Comments Posted By Chuck Tucson
Displaying 401 To 410 Of 536 Comments
SUCKLING THE GOVERNMENT SUGAR TIT
All of this insanity reminds me of my one of my favorite Thomas Jefferson quotes:
"“I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.”
- Thomas Jefferson
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 12.11.2008 @ 10:36
DON'T YOU WISH YOU WERE A FLY ON A WALL?
Rick, I certainly don't believe that there is no war going on.
"And if you believe that it is better to bend over backwards to follow not only the letter but the spirit of the law – and subsequently be attacked because of it "
So, you've given us two options:
1) We can have our Civil Liberties according to the letter and spirit of the law - and subsequently be attacked because of it.
Or:
2) Give up some of our Civil Liberties and maybe not be attacked.
That's a tough choice. Either way we're living in constant fear. Civil Liberties protect us from the government, and the government is supposed to protect us from foreign terrorists and ensure the flow of commerce. I guess I have a hard time seeing how giving up our civil liberties is going to help the government with that. Especially considering that the "war on terror" will probably, literally, never end.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 10.11.2008 @ 12:05
I always find it interesting to read about how the left and right view civil liberties.
I am a pragmatist. I fully recognize the danger of much of what Bush has attempted to do these last 4 years. But placed in context of the threat we face plus the safeguards that have been reported in places like the New York Times, I am not at all convinced that the threat to civil liberties hasn't been overblown by some for political purposes. As much as Bush has used the war to gain political support, his opponents have used the threat of Constitutional overreach to score against him. This is undeniable - unless you wish to posit superior motives to one side or the other, something that is demonstrably ridiculous.
If you believe that we are not "at war" - or whatever designation you wish to give the conflict between extremist Islam and the west - than I would suggest you are either a fool or incredibly naive. And if you believe that it is better to bend over backwards to follow not only the letter but the spirit of the law - and subsequently be attacked because of it - then I would add that you are a dangerous fool.
ed.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 10.11.2008 @ 10:58
ON BEING NOBLE AND OTHER NONSENSICAL IDEAS IN THE AGE OF OBAMA
Nagarajan : "I dont really know where to start – but if the most important criteria is Nobel laureates deciding who the President should be, why even have an election ? Why even debate the issues ? After all the wise Nobel laureates need to be consulted and poof.. that does it for me !"
That’s something I get exclusively from the right. Nowhere else am I mocked and belittled for saying that I use the opinions and experiences of Nobel Prize winning scientists to help formulate my own. Your entire rant is a logical fallacy. I said none of that; only that it helped me make up my mind. There are countless other sources and personal experiences that also helped me decide. Don’t put words in my mouth. It’s not nice.
Nagarajan : "Can you explain to me WHAT exactly the Chief Technology officer for the United States does?"
The position isn't fully defined, but some of the responsibilities will include helping to ensure more open government through use of web technology. Helping to formulate intelligent broadband policy for service carriers, especially to rural areas. Helping to produce more competition in the wireless arena by allowing smaller companies to lease spectrum on the 700Mhz band if larger companies do nothing. Supporting, and this is very important to me, network neutrality. Plus there are a myriad of privacy issues that need an advocate.
I see having a CTO on the cabinet as nothing but a positive thing for the country. That's not to say that the person filling the position is going to be amazing, but the existence of the position at all is a huge step in the right direction.Nagarajan : "Here, you have a candidate who disabled the Address Verification System while accepting credit card donations to his campaign. No private enterprise can get away with such FRAUD and the President elect of the USA just did."
This sounds like a terrible injustice. Where are the lawsuits? And if you think for a heartbeat that private enterprise doesn't get away with fraud, you're fooling yourself.
Nagarajan : "Wonder what the CTO of the Government has to say about, you know blase' issues like website security and criminal violations of FEC regulations?"
I'm sure he/she would feel strongly about such things.
Nagarajan :"And who exactly are you or for that matter any one lesle to say that ? What experience/authority in hi-tech do you have to spout off such incredible ignorance and nonsense. Where is the proof exactly for these matter of fact statements ?"
I work in the hi-tech world. I'm spouting off my personal observations based on years of experience. I'm calling it like I'm seeing it right now. There has been a transition of tech innovation out of this country, in favor of a more middle management role. I think this is pathetic.
Nagarajan : "It is one thing to be ignorant of facts – and its another thing to open your mouth and show it on the Internet."
I wholeheartedly agree with that.
