Jul
10
2006

When will people take a step back before opening their mouths?!?

Got an e-mail form a friend commenting after reading a blog (http://techsearch.cmp.com/blog/archives/2006/07/key_senator_the.html) on Ted Stevens.

It’s a spin off from this blog (http://blog.wired.com/27BStroke6/index.blog?entry_id=1512499), about the same thing but these blog’s only talk about Ted’s SUPPOSED lack of understanding rather than a key problem within our system of government.

The real problem is that our Leaders are usually a generation behind the country in general (average age of national leadership), and they are NOT required to be (just watch CNN or C-SPAN and see just how “antiquated” our system of Government still is in it’s processes) up to date with technology of any kind! As with most people of “power” they have an assemblage of assistants to take care of their details leaving them to be blissfully ignorant (and also able to make the blissfully ignorant statements so many politicos and celebrities make).

Ted Stevens is in his Mid-80s so how would you expect him to know the internet (or better yet how to use a computer)? I’m not debating if he’s actually smart or not, just that this technology is as foreign to him as it is to my Mother of 70+ years! My darling Mother would call me to see if I received her e-mail when she first started using a computer, and because of all the “problems” she’s had she refuses to be bothered anymore and has reverted to writing letters and making phone calls. For her, it was simply uncomfortable to learn this new technology in her Mid 50s – early 60′s.

On a technological note, his analogy about tubes is actually reasonable. IT types talk about ‘pipes’ all the time. A ‘tube’ (pipe) can only move so much data at a time. It is relative to its cross section or ‘bandwidth’ which is all he is saying.

Everyone should take a step back and review some American political history as this kind of “short-sighted” legislation has happened to many aspects of technology such as Television, the Automotive Industry, and Telephony (with much of the “short-sighted” legislation still affecting us today).

As philosopher George Santayana said so eloquently…”Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”

We continuously see what we consider “ridiculous” laws on the books, but that’s because our leaders do not (would not or CAN NOT) understand what they are legislating.

This is systemic to our government making this �as American as apple pie�, I guess.

How do we fix this then, you ask?

The simple answer is…we can’t. Our government is designed so the people (as in “We the”) are reactionary, not pro-active. We elect leaders, who make laws and the only way to change the laws to what the people want is to remove the elected officials afterwards and then change the law (sometimes after the damage is already done) or scare, coerce or cajole the elected official to make the change.

FYI…this is exactly the KEY DIFFERENCE between a Democracy and a Republic. In a Democracy, we would have immediate say over something (as in we would all vote on this or any other issue).

Thomas Jefferson said: “Every generation needs a new revolution.” Hopefully ours will be a revolution of insight and knowledge as they are the true weapons of power in a republic.

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Written by Admin in: Science & Technology |
Jul
05
2006

A great 4th of July!

Here’s
hoping your 4th of July was a good as ours.

In remembering our forefathers (and foremothers) who worked so hard to create this great land of ours, I wanted to remember our men and women who are in harms way preserving the ideals of freedom and liberty.

http://anysoldier.com/ -
HELP SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!

Your alarm goes off; you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a “headache”, and call in sick.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti Bush/don’t support the war shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash on your “buddies” that aren’t with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He does not get to eat today.

Your Mom/maid service makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair done.
He doesn’t have time to brush his teeth today.

You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He is told he will be held an extra 2-3 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love’s perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they’ll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
He hears the gun fire and bombs.

You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don’t.
He does what he is told for his life depends on it.

You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire.

You sit there and judge them, saying the world is a worse place because of men and women like him.
If only there were more people like them.

In order to be in someone’s shoes, you must take yours off first!

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Written by Admin in: America |
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