Why Should Palin and Voters Be Reverent Toward Obama's Community Organizing? - Michael Barone (usnews.com)
Not only is there a question on why to respect community organizing, but why should we respect socialist governments or overregulating governments with socialist tendencies, like Chicago?
A side question that arises is "Why is Chicago so in need of special agitation practices?"
My proposed answer is that Chicago is highly overregulated, leading to heavy reliance on politicians to constantly tinker with the rules. The greater need to change the rules, the greater need for political agitation (for the poor) or lobbying (for those better endowed with wealth).
My question for each politician that proposes change or even smaller changes: what is the ideal that you seek to implement? What example is closest?
If Chicago is the example that Obama intends to change Washington into (assuming that you don't believe that DC is already there), there will be greater need for Community Organizers also known as agitators.
If less government and fewer rules is what we seek, agitators and lobbyist will have less to do. There will be fewer opportunities for conflict and corruption.
Ironic, huh? Fewer rules promote legal compliance. Not just of the nature, if we removed the ban on murder, there would be fewer crimes reported. More accurately, an overeager land developer seeking to build his building will have less incentive to commit bribery or coercion to have ridiculous and arbitrary zoning rules lifted, amended, or ignored by inspectors.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The Strata-Sphere » Anyone Still Believe The Liberal Propaganda About Being For The People?
The Strata-Sphere » Anyone Still Believe The Liberal Propaganda About Being For The People?
Strata-Sphere quotes an interesting liberal critique of Gov. Sarah Palin:
Frankly, we see in this quote that "ignorance of world affairs" is defined as a "need to repair America's image abroad." By this definition, a foreign policy that is based on treating America as in the wrong is indicative of knowledge in world affairs. Rejecting this premise is by definition ignorant. The logical consequence of this definition and its application is that any assertion of American propriety and power, regardless how long its proponent has studied the issue, will leave the proponent ignorant and unqualified in foreign affairs.
Further, any person willing to kowtow to foreign powers to raise "America's image" is intellectually enlightened. No study. No writing. No reflection. This person is intellectually adept. Add a Columbia undergraduate degree and a Harvard Law degree to the mix and the proponent is absolutely infallible in foreign policy.
I have looked for stories on Palin's interaction with other countries on these issues and have little to nothing.
Let us extrapolate for a moment, though. Suppose you live near the border of another country or two. Suppose you are involved in an industry that often is affected by international treaties. Suppose that industry is heavily regulated as result of those treaties and other domestic laws. Suppose that those treaties deal with those neighboring countries. As a result, coffee shop conversation between you and your compatriots in that industry are going to have a higher dose of international relations discussions than in my home state of Indiana. Does that qualify you as a stateman? No.
In the shadow of William F. Buckley, I would suggest, though, that you might be more qualified than a few of the names in the State Department's phone directory. I would also hazard a guess that you are going to learn issues related to those countries with interest if you are playing in politics, even at the state level. Does the state's National Guard have a role in Northern Command's defense of the homeland? I should hope. The governor, by her own Commandant's interview with Greta van Sustern, has been active in pushing legislation through the Alaska legislature to address troop and support concerns. She has been involved in budgeting for the Guard. I presume that part of the governor's training in transition into the office involves some orientation from the Guard and the Pentagon. This does not make her a strategic or tactical genius, but it is experience.
So poor definitions of what constitutes experience does not take into account both passive and active sources of information about international issues and command decisions.
Historically, our best presidents have had gubernatorial experience. Admittedly some of our worst were also governors (Carter, for instance).
For that I would merely turn to a lesson that I learned in a sales training class a few years back. The lesson focused on the salesman that had 10 years experience and his fellow salesman in the next cubicle with 2 years experience. If the veteran has bad results because he is using poor technique with no system for self-improvement and attempts to address new challenges, is he truly more experienced than the young whipper-snapper? Does your answer change if the younger salesman routinely studies is efforts and adapts his methods to increase his chances for success? What if the younger salesman keeps seeking different experiences: first with young clients, then older ones, then sales to groups of people, then to businesses directed by boards of directors?
