Buy new tech devices on the market today and if there is any documentation included its writing has probably been outsourced to non-native speaking students. After becoming totally confused, find the support telephone number. With a sense of relief dial the number and after navigating through the button menu drill a discovery is made that another group of students in a different country are manning the outsourced help desk. It's soon apparent that their translation of the translation has also confused them. Attempts at clarification of the resulting confusions are now a chaotic brain melt.
Why do billion dollar companies outsource their support desks to China, India, Mexico, Philippines, etc? Simple poor students there work cheap.
Students aren't the only poor and help desk aren't the only outsourced occupations. The textile industry is an example of outsourcing, outsourcing. Fabric in woven in one country, cut in another and sewing in still another before receiving name brand labels in a fourth. The cottage industries of the 18th and 19th century are now the mainstays of international commerce. Automobile component production is outsourced around the globe. Banks and insurance companies outsource administration and risk. Even giant corporations are outsourcing themselves to foreign countries for tax advantages. The good news is that products and services are cheaper; poor people are eating; education and skills diffusion is lighting up the darkest parts of the world. All this made possible by instantaneous communication and fast delivery systems.
The bad news is that outsourcing is addictive quickly becoming a dependency even for governments. Many national armies now depend on sophisticated foreign support and manufactured weapons systems. Super smart electronics depend on components outsourced to SE Asia. In the continuing Afghan/ Iraq wars the American Army outsources many of the task normally preformed by soldiers to foreign companies. These companies do KP, stand guard and even drive massive Mercedes "honey wagons"
making the rounds of foreign porta-potties on "secure" bases. Washington saw outsourcing security and services for the Army as a way to keep down the numbers reported to Congress. Successful in deceiving Congress and the public the government is now the Mecca of outsourcing as Washington fills with outsourcing reps biding on contracts for both domestic and foreign jobs once accomplished by government agencies. City governments were quick to follow Washington's lead outsourcing procurements off shore or to domestic companies. There are now more rent-a-cops protecting the country than official police forces. Often cities fly American flags made in Taiwan. With outsourcing the true size of government is deceiving those paying the bills.
Not to be out done, criminal organizations now outsource frauds, scams, identity theft, drugs even human trafficking. Greater profit for less risk while blaming crime on foreigners. Those irritating mealtime calls shows that even telemarketers now outsource.
Before picking up a phone, outsource to a foreign answering service for a little get even.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Blinders 010515
Back in the horse and buggy days blinders were often worn by horses to keep them from being distracted by the events around them. In today's supersonic world it seems that it's the drivers that are wearing blinders, maintaining their view of the horse's rear end.
Governments may still be enraptured by their limited view of horses' rears but it's a New World that the blinders are hiding. Actually New World geopolitical realities may not be all that new as the current dynamics look a lot like those of the 19th century. Public corruption is rampant, robber barons are now international cartels, law enforcement violently suppresses all dissent, imperialist powers jockey for territorial control, labor is oppressed by big business and big business openly buys legislators and favorable protections support by creative judicial interpretations.
The most disturbing trend however is the slow disappearance of the middle classes. It is not the rich who advocate social equality, and it is not the poor that instigate social revolutions. The poor can't afford revolutions knowing they will bear the human cost. The rich oppose everything that threatens their position at the top of the food chain. It is a downward mobile middle class that embraces violent overthrow of the status quo. To paraphrase, "The rich get richer, the poor can't get any poorer so it's the middle where dissent grows."
Around the globe resistance is growing and violence increasing. Focused on the horses' bottoms politicians find excuses, "foreign influences, criminal elements, minorities, radicals or terrorist" and order ever-greater police oppression. History is replete, from Cossacks to company police to law enforcement and eventually regular armies are called in to break a few heads in support of the powerful. There are always enough that enjoy cracking heads so dissent become resistance. Politicians are quick to fill prisons with political prisoners. Contrary to political claims insurgencies do not just happen, nor are they foreign inspired. They are purely domestic in origin and the result political blunders, lack of solutions, attempted public deceptions and violent over reactions.
