Politics

Politics

There are 1,051 posts filed in Politics (this is page 82 of 106).

Robert McNamara

A few months ago I watched The Fog of War, an interview with Vietnam-era Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. It was a candid, riveting interview where McNamara’s explains in his own words the decision making that pushed country deeper into the Vietnam War. It was sobering, too, to hear him call it a “terrible mistake,” but as his critics have said, he was three decades too late admitting that. It was also shocking to hear him describe how trigger-happy General LeMay almost got us all nuked during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I’m glad a cool-headed guy like McNamara was there to keep us from Armageddon.

McNamara died in his sleep this morning at the age of 93. While he’ll always be remembered for Vietnam, he also was the long-time president of the World Bank and worked for nuclear disarmament.

Taxing online retailers

After fighting to keep North Carolina from becoming a broadband backwater, this particularly galls me. The North Carolina General Assembly is pushing a finance bill that would tax online retailers. Rather than pay a tax in a state where it has no presence, Amazon simply pulled the plug on its affiliate program for North Carolina residents. So rather than doing something positive for the state, the attempt to tax companies like Amazon has actually hurt North Carolina small businesses that depend on those referrals by cutting off access to that income.

This outcome is not surprising. Tax a company with no presence or investment in the state and that company has little to keep it from pulling the plug on serving that state. That hurts our citizens more than it does the companies targeted, and that’s just plain dumb.

I sure would like to see a smarter approach by the legislature towards technology and the Internet. Those who regulate technology should at least make an attempt to understand it.

Neda

I watched the disturbing video today of the young Iranian student named Neda Agha Soltan being shot dead and it made me very angry. I know that many Iranians must feel the same way.

With Ayatollah Khamenei determined to stand by this election the stakes in Iran have now risen considerably. I don’t see the forces that have swept Iran this week being easily put back in the bottle. Every student in the streets of Tehran can identify with Neda, and it must now be perfectly clear to them the price they might pay if they wish to succeed.

Freedom can be theirs. The question is: how badly do they want it?

Iran

I’m fascinated with what I’m seeing happening in Iran right now. It’s beautiful to see people standing up for democracy and doing it in a peaceful manner. I also find it notable that many of the people demonstrating in the streets were not alive during the Islamic Revolution of 1979. They do not remember the oppressive Shah or the Ayatollah Khomeini. More importantly, in spite of what their government tells them they’ve never had any real reason to hate America. Indeed, many just want their freedom and friendship like their neighbors in Europe.

Even so, I’m still wary because of what happened in China twenty years ago this month. Could it happen to Tehran?

And there’s the fact that Iran is a republic in name only, as a small, unelected, powerful few actually rule.

Great civic day!

It’s been an amazing civic day! I began my morning with a meeting at 8 with the police chief and his staff to discuss an increased police presence at a nearby intersection. I’m optimistic about the outcome and think it’s a big step forward.

After work I led another great East CAC meeting, moving items along so that it actually ended ahead of schedule. We heard from a committee I initiated to get help out with CAC matters and I’m extremely proud of the caliber of neighbors who have stepped up to serve. Things are actually getting organized and its making our business run much more smoothly.

After the “drudge work” was done, we held out first “summer social,” with chicken wings provided by our Vice chair’s restaurant. It was thrilling to look around at 30 neighbors happily chatting and getting to know each other as they enjoyed the snacks. It was incredibly fun, and I knew that the bonds and connections that get created will strengthen our community in ways I hardly imagine.

I came home and talked Kelly’s ear off about the whole event. I sat there for a while, staring at the ceiling with a stupid grin on my face, relishing how cool it feels to empower people and watching where it leads.

Mary Easley and N.C. State

I tell you, I should’ve gone into academia. Where else can you be asked to resign, then take a six month paid vacation on a salary well into six figures? Yes, life is good inside the ivory towers. Well, execpt for the students who are being milked for a hefty tuition raise this year.

Then there’s the case of N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger, who resigned today as emails surfaced contradicting his earlier statements of non-involvement in the hiring of Mary Easley. Oblinger was either lying or he admitted that as chancellor of one of the nation’s leading technical universities he didn’t know how to search his own emails. I’m not sure which is worse.
Continue reading →

Twenty years ago

In addition to it being Hallie’s birthday, today is also the 20th anniversary of the curshing of the Tienanmen Square protest. At the time of the protests I was in the Navy. My ship was in drydock so I had plenty of time to watch the events on CNN. It was stunning to watch these people bravely ask for their right to choose their destiny. It was so sad to watch the carnage that ensued, but now the country is safe for Starbucks, Apple Computer, and the thousands of other Western companies that have set up shop there.

My 2007 visit to Tienanmen Square has been on my mind today, too.

Obama pushes to keep torture pics secret

President Obama is supporting efforts by Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman to amend the Freedom of Information Act so the Obama administration can legally withhold photographs showing detainees being tortured. Don’t like a court ruling forcing you to do something you don’t want? Simply change the law retroactively!

I’m still waiting for Obama’s open and transparent government. Is this what “change we can believe in” is all about?