Things are about to
turn from terrible to horrible in the United States. We're embarking on what
could rank among the most dangerous periods in our history.
There's an
understandable human tendency to be consumed by the downward spiral of events
at times like this. Despite this impulse toward insularity, it remains
essential for our states, cities, corporations, universities, and each of us as
citizens to stay sharply focused on the world at large.
So how about that
Boao Forum ending today on Hainan Island in China? It's "the Asian
Davos" comprising a Who's Who of global leadership under Beijing's
auspices. Decisions and deals
affecting us all are being crafted right now at Boao and throughout its networks in
essential markets such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data, biomedicine, blockchain, e-commerce, private education and, well, you name it.
Where are we in this mix? How much have you learned about Boao from U.S. media?
One hopes history
will show that the U.S. recovered from this pungent sewer ride we're now on.
History will also inevitably show, however, that our self-absorption of the
moment - our inability and unwillingness to keep our eyes on the big picture - ceded
some advantages in trade and lucrative emerging industries to China, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Australia, and other economic competitors. Leaving the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Paris Accords certainly didn't help, either.