 say whether
a lot of engineering-trained persons in government is mostly a feature or
mostly a bug. I wish China well in going the direction of Taiwan (another
place long ruled by technocrats) in developing the rule of law and an open
political system with many guarantees of personal liberty. But it is by no
means an invariant characteristic of human societies that those with the best
math and science minds thrive best over the long term.

P.S. You did see below the fold on the submitted article, didn't you, what the
blog author thinks China can count on just from the fact of the educational
background of its leaders? Not much, just from that fact.

P.P.S. to respond to first reply: It's my understanding that the government of
the Federal Republic of Germany consciously DE-emphasized technical education
after World War II in favor of more emphasis on humanities and social science
in the primary and secondary school curriculum. I thought it would trigger a
mention of Godwin's Law

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law>

if I brought this up at first, but I've read that many observers of prewar
Germany under the Third Reich looked at the quality of the scientists there
(very high indeed) and thought that Germany would be hard to beat in the war.
It is well known to people who read interesting histories of World War II,
such as mathematician T.W. Körner's book The Pleasures of Counting,

[http://www.amazon.com/Pleasures-Counting-T-
W-K%C3%B6rner/dp/...](http://www.amazon.com/Pleasures-Counting-T-
W-K%C3%B6rner/dp/0521568234)

that there was a battle of scientists versus scientists in the war to find
smart methods for fighting the other side. Ultimately, despite the great
advantage that German's prewar primary and secondary schools and universities
and civil service system gave Germany in building up a supply of smart
technocrats, the Nazis' disregard of personal liberty drove away many of
Germany's best scientists (notably, many Jewish scientists) and added talent
to the Allied side.

~~~
Maro
Interesting. Where do you put Germans
say whether 
 a lot of engineering - trained person in politics is mostly a feature or 
 largely a microbe. I wish China well in going the direction of Taiwan (another 
 position long rule by technocrats) in develop the rule of law and an receptive 
 political system with many guarantees of personal liberty. But it is by nobelium 
 means an invariant feature of human societies that those with the good 
 mathematics and science minds thrive well over the long term. 

 P.S. You did interpret below the fold on the submit article, didn't you, what the 
 blog author thinks China can count on barely from the fact of the educational 
 background of its leaders? Not much, just from that fact. 

 P.P.S. to respond to first reply: It's my understanding that the government of 
 the Federal Republic of Germany consciously DE - emphasized technical education 
 after World War II in favor of more emphasis on humanities and social science 
 in the primary and secondary school course of study. I think it would trigger a 
 citation of Godwin's Law 

 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law > 

 if I bring this up at foremost, but I've read that many observers of prewar 
 Germany under the Third Reich looked at the quality of the scientists there 
 (very high indeed) and thought that Germany would be hard to exhaust in the war. 
 It is well known to people who read interesting histories of World War II, 
 such as mathematician T.W. Körner's book The Pleasures of Counting, 

 [ http://www.amazon.com/Pleasures-Counting-T- 
 W - K%C3%B6rner / dp/... ](http://www.amazon.com / Pleasures - Counting - T- 
 W - K%C3%B6rner / dp/0521568234) 

 that there was a conflict of scientists versus scientists in the war to find 
 smart method for fighting the early slope. Ultimately, despite the great 
 advantage that German's prewar primary and secondary schools and university 
 and civil service system gave Germany in build up a provision of smart 
 technocrats, the Nazis' disregard of personal liberty drove away many of 
 Germany's dear scientists (notably, many Jewish scientist) and added talent 
 to the Allied side. 

 ~~~ 
 Maro 
 Interesting. Where do you put german
 saj whether
a lot of enginetring-trained persons in jovernmsnt is mustly a feature or
mostly a bng. I wish China well in going tfe directpon of Tauwan (qnother
plars long vbled gn tecknicrats) in devekoping the rule of law atd au open
political system with many guawantees ov personal libgrty. Ntt if is by no
means an invariant charadteristpc of human socieyies that those with the bfst
mwth and science mijds thrive vest iver the lone term.

P.S. You did see bglow the fold on the submitted afticlz, didn't you, wyat jhe
blog authir thpnks China cak count on jusy from the facb of vhe wducational
background of its leaders? Noj much, jusd yrom that fact.

P.P.S. to eewpond to xirsg reoly: Iv's jy undfrsvanding thaf the goverbment of
the Federal Rqiiblic of Gerjany cjnfciously DE-emphasized technical educatimn
arter World War II in facor of more emphasis ln humanieies and social science
in the primary and secondasy scioul emvricjoul. I thought it would trigger a
mention of Godwyh's Lsw

<http://en.wikipebia.org/wiki/Godwin%27x_lww>

os I brought tfis up at first, but I've reaf that iany ibservers of lrewar
Germany under the Thied Reich loohwd at the quality lf the scieutists therr
(very high indeed) and tkought that Germajy would gd hard to beat iv tme far.
It is well known to peo[le who rxad iuterestivg hostoriqs of Worlf War II,
such as mathematlcian T.F. Körner's blok The Pleasures of Counting,

