maiyahi1 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

very interesting idea. but we live in a political world where you can not force your ideas on a person. so even if we change our leader to be more eco friendly if our lifestyle don't change we would not follow the laws he passes down. and like you said the world is flat but growing at a uncontrollable rate small towns soon become large metropolises. its a flat world with walls separating us from them until we all believe to become eco friendly changing one leader would do us no good.

garyowen4ever (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

tom lives in his own fantasy world that rivals anything by disney. he writes simpleton cutesy books with silver bullet trendy politically correct solutions only fit for blue haired ladies with rhinestone eyeglasses from FLUSHING, and gullible college and grad school kids looking for easy hope.

bucles2000 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

The world is not flat,is brutal.

ronnaneil (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Our future economy and our competitive position in the world will depend on inexpensive and abundant energy. Energy is the basis of all of the world's economies. The country that has the lowest cost of clean energy will have a significant leg up in the future world economy.The source of energy for most of the economies in the world today is oil,coal and natural gas. These are are purchased on a worldwide market. We all pay the going rate we all have the same basic cost of energy.

lb1915 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

In the panel discussion portion of this conference, the panelist from India related that their country had earmarked $65 Billion to build colleges during the next five years. That's about what we're paying for the Iraq war. Take a look at Craig Barrett's (Chairman of Intel) discussion of higher education in the U.S. and the rest of the world from this year's Aspen Idea Conference. Fifty percent of Intel patents come from Asia now as opposed to none only ten years ago.

storagecasa (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Love Friedman, especially on the Middle East. But a country pays its bills with taxes, Tbills, and TARIFFS. And we are 9 trillion in debt.

GorterPoss (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

He's too into the word "flat." pfft.

85nongcun26 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Terrific!

Associatedfan (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

I COULD OF TOLD YOU ABOUT NETSCAPE.

jgslauen (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Brilliant! Insightful, and his meta-thesis is very well articulated, makes perfect sense. This IS the largest development to the human race, bar nothing else at all.