Those persons who are interested in the Fountain Hills Fountain should visit the website of The Canberra Times http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/ganggang-captain-cook- memorial-fountain-back-in-action-20150526-gh9ogk.html <http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/ganggang-captain-cook-%20memorial-fountain-back-in-action-20150526-gh9ogk.html>.

The letter is based on that Australian article. Both the Fountain Hills Fountain and the Captain Cook Memorial Fountain were put into operation at about the same time, i.e. 1970. Based on differing definitions each can claim to be the highest at that time. However, now “Neither of the two comes within a bull's roar of the world's highest water jets”… The undisputed king, which is appropriate given is named after Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, located in the Red Sea off Jeddah”, i.e. 260 meters versus Fountain Hill’s 91 meters. The King’s Fountain is followed by the South Korea Fountain 202 meters, the St. Louis Gateway Geyser, the Pakistan Port Fountain, and the Dubai Fountain.

Like Fountain Hills, the Captain Cook Fountain is due for refurbishment. The Canberra Times article concludes “Surely, one would think, this represents an excellent opportunity to do more than just recapture the original capacity of what is arguably our best known watermark…A world-beating water jet would prove that when it comes to international competitions …this country has still got what it takes.”

This question is applicable to both our country and our fountain. We are no longer number one. Should we just stay out of the competition, or capitalize on our strengths? Currently, the Congress is debating Fast Track Trade Authority. We have the choice of staying out of competition in world trade, or putting ourselves in the best possible position.

Fountain Hills cannot have the highest fountain, but does that mean that it should stop improving. The question for world trade, our fundamental attitude about ourselves, and our fountain is the same, should we try to improve, or do nothing?