Politics

Politics

There are 1,056 posts filed in Politics (this is page 83 of 106).

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.
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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?

Admiral Mullen and Guantanamo

Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen was on ABC News This Week when the topic came around to Guantanamo. Here’s one snippet from the transcript that caught my eye (my emphasis):

STEPHANOPOULOS: The Republican leader of the Senate was quoted in The New York Times today saying there’s actually a very slim possibility now that the Congress will allow Guantanamo to close. If he’s right, and Guantanamo doesn’t close, what would that mean for your military mission?

MULLEN: Well, the concern I’ve had about Guantanamo in these wars is it has been a symbol, and one which has been a recruiting symbol for those extremists and jihadists who would fight us. So and I think that centers — you know, that’s the heart of the concern for Guantanamo’s continued existence, in which I spoke to a few years ago, the need to close it.

Admiral Mullen makes it sounds like that his only concern about Guantanamo is that it’s a jihadist recruiting symbol. While that’s certainly a concern, I would hope his bigger concern is that we are imprisoning people without habeas corpus, trial, or often any solid evidence. Admiral Mullen’s remarks seem to imply that what we’re doing at Guantanamo would be okay as long as it is done in secret. I hope that’s not the case.

America’s justice system is strong enough to handle terrorist trials. What remains to be seen is whether our cases against these individuals are as strong.

Apple tax incentives

I’ve been following the proposed state tax incentives the General Assembly is considering providing to a mystery company widely considered to be Apple. The list of incentives appear to be pretty hefty, considering Apple’s proposed facility will employ 50 full-time employees at the most.

I know of a datacenter in RTP capable of hosting 84,000 computers that is managed by about 20 people. An Apple iTunes Store datacenter could run very comfortably with a staff of 20. So anyone expecting lots of jobs from this company is fooling himself.

The incentives bill intends to lure this company to an area of the state with high unemployment. This would typically mean a rural area of the state, and thus not an area likely to be wired for high-speed Internet access. An area without high-speed Internet access makes an iTunes Store datacenter a non-starter. Let’s hope the lawmakers keep that in mind as they attempt to keep affordable broadband out of our cities and rural areas.

Dinner party

We spent the evening with our friends Lisa and Craig’s home, joining some of their friends for drinks and dinner while the associated kids played in the yard. I had been dragging most of today, with the heat and humidity (and, er, the beer I drank last night while still suffering from a cold) sapping my energy, but I perked up considerably from the socializing.

One of the couples were teachers and they had quite a bit to say about Governor Perdue swiping a huge chunk out of their paychecks without warning in her effort to balance the budget. It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard this complaint. As our friends said, teachers paved Perdue’s way into the Executive Mansion and it will be teachers who will show her the door.
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Back from Fred Fletcher awards

Tonight was the Fred Fletcher awards ceremony, during which I presented two awards: one to Mordecai Historic Park volunteer Beth Cobb and one to Cub Scout Pack 314 for their cleanup efforts on the Durant Nature Park greenway. I greatly enjoyed meeting all the great volunteers and finding out about all they do for the city. And Fletcher Theater is a beautiful facility. The event was a lot of fun.

There was one drawback from tonight, and one I seem to get more and more. Travis was excited to see me (briefly) home from work and asked hopefully if I could practice basketball with him. I had to tell him no because I had to get ready for the presentation. He didn’t seem outwardly disappointed, but I felt bad about turning him down.

Community service is all fine and good but too often it comes between me and my family. I don’t want to be remembered as the dad who never did anything with his family.

House Bill 1180 will deregulate N.C. phone service

A bill is sneaking its way through the state legislature that will effectively deregulate telephone service in the state. House Bill 1180 will free telecom companies to charge whatever they deem necessary, without regard to citizens having any other choices.

Not surprisingly, the AARP is against the proposal, and urges its membership to let legislators know. If you don’t want telecoms having free reign to do what they want in this state (and we’ve seen how that works out, haven’t we?), please do the same!