(1) Trouble on the China Express (WSJ)

In a blistering essay titled “The Derailed Country,” posted online this past week and then quickly removed by censors, Han Han, one of China’s most popular bloggers, mocked the leadership for what he characterized as a heartless approach to development. “They think: ‘We built this. We built that. You don’t need to care what happens along the way, or who gets the benefits, as long as you get to use it,'” Mr. Han wrote. “Why aren’t you grateful? Why all the questions?”

Limestone Commentary (Rails as a Metaphor)
I stopped writing about politics (and have been happier for it) but everything in this article about China’s government could be written (or said) about the U.S. in terms of graft/corruption, abject obtuseness, lack of transparency, doublespeak, and shameless bias of the fourth estate.

‘Do not be desirous to have things done quickly,’ said Confucius, China’s most famous philosopher, some 25 centuries ago. ‘Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly.’ China’s leadership is now suffering the consequences of ignoring this traditional wisdom.

More Limestone Commentary
Not sure expediency is an attribute of good democracy, particularly of late against a rash of manufactured crises.

You don’t ever want a crisis to go to waste; it’s an opportunity to do important things that you would otherwise avoid. — Rahm Emanuel