The wheel? No big deal

We often hear people refer to the wheel as one of the important inventions of all time. But think about it: what good is a wheel? What can one do with it? Stand on top of it and try to roll it along?

Actually, the truly significant invention was not the wheel, but rather the axle - or more accurately, the concept of the wheel and axle as a system. This must have been a profound realization for the early humans. The wheel & axle system was probably discovered - or invented - simultaneously by many humans, but for each of them the experience of perceiving a systematic relationship between two completely different objects may have been hugely exhilarating.

They could immediately make grinding wheels, wagons and carts, waterwheels, windmills, pulleys, pottery wheels - a vast number of energy-transducing systems. But the wheel all by itself? No big deal.

Outsourcing war

Business experts are fond of advising companies to "outsource" - i.e. have somebody else do - everything but their "core competencies." This has led to a global shake-out as various business functions get outsourced to countries (and companies in those countries) who are able to do it cheaper (and sometimes better).

This leads to an intriguing proposition: all countries could outsource their warmaking efforts to the United States. After all, the US is clearly the leading military force in the world, with the latest technology and the most highly trained, expert fighters. No other country makes war as well as the US does.

If all countries outsourced their warmaking to the US, they could be sure of getting the best operations for their money. Where would this lead? For one thing, the country willing to put up the most money would always win, because both sides would be buying military operations of identical quality.

The drawback, one might say, would be that Americans would be fighting against each other. But, if the best-funded side would always win, then Americans could simply scale down the battles to make sure the right sponsor won, but with minimum casualties - and higher profits. In the end, maybe the wars could be fought with computers, and the losing side would have to pay money to the winning side.

Would this work?