model. But there were growing worries and cautious voices even in Japan, that the young generation (富二代) are more into enjoying life than hard working, and they laugh at their elder generation\'s saving habit. Those sane and often light voices are worried about Japan\'s compatibility in years coming, and especially during and after major crisis. Similar things happened to Germany, at the peak of their development, they kind of went out and bought out East Germany (offering 70% of West Germans\' pay to East Germans), which became a huge financial burden in so many years afterwards.

Look at China now, TV, radio, news outlets, bomb you with luxury life style. People are obsessed with famous rich people, or rich people\'s children, or their mistresses, or their dry daughters. :) Everyone wants quick bucks, and people don\'t want to invest effort, especially TIME to let things develop. Instead, we want to buy everything, technology, influence, power, and NO.1 status. Obviously, it\'s ill-advised, for many things requiring accumulation, and it can\'t be purchased or turned overnight.

Back to US, all those issues you raised, were not emerged yesterday, but rather have been evolving throughout all these years. The sore super power status did Americans in, 老子天下第一 （borrowing the adequate term F總 used yesterday), this arrogance and ignorance contributed to the mentality of the whole country. Many Americans think they can get away with almost everything. But you got to respect the nature and the laws of nature. 2 modern wars at the same time, ever growing greed, and focusing on quick money etc etc, just escalated those issues exponentially.

Then again, those issues are not embedded into US society or US system or American people, but rather human nature - 富二代 symptoms. America just saw a downgrade, and it\'s seeing lacking of growth. It\'s certainly not benign, but it\'s not vital either. Because there is cure. The cure was not injected or built into US system or American people, but rather resides in human nature. Human beings are adaptive. When things are getting tougher, they will try harder, as they want the best for themselves.

Despite all the problems, US does have a lot of things going for them:

1. I don\'t see anyone can overtake their leading role in science and military, in anytime soon.
2. Natural resource and population are critical to a country\'s survive and development, and US has plenty.
3. US still attracts fresh blood from all over the world, that\'s also why their 富二代 symptoms did not burst out in 90\'s or 00\'s. Supplement of talents and hard-working spirits are continuing to flow in.
4. Political gridlock will be loosened over the time, because they will be forced to. Americans are disgusted by the party-line lock step politics. Those who stayed in Washington for too long, will be forced out by nature. The debt ceiling fiasco is Obama\'s losing-face event, but it\'s also Tea party lost war. That\'s also why I would love to see more and more Chinese are more involved in politics.
5. Free press and free speech. I know you don\'t really buy that (or at least not buying it for the sake of argument:)). But scholars in US are so different than those ones in China, because singing praise exclusively is almost like reputation damning action for them. Scholars are there to think, to research, to discuss, to criticize, and even to blame. That\'s how general public get to be provoked to think, and to act. That\'s how politicians get to be pushed do their parts - even just for the sake of staying in power.

In short term, there are repercussions to be felt, because of the crisis. The stock market has already presented the bitter taste of it, and there will be more to come. Long term wise, people will change, actively or passively, as long as the system allows you or encourages you to.

I am never a doomsday predictor, neither am I wearing rosy glasses all the time, but I trust in human nature, and I believe system is more reliable than individuals. This one, shall pass, too.