Sunday, February 04, 2007
You can watch Milton Friedman's Free to Choose series online
Friedman is one of the good guys to be sure. I don't agree with everything he says, but most of it is excellent. Check it out!
Friday, January 05, 2007
Iraq War Leadership Needs Shuffling
Bush is replacing all of the worn out blood charged with executing his Iraq war policy. The failures do dictate a change. But the change needs to be made a little higher up. A quick resignation by Bush and Cheney would work better.
Of course, that would leave Nancy Pelosi in the White House. As bad as Bush and Cheney are, I don't think she is up to the job.
Of course, that would leave Nancy Pelosi in the White House. As bad as Bush and Cheney are, I don't think she is up to the job.
The Left Finally Takes a Stand on Freedom of Speech
Turns out they are against it.
I guess the whole idea of having a border is politically incorrect now, as is the notion that you even have the right to lock your own front door to whoever happens to want to enter.
Have we learned nothing from the past? Wasn't the lack of a defensible border what caused the previous owners of America to lose control? Ok, just kidding there, but really, now, a border is a must have and controlling who crosses it is just part of your right to exist on a piece of land unmolested by others. Previous crimes of this nature notwithstanding.
All that aside, a stronger border is not the solution. Getting rid of the distortions in our labor markets will decrease the cost of US labor and removing the citizenship-by-birth carrot will decrease immigrant willingness to put up with low wages.
But, even if we do nothing about this issue, is the situation all that bad? Getting across the border is dangerous to be sure, but otherwise I think everybody benefits. Even those that are getting more competition benefit, as we all do from competition.
I guess the whole idea of having a border is politically incorrect now, as is the notion that you even have the right to lock your own front door to whoever happens to want to enter.
Have we learned nothing from the past? Wasn't the lack of a defensible border what caused the previous owners of America to lose control? Ok, just kidding there, but really, now, a border is a must have and controlling who crosses it is just part of your right to exist on a piece of land unmolested by others. Previous crimes of this nature notwithstanding.
All that aside, a stronger border is not the solution. Getting rid of the distortions in our labor markets will decrease the cost of US labor and removing the citizenship-by-birth carrot will decrease immigrant willingness to put up with low wages.
But, even if we do nothing about this issue, is the situation all that bad? Getting across the border is dangerous to be sure, but otherwise I think everybody benefits. Even those that are getting more competition benefit, as we all do from competition.
White House visitor records closed
Who says the Bush League can't solve a problem? Too many embarassing visitors at the White House? Problem solved! Hide the records!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Recent Chat About Electoral Reform
dude: what would you do to change the world?
Al Brown: i would reform the US's electoral system
Al Brown: switch to proportional representation and instant runoff voting
Al Brown: implement sensible voting machines
Al Brown: that would fix a lot of problems in the world right there
dude: really?
dude: you think that'd get people to vote?
dude: or just give senior citizens more power?
dude: haha
Al Brown: i'd let people select a party to represent them and then keep it for as long as they like or change it as often as the like - rebalance the legislative branch in real time
Al Brown: that way people would not have to vote periodically
dude: would you still keep it a dual party?
Al Brown: but would still get their interests represented
Al Brown: proportional representation would do away two dominate parties
Al Brown: each party would get seats in the legislature
Al Brown: i would also just let the legislature pick the president
dude: so, like the British
Al Brown: that alone would save hundreds of millions of dollars and a lot of agony
Al Brown: sort of like the parliamentary system, but Britain doesn't use proportional representation
Al Brown: so they have two dominate parties
Al Brown: dominant
dude: true, but still have other parties right?
dude: the most we have is maybe a third...
Al Brown: the smaller parties can't get seats because each voting area is winner-take-all
Al Brown: which stops smaller parties
Al Brown: its very anti-democratic
dude: so how do you think your plan would play out?