The moral of the lesson: if you keep doing things the same old way, you don't have 10 years experience; you have one year's experience 10 times.
Studying Biden v. Palin, Obama v. McCain, or even Obama v. Palin, I keep hearing this thought in the back of my head that Biden has zero years of executive experience and zero years of real involvement in international affairs (albeit with 100.000 pages of briefing books). Obama has zero years of executive experience and 10,000 pages of briefing books. McCain, well, does 5 years in a foreign country as an adult and officer of the United States count as foreign policy experience, when you are negotiating with your own bones, skin, and blood?
Palin, no documented negotiation experience, but 2 years of supervision of negotiations with international oil companies, several Canadian provinces, and the Canadian federal government. What briefings has she receive from the US State Department on this matter? She has served in a legislative capacity at the most personal and brutal level, where the players can know your kids and see them at a basketball game or a restaurant. No threats suggested, but the politics of the personal is pretty tough. Ask any middle school girl.
Palin does not have the ideal resume. I like it far better than the entire Democrat ticket.
Strata-Sphere quotes an interesting liberal critique of Gov. Sarah Palin:
I recognize that psychological analysis of politics is usually not welcome by the public, but I believe such a perspective can be helpful here to understand Palin’s message. In her acceptance speech Gov. Palin sent a rousing call to those who want to celebrate their resistance to change and a higher vision.(Emphasis added.) The whole liberal motif that Sarah Palin is not qualified because she has no foreign policy experience is exposed in this quote. By inference, the same motif suggests Sen. Obama's supposed qualification on foreign policy with the same or less experience (e.g., Palin's involvement with natural gas pipeline through Canada; fishing ground issues with Russia, Korea, Japan, etc. as a commercial fishing family if not at a policy level) because he has been editing and reading policy papers on the subjects for 18 months.
Look at what she stands for:
* Small town values — a denial of America’s global role, a return to petty, small-minded parochialism.
* Ignorance of world affairs — a repudiation of the need to repair America’s image abroad.
Frankly, we see in this quote that "ignorance of world affairs" is defined as a "need to repair America's image abroad." By this definition, a foreign policy that is based on treating America as in the wrong is indicative of knowledge in world affairs. Rejecting this premise is by definition ignorant. The logical consequence of this definition and its application is that any assertion of American propriety and power, regardless how long its proponent has studied the issue, will leave the proponent ignorant and unqualified in foreign affairs.
Further, any person willing to kowtow to foreign powers to raise "America's image" is intellectually enlightened. No study. No writing. No reflection. This person is intellectually adept. Add a Columbia undergraduate degree and a Harvard Law degree to the mix and the proponent is absolutely infallible in foreign policy.
I have looked for stories on Palin's interaction with other countries on these issues and have little to nothing.
Let us extrapolate for a moment, though. Suppose you live near the border of another country or two. Suppose you are involved in an industry that often is affected by international treaties. Suppose that industry is heavily regulated as result of those treaties and other domestic laws. Suppose that those treaties deal with those neighboring countries. As a result, coffee shop conversation between you and your compatriots in that industry are going to have a higher dose of international relations discussions than in my home state of Indiana. Does that qualify you as a stateman? No.
In the shadow of William F. Buckley, I would suggest, though, that you might be more qualified than a few of the names in the State Department's phone directory. I would also hazard a guess that you are going to learn issues related to those countries with interest if you are playing in politics, even at the state level. Does the state's National Guard have a role in Northern Command's defense of the homeland? I should hope. The governor, by her own Commandant's interview with Greta van Sustern, has been active in pushing legislation through the Alaska legislature to address troop and support concerns. She has been involved in budgeting for the Guard. I presume that part of the governor's training in transition into the office involves some orientation from the Guard and the Pentagon. This does not make her a strategic or tactical genius, but it is experience.
So poor definitions of what constitutes experience does not take into account both passive and active sources of information about international issues and command decisions.
Historically, our best presidents have had gubernatorial experience. Admittedly some of our worst were also governors (Carter, for instance).
