Economic

Stages of the Campaign: Where does the presidential race stand?

Sun Tzu's strategy defines nine common strategic situations to which we must respond. They are defined as types of terrain: scattering, easy, disputed, open, intersecting, dangerous, bad, confined, and deadly. Each requires a specific response. Right now, the two candidates are in very different stages in their campaigns. McCain is on an intersecting terrain, which means that he has the opportunity to solidify alliances. Obama is on bad terrain, which means there are a lot of pitfalls that he must avoid. Needless to say, you want to be on the former, rather than the later.

Seeing the Connections: The Illusion of Avoiding Foreign Entanglements

In studying Sun Tzu's strategy, we seek to see the necessary connections between things than make up the hidden gears and pulleys that drive our world. George Washington famously warned about avoiding "foreign entanglements" in his farewell address, but we forget that in his era, the US was a lonely island of freedom and democracy in a sea of tyranny and monarchy. The spread of freedom and democracy around the world provide the best measure of America's success and the best contributor not only American but the entire world's wealth.

Understanding the Tradeoffs: Choosing the Value that You Prefer

Sun Tzu's strategy teaches us to look for advantageous trade-offs. There is no such thing as a free lunch, but we can buy what we value more using a currency that we value less. Free societies are more prosperous simply because they allow people more of these types of choices. The more control we give to government, the more "value" is determine by central authority and the fewer choices we are free to make.

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