Resident Fellow  Alex J. Pollock

Sir, John Authers ("The Short View," August 12) argues for US investments on a relative basis and cites Shakespeare: "On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves or lose our ventures." Unfortunately, this plausible metaphor from Julius Caesar is how Brutus induces Cassius to go to battle at Philippi, which ends in disaster for their side and the utter loss of their ventures.

It seems Brutus had a modern echo in "When the music is playing, you've got to get up and dance", the much maligned rationale of Chuck Prince, the former chief executive of Citigroup.

Alex J. Pollock is a resident fellow at AEI.