The quality of public discourse in this political season is shocking--but you knew that already. The Rs are speeding toward the right edge of the flat earth they believe in. The two Republican candidates that have the most well thought out and consistent platforms, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, are also the most extreme. At least you know where they stand and they have spent some time doing their homework. Some of Santorum's ideas about social programs to strengthen the family are down right progressive.
The Democrats are laying low and enjoying the artillery duel among the Republicans but haven't brought anything new or interesting to the discussion. The conservative wing of the Republican Party has successfully shifted the location of the whole political discussion so far that even Democratic policy positions fall to the right of 1970s Ripon Society Republicans.
So it was truly refreshing to discover a December 5 lecture by Jeff Sachs on the London School of Economics web site. Sachs summarizes the ideas in his most recent book The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity. In his long and very high-profile career in economics and public policy Sachs has had little to say about US domestic affairs until now. Even if you are not a fan of Sach's earlier proposals about economic development and foreign aid you will find this talk well done and thought provoking.
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