Nagarajan : "Who in hell came up with Google, Amazon, iPhone and iPod ? Would that be the Germans? Japanese? no it should be those genius Chinese guys right ??"
Well, I guess your handful of examples beats my argument. You win.
Nagarajan : "Name me ONE hi-tech invention/innovation – ONE that Europeans/Asians have come up with in the last 15 years. ONE invention that hit the market and customers went crazy."
Blue LED's.
Nagarajan : "The facts are plain to see – America is still the greatest magnet in the world for the best talent.”
As I understand, you’re an example of this, right?
Nagarajan : “ It STILL has the most innovative thinkers, researchers AND business people who can bring these ideas to the free market. There are people of all nationalities that work in the hi-tech industry in the US. Thanks to that CURSED H1-B visa."
Sure, I just see it slowly slipping away, and while a CTO isn't the cure, intelligent tech policy will go a long way to ensuring the United States remains on top, which is right where I want it.
Nagarajan : "And yes, it all happened without the blessings of a Chief TEchnology Officer !!"
Nobody ever said that a CTO is a god who can bestow blessings. I simply think that having a CTO as a cabinet position is a very very good idea. It’s nice to know that someone on the cabinet is advocating for positions I strongly believe in.
Nagarajan : “I wonder how many people who have no experience and background in matters like technology are spouting their profound thoughts with no relevance to the simple, plain old fricking facts.”
I’ve been working in the tech industry for quite a while. Simply because my observations do not mirror your own doesn’t mean I have no experience or less legitimacy in commenting on tech matters. I have seen large scale shifts in product innovation in everything from consumer electronics to factory automation to pcb design to wireless technology.
Nagarajan : “Throw in some good old "national security" fear mongering/protectionist nonsense at the end. Geez,I guess this country needs to stop accepting Chinese manufactured PCs in the market.”
I don’t consider being concerned about the decline of tech innovation and its relationship to national security in my country fear mongering. You mocking me does not change this.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 10.11.2008 @ 10:33
Manning said:
"Asserted: We should watch his every move, every decision, every appointment, every executive order, and every legislative proposal for its impact on the people, the nation, and the Constitution, then act accordingly."Heh. Are you serious?
"Agreed: We do not know what is in the heart or mind of this man. All we do know has scored bad associations, little executive experience, ultra liberal ideas, a smooth, mesmerizing delivery, and close support from many dubious political and religious operatives, all of which is not very encouraging."
You know what finally did it for me? It was the creation of a chief technology official coupled with the fact that all Science Nobel Laureates, plus 73 other Nobel Laureates, endorsed him. Those are literally some of the smartest people on the planet. America does not dominate the world in sci-tech anymore. I see this as a national security issue, as well as an economic one.
"We live in dangerous times."
Fear mongering nonsense. These times are no more or less dangerous than any other times.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 9.11.2008 @ 02:01
Good zinger there at the end Rick.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 8.11.2008 @ 16:31
TWITS IN MCCAIN CAMP MISFIRE IN PALIN ATTACKS
I dunno. I kinda thought that it was her dedication to narcissistic pseudo-Christian "principles" that really pushed it home to the American people that she was literally a joke being played on Evangelical voters.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 7.11.2008 @ 02:03
RSG,
Six weeks paid? That's sounds pretty sweet. If I had six weeks paid vacation, I'd go to Europe and make fun of the socialists.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 5.11.2008 @ 16:57
Good, thoughtful post, Rick.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 4.11.2008 @ 13:51
OBAMA BRAGS ABOUT BANKRUPTING COAL POWER PLANT COMPANIES
Nagarajan,
"Private enterprise is the KEY to new energy technology – if Obama thinks that companies are not looking for new solutions and that Govt will solve this by throwing around money, he is even more stupid than what i thought.
Nobody doubts this. You say this like someone's going to argue with you. I code too. The point is, private enterprise is all about making money. I seriously doubt that Obama thinks companies aren't looking for new revenue sources through alternative fuels. Nobody thinks that.
"Then again, he is a liberal – so, how could Government not spend money ?"
Please. If DARPA wasn't throwing around money we would have missed out on a great deal of life changing technology, not to mention the most massively awesome military on the planet. Of all the government agencies, they've got it right when it comes to inventing. Incentives, grants, and prizes for inventions that help the country is a fantastic idea that works amazingly well. If Obama wanted to throw more money into this type of endeavor for alternative fuels, I'd be all for it.
Comment Posted By Chuck Tucson On 4.11.2008 @ 00:35