For that I would merely turn to a lesson that I learned in a sales training class a few years back. The lesson focused on the salesman that had 10 years experience and his fellow salesman in the next cubicle with 2 years experience. If the veteran has bad results because he is using poor technique with no system for self-improvement and attempts to address new challenges, is he truly more experienced than the young whipper-snapper? Does your answer change if the younger salesman routinely studies is efforts and adapts his methods to increase his chances for success? What if the younger salesman keeps seeking different experiences: first with young clients, then older ones, then sales to groups of people, then to businesses directed by boards of directors?
The moral of the lesson: if you keep doing things the same old way, you don't have 10 years experience; you have one year's experience 10 times.
Studying Biden v. Palin, Obama v. McCain, or even Obama v. Palin, I keep hearing this thought in the back of my head that Biden has zero years of executive experience and zero years of real involvement in international affairs (albeit with 100.000 pages of briefing books). Obama has zero years of executive experience and 10,000 pages of briefing books. McCain, well, does 5 years in a foreign country as an adult and officer of the United States count as foreign policy experience, when you are negotiating with your own bones, skin, and blood?
Palin, no documented negotiation experience, but 2 years of supervision of negotiations with international oil companies, several Canadian provinces, and the Canadian federal government. What briefings has she receive from the US State Department on this matter? She has served in a legislative capacity at the most personal and brutal level, where the players can know your kids and see them at a basketball game or a restaurant. No threats suggested, but the politics of the personal is pretty tough. Ask any middle school girl.
Palin does not have the ideal resume. I like it far better than the entire Democrat ticket.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Obama's "community organizer" phase was about political power, not soup kitchens | The Windy Citizen
Obama's "community organizer" phase was about political power, not soup kitchens | The Windy Citizen
This is the first explanation of what "community organizer" means in practice.
Even more interesting is the summary explanation of Alinsky and his methods at http://www.laviedesidees.fr/Saul-Alinsky-la-campagne.html. For those that don't speak French, a computerized translation is here.
Even Barry didn't believe in Community Organizing. He left its impoverishing and unfulfilling work for Harvard Law School.
This is the first explanation of what "community organizer" means in practice.
Even more interesting is the summary explanation of Alinsky and his methods at http://www.laviedesidees.fr/Saul-Alinsky-la-campagne.html. For those that don't speak French, a computerized translation is here.
Even Barry didn't believe in Community Organizing. He left its impoverishing and unfulfilling work for Harvard Law School.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Power Line: Shale Oil To Be Developed, But Not Here
Power Line: Shale Oil To Be Developed, But Not Here
I have a great idea for increasing our oil reserves 100-fold within 24 hours! Vote Republican in November. (Assuming that the weak-kneed Republicans vote correctly on January 4, 2009!!)
This is an important point: the US having 3% of the world's oil reserves is part fact (oil in ground) and part regulation (oil we are ALLOWED to access).
We know the oil is in the ground in many locations. The US Geological Survey has established that (even in its extraordinarily conservative methodology). Kudos for good science.
Now we just need to purge the Democrats from Congress that prevent us from being the Middle East Oil Supply Killer that we have the potential to be.
What would happen to world politics if the barrel price of oil fell to $45 with little chance Middle East politics would change that? What if most of the money for oil extraction stayed in the US? What if the Saudis, Venzeulans, and Russians made far less profit margins? What would the US State Department's job be?
Palestinian terrorists with less money. Poorer Wahabiists in Arabia. Impoverished Russian politicians. Chavez with no bank account. Wealthier Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysians, Australians, Africans (outside of Nigeria), Dhubai subjects.
Which world would you prefer to live in?
I have a great idea for increasing our oil reserves 100-fold within 24 hours! Vote Republican in November. (Assuming that the weak-kneed Republicans vote correctly on January 4, 2009!!)
This is an important point: the US having 3% of the world's oil reserves is part fact (oil in ground) and part regulation (oil we are ALLOWED to access).
We know the oil is in the ground in many locations. The US Geological Survey has established that (even in its extraordinarily conservative methodology). Kudos for good science.