Al Brown: we are winner-take-all too, so smaller parties never get their share of power in the legislature
Al Brown: well, its not my original idea
dude: yeah
dude: still
Al Brown: but it would result in decisions that better represent our collective interests rather than the interests of the corporationsd
Al Brown: winner-take-all system makes misrepresentation of a candidates views pay off
Al Brown: and then pays off the candidate to vote the way the contributors want
Al Brown: countries that have PR have less expensive campaigns
Al Brown: and a party's candidates are more likely to stick with the party's constituents
Al Brown: since they don't have to vote for a compromise like we do
dude: ic
Al Brown: its like anything else. u hire a guy to represent u in court. he is your guy. he does what u say
Al Brown: isn't that how it should be?
dude: I guess
Al Brown: the legislators still have to trade support for different things to get things done, but that actually results in everyone getting more of what they want when the process is honest
Al Brown: I really care about getting X and you don't care about it either way, well, you will help me on this if I help u in a similar situation, so we both get more of what we care about
Al Brown: i would reform the US's electoral system
Al Brown: switch to proportional representation and instant runoff voting
Al Brown: implement sensible voting machines
Al Brown: that would fix a lot of problems in the world right there
dude: really?
dude: you think that'd get people to vote?
dude: or just give senior citizens more power?
dude: haha
Al Brown: i'd let people select a party to represent them and then keep it for as long as they like or change it as often as the like - rebalance the legislative branch in real time
Al Brown: that way people would not have to vote periodically
dude: would you still keep it a dual party?
Al Brown: but would still get their interests represented
Al Brown: proportional representation would do away two dominate parties
Al Brown: each party would get seats in the legislature
Al Brown: i would also just let the legislature pick the president
dude: so, like the British
Al Brown: that alone would save hundreds of millions of dollars and a lot of agony
Al Brown: sort of like the parliamentary system, but Britain doesn't use proportional representation
Al Brown: so they have two dominate parties
Al Brown: dominant
dude: true, but still have other parties right?
dude: the most we have is maybe a third...
Al Brown: the smaller parties can't get seats because each voting area is winner-take-all
Al Brown: which stops smaller parties
Al Brown: its very anti-democratic
dude: so how do you think your plan would play out?
Al Brown: we are winner-take-all too, so smaller parties never get their share of power in the legislature
Al Brown: well, its not my original idea
dude: yeah
dude: still
Al Brown: but it would result in decisions that better represent our collective interests rather than the interests of the corporationsd
Al Brown: winner-take-all system makes misrepresentation of a candidates views pay off
Al Brown: and then pays off the candidate to vote the way the contributors want
Al Brown: countries that have PR have less expensive campaigns
Al Brown: and a party's candidates are more likely to stick with the party's constituents
Al Brown: since they don't have to vote for a compromise like we do
dude: ic
Al Brown: its like anything else. u hire a guy to represent u in court. he is your guy. he does what u say
Al Brown: isn't that how it should be?
dude: I guess
Al Brown: the legislators still have to trade support for different things to get things done, but that actually results in everyone getting more of what they want when the process is honest
Al Brown: I really care about getting X and you don't care about it either way, well, you will help me on this if I help u in a similar situation, so we both get more of what we care about
Friday, December 15, 2006
Google Patents
Now you use Google to search patents. Just be aware that when are using Google to search, Google is searching you. If you are a person of significance to Google (i.e. an actual productive inventor or investor in inventions), what you are up to is pretty clear to Google.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
GOP pays $135K for New Hampshire call jamming
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sanity Wins One
The NY TImes reports that rabid anti-peace forces in Pagosa Springs have given up their fight against a collection of fir tree branches hung in front of a house there.
Its unclear if the fir tree branches had tried to interfere with any military operations.
Its unclear if the fir tree branches had tried to interfere with any military operations.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Two-year-old Emirati boy held as airport threat
Bureacracy runs amok again with mindless watch lists.
You have to wonder: if this is how incompetantly governments deal with their citizens, how effectively can they deal with an actual terror threat?
Incidents like this happen every day in US airports. People, who happen to share the same name as someone on the list legitimately, are detained for hours even if they are of a different age, height and race than their namesake.
And this has been the state of affairs for FIVE YEARS! That is what your three trillion dollars is buying for you.
You have to wonder: if this is how incompetantly governments deal with their citizens, how effectively can they deal with an actual terror threat?
Incidents like this happen every day in US airports. People, who happen to share the same name as someone on the list legitimately, are detained for hours even if they are of a different age, height and race than their namesake.
And this has been the state of affairs for FIVE YEARS! That is what your three trillion dollars is buying for you.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
It's Time for a Change
It's time for a change in Washington. Hopefully, this election will restore some balance to the branches of government. Congress has been Bush's pet for too long.
