What student doesn't want money?

I've been reminded that student readers have only a week-and-a-half to go to get in your essay in the CIS Ross Parish Essay Competition -- and with $3000 and only 2000 words to write, why not stay home from the pub for one afternoon to crank out something decent.

You're required to answer the question "Does liberty lead to decadence? "  As a reader suggests to me, you could argue that yes, liberty does lead to decadence, but since when has decadence been a bad thing? It's a hell of a lot better than wowserism.

Or you could take the tack -- since the root of the word decadence is "decay" -- that only without liberty is decay inevitable, since only with liberty can the law of diminishing returns be overthrown.

If you take either approach, then feel free to send me half your winnings.