nation-building and the economic crisis...

In his June 26 column in the NY Times, Thomas Friedman addresses the widening economic crisis in the U.S. and the need for the U.S. political system to undertake profound nation-building. Despite sobering news in the financial and housing markets, a deepening energy crisis, rising unemployment, and weak consumer spending, Friedman seems hopeful: "We are a country in debt and in decline — not terminal, not irreversible, but in decline....."

The U.S. economic crisis is naturally a top concern for individuals and organizations. I just returned from the annual ALA library conference (thus no recent blog postings) -- the economic crisis and all its varied implications seemed to creep its way into every conference session and library discussion...