Jason's Log

Another Epic Ride

But this one I atually survived. We did 36 miles in 5.75 hours with about 4500 ft of climbing in 90 degree wether. I was actually able to keep up wit Fred this time, which I consider a huge achievement. The only problem I ran into was a cramping right calf muscle at the very end of the ride. Stopped at a gas station on the way home, bought two bottles of gatorade, and drank them. That seemed to fix the problem.

But now I know that rides in excess of 5 hours, I will need to bring something along for electrolyte replacement (sodium, potassium). I also discovered that my 70 ounes of water was just right for this length of ride. Any longer and I would have had to stop for a refill. It was also nice not losing 5 lbs of water. Only 3 lbs. this time.

The trail was similar: Start at Stven's Creek Canyon. Make our way up to Page Mill and Skyline via The Canyon Trail then the Grizzly Flats Trail. From there, worked our way over to Russian Ridge, and rode dome some trail that looked like it hadn't been used in years. Then turned around and came back.

Whew.

Walz vs. Hobbes on cynicism

One interesting historical debate in the study of international politics has to do with trying to describe the fundamental reasons for war:

Hobbes, the pessimist, argued that it was the innate power-hungry violent naute of humans that, when placed in charge of a nation-state, led to war. In other words: Humans are naturally violent, so nation-states are too.

Rousseau, Walz and others argue that war is really the product of an anarchic international system, thereby shifting the blame from the humans to the system. In their view, even rational leaders can be forced to wage war because of the circumstances of the international political systems over which they have little control. They further content that leaders of nation-states will typically do what is in the rational best-interest of their state.

One poart of the equation that Rousseau and Walz leave out, in my opinion, is the effects of democratically elected leaders: I suspect that leaders may choose to wage war when it is clearly not in the best interest of the state if they believe that (a) it is in the best interest of their job security, and (b) the costs of the decision will be sufficiently delayed such that they can escape direct blame.

But then again, allowing the decisions of individual leaders to factor into my theory of international relations does not make me a very effective "Realist".

Soquel, a third time

Tomorrow morning will be another ride up at Soquel Demonstration Forest. Should be between 12 and 18 mile. Dave and Claire from romp.org will be leading it again.

Economic Interdependence

One interesting idea from Jen Jacques Rousseau's "The State of War: Confederation as Means to Peace" was that economic interdependence is the most viable means to achieve lasting world peace.

What is so remarkable about this observation is that Rousseau died in 1778. He even spends time disussing the possibility of an economically unified Europe. Ver prophetic, I think.

His basic claim was that states would be disincented from going to war to the extent that their economies were dependent on one another. Althouh Rousseau is cited in the book ("International Relations Theory") as a Realist, he ertainly seems convinced that economics is one key to world peace. Besides the basic humanitarian achievements of globalization (reducing levels of poverty worldwide), this certainly does seem like a nice fringe benefit.

This viewpoint seems attractive to me for several reasons:

1. In modern times, economic prowess drives military power. You cannot have military power without sound economics. Econmic prowess at the level of a nation state depends on participation in international markets.

2. The overall contentment of a population is based on their self-perceived economic well being, or so I would claim. Other factors do play a part, but if a group's economic needs are largely met, they won't complain too loudly.

3. To the extent that the business entities of that population are dependent on international revenue for their success, it will be in the government's best interest to not disrupt those international commercial transactions.

Which in a simplistic sense boils down to: Strong economies with international markets lead to peace lead to happy people lead to strong economies lead to peace...