All dissent does not lead to insurgency but broad common anger and charismatic leadership can quickly tear the nations' social fabric. A hostile foreign power can not start an insurgency but it can provide material support and recognition to insurgents, leading to civil wars and eventual State collapse. A State that has angered its neighbors in the past may well find that they are supporting natives intent on its overthrow.
In pursuit of power politicians pour rhetorical gas on the fires of dissent, cut the budget of fire fighters and enact draconian head cracking laws that overcrowd prisons where violence is taught. This is a wide spread global problem, which is contagious and ignores borders. It is time for politicians pull their heads out, expand their vision from the horse's rear and come to understand that they do not rule people but rather they govern for the people. They should look around, stop being part of the problem, innovate solutions and exercise real leadership before the horses dump in their laps.
Governments may still be enraptured by their limited view of horses' rears but it's a New World that the blinders are hiding. Actually New World geopolitical realities may not be all that new as the current dynamics look a lot like those of the 19th century. Public corruption is rampant, robber barons are now international cartels, law enforcement violently suppresses all dissent, imperialist powers jockey for territorial control, labor is oppressed by big business and big business openly buys legislators and favorable protections support by creative judicial interpretations.
The most disturbing trend however is the slow disappearance of the middle classes. It is not the rich who advocate social equality, and it is not the poor that instigate social revolutions. The poor can't afford revolutions knowing they will bear the human cost. The rich oppose everything that threatens their position at the top of the food chain. It is a downward mobile middle class that embraces violent overthrow of the status quo. To paraphrase, "The rich get richer, the poor can't get any poorer so it's the middle where dissent grows."
Around the globe resistance is growing and violence increasing. Focused on the horses' bottoms politicians find excuses, "foreign influences, criminal elements, minorities, radicals or terrorist" and order ever-greater police oppression. History is replete, from Cossacks to company police to law enforcement and eventually regular armies are called in to break a few heads in support of the powerful. There are always enough that enjoy cracking heads so dissent become resistance. Politicians are quick to fill prisons with political prisoners. Contrary to political claims insurgencies do not just happen, nor are they foreign inspired. They are purely domestic in origin and the result political blunders, lack of solutions, attempted public deceptions and violent over reactions.
All dissent does not lead to insurgency but broad common anger and charismatic leadership can quickly tear the nations' social fabric. A hostile foreign power can not start an insurgency but it can provide material support and recognition to insurgents, leading to civil wars and eventual State collapse. A State that has angered its neighbors in the past may well find that they are supporting natives intent on its overthrow.
In pursuit of power politicians pour rhetorical gas on the fires of dissent, cut the budget of fire fighters and enact draconian head cracking laws that overcrowd prisons where violence is taught. This is a wide spread global problem, which is contagious and ignores borders. It is time for politicians pull their heads out, expand their vision from the horse's rear and come to understand that they do not rule people but rather they govern for the people. They should look around, stop being part of the problem, innovate solutions and exercise real leadership before the horses dump in their laps.
Darkness 121214
Politicians and media embrace simple explanations of events. It could be that they are simple minded but its more likely that they are insulting the public with their self image of superiority. It is easy to see that they often feel that the public is to stupid to notice their deceptions and outright lies in pursuit of their own agendas.
Unfortunately these gatekeepers of knowledge are not far wrong. The public is complicit in its increasing ignorance. In the not to distance past people read, anything and everything including many competing newspapers. Newspapers were never all that trustworthy with, "just the facts" nor the truth but readers could usually pin down who said what, when, where, how and sometimes even why. Print has fallen on sad times. Remaining major newspapers have slipped from a hundred pages a day to maybe that many a week, even the comics have slimmed down. Serious books once measured in pounds with thousands of pages have been replace by electronic books of 20 pages, 50 if there is enough sex included.
Politicians love the new reality; they can throw out a quick sound bite on any subject and deny they said it because it's not easy to track. The electronic media love sound bites because they fit between commercials. The public loves sound bites because they can seem intelligent without having to study or dirty their fingers with printer's ink. Born and matured in the 20th century electronic media is casting darkness over the 21st century.
The reality is that events are the products of a confluence of many factors that react in a particular time and