As I’m sure that I will comment on Friedman regularly here, let me just say flat out that I’m a fan. Not a blind disciple. Not a lemming. Just a fan of his work for his clarity and his talent for making very complex concepts very easily understood.
I haven’t heard anyone else say it, so let me be the first: Welcome back, Tom!
On Sunday, the most reasonable voice in American letters returned to his semi-weekly column in The New York Times. In his first column of the year Tom Friedman writes:
My own totally unscientific polling has left me feeling that if there is one overwhelming hunger in our country today it’s this: People want to do nation-building. They really do. But they want to do nation-building in America.
They are not only tired of nation-building in Iraq and in Afghanistan, with so little to show for it. They sense something deeper — that we’re just not that strong anymore. We’re borrowing money to shore up our banks from city-states called Dubai and Singapore. Our generals regularly tell us that Iran is subverting our efforts in Iraq, but they do nothing about it because we have no leverage — as long as our forces are pinned down in Baghdad and our economy is pinned to Middle East oil.
Friedman’s focus on the petro-fascism theme, which he also discussed on Wednesday, is endlessly fascinating for a number of reasons.
Most notably, you don’t hear a lot about it anywhere else. The recent debate about eliminating the gas tax goes right to the heart of this issue. As a Friedman reader, I view the candidates’ positions in relation to his writings on the topic (which make sense to me). When McCain and Clinton supported rolling back the tax, and Obama did not, it helped crystallize for me what type of president each candidate would be. It’s not the be-all, end-all, but it helps provide perspective.
Additionally, it highlights Friedman’s innovation mantra. I’m fascinated by his decision to see issues in terms of innovation – the heart of America’s strength. As a writer (and not a politician), he can afford to do this. Maybe I’m simplistic (or simple; or both), but I find it hard to argue with his logic. Innovation is our secret sauce, and we have been giving it away while we focus on smaller, pettier issues.
Can’t wait for the book, Tom. Welcome back.
