主题：美国精英对美国选票制度的批判。 -- dolong
家园 帮楼主翻一点 候机中，太无聊了……
凑合翻一下，大家将就看。
如果你的房顶或者厨房或者地下室漏水了，你可能会想，最好还是尽快解决、免得事情更糟糕成本更高。
如果，我们在对待错综复杂的联系在一起的美国水系统时也有这样的态度就好了。我们大多数人把干净的、随时可用的水当成是想当然的事情。但事实上，国家的水系统情况令人遗憾——虽然人口在增长、需求在增加，它却在恶化。
老化的、被腐蚀的管道每不一会儿就不定地点的喷发一下。损坏的下水道系统污染了水路和饮用水。许多本地系统太古老而又不够用——某些情况下是那么朽的相当厉害——以至于大雨就可以颠覆它们。
Charles Duhigg 去年三月在时代上报道过“几十年来，这些系统——有些建立于内战时期——已经被习惯于为水供应和下水道清理不承担任何支出的政客和居民忽视了。因此，每年都有几十万起街道和房屋损害、导致危险的工业污染渗入饮用水供应。”
当然，没有任何道理情况应该是这样的。如果这是一个一流的社会，我们会重建水系统、让全世界都嫉妒它，这会给我们在经济上讨价还价时提供信心。但这些需要成熟、眼光、努力和奉献，而目前，令人沮丧的，它们都不足。
我们甚至不能在哈德逊河下建立一条从新泽西到纽约的隧道。
改善水系统——以及如果做得好的话普遍的说整个基础设施——会沿着改善这个国家令人失望的经济表现方向走出一大步根据美国Conference of Mayors（实在不知道这是什么机构）,向改进水和下水道系统投入的每一美元将长期来看产生大概六美元多的GDP。如果国家认真的修理、更新water mains（不知道是啥，大概是水系统主要部分？）, crumbling pipes（还是不知道具体是什么）,水处理工厂、大坝、河堤，将产生几十万个工作岗位。
如果我们能停止那些没头没脑的战争、把浪费的几亿元的一部分放在国家的最广义的基础建设、提高它们倒21世纪标准上，可以增加几百万个就业岗位。
需求是巨大的。根据美国Society of Civil Engineers（不晓得什么机构）最近给出基础建设打分D-来看，国家的水系统网络正好处在最差的时候。 Jeffrey Griffiths是federal government’s National Drinking Water Advisory Council（不知道怎么翻译合适）,他告诉时代：“我们倚赖的水系统是我们的曾祖父辈（可能是……反正是很古老的前辈就是了）建设的 ，没人希望为我们忽略它们的几十年付钱。许多证据说明人民在生病。只是因为看不到，没人真的明白事情究竟到了多快的程度。
What has always struck me about this issue is that there is a desperate need to improve the nation’s infrastructure and a desperate need for the jobs and enhanced economic activity that would come from sustained, long-term infrastructure investment. But somehow the leadership and the will to move forward on the scale that is needed are missing.
A survey to be released this week by the ITT Corporation, which makes and sells water infrastructure equipment, shows that nearly 70 percent of respondents agreed with the statement “I generally take my access to clean water for granted.” But a similar percentage said they would be willing to pay a modest additional amount every month to upgrade their water system and ensure their long-term access to clean water.
If public officials would provide honest leadership on this and other infrastructure issues, making a sound case for the investments that are needed and the benefits that would accrue from rebuilding America’s infrastructure, the public would be likely to sign on.
We can start getting our act together now, or we can pay dearly later. The Obama administration has provided federal support for some water and other infrastructure improvements but nothing close to the kind of effort needed to bring America’s infrastructure into even reasonable shape.
The horror stories abound: the drowning of New Orleans when the levees failed in 2005, the 2007 explosion of an ancient steam pipe in Manhattan that killed one person and injured more than 30, the gas pipeline explosion and fire last month in San Bruno, Calif., that killed seven and injured more than 50. There are endless other examples, tragic, costly and unnecessary.
