Friedman Document

Hot, Flat, and Crowded

Thomas Friedman’s book Hot, Flat, and Crowded, explores three main problems facing current and future generations. The first problem is the world being “hot,” due to global warming. This creates an obstacle for the whole world but could possibly mean salvation for the United States. Second, is the world being “flat” due to the increase of a world economy. Internet and advancing technology is allowing individuals to perform work from anywhere in the world. This creates a problem, especially for the Unites States, because many jobs can now be outsourced to individuals from other nations who are able to work for much less than Americans. The third problem we are facing is, the world being “crowded.” Friedman believes that the world is overpopulated and becoming more so everyday, which is causing the middle class to expand. As the middle class grows, Americans demand more consumer goods, which slowly depletes our nation’s resources. The more resources that are being used up, the more dependant we become on foreign oil, which can ultimately be a threat to our national security.

Friedman goes on to inform the reader of the harsh realities of these problems. The author writes that the way we do most things now, are wrong. He states that we are in dire need for changes on a global level, and believes that a green revolution will be the next key development in our world market. The first company to invent clean power would most likely become a dominant force in the economy. Furthermore, the first nation to take advantage of and produce green energy will become the most dominant country in the world, economically speaking.

Friedman believes that it is imperative the United States gets together and buys into the green revolution while convincing other developed nations to do the same. Having “abundant, clean, reliable, and cheap electrons”