from "This American Life" -- listen to the "teenage embed" file on TAL's homepage. The costs to individuals who are U.S. allies are vividly portrayed here -- both the need for change in Afghanistan and the woefully underprepared American attempt to foster that change. I'm still practicing.

Why do Republicans fight country-of-origin labeling on imported food, yet protest importation of drugs from Canada? Why does the idea of a "public" whose welfare must be tended through taxes no longer resonate with Americans? I"m still practicing.