The sorry state of America’s infrastructure is a hard-core reflection of what is really going on in this increasingly hapless society, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not.
家园 如何说中国话而不带美国口音 Speaking Chinese without an American accent
By Reynolds Staff on Oct 20, 2010 in Academic Programs, Trip to China blog
The following MarketWatch commentary by Andrew Leckey was translated into Chinese in The Asian Wall Street Journal and Oriental Outlook magazine, the national news magazine of China.
Speaking Chinese without an American accent
Commentary: To know China, see the world through its eyes
By Andrew Leckey
Strolling along Shiji Avenue in Pudong financial district in Shanghai. Photo by Flickr user Bernt Rostad
Will the heavy national debt load of the U.S. turn it into another Greece? Could the U.S. cope if it was surpassed by China as the world’s largest economy? Is the U.S. increasingly becoming a protectionist country?
China street scene. This street scene in China was caught by Flickr user ernop.
Those sound like loaded questions, yet they’re fair game for an American interviewed on Chinese television, as I have been more than a dozen times in the past couple of years. You are responding on Chinese soil, after all, where the U.S. is a subject of intense analysis and criticism – just as China is in the U.S.
Topics such as the value of the yuan and trade relations ignite intense feelings because economic growth, investment potential and national pride are at stake. Such issues are more politically demanding than when a question is asked about something less China-U.S.-centric, such as Russia’s economy or BP’s management.
It seems strange to label as emerging a nation with so many centuries of dynasties behind it, but global economic power is relatively new in this nation where ancient structures coexist with skyscrapers. As China chooses its own course, developed nations are suspected of conspiring to hold it back, whether through organizations such as the G20 or the policies of individual nations.
Volatility of Chinese markets is sure to continue, impacting the world just as it is affected by other markets. China’s hot economy and real estate market have likely come too far, too fast, and cycles are unavoidable.
Nonetheless, the transition of China from a low-cost assembler of exports to the West to a major consumer of products and services and a seller of products to the rising middle class throughout Asia is ahead.
This likely will depend less on developed markets and more on emerging economies that need consumer staples, information technology and automobiles. There will be dramatic growth, despite the ongoing ideological, trade, currency, political and environmental differences between China and the U.S.
WHAT CHINA WANTS
Whether it involves investing, business dealings or debate, dealing with China requires mutual respect:
* Many Chinese take personally the criticism of government policy. While we are often loudly critical of our government, they consider China one entity that includes them. Outsiders criticizing it are, in effect, disrespecting the Chinese people and heritage. Harmony is important. Stick to facts when discussing issues of conflict and make sure your points stand on their own merit, which is not a bad idea no matter what the country.
* They know more about us than we know about them. Our clothes and technology were made in China, but our information is limited to news reports. They see our movies, follow the NBA, dine at KFC and Starbucks, buy Buicks and display posters of American actors and athletes in stores. They celebrate Christmas big-time, though not the religious part. Yet that’s hardly a clear picture of America or Americans.
* Negative quotes about China from U.S. politicians are taken seriously by the Chinese, much as U.S. sports coaches tack negative quotes from rivals on locker room bulletin boards. The fact that many in Congress intentionally make statements to appeal to constituents is not always evident to the Chinese.
* When significant issues are brought up, Chinese of all ages point out that we should realize they’ve come a long way in a short period of time, even if where they’re headed isn’t totally mapped out. Bridging the gap between wealthiest and poorest will be one of the biggest economic tasks.
* Young Chinese are under pressure from country and parents to succeed, far more than U.S. young people. Chinese parents who grew up under a different economic system tell children to study and work harder. The one-child rule put added pressure on the young to succeed. Shopping malls throughout China are crowded primarily with those under age 30, indication of the younger generation’s financial empowerment.
* And yes, the Chinese generally do prefer to deal with people they’ve gotten to know well. This isn’t such a rare concept in any country, but friendships definitely build bonds that turn to business and shared information in China. Drive-by meetings won’t accomplish much, while repeat visits are valued.
