The Jasons and more

Some interesting stuff I have read:

I came across this article which is about a semi-secret organization of mathematicians and scientists who help run policy decisions. Rather like the Rand Corporation (for realists) and the illuminati (for conspiracy theorists).

This paper in the upcoming Cato Journal is very interesting. It questions the usefulness of aid in development. I would argue that certain types of aid are necessary. We struggled with this issue at the NAFAC conference. Aid has a tendency to cause dependency and does not promote self sufficiency. However, when a state has no infrastructure and no credit, what can it do?

An article from the Atlantic Monthly about Chavez, courtesy Jackie. I am very interested in Chavez and had some great discussion with Midshipman Paul Angelo about it. I think it is interesting, given all of his methods, that he was able to topple the oligarchy. The argument is that he is creating his own. The realy interesting part is the question it raises: being that he has been pretty much the only leader who has managed to radically change the social structure of a developing state in post colonial Africa and South America, is this the only way to really affect change?