ABC News: Silicon Insider: The Myth of the Mistake-Free War

As a software developer of many years, it is a responsibility further this discussion. Just as Jon Stewart got into the faces of the Crossfire gang for their damage to public discourse, this piece should serve the same purpose. Mr. Malone make some eloquent points. We are all human. And we all make mistakes. I too see this digitalization of public discourse. I think it is something we will be better for in the long run. I think we are in a period of adjustment in the context of public discourse.

The measures of "current knowledge" have changed. Water-cooler conversations are being tempered until they can check CNN.COM or NYTIMES.COM. Even then one can still get caught. But people are learning to adjust the communication timing.

This means that it is an opportunity to excercise fundamental elements of political philosophy. Perhaps the speed of things is helping ordinary folks, discern or percieve elements of how society operates. The notion of propaganda in the 1930's is something that took months for a single message to get out and around. If you asked folks in the 1930's if they could identify pieces of propaganda, they may not even know the meaning of the word. Today more and more folks know about The Drudge Report and FOX news.

They are just now learning how to delineate between that form of information and the FACTCHECK.ORG, SMOKINGGUN.COM or other similar sources. It is a good thing, but it is a transition and it will take time. It also cannot be stopped.

Change is a constant - perhaps because to Err is Human.

PBS - American Experience: A Woodrow Wilson

Wasn't it the current President's Father who indicated a "New World Order"? This PBS program on President Woodrow Wilson highlights the committment a President once had to building a "New World Order". The objective was to build an institution from scratch with the purpose of building a permenant Peace.

Imagine that, building something to help mankind from killing itself. Remember that when judging President Bush as a Candidate.

CNN.com - Man fired for heckling Bush - Aug 21, 2004

Not long ago Tucker Carlson on new PBS show, was curious as to why "Bush haters" were show intense. Well, it is news like this story that inflames the notion that Republicans are more into control and wins than the real business of the people or the business of real people.

I will have more on this later...

A simple story

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was a memorable sight to be sure. It took guts. I didn’t think she had it in her emotionally. I was wrong. Am I a proud parent?

This story properly starts at work. I’m a corporate borg. I’m titled as “Software Engineer” for a large national bank in there sub-accounting group of the mutual fund back office service area. Very dry work. Very slow in terms of pace. I’m writing this at work because I have the time. Our work area is a group of half walled cubicles. A very open area. This leads to a great deal of idle conversations to pass the time.

One can get an impression or see a persona of people. They are not real or complete. But unavoidable. Typically, the talk is of oddities in the news or personal lives. There have been online stories of exploding whales, beer guzzling bears that generates talk in the pit. It is a constant drone for the most part.

There is this one red-headed fellow with yellow lensed glasses and a moustache and short hair. Pleasant enough to converse with during the day. He lives alone in a rural suburb. He describes it as true farmland. He found an ad in a local paper for a job. “Corn pollinator”. Did I mention that he is young widower. In fact most of the guys are single or available. Being that we are a group of men, in a period of history when the Republicans and George Bush Junior is in office and there are shows like the “Man Show” and “Spike TV”, humor tends to devolve into things nasty or sexual or some combination. So, the jokes revolve around this ad take a sexual tilt.

This guy is into hot sauce and spice like I’ve never seen. He keeps Tabasco sauce in his desk in the office for most of his meals. Boasts of how hot is hot are not unusual. Occasionally, he brings in different batches of chili for testing. Apparently there is a cadre in the company that share this taste for soft-tissue oral pain. Anyway, he goes out of his way to get the “good stuff”.

So when he brings in vegetable there is always some good nature humor about various combinations vegetable, sex and what really happens “down on the farm”. One day he brings in some tomatoes. One tomato in particular stood out. It was red, round and had a texture not unlike a tomato. It allegedly came from a plant that had other tomatoes. This one had 2 protrusions. Pointed protrusions from the top, that were 180 degrees from each other. Yes, it looks like a devil.

We all were amazed, until a couple of days later, he brought in some peppers. Small ones. Red Small ones. Red Small ones of a Chinese name that he couldn’t pronounce. It appeared that the shape of the tomato protrusions paralleled the peppers exactly. So we speculated that perhaps the somehow there was some kind of cross pollination going on in the tomato.