Now we just need to purge the Democrats from Congress that prevent us from being the Middle East Oil Supply Killer that we have the potential to be.
What would happen to world politics if the barrel price of oil fell to $45 with little chance Middle East politics would change that? What if most of the money for oil extraction stayed in the US? What if the Saudis, Venzeulans, and Russians made far less profit margins? What would the US State Department's job be?
Palestinian terrorists with less money. Poorer Wahabiists in Arabia. Impoverished Russian politicians. Chavez with no bank account. Wealthier Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysians, Australians, Africans (outside of Nigeria), Dhubai subjects.
Which world would you prefer to live in?
Monday, August 11, 2008
Loss of wind causes Texas power grid emergency | U.S. | Reuters
Loss of wind causes Texas power grid emergency | U.S. | Reuters
This is an old story by this point, but it is enough to scare me off windmills as a good source of stable, steady energy source. I wouldn't mind if we have batteries or electricity storage capacity to even out the distribution of electricity. But we don't. Solar and wind have peak production times and no-production times. Not natural gas. Not coal. Just shovel more coal and you have more electricity. Regardless of the whims of mother nature.
The secret to wind power is that you need to have natural gas or coal on emergency backup. One estimate that I heard suggested that it needs to use nearly 90% of the energy that using natural gas and coal as the primary source.
Ten percent is nothing to sneeze at, but why waste billions of dollars to make low marginal savings that could be spent on increasing the fossil fuels efficiencies?
This is an old story by this point, but it is enough to scare me off windmills as a good source of stable, steady energy source. I wouldn't mind if we have batteries or electricity storage capacity to even out the distribution of electricity. But we don't. Solar and wind have peak production times and no-production times. Not natural gas. Not coal. Just shovel more coal and you have more electricity. Regardless of the whims of mother nature.
The secret to wind power is that you need to have natural gas or coal on emergency backup. One estimate that I heard suggested that it needs to use nearly 90% of the energy that using natural gas and coal as the primary source.
Ten percent is nothing to sneeze at, but why waste billions of dollars to make low marginal savings that could be spent on increasing the fossil fuels efficiencies?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
AGW: Short on Science, Long on Religion - Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views)
AGW: Short on Science, Long on Religion - Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views)
Devestating review of global warming.
I especially appreciate the hypothesis that 96 hours without sun would make the land masses temperature fall below zero.
Devestating review of global warming.
I especially appreciate the hypothesis that 96 hours without sun would make the land masses temperature fall below zero.
Friday, June 13, 2008
History News Network
History News Network
Fascinating view from Europe on Bush's legacy and the consequences of the 2008 Presidential election.
Fascinating view from Europe on Bush's legacy and the consequences of the 2008 Presidential election.
Michelle Malkin » Prayers for the Scouts
Michelle Malkin » Prayers for the Scouts
The comments are touching.
To the fallen boys . . . "May the Master of all Scouts be with you until we meet again." God bless them. God bless those Scouts and Scouters remaining and their dedication to the Scout Law:
"A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent."
Their trustworthiness to do their duty, their loyalty to their fellow scout, their helpfulness, their kindness, their bravery were all on full display for the world to see.
I call on all to support their local Scout troops, Cub Packs, and Venture Posts so that we can teach more boys and girls to be like these Scouts.
The comments are touching.
To the fallen boys . . . "May the Master of all Scouts be with you until we meet again." God bless them. God bless those Scouts and Scouters remaining and their dedication to the Scout Law:
"A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent."
Their trustworthiness to do their duty, their loyalty to their fellow scout, their helpfulness, their kindness, their bravery were all on full display for the world to see.
I call on all to support their local Scout troops, Cub Packs, and Venture Posts so that we can teach more boys and girls to be like these Scouts.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Pajamas Media » Why We Need More Leaders Like Vaclav Havel
Pajamas Media » Why We Need More Leaders Like Vaclav Havel: "“What is a concentration camp but an attempt by Utopians to dispose of those elements which don’t fit into their Utopia?”"
Now that is a catch phrase for the Republican Party!
Now that is a catch phrase for the Republican Party!
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