Two thoughts on humans

1. Nicholas Phillipson authored a book on Adam Smith and talks about his desire to study human nature in an attempt to create a better society. He summarized Smith's conclusions like this:  "The only thing we can be sure [of] is that human beings are the weakest, feeblest, most defenseless of all animal species. The only reason they can survive is because they learn to cooperate . . . We learn from the moment we're born to exchange ideas, goods, services, sentiments with others and we do that because if we don't we die. . ."

2. Tom Freedman published an article Sunday that points out an oft overlooked renewable resource. In praising Taiwan he says, "...you developed the habits and culture of honing your people’s skills, which turns out to be the most valuable and only truly renewable resource in the world today." And quoting a researcher on natural resources and test scores noted that, ". . . knowledge and skills have become the global currency of 21st-century economies."