Scylla and Charybdis

Between a rock and a hard spot, Scylla and Charybdis, a double bind is an unpleasant but apparent outcome of specialization and globalization. It was to Odysseus, the strategist, a man with a mind of twist and turns, that the Greeks gave Archilles' armour. Homer wrote of an age when western states first began to grapple with the double binds statehood imposes. Current affairs require no less cunning and compromise. Granted there's no reason why American taxpayers should give up their tax money to generate jobs in other countries, but globalization places demands upon the economic policies of any nation and, more especially, the U.S. Perhaps deals could be cut that would see outsourced purchases compensated by ear marked purchases of made in America goods. Turning away from globalization to pursue protectionists policies is no longer an option and besides we in the west had a long run of stable, stay at home economies. We call it the Dark Ages.

Evolution speaks of descent with modification and the works of a blind watchmaker. Economics demands ascent with modification and the ability to turn on a dime to meet the needs of the times. During times of immediate demands the American system with an Executive Branch hands over much of the lead to the President, who like Odysseus has to choose between Scylla and Charybdis . I think in such times it serves to allow exceptions and even contradictions, much as the Common Law meets current demands by at times appearing self contradictory. The composer Igor Stravinsky wrote a quriky little book, titled "Poetics of Music in the Form of Six Lessons " wherein he baldly stated the right to contradict himself and, if IIRC, penned a fine little recap of the meaning of an apology. I'm not sure what, if any, right solutions there are to the current world economic slump, but it might serve to retain the right to short term, effective, seemingly, contradictory policies and to offer up true apologies for undertaken policies.

just my loose change