On Ron Paul

I'm not a big fan of the Austrian School - conversely it isn't based on the basic principles of modern discourse i.e. empiricism and scientifc reasoning. It is the flaws in human character that precipitated the crashes of 29 and 08 i.e. good old fashioned greed. Obama is fortunate in so much as FDR gave him and his advisors the basics of a road map out of tis mess. FWIW I think the biggest challenges are the dependency on oversees energy and unemployment. John Maynard Keynes is the economist Obama needs to refer too once again. Invest state money in a renewal energy infrastructure and that will begin to stimulate the economy. I think creation of such a renewable energy industry, rather than the quick-hit of oil could be a viable economic alternative to the military as the driver of industry.I do though agree that devolution of power to the States is a viable political path. It was one of the first things that the Labour government did here in 97. Transferring control of issues to the people whom they most directly affect, while at the same time removing these issues from the central in-tray.With regard to suprantional organisations, such as NATO and the UN, the opinion out here is that they are in the pocket of the States anyway. To what extent that will change if the global economic map is re-drawn is a moot point.