Erik Reuter's numbers and conclusions are very interesting. I had not realized how many different variables showed the difference.
(Pretty obviously, the variables only measure certain things. In his book, `The Shadow of the Sun', Ryszard KapuÅciÅski speaks of a categorical measure: For the people of those neighborhoods, independence means being free to walk at will the main streets of this city of more than a hundred thousand ... (This is similar to Deborah Harrell saying ... morality has evolved as larger and larger groups are acknowledged to be People (family -> village/tribe -> city-state/tribal confederation -> nation -> race -> gender --> non-humans?) ... (It is a change in what the category includes.) But having noted that the variables only measure certain things, it is amazing what they do say. Based on them, what are the key three political policies an administration should follow? I see * Public investment in public infrastructure such as bridges and research labs whose results, if any, become public. * Public investment in certain kinds of private infrastructure, such as higher education for individuals. * Public investment in actions that prevent `gaming the system'. What about frugality? Is that as important? More important? -- Robert J. Chassell [EMAIL PROTECTED] GnuPG Key ID: 004B4AC8 http://www.rattlesnake.com http://www.teak.cc _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l