I read three articles written by Thomas Friedman and found them truly intriguing. Here are my thoughts and analysis.

We sometimes tend to get distracted by short-term concerns and forget about the essentials for the long run. Three of Thomas Friedman’s articles: Get it Right on Gas, The Virtual Middle Class Rises and How Mexico Got Back In the Game tell his readers not only to think in the short term, but also view the world in the long term.

Get it Right on Gas stresses the advantages of technology to extract gas efficiently and our priorities to invest in clean energy. Indeed, with the rapid development of technology, it is getting easier to extract clean natural gas. There are also massive amounts of gas locked away in shale deposits. Even though this energy is clean and could last people in the short term and middle term, it couldn’t last long because it is still a fossil fuel. Friedman says people shouldn’t forget about renewable energy and rely on natural gas. A certain amount of investment in renewable energy is still crucial. We should not wait until natural gas is depleted, and then search for other viable sources. Friedman focuses on natural gas as a reminder of long term planning.

Friedman also uses Mexico as an example of how people should look further ahead. How Mexico Got Back in the Game talks about the growth potential of Mexico, a country known for rampant crime and poverty. After the Mexican companies lost out to China in 1990’s, they did not give up. Now, they have 44 free trade agreements with countries all over the globe, more than two times that of China. Friedman thinks that Mexico’s economy is just starting to boom. He talks about how America is still focused on fighting in the Middle East and is ignorant about the $1.5 billion worth of trade with Mexico. If they focus solely on getting rid off Al Qaeda in the Middle East, they are only benefitting in the short term. However if the Americans concentrate on getting rid off Al Qaeda, they are missing out on a big opportunity on investing in Mexico. Friedman tells America not to be stubborn to focus on the short term but also to take long term into account.

Virtual Middle Class Rises also teaches us the same lesson. Friedman feels that people are underestimating how quickly technology is expanding, and how fast an undeveloped economy could grow. India’s lower class is now catching up with middle class due to cheap technology. India is giving benefits to the poor by using technology, for example electricity cards and safe drinking water. What people think of India now is a place full of crime. They are not aware that the lower class of India is slowly catching up with the middle class, and they will eventually have the same rights with the middle class. Friedman is telling his readers to respect these people now, because in the long term, these people will dominate the world.

The true message behind Friedman’s words is pretty harsh. Between his words, I believe Friedman is criticizing the American government for what they are doing. He is saying how narrow-minded the Americans are, and how deceived they are by technology. He hopes that American could change and not be so ignorant about everything. He writes these articles hoping to inform America what they are doing wrong. If he didn’t want America to become a better country, he wouldn’t be so critical.