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Ed ChenRSS Feed of this column.

Ed is an NGO representative to the United Nations for the Lawyer's Committee on Nuclear Policy. He is a Columbia College graduate (Cum Laude; Departmental Honors in Economics) with a perfect 1600... Read More »

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There is a theory in economics known as the median voter theorem, attributed to Duncan Black in 1948. The theory has been used to justify the two party, winner take all system, mathematically by political economists, as the best possible system.   Its conclusions are that given his assumptions, a two politician model maximizes the likelihood of a policy outcome to be closest to the policy preference of the citizens, because a politician maximize his chances of winning by choosing the mean voters policy preference.
     
The following is a story written by my fiancee, who has Tourrette's syndrome, regarding a personal experience at a Mental Institution.  In my eyes, this is the real reason why healthcare is so expensive.  Many primary care givers are resentful to have to give their care.  No matter how much their parent institution pays them.  The treatment of patients, and the arrogance of staff is common among the healthcare sector.  Just ask your first year intern.
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A Loss of Here
 

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

    The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

    Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

    The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

    The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

    The best lack all conviction, while the worst

    Are full of passionate intensity.



“Anyone who knows history, particularly the history of Europe, will, I think, recognize that the domination of education or of government by any one particular religious faith is never a happy arrangement for the people.”

“Will people ever be wise enough to refuse to follow bad leaders or to take away the freedom of other people?”

--Eleanor Roosevelt 
On Tuesday, September 11th, 2012, I will make the attacks of 2001 a political issue.  For almost 10 years, these attacks have been used by Republicans as a political issue, justifying everything from conspicuous consumption to the Two War Economy of stopping (inflaming) Global Terrorism. 
Western thought, from the sciences to the arts, have been based upon the rich mythology and history of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.  One which seems to guide the subconscious thought of many of our political and financial leaders is the myth of Saturn (Chronos).  Saturn, the Roman name for the Greek God Chronos, became the ruler of the deities after overthrowing his own father.  However, Saturn, like most power hungry individuals, quickly aged and forgot the crimes perpetrated by his own father --