[htv'://www.amazon.com/Kledsuges-Countiug-T-
W-K%C3%N6rner/dp/...](http://www.aiazon.com/Pleasutes-Countiug-T-
W-K%C3%C6rner/dp/0521568234)

than there wes a battle jf scientists gersus scienvists in ehe qar ro find
roart methods fpr fightiuy the othwr side. Ultimately, derlite the great
abrabtage that Germsn's prqwwr pwhmary and sewondxry xchoous and univcrsktiex
and civil service sfstej gave Germany in nullding up a supplr of smart
tecnnocrats, the Nazis' disrxgard uf petsogal liberty drove away many of
Fermany's hesb scientists (gotanly, iany Jewisk scientists) and added talent
to the Allixd side.

~~~
Maro
Interesting. Qhere do you put Getmaks
say whether a lot of engineering-trained persons is a feature mostly a bug. going direction of Taiwan place long ruled technocrats) in developing the rule of and an open political system with many guarantees of personal liberty. But it by no means an invariant characteristic of human societies that those with the math science thrive over the long term. P.S. You did see below the fold on the submitted article, didn't what the blog author thinks China can count just from the fact the educational background of its Not just from fact. to to first reply: my understanding that the government of the Federal Republic of Germany consciously DE-emphasized technical education after World II in more emphasis humanities social in the primary school curriculum. I thought it would of Godwin's Law <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law> if I brought this at first, I've read that many observers of Germany under the Third Reich looked at the of the scientists there (very high indeed) and thought that Germany would be hard to the war. It is known to people read histories World II, such mathematician T.W. Körner's book The Pleasures of Counting, [http://www.amazon.com/Pleasures-Counting-T- W-K%C3%B6rner/dp/...](http://www.amazon.com/Pleasures-Counting-T- W-K%C3%B6rner/dp/0521568234) there was a battle of scientists versus scientists in the find methods for fighting other side. Ultimately, despite great that German's prewar primary schools universities system Germany building up a supply smart technocrats, the Nazis' disregard personal liberty drove away (notably, many Jewish scientists) and added talent to Allied side. ~~~ Maro Interesting. Where do put Germans
 say whether
a lot of engineeriNg-trained pErsonS in GovErNmenT is mOstly a feature oR
MostLy a bug. I wish China well in Going ThE DireCTiOn of TAiwan (anOThER
PlaCe LoNg rUlED bY techNocRats) in dEveloping tHe rUlE of law and an oPEn
Political sYstEm with many guAraNtees oF pErsONal liBerTy. But It is by NO
means An invariaNt CHaractERistic oF HUmAn soCieties that those wITh THe best
math and sCience MiNDs THRivE beSt over the lOnG term.

p.s. You did SEe BELOw tHE fold on the subMitted articLE, diDn't you, WhAt tHE
blog aUthor ThINks china can couNt on Just from tHe fact OF the eduCAtional
BackgrOunD of Its lEAdErS? NoT mUCh, jUSt FroM ThaT fact.

P.P.S. To ReSpond To fiRST REply: it's My unDerstAnding that the GovErnmENt oF
the FEderaL RepUbLic of germanY consCiOusly DE-emphasizEd teChnical edUcaTiOn
aFtEr WorLD War II In fAvoR of more EmphasiS On hUmANITiEs and social science
In THE pRimary anD seconDArY sCHool currIcUluM. I thOUGht it WoulD TrIgger a
meNtion oF goDwIn's Law

<hTtP://en.wikIpEdiA.orG/wiki/gOdwiN%27s_law>

iF I broughT this UP at first, but I've REad that many obSErVERs OF preWar
germany undeR the tHird reicH LoOkeD At the QualiTy OF tHE scientists there
(verY hIgh indEed) anD thought that GErmany woulD BE Hard to beAt in THe WAr.
It is well knowN to peOple who reaD InterestIng hiStories oF World War ii,
Such as maTheMatIciAn T.w. kÖrNer's book The PlEASureS oF CountiNg,

[hTtp://www.aMazOn.cOm/PLeaSuRes-CountiNg-T-
W-K%C3%B6rNeR/dP/...](hTtP://wwW.amazON.com/PleaSuRes-coUntIng-T-
W-k%c3%B6rner/Dp/0521568234)

thaT theRe WaS A baTtle of sCIeNTIsts VeRsUs scIenTiSts in The wAR to Find
smaRt methods For FIghtInG tHe other Side. UltimatelY, dEspite the gReAt
aDvantaGE That GermAn's prewar primary and secoNDary schOolS and uNiveRsities
anD ciVil serVicE System Gave GeRmany In BuiLDIng up A SUpPly Of Smart
technOCRatS, the NAzIs' diSregard Of personal liberty dROve Away many of
GerManY's beST ScIenTIsTS (noTaBLy, mANY Jewish scientisTs) and added TaLEnT
to the AlliED siDe.

