The idea of our ancestors that all things will reach an extreme, after which they will swing back in the other direction, is right on target.

Over the last two years, the fact that the economy is in recession has dominated conversations. Yet, just as everything appears to be at a low ebb, news emerges of rising leading economic indicators; these will certainly have a stimulating effect toward economic recovery.

First, several new shopping centers opened over the winter, while various department stores and malls have attracted people with anniversary sales or special year-end sales. There is an intensive war on to win consumers. Meanwhile, last December's election has sharply increased the number of seats of the ruling party in the legislature, which will naturally help the government get its policies enacted. The reorganization of the government with a new cabinet, designated as a "combat cabinet," is increasing expectations in the public about government determination to get the economy thriving again. Even hotter has been the recent introduction of the national lottery. Not only does this allow the government, which has in recent years been in dire financial straits, to strengthen social welfare policies, each week it gives birth to several newly wealthy individuals. Over the long run, this will certainly have a positive impact on stimulating consumption.

Of course, many people are not very pleased with the fondness of Taiwanease for gambling and the reliance on luck, and even more are worried about the government being the "house" and everyone thinking only about money.

However, it cannot be denied that virtually all advanced capitalist countries operate national or local lotteries. Moreover, before Taiwan began public lotteries, illegal lotteries were already widespread (and still exist), and even the stockmarket-itself a casino given the prevalence of "hot buys" and "insider information"-attracted huge number of "players."

From the point of view of basic human nature, there is no harm in having a legal channel by which people can satisfy their desire for wealth. So long as they do not become obsessive, but can accept their gains and losses without losing perspective, it is fun to have little lottery dreams, show a little concern for public welfare, and share in the common topic of conversation. In the US, there are more than 100 different types of lotteries, and the 39% that goes to public funds helps many states with their social welfare budgets. So long as the system is sound, a lottery can be a healthy phenomenon, and each individual can decide for themselves how involved they desire to be.

More problematic is the trend in the media for shallow reporting about the lottery, and the seemingly ever-increasing appetite in Taiwan society for scandalous or titillating news. It seems that people are losing their appetite for public interest issues, losing the ideals and ideas that underpinned social movements in the late 1980s and early 1990s. What kind of impact will this trend have on young people today? Where will we end up? We should beware of the possibility that we are becoming people who seek only fleeting sensations.

The values of the individual lie in the ideals he or she esteems. To grow, a country also needs vision. Taiwan has been through the martial law era in which there was only a single voice and through an idealistic period of early liberalization. With great difficulty, we have created together a real democracy. This should be the time when we sweep out the old and bring in the new, make a sound plan for the next fifty years, and decide where Taiwan stands. Taiwan's vision for the future is in the hands of people at the peak of their careers, but the carrying out of this vision will depend on future generations.

The most important task in Taiwan today is education reform. We are pleased to see that education reform after a decade is producing quite startling results. The elimination of the joint exams, smaller classes, interaction between students and teachers, integrated classrooms, and the revitalization of educational content are all substantive achievements, and this year the "integrated nine-year curriculum" has come online. How has this enormous task been progressing? What roles are played by teachers, students, schools, and parents? The success of education reform requires support from parents and society, and those of us whose school days are long behind us need to be concerned about the environment in which the future masters of our country will be shaped. What hopes are inspired by this ongoing quiet revolution?

Desires to understand ourselves and the world around us are the nutrients and motives for human progress. What resources does this maritime country of Taiwan have? What responsibilities should we fulfill? Having recently entered the World Trade Organization, what opportunities does Taiwan now enjoy and what challenges does it face? What is happening in Taiwan's ever-changing society, and what kinds of preparation should people make?

A lottery is just "dessert" in our lives, while knowledge and ideas are the real "beef." We seek to share with our readers the exploration of these serious yet fascinating topics, in pursuit of true excellence.