Connecting the dots, Loss of morality

In regard to two recent posts, (how the Republicans lost it by replacing political thought with media populatiry and a rant on how the US has degenerated into a police state)

I have not (yet) gone off on the topic of lack of procecution of any bankers for their huge frauds, or the mortgage forclosure without due process, etc.

These are symptomatic of a lack of morality. Which brings us to this quote from the NYT, from "How China can defeat America"
The author, Yan Xuetong, studied ancient Chinese political theory, from the golden age of such theory-- pre Qin China, when China was a collection of small countries fighting for advantage.

All the schools of politcal thought converged on one insight:

The key to international influence was political power, and the central attribute of political power was morally informed leadership.

The author further suggests that China replace money worship with traditional morality.

Yan Xuetong, the author of Ancient Chinese Thought, Modern Chinese Power, is a professor of political science and dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University.

Oh, America! I tried to teach my son something this weekend, that anything worth doing is hard, requires effort. Morality is hard. Running on sound bites, quick black-and-white judgements and litmus tests, that is not morality. Morality requires deep thinking, considering the other side of the question. Validating the other person's perspective. Thinking is HARD

Maybe we don't do it so well because 20 PERCENT OF THE ADULT POPULATION IS ON PRESCRIPTION MIND-ALTERING DRUGS