History is full of instances where a rising power, aggrieved and dissatisfied, acts aggressively to obtain new borders or other international concessions. In Russia today we see a much more unusual case: This increasingly menacing and ambitious geopolitical actor is a state in decline.

Notwithstanding Russia's nuclear arsenal and its vast territories, the distinguishing feature of the country today is its striking economic underdevelopment and weakness.

For all Russia's oil and gas, the country's international sales of goods and services last year only barely edged out Belgium's - and were positively dwarfed by the Netherlands'.

While Russia's childbearing patterns today look entirely European, its mortality patterns look Third World - and in some ways worse. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, a 15-year-old youth has worse survival chances today in Russia than in 33 of the 48 places the United Nations designates as "least developed countries," including such impoverished locales as Mali, Yemen and even Afghanistan.

Russia's "high education, low human capital" paradox also shows up in Russia's extreme "knowledge production" deficit. Long-term economic progress depends on improving productivity through new knowledge - but this is something Russia appears mysteriously unable to do.

In the modern era, the ultimate source of national wealth and power is not natural resources: It is human resources. And unfortunately for Russia, its human-resource situation is almost unrelievedly dismal - with worse likely in the years to come.

As Zero sunk further into demented estrangement from reality this week - e.g., claiming that man-made climate change caused draught in Nigeria which caused Boko Haram, when Nigeria has been unusually wet for the last ten years - maybe someone needs to tell him a joke he should listen to:...

Last Sunday (5/17), the capital of Iraq's key Anbar province, Ramadi, fell to ISIS - a city that scores of Marines died to liberate in 2006. In response, President Putz rallies our troops by giving a speech at the Coast Guard Academy (5/20) about the national threat of global warming.

The next day (yesterday 5/21), ISIS took the historic city of Palmyra and now controls 50% of Syria - and at that very time yesterday, Zero gives an interview declaring, "I don't think we're losing to ISIS."

If Zero were telling the truth in that interview, what he would have admitted is:...

Have you noticed that all the Dems have now are has-beens?  Speaking of has-beens, the PIAPS had a wonderfully bad week.  She's not inevitable, you know.  I'll tell you who I'm all in for, he's my guy... 

Here's a great good-news story from Monday (5/18) written by an idiot AP reporter...

Then there's a small miracle that occurred in Congress, a delightful story for the ladies, and an anonymous artist as the Hero of the Week.

Geneva, Switzerland.  What is the happiest place? Last week (4/23) in its annual World Happiness Report, the United Nations reported that Switzerland was No. 1. The United States ranked No. 15, and the African country of Togo came in last, at number 158. (Scroll down to Figure 2.2 for the ranked list.)

Switzerland is arguably the world's most successful country -- and most improbably so. It is landlocked and without much in the way of natural resources. It has four official languages, many different religious groups, and is surrounded by warring neighbors. Yet, it has remained an island of peace and prosperity.

The modern Swiss federal state goes back to 1848, when a federal constitution was adopted, giving the central government responsibility for defense, trade and legal matters. All other government matters were left to the cantons and the communes (i.e., cities and towns).

The U.S. Constitution, which is more than a half-century older than the Swiss, also greatly limited the powers of the central government -- but unlike the Swiss, there has been a centralization of power in the capital at the expense of the states and local governments.

How did the Swiss do it?

I've written often about Thomas Paine (1736-1809), one of my favorite historical figures. I thought this week as a counterpoint I'd write about one of my least favorite figures... his 18^th century contemporary, Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).  

Being against reason, science, civilization, individual liberty, and self-discipline, Rousseau's thinking has been at the root of much of the psychological, political, and cultural trouble of our time.  It has specifically popularized a philosophy of emotions that has done and continues to do great harm.

While ideals of individual liberty, natural rights, representative democracy, and private property were growing in influence throughout the west, Rousseau argued against them.

When Rousseau sent his friend Voltaire a copy of his second Discourse, Voltaire began his brilliant reply, "I have received, Monsieur, your new book against the human race."   Which is why one clear path to wisdom is to ignore his baneful influence completely.

The Jade Steps

Chapter Twenty-Eight:  The Fate of Montezuma

Cortez moved swiftly to commandeer the ships and supplies of Narvaez's fleet.  Under the command of Francisco de Lugo, the ships were brought to Villa Rica, everything of use brought ashore, and the great quantities of wine, bacon, flour, cassava bread and other perishables carefully stored.

He also moved quickly to merge the men and commands of Narvaez's men with his own.  He detached Juan Velasquez de Leon and 120 men, 100 of whom were Narvaez men, to explore the coast to the north of Villa Rica and establish a colony near the river Panuco.  He directed Diego de Ordaz to lead the same sort of contingent south for a colony near the river Coatzacoalco.

He placed Rodrigo Rangel in charge of Villa Rica, made sure Narvaez and Salvatierra were securely imprisoned there, and ordered Gonzalo de Sandoval to make all preparations for the remainder of the command to return to Tenochtitlan.

Then everything changed when Malinali brought one of Narvaez's officers, Botello Puerto de Plata, to Cortez.  "Señor de Plata has disturbing news, my Captain," she told him.  Cortez had been hearing about him.  A hidalgo from Santander on the north coast of Castille, he had become a Latin scholar while studying in Rome, and had a reputation for being a prestidigitador, a magician who could predict the future.

"Señor Cortez, I must warn you to leave here immediately," de Plata announced.  "The officer you left in command at Tenochtitlan, Pedro de Alvarado, and all your men there are in grave danger.  The Aztecs are making war upon them, they are attempting to climb into their quarters with ladders, and wish to kill them all.  You must return there quickly."