Musing on the U.S. midterm elections and governance after thirty-six hours of being riveted by the shocking results. Serving the welfare of the people is a longstanding, treasured political ideal (even if often more aspirational) in both China and America. In 1727, the Yongzheng Emperor of China’s Qing Dynasty hung the following poem in the Main Audience Hall at his imperial garden residence outside Beijing: “Taking Heaven’s heart as my own heart, I care about my people all t