Oh sure, the Republicans are howling about Bush's failures in Iraq now. But won't they go right back to supporting those same policies right after the election? We need an opposition in Congress now more than ever.
It's time for Bush to learn to play well with others.
It's time to pass an amendment to the Constitution that makes a president's immediate family ineligible to become president.
And, no, it is not time for Nancy Pelosi's agenda. The Democrats would be wise to focus on exposing Bush, Rove, Rumsfeld and Cheney and save the country from their foreign policy.
It's time for Congress to find out how our money is being spent in Iraq. Who is siphoning off those billions and to which numbered Swiss accounts?
Oh sure, the Republicans are howling about Bush's failures in Iraq now. But won't they go right back to supporting those same policies right after the election? We need an opposition in Congress now more than ever.
It's time for Bush to learn to play well with others.
It's time to pass an amendment to the Constitution that makes a president's immediate family ineligible to become president.
And, no, it is not time for Nancy Pelosi's agenda. The Democrats would be wise to focus on exposing Bush, Rove, Rumsfeld and Cheney and save the country from their foreign policy.
It's time for Congress to find out how our money is being spent in Iraq. Who is siphoning off those billions and to which numbered Swiss accounts?
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Former SKorean leader faults Bush on North Korea Nuke Test
Apparently some in South Korea think Bush's policies contributed to their pursuit of nuclear weapons.
How can that be? Just because Bush placed them in the jingoistic Axis of Evil, invaded one "member" of the Axis and surrounded another, doesn't mean North Korea should feel any need to get weapons that cause Bush to think about twice.
And Bush's actions aren't motivating Iran's nuclear efforts either. Uh huh.
How can that be? Just because Bush placed them in the jingoistic Axis of Evil, invaded one "member" of the Axis and surrounded another, doesn't mean North Korea should feel any need to get weapons that cause Bush to think about twice.
And Bush's actions aren't motivating Iran's nuclear efforts either. Uh huh.
Friday, October 06, 2006
John McQuaid Makes some Excellent Points
This fellow makes the point that politicians don't seem to care about whether they do a good job or not. I guess that's true, especially if you are in Congress and its highly unlikely you'll be turned out in the next election.
I think its about time we stopped letting these people abuse the rest of us. Term limits, proportional representation and instant runoff voting are the cure.
I think its about time we stopped letting these people abuse the rest of us. Term limits, proportional representation and instant runoff voting are the cure.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
A great thing to add to the US constitution
Richard Cohen makes a good case for adding an amendment to the US constitution that wold prohibit children of presidents from running for the office themselves. "Now is the time for yet another amendment. This one would ensure that no child of a president could become president."
Cohen explains that Bush's reasons for invading Iraq are somewhat colored by his father's experience with the country. Given the magnitude of the decisions made by the chief executive of any government, its probably a good idea to keep family stuff out of the decision making process.
Cohen explains that Bush's reasons for invading Iraq are somewhat colored by his father's experience with the country. Given the magnitude of the decisions made by the chief executive of any government, its probably a good idea to keep family stuff out of the decision making process.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
The Charlie Rose Show
On a recent episode of the Charlie Rose Show, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) made the point that the failure of the United States to secure even the so-called Green Zone in Baghdad indicates the need for changing the strategy for dealing with Iraq.
Why has it been so difficult to do something that seems as straightforward as securing this piece of territory? Is it something that the most powerful military in human history, properly led, ought to be able to do?
Why has it been so difficult to do something that seems as straightforward as securing this piece of territory? Is it something that the most powerful military in human history, properly led, ought to be able to do?
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
George Bernard Shaw Provides Insight into the Iraq "Cut and Run" Debate in Congress
"When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty." - George Bernard Shaw
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Open Source Intelligence
Forbes has an article about Open Source Intelligence, which basically means giving citizens ways to alert government to possible threats and sharing some threat information directly with citizens.
I think eventually tools will evolve that will enable even hunches to be part of the equation. If the way a guy is acting worries a lot of people but they can't put their finger on anything, that might be enough to at least send a cop over for a look.
James Woods actually alerted the flight crew on a flight in August 2001 about suspicious passengers who later hijacked planes on 9/11 and a report was filed with the FBI by the airline. If only we had a system that valued these reports! It seems like a pattern of activity would have been obvious to the FBI if they could only google their own data!
