I get really, really depressed when I hear people, young or old, say, “I don’t vote because it won’t make a lick of difference” or “It doesn’t matter who is mayor, governor or president and what their policies are – it’s the same old status quo.”

Maybe sometimes they are right. 

But then you read something like the following NY Times article [subscription may be required] by Thomas Friedman titled, Iraq Through China’s Lens, and you realize those doom and gloom folks are wrong.

To the extent that China may one day eat our economic or geopolitical lunch, this article points out that our little side journey into Iraq has not helped us.

For the record, no, I don’t always buy and drink the Kool-Aid that Friedman can serve up. But on the subject of this op-ed piece, he nailed it and is dead on correct. 

People, personnel selection and policy selection and priorities sure have mattered in the case of Iraq.  Just think of all the intellectual, financial, social, emotional and spiritual resources and capital that have gone into Iraq, and will continue to do so, that could have been used elsewhere and/or in a different manner.   No, on second thought, strike my suggestion that you do that.  I want you to have a good, positive, joyful day; not a depressing one.  I really do.