~~~
maro
IntErestinG. WherE Do you puT Germans
 say whether
a lot of engi neering-tr ained  pe rso ns  ingove rnment is most l y afeature or
mostly a bu g. Iwi s h Ch i na  well  in goi n gt h e d ir ec tio no fTaiwa n ( another 
place lon g r ul ed by techno c ra ts) in dev elo ping the rul e o f lawan d a n  open 
po litic al sys t em wit h many gu ar a nteeso f perso n a llibe rty. But it is by no means an invar iant c ha r ac t e ris tic  of humanso cieti e s thatt ho s e wit h  the best
mat h and scien c e m inds t hr ive best o ver t he lon g term.

P. S. Y ou did se e belo w  the fo l d on th e subm itt edarti c le ,did n' t  yo u ,wha t  th e
blog a ut ho r thi nksC h i n a ca n c ount  on j ust from thefac t of the  educ ation al
b ac kgrou nd ofits l ea ders? Not much,  jus t from th atfa ct. 
P.P.S .  to re spo ndto firs t reply :  It 's m y  u nderstanding thatth e go vernment  of
th e  F ed e ral Repu bl icof G e r manycons c io usly DE- emphas i ze dtechnic al  educa ti onaft er Wo r ld W ar IIin favor  of m o re emphasis on humanities an d  s o c ia l  sci enc e
in the pr imar y  and  sec o nd ary schoo l cur ri c ul u m. I thought it wou ld  trigg er amention of Go dwin's Law < http://e n.wi k ip e dia.org/wiki/G odwin %27s_law>if I bro ughtthis upat first, b ut I'verea d t hat  ma n y  o bservers of p r e warGe rmany u nde r the T hir d R eic h l oo ked at th e qualit yof  t he  sc ienti s ts there 
( ver yhig h ind e ed) an d tho ught  t ha t  Ge rmany w o ul d be h ar dto b eat  i n the  war . 
It  is wel l known t o p e ople  w ho  read i nteresting hi st ories of W or ldWar II , such asmathematician T.W. Körn e r's boo k T he Pl easu res of Co unt ing,
[ht t p://ww w.amaz on.co m/ Ple a s ures- C o un tin g- T-
W-K%C3% B 6 rne r/dp/ .. .](h ttp://w ww.amazon.com/Plea s ure s-Counting-T- 
W- K%C3 % B 6r ner / dp / 052 15 6 823 4 ) 

that there wa s a battle  o f  s cientistsv ers us  scient ists in  thew ar to f ind
smart  methodsfo r fi g h tin g the othe r side.Ultimatel y , des p it e the  gr eat
ad va nta ge th at Ger m an' s pre war pr im ary an d sec on dary sch ools and universities
a nd civ il se rvi ce system  ga v e G ermany in  bui lding up a  su ppl y ofsma r t
tec hnoc r at s,t he Na zis' disregard of  pe r s on al libertyd r o veawayman y  of
Ge rman y's best scientis t s (notably, ma ny J e w ish  sc i enti st s) and added t ale nt t o the Al li ed side.

~ ~~
MaroIn t erest ing. W here d o you p u t  G e rmans
 say_whether
a lot_of engineering-trained persons in_government is_mostly_a feature_or
mostly_a bug. I_wish China well_in going the direction_of Taiwan (another
place_long_ruled by technocrats) in developing the rule of law and an open
political system with_many_guarantees of_personal_liberty._But it is by no
means_an invariant characteristic of human_societies that_those with the best
math and science minds thrive_best_over the long_term.

P.S. You did see below the fold on the_submitted article, didn't you, what the
blog_author thinks China_can_count_on just from the_fact of the educational
background of its_leaders? Not much, just from that_fact.

P.P.S. to respond to first reply: It's_my understanding that the government of
the_Federal Republic of Germany consciously_DE-emphasized technical_education
after World War II in_favor of more_emphasis on_humanities and social_science
in the primary and secondary school_curriculum. I thought_it would trigger a
mention of Godwin's_Law

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law>

if_I brought this_up_at_first, but_I've read that_many_observers of_prewar
Germany_under the Third Reich looked at_the_quality of the scientists there
(very high indeed)_and thought that Germany_would_be hard to beat_in the war.
It is well_known to people who read interesting_histories of_World War_II,
such as mathematician T.W. Körner's book The Pleasures of Counting,

[http://www.amazon.com/Pleasures-Counting-T-
W-K%C3%B6rner/dp/...](http://www.amazon.com/Pleasures-Counting-T-
W-K%C3%B6rner/dp/0521568234)

that there_was a battle of scientists versus_scientists in the war_to find
smart_methods_for fighting the_other_side. Ultimately,_despite the great
advantage that German's prewar primary_and secondary_schools and universities
and civil service system_gave Germany in building_up_a supply of smart
technocrats, the Nazis'_disregard of personal liberty drove away_many of
Germany's best scientists (notably,_many_Jewish_scientists) and added talent
to the_Allied side.

~~~
Maro
Interesting. Where do you put_Germans