Brian Gongol
Chinese president wants order and economic growth
Speaking at the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Communist Party of China, President Hu appeared to acknowledge some realpolitik concerns -- like the fact that corruption undermines the party's popular support -- but, like any classical rent seeker, argued that only he and his team were good enough to do the job of leading the country. But he ought to take note: Monopolies, even those on political power, are rarely maintained for long.
County supervisor wants his and a dozen other counties to secede from California
He thinks the counties are paying in too much to the state government and getting too little back, and thinks the region -- apparently, roughly the Inland Empire area -- to start their own state. New states have been formed out of old ones before.