Americans these days study China much as they studied Japan 20 years ago – with fear and a sense of urgency that we are about to be overtaken economically. I leave you with one last non-economic question posed to me by the Chinese host on a special talk show honoring legendary television news anchor Walter Cronkite:
Why was there no journalist of Walter Cronkite’s stature in the U.S. who was able to draw to an end the war in Iraq as Cronkite did in Vietnam?
Sounds like a loaded question. But for an American interviewed in China, turnabout is fair play. After all, I always have my own set of loaded questions to ask the Chinese.
Andrew Leckey is president of the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism in Phoenix, and has been a frequent guest on China Central Television (CCTV) interview programs in Beijing.
家园 《经济学人》：各国零售商店偷盗统计（中国强！！） Where theft hits the retail trade hardest
http://www.economist.com/node/14842711
中国（东亚人）表现很好！可能是文化的原因。
本帖一共被 1 帖 引用 (帖内工具实现)家园 奇怪，中国的零售损失数据怎么这么小？ 其他国家地区看着似乎和经济规模成正比。
中国这么大，损失只有那么一点点。比波兰还低。。。
家园 也有表扬东亚的儒家文化的评论。 BrightBNA wrote:
Nov 12th 2009 2:15 GMT
Most interesting to note that Chinese countries like China & Taiwan are low in theft rate, even compare to USA, a wealthy country with high percentage of Christian. It looks like Confucius culture uphold the principle of ‘thou shalt not steal’(Exodus 20) better than the Christian or Muslim.
Recommend (19)
家园 网站上洋人的评论 http://www.economist.com/node/14842711/comments?sort=recommend#sort-comments
看看下面西方人的评论。。中国做的好那是因为专制威慑小偷们怕被斩首斩脚。。如果
中国排名靠前了刚好又符合他们的白种人至上的逻辑了。。这些西方蛮夷总有天要和他
们打一仗的杀他们个几万几十万的。。他们对中国的偏见不是意识形态的问题。。他们
就是打着反共的旗子发表种族歧视言论。。
In China, part of the low shoplifting rate is because there are salespersons everywhere. I have never been in any store that wasn't swarming with "associates". America's cost cutting and labor efficiency model may have the consequence of such a high rate of shoplifting.
家园 Joke Now I am in a library of a university in US to prepare midterm and ironically I find most of the students study here are asian.
家园 国内精英又一大作：《美国哈佛大学图书馆》 作者：森林大地
转自：简单快乐学数学--求知斋 http://blog.sina.com.cn/forestsu
但斌转载（但斌这人还不错，但崇拜巴菲特过头了！）
日前，两张美国哈佛大学图书馆凌晨4点多学生仍在学习的照片，在网上迅速传播。
照片显示：凌晨4点的哈佛大学图书馆里，灯火通明，座无虚席……图片配文这样写道：哈佛是一种象征。人到底有怎样的发挥潜力？人的意志，人的才情，人的理想，为什么在哈佛能兑现？哈佛的学生餐厅，很难听到说话的声音，每个学生端着比萨可乐坐下后，往往边吃边看书或是边做笔记。我就没见过哪个学生光吃不读的，更没见过哪个学生边吃边闲聊的。感觉哈佛，餐厅不过是一个可以吃东西的图书馆，是哈佛正宗100个图书馆之外的另类图书馆。哈佛的医院，同样的宁静，同样的不管有多少在候诊的人也无一人说话，无一人不在阅读或记录。医院仍是图书馆的延伸。于是，哈佛产生的诺贝尔奖得主有33位。哈佛产生的美国总统有7 位。哈佛校园里，不见华服，不见化妆，更不见晃里晃荡，只有匆匆的脚步，坚实地写下人生的篇章。哈佛不是神话，哈佛只是一个证明，人的意志，精神，抱负，理想的证明。哈佛的学生餐厅，很难听到说话的声音，每个学生端着比萨可乐坐下后，往往边吃边看书或是边做笔记。我就没见过哪个学生光吃不读的，更没见过哪个学生边吃边闲聊的。感觉哈佛，餐厅不过是一个可以吃东西的图书馆，是哈佛正宗100个图书馆之外的另类图书馆。哈佛的医院，同样的宁静，同样的不管有多少在候诊的人也无一人说话，无一人不在阅读或记录。医院仍是图书馆的延伸。
半夜2时，可让我们惊讶的是，整个校园当时是灯火通明的，那是一个不夜城。餐厅里，图书馆里，教室里还有很多学生在看书。那种强烈的学习气氛一下子就感染了我们。
那个北大女孩说，我在这里一个星期的阅读量是我在北大一年的阅读量。
Y在北大都干什么了？丢北大的脸啊!