I think eventually tools will evolve that will enable even hunches to be part of the equation. If the way a guy is acting worries a lot of people but they can't put their finger on anything, that might be enough to at least send a cop over for a look.
James Woods actually alerted the flight crew on a flight in August 2001 about suspicious passengers who later hijacked planes on 9/11 and a report was filed with the FBI by the airline. If only we had a system that valued these reports! It seems like a pattern of activity would have been obvious to the FBI if they could only google their own data!
Friday, April 21, 2006
The Rising Price of Gasoline
It's caused by inflation, folks. The government (the Federal Reserve actually) has been inflating the currency since 2001. That means the currency is worth less, stuff costs more, with commodities going up first, especially imported commodities. That means oil.
And the inflation, brought to you by the low interest rates that pumped up real estate, is heating up the economy and increasing our own demand for oil.
China's currency is tied to the US dollar, so, surprise, surprise, so is Chinese demand for oil.
Its bad public policy again.
And the inflation, brought to you by the low interest rates that pumped up real estate, is heating up the economy and increasing our own demand for oil.
China's currency is tied to the US dollar, so, surprise, surprise, so is Chinese demand for oil.
Its bad public policy again.
Monday, April 10, 2006
From Marginal Revolution: French economics
Marginal Revolution has a piece on French economics citing a survey of 22 countries. Every country in the survey had a majority of the respondents agree that the free-market economy was the best system, EXCEPT FRANCE.
Which comes as no surprise if watch the news on a regular basis. Which group is striking and/or protesting in France this week so they don't have to deal with the slings and arrows of the marketplace? One week its the farmers, the next its young people, etc.
If people don't compete, neither can their country. And competition within the EU will make that clear going forward. French entrepreneurs already go abroad to start new businesses rather than deal with all of the anti-reality regulations. Like overtime being outlawed, for example, even for executives.
Which comes as no surprise if watch the news on a regular basis. Which group is striking and/or protesting in France this week so they don't have to deal with the slings and arrows of the marketplace? One week its the farmers, the next its young people, etc.
If people don't compete, neither can their country. And competition within the EU will make that clear going forward. French entrepreneurs already go abroad to start new businesses rather than deal with all of the anti-reality regulations. Like overtime being outlawed, for example, even for executives.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
One Way to Counter Censorship in China
Since it is easy to identify web users living in China, its possible to tailor web pages for that subset of users. Why not work out a way to insert modify web pages that are sent to China so that a header is inserted containing opinions from people in China?
Such a header could use AJAX, which allows contact with a server, so opinions could be refreshed and folks from China can submit opinions. SSL encryption would be nice too.
If enough web sites adopted such a scheme, it would be very difficult for the Chinese authorities to block them all without a big negative impact on access to valuable information. And some of them would always get through.
Of course, the problem is that each site has to go to the expense of doing this and that is probably why it won't happen.
Googling this topic, I see there's already a lot of thinking being done about various approaches.
Such a header could use AJAX, which allows contact with a server, so opinions could be refreshed and folks from China can submit opinions. SSL encryption would be nice too.
If enough web sites adopted such a scheme, it would be very difficult for the Chinese authorities to block them all without a big negative impact on access to valuable information. And some of them would always get through.
Of course, the problem is that each site has to go to the expense of doing this and that is probably why it won't happen.
Googling this topic, I see there's already a lot of thinking being done about various approaches.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Arnold wants to put you deep in debt -
According to http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/, each citizen's share of the US national debt is $27,703.
Now Arnold wants California taxpayers to approve the borrowing of $222 billion, which is $6,554 for every one of California's 33,871,648 residents. That's one third of California's share of the national debt on one ballot initiative. Somehow I do not think it will pass.
I'm so glad the Republicans have given up on that whole smaller government idea. I guess if you can't get your idea of reform through, you open the flood gates of government spending and hope that gets you re-elected.
Now Arnold wants California taxpayers to approve the borrowing of $222 billion, which is $6,554 for every one of California's 33,871,648 residents. That's one third of California's share of the national debt on one ballot initiative. Somehow I do not think it will pass.
I'm so glad the Republicans have given up on that whole smaller government idea. I guess if you can't get your idea of reform through, you open the flood gates of government spending and hope that gets you re-elected.