So I took a bag of the pepper as an experiment. I wanted to see something. If the tomato could pick up something from the nearby peppers, perhaps the bite the peppers might be lessened. My brother-in-law is into the hot stuff also, so I thought if they were too much for me, I’d give them to him.

On the way home I got an evil thought. A cruel one to be sure. One that I don’t think I would have really followed through on. One that I didn’t think anyone take the bait. Being a bit mischievous, I called home and my 13 year old picked up the phone. Her mother was at the movies with some friends, and so she was left to make dinner for herself. Without telling her exactly what it was, I tried to convince to wait on the Mac-n-cheese because I wanted her to have some vegetables.

No luck. She didn’t want to wait. When I got home with the baggy of peppers, I found a half empty pot of mac-n-cheese on the stove. I put the peppers on the island to check the mail on the kitchen table.. In walks my girl. And as I’m looking through the mail, and half thinking of ways to raise the subject. She spots the bag of peppers. As I turn and look, she is picking one out of the bag and smelling it. She takes a bite.

I half expected her to transform into a cartoon character, complete with smoke coming out of the ears. Her eyes dialated and her face turned red. She couldn’t get it out of her mouth fast enough. We laughed. If she were a baby or toddler, I would comfort her, but at thirteen when she knows enough not put things in her mouth, I laugh with her while looking for the milk, or something cold to help put out the flames. This went on for about 10 minutes or so.

I then tried the stunt on the older daughter. She is leaving for college this week. So I thought she might see it as a challenge. I and the little one, tried for about another ten minutes to convince her, but to no avail. So I went back downstairs to finish the other half of the mac-n-cheese. It looked good. The little one followed.

I still don’t completely understand, but the little one, again on her own, proceeded to take a second pepper, cut it open and eat one of the seeds alone.

Now go back to the first line of the story.

Congressman James Greenwood - Press Release

A couple of more things have come to mind recently about this election season.

Since the the speculation of his departure from Congress have come to mind. What if I was wrong about his motivations and timing? What if this really could not be interpreted to be a commentary on his part? Then I read his statement

In the fourth paragraph
"But in my work in health care and particularly with regard to the issues of stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer, I have come to comprehend the enormity of the transformation in human health that is possible with the advancement of cellular therapy"

This is counter to the Bush administration position.

That's one thing.
----------------------

The next thing is the notion of what kind of response at the initial onset of a crisis should a President have? It is fair to measure a candidate's character and integrity as well as their background. We assume that this kind of information will tell us something about how a candidate might respond. In an age of the ICBM and the suit case bomber, is not relevant to ask of candidates how they might respond?

As a voter, if you are going to judge a candidate "strong on defense", is the strength of character to start a nuclear war? Is it not a strength of a defense to know about the sucker punch? Is not rapid-response part of the Rumsfeld style Defense Department? Well, how can the Armed forces respond if a President is unwilling to pull the trigger? President Bush sat for 7 seven minutes before reacting. He gave the Terrorist additional 7 minute head start.

I keep flashing on "Back to the Future" and how the weaker, but smarter, character always won. Are we positioned, as the only super power, to be vunerable to sucker punches? Are we one day going to overswing and miss landing a punch? Al Qaeda is not going to sit still for us to drop a nuke on them.

Clearly the Bush administration that is against "reading newspapers" and stem cell research, is not solititous of new ideas. That the initiative to Mars was only political smoke is further proof that while the Bush Administration is capable of winning a war involving tanks and territory, it will not win a war of ideas.

The war against Terrorism can only be won by starving them of our vulnerabilities without starving ourselves of what makes us American. That takes time, thoughtfull insight and ideas.

CNN.com - Sources: Greenwood to leave House - Jul 19, 2004

I want to thank Congressman Jim Greenwood for restoring in me a bit of hope and help restoring my faith in my parents and specifically my mother. My parents are passionate, reasonable and educated. In the 1980’s they helped a guy they felt was nice and well suited for the state Senate. My mother was his campaign manager for that early effort of Mr. Greenwood.

I even got to meet him and talk briefly with him about the possibilities of computers and politics. When Mr. Greenwood ran for Congress in the 1990’s, I myself voted for him. He impressed me. He gave me hope about a vision of a possible future I was seeing, because he listened carefully, and intently. I got the impression he genuinely cared. I was most impressed because he used logic and reason when we talked.