某教授对学生说，你学我这门课，你就一天只能睡两小时。学生想，那么，我学四门课，我就没有睡眠时间了，我就得倒贴睡眠时间了。
没见过这种变态的教授！
哈佛的博士生，可能每3天要啃下一本大书，每本几百页，还要交上阅读报告。哈佛过桥便是波士顿，前人类学系主任张光直在哈佛读博士那几年，没有上过桥没有去过波士顿。
估计是个WSN！！
哈佛是一种象征，最高智慧的象征，最高学府的象征。
Y再添，继续添！！
看了一下国内JY到一趟哈佛之后(Y可能根本没到过美国)，居然成了“哈巴狗”，实在情不自禁摘录了他的几段话。
我受不了了。不过这人比 焦国标 温柔一点。
家园 美国大学怎么学习中国基础教育用时间压迫的方法？ 这可不是素质教育该有的啊！
家园 假如中国大学如此用功，这帮人一定会说中国大学死读书，压抑 假如中国大学如此用功，这帮人一定会说中国大学死读书，压抑人性。估计在他们眼里，哈佛大学的学生们在抽大麻的时候也是“边抽边看书或是边做笔记”的。（其实假如Harvard凌晨4点图书馆里果真座无虚席，那不是考前临时抱佛脚，就是一帮人抽大麻抽high了。否则虽然Harvard的学生平均素质比较高，但毕竟也是肉身凡胎，经常不睡觉这样的生理极限是无法突破的。另一点是学习好的都知道，靠疲劳战是搞不好学习的。）反正一样的事情在美国就是对的，在中国就要打个问号。
这些人的逻辑是：
中国有个疯子杀了好多人--------社会逼得他走投无路，才会去杀人。
西方国家有个疯子杀了好多人----杀人者丧心病狂反社会。
中国没抓到贪官--------官官相护，烂透了。
西方国家没抓到贪官----民主政府确实清廉。
中国抓到一个贪官--------独裁政府就是腐败。
西方国家抓到一个贪官----民主监督机制就是好。
中国没有人游行示威--------政府压制人民发声。
西方国家没有人游行示威----民主社会人民幸福。
中国有人游行示威--------人民对政府忍无可忍。
西方国家有人游行示威----看，自由世界多宽容，言论自由真伟大。
中国有人打砸抢烧被镇压--------人民反抗政府，政府对人民使用暴力。
西方国家有人打砸抢烧被镇压----法制社会，对违法行为当然应该依法镇压。
中国救灾时领导人迅速赶往灾区--------作秀。
西方国家救灾时领导人迅速赶往灾区----民选领导人多关心民众啊。
中国救灾时某些领导没有迅速赶往灾区--------渎职，不顾人民死活。
西方国家救灾时某些领导没有迅速赶往灾区----民主制度，联邦和州各级政府部门各行其是，不去是对的，去了反而添乱。
中国网民支持政府某项举措--------中宣部对媒体控制严密，人民被洗脑。
西方国家网民支持政府某项举措----民主善政当然得人心。
中国网民反对政府某项举措--------政府人心丧尽，人民都反政府。
西方国家网民反对政府某项举措----西方制度好，言论自由有保障。
中国老头娶少妻--------世风日下，人心不古。拜金主义盛行，社会道德沦丧。
西方国家老头娶少妻----自由世界，个人私生活有充分的自由，隐私受到最好的保护。
通宝推：慧诚,