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今天和安德烈视频，他劝我毕业了早点回国，又打趣道，最好去新疆和他一起赚大钱，去喀什挖掘商机去。一个在西伯利亚，一个在俄亥俄，地球的两边，两个人有一搭没一搭聊着迫在眉睫的未来，幻想着不知在何方的工作，然后互相勉励前途光明，道路远又长。奉父母之命，安德烈寒假在老家结了婚，人生算是稳定了一半了。他听说我几欲读博，自然是一通吐槽，说男人趁年轻赚钱是王道，念书几时才是个尽头？在一个已婚男人面前，谈漂泊异乡的孤独和浪漫，谈假冒伪劣的理想主义，通通不堪一击。可是，脚踏实地的生活啊，我要怎么找到你？
下午在扣扣上遇到LC和LQ，一个是看球到凌晨四点，一个是和老朋友通宵唱卡拉OK。我一个人在阴雨绵绵的下午屋子里看书发呆，地球另一边的团伙们热热闹闹开开心心包厢里引吭高歌。真是，好山好水好寂寞vs.好脏好乱好快活，这一对比，更显得我在这美帝中西部生活的索然无味。LQ问我，毕业后怎么打算，回国还在留在资本主义世界？我说，可能先在此地找找活儿，但几年后一定要回去啊。我不是绿卡控不是移民控，不想削尖了脑袋换一张发达资本主义国家的身份卡。当然，我这种mediocre凡人一枚，也不见得有那本事。LQ说，来北京吧，阳泉同学的大本营，来了随时联系。她这么一说，我竟恨不得马上就飞奔回国。像我这种漂在外的，三不五时会觉得自己是脱离了根据地的散兵，所有可以陪我海阔天空嘻嘻哈哈胡说八道的人都离我半个地球远，想给爹妈打个电话还得先考虑时差。尤其写论文写到整个人在扭曲变态的临界点时，心里哗哗大叫，艹，当初就不该跑出来！可是，过去容不得假设，出来了，对外面世界的好奇反而愈发强烈了，趁着年轻，我就，自己一个人战斗吧。
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Religious influence in the economic sphere?
2012-04-17
I just listened to a piece of NPR news about Christian Americans' debate on to what extent the government should intervene with the economy. In an ideal market economy, government's role is surely supposed to be within a very limited boundary, because the free market can regulate all the demand and supply, and most importantly, the price of goods. However, in our real world, the market economies don't exist in pure form. Almost all today's developed capitalist countries' market economies involve society and governments' interference to varying degrees.
Based on what I have learned from books and my first-hand experience in the United States, Americans do highly value their economic model. It means that the market forces function principally and structure economic activities, government and other social groups adding some regulations to the market economy, such as welfare programs, subsidies, specific fundings, to minimize the inefficiency sometimes brought about by free market and to strengthen their economic development. Very interestingly, last week in a class, one of my colleagues said that American economy under Obama was actually socialist. I think that his complaint do represent certain groups' public opinion. Which groups? Those politically and religiously conservative one, who wholeheartedly believe in free market and perfect competition. Most of them are for Republicans' project? Maybe.
Several days ago, with the Republican budget being passed, the Democrats' criticism followed soon. Democrats considered the plan, which lowered taxes and cut services to the poor, an affront to the Gospel, and particualrly Jesus command to care for the poor. Democrats' attitude and their corresponding plans demonstrate that Americans do hold Jesus words and the Bible sacred. Their religious belief still substantially influence their implementation, interpretation and appraisal of policies. Democrats stressed the indispensability of government's hand in helping the poor, which was legitimized by Jesus oracle. In terms of the Republicans' stance, they also clung to their Christian principle, which means that helping poor should be taken into account. But, as the Republicans insisted, the task of caring the poor can be fulfilled through civic organizations, such as churches, charities, or some other community groups. Republicans justified their policies by saying that God intends the government to have a minimal role in society. Here Democrats threw a good question: what if the churches and charities sometime stretch to their limits financially?
It seems that discussing those questions is economists' responsibility. Democrats and Republicans all maintain their advocacy and make more voters buy their opinons. Resorting to religion is one of the most effective way to achieve their goals, I think.
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我现在唯一的最大的希望就是，这辈子再也不要遇到学术帝室友这号人物了。I have been so pissed off.
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晚上给家里打了个电话，告诉我妈我夏天毕业后要准备找工作，不读PhD了，当然，下次回家也遥遥无期了。
电话那端我妈有点乱了阵脚的感觉，长久以来，她大概一直以为我会继续读下去，因为那代表着我将有一个拿得出手的学位，代表着我可以每年暑假回家一次，代表着我过的是可能辛苦但是尚且稳定的生活继而她可以少些担心……她于是左一句右一句重复的嘱咐我，那你找工作不要太辛苦，不要硬拼，咱干脆就回来吧，别怕面子上挂不住……
其实，我才不在乎面子的事儿，不过是想多看看外面的世界。不是说好男儿志在四方嘛。
可是挂了电话，我妈那隐隐透着不安的语气，语气里难掩的失望和对我的挂牵，在耳边萦绕，顺着她电话里的余音，眼前竟恍惚勾勒出她坐在电话前一如往常着急时的那副神情。我无比内疚。暗暗骂自己二十五年的人生真失败。眼眶里似乎就要逼出泪来。
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Gorbachev and perestroika - [默念]
2012-04-10
I take a Russian-taught class this quarter with a very friendly instructor, who grew up and spent much of her life in Russia. Her class touches upon contemporary issues in today's Russia and some historic moments throughout the late socialism in USSR. We'll discuss Mikhail Gorbachev tomorrow as scheduled. The topic is of great interest for me, because the abrupt collapse of the once mighty and immutable empire can constantly elicit discussions and argument among scholars, some of which are really with refreshing perspectives.
Gorbachev has almost become the very symbol of a specific period, his name being tightly associated with his creative, even audacious reformist policies, known as perestroika. It might be inappopriate that I label Gorbachev's reform as audacious, or daring, or fearless, for no evidence tells that Gorbachev implemented those reforms basically in a rush of blood to his head. He must have been thinking long and hard about initiating his reform. I'll be further exploring Gorbachev and his reform in my blog for next days or weeks, which actually paralles my reading of American historian Stephen Kotkin's two books on the last years of the Soviet Union.
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