At the time I thought it would be naïve to believe too much of this sensation. After all he was a politician. But he was making a bit of sense, because of his logic and reason. My mother, the college professor thought highly of his reasoning even if she happened to disagree. I watched his career with interest.

As time passed, things happened that fed my more cynical side, but I suppressed that sensation. I was a married, educated, professional software developer (a profession that values reason and logic), and I set aside my judgment because it seemed reasonable and Mom said it was ok.

The things that were happening in Congress did not seem to fit the mental image of the guy my mother felt was worthy. The party politics I was seeing in the 1990’s was concerned with one thing – winning. The pattern was that they not concerned with the business of the people. They were into “control” and power.

The man and current occupant of Congressman Greenwood’s old state senate seat, told me in no uncertain terms, that it is more important to have fewer people participating in the process, because it meant more work/effort to control. It is easier to manipulate a few than to lead many.

My disillusionment grew. I even had heated discussions with my mother. She didn’t want to believe that the Congressman was of the same breed that I was seeing. But the evidence mounted of the years. There was the pledge not seek re-election after so many terms. Then there was his “townhall” meeting at BCCC, prior to the war.

While I won’t speak for my mother, I think it is safe to characterize her opinion of the current Bush administration as below low. My parents objections to current Bush administration are so profound that in recent years my mother as made a hollow threat of leaving the country. While I say it was a hollow threat, she did take a teaching position in Bulgaria early 90’s.

Since about 2000, this poster boy of a compassionate conservative left his logic and reason some place. I started to blame my parents for helping the country’s political swing to the right. It was tough, I didn’t want to believe that my parents could be duped.

Today’s news changes that. My parents and I were not deceived or tricked by Congress Greenwood. The notion that fits the facts about the timing suggests that perhaps Congressman Greenwood may indeed feel a bit let down by the current controlling interests of his party.

Perhaps Jim Greenwood, my parents and I were all – “neo-conned” or perhaps out FOXed by people who are into fair and balanced control of power by themselves. I think my parents would agree that participation, and opened reasoned discussion and not party affiliation is what makes our system.

The common enemy is fanaticism. The philosophies that do not allow for alternatives, options. Whether they are on a Islamic Jihad in NY or a bare-beer-bellied, painted-face NY Giants fan going to an Eagles game in Philadelphia, it is the rhetoric and tin ear to a context that leads to violence and war.

Ginny Schrader and Jim Greenwood, in the race for the 8th Congressional seat have combined to make a case for logic and reason over ideological fanaticism. Together they make a case for a faith in the political will and human nature of the people over the dogma of party. I will remember this election season as the beginning of a budding a reunification of logic, reason with “We the people”. There is reason to hope, cautiously anyway.

My interpretation of this is that Jim reasoned more people will benefit by taking a small bit of national control away and giving it back to us, the people.

Congressmen Greenwood, I thank you for this final act as my Congressman. My mother thanks you.
Good Luck Ms Schrader!

CNN.com - Officials discuss how to delay Election Day - Jul 12, 2004

There is a scary headline. It feeds the emotional notions sparked by a President who "guarantees" he will be re-elected. A man who does not concede or acknowledge error. This is not a singular emotion. I'm not the only one to have this emotion.

The President claims we are safer today. This statement itself illustrates the limited vision of the administration. The world is indeed a dangerous place. But it always will be. Nature abhores a vacuum. Human nature abhores a vacuum. Evil people and things must exist or there cannot be Good.

It is balance and harmony that should be keywords to U.S. Policy.
Policies of preemption and being on the offensive decidedly tip the balance of power too quickly and too far.

The President may even be right in his assertion that when America was changed on 9/11, America changed the world. But the question is are we changing it for the better? Is it our place to take the world in a direction it may not be ready, willing and able to go?

With power must come discipline and common sense. There are additional capabilities that our powers place in front of America. America should not feel entitled to grab these capabilities, because we can.

Has everybody forgotten Oklahoma City? How about the anthrax mailer? These are American's who are upset with the government. Does it truly matter? Will American terrorists kill fewer?

The administration within a very short period have said "Ridge: Terrorists' aim is to influence presidential vote" and then "No one is thinking of postponing the elections." If we are talking about how to postpone (while knowing the "when" and "if" are different questions) an election, then have not the terrorist already succeeded in "influencing" the vote?

The truly offensive part of the notion of this issue is that it consolidates power in Washington and not the states. It ignores the reality that a federal election is actually secured by the damned thing that cursed the last election. It is the Electoral College that elects the President.

Nothing could stop the process because it is decentralized in terms of time and space.
Nothing needs to stop the process because it is decentralized in terms of time and space.

Will President Bush leave office quietly the election is close, contested and has been influenced? How badly does he want re-election? Does he want it more than Nixon did? I've yet to see a side of the President or folks in his administration that indicates the kind of internal self-confidence that suggests they would feel that fighting the good fight is enough. They still are selling WMD - and folks "that dog won't hunt".

I'm against voting for Republicans because what they define as "fair and balanced" sounds an awful lot like "offensive". Their "fair and balanced" does not stand up to socratic debate and the search for truth.

The New York Times > Opinion > of-Ed Columnist: Age of Political Segregation

Mr. Brooks illustrates this notion I've heard circulating. The Republicans seem to have a notion that creating a schism between people that "don't read newspapers" like the President and everyone else. It also seems to feed the notion that Republicans want to generate politics-fatigue.

You know the sensation. It is similar to the feelings that come when there is a series of natural disasters in the world and you are constantly asked for something - time, money, effort... One person can only give so much, before one backs away.

It happens with a lot of things. The Department of Homeland Security when it issue the terror warnings but without specifics. Look out! Keep looking!, be normal, be vigilant - you will know it when you find it.

Well, sometimes I get tired of looking, or giving. I just need a break.
Well, Mr. Brooks column feeds into another notion.

An elected State official once told me that the more who participate, the more difficult they are to control.
Joe Conti of Penna. made this comment to me. He is a Republican in the state legislature.

I couldn't believe I had missed so obvious an idea. I guess it seemed to cynical. That was about 5 years ago. But since then, every time I surf the news I'm seeing the pattern. Republicans are counting on people getting tired. They don't want an idea filled, idealistic Conservative rank and file, because they would want a piece of the action. That's why the President "doesn't read newspaper" because that's his rhetoric for saying it is ok to be tired of bad news from politics - let us handle it.

President Clinton's "vast right wing conspiracy" certainly could be explained by this notion. The popularity of the Rush Limbaughs, Joe Scarborough's, and O'reillys is not explained by the cool, calm, logical and reasoned arguments. Phil Donahue was reasoned and logical and failed because it was not entertaining. Star Trek's Mr. Spock was second officer because logic and reason is not as exciting.

The conservative talking heads are counting on people being angry. When the anger subsides, there is not enough energy to create new ideas for fixing problems in world.

Well, I'm tired of simply spinning in place and watching history repeat itself in Iraq.
Mr. Brooks, if you want a vacation, fine you take one, but tired or not as a citizen you have a responsibility.
A responsibility to enable all of the next generation want to participate in the political process, not just a few who can be controlled.

I'm tired of the partisanship, the political segregation, instead encouraging people to vacation in Tahiti, I'm going to do something. The American journey never ends.

I'm not so tired of politics and logic/reason does solve more problems, so I say Go JFKerry, and ask "what can I do for my country today"

Well, I got to see Fahrenhiet 9/11. Very interesting.

On Sunday night, before Christmas, the blockbuster movie "TITANIC" was aired. The thing that was once again brought to mind was the arrogance of mankind. When the word "arrogance" is mentioned, the President of the United States, should be available to a constituent to come to mind. But this year it is unavoidable. Let us hope that our ship of state fairs better in the future...

The pattern continues. Does one have to be a lefty to think any distortion of news is wrong? Why does it appear that moral values are so important to the Republicans, but that little white lies are not a moral issue. White House Web Scrubbing is not a good thing. Logic and reason cannot exist in a realm where shifting facts do not match reality. Democracy is dependent on logic and reason.

I'm glad to see a conservative acknowledge some of the hypocrisy that exist in the rhetoric of the Republicans. I got to commend Mr. Safire for a productive contribution to political dialogue. This kind of emphasis on the accurate rather than the inflammatory can be healing. But I don't get the impression that the NEOCONs of the Republican are done yet. I get the sense that they won't be happy until they are the only party.

The story about Strom Thurmond continues a pattern of behavior that is characteristic of Republican that I have known. The behavior is not having children out of marriage.

It is a behavior of denial. It is a behavior of control. I have noted a priority for the success of the party over the health of the body politic.