1. China's uncannily grow versus the price of reform
Spigot: a device that controls the flow of liquid from a large container.
Triage: the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition.
Since this year, China's annual growth rebounded following the previous years of subdued performances as a result of economic reform, reflected in 4 areas:
1) corporate earnings strengthened;
2) housing market is prospering;
3) deflation issue slightly alleviated.
Underneath are the excess liquidity and age old credit problems: overly leveraged & high and still rising debt-to-GDP ratio.
IMF calls for realistic resolution to debt problems:
1) regulations reinforced;
2) show the true bad bebt level and control in place;
3) issuance of new products instead of trading old bonds;
4) municipalities to manage the unemployment insurance for the floating non-residents immigrants;
5) open up telecom and energy sectors for privatization.
Personally I find the last two suggestions unrealistic.
2. The debasing of American politics
Knocle duster: metal worn around the knuckles that strengthens the impact of a punch
Bigotry: prejudiced or closed-minded person, especially one who is intolerant or hostile towards anything
Iota: a very small quantity; jot ; whit.
The article has analogized Donald Trump to a gangster who tramples the American politics scene, which is largely true. Couple of examples about Trump's nonsense talk:
1) his chauvinist abusive and racially discriminative statements
2) proposal to ban Muslims from US
3) threatening of throwing Hilary Clinton to jail
4) questioning the legitimacy of the election.
The article is very well written. I really like the style of this author!
What is more concerning is that his supporters or public in general adapt to such anabsurd bigotry. "With each outrage he has an iota of plausible deniability (he is just being trump!). With each sign that he is unfit to be the head of the state, some supporters can still cling to an alternative reality" etc.
It is dooming to see that some people, when they lose confidence in politics, believe that destroying it helps rebuild a new political scene. They do believe that Trump represents the mass but not the elite few.
Weather Trump wins the election, the US benefits nothing from his campaigning for presidency. Even if Mrs Clinton wins, inwardly she would face a polarized governance system, the people who thinks she should be in jail. Outwardly she can less easily take risks.
To conclude, the author has a wise suggestion: Healthy politics is not warfare. It involves compromise and is about antagonist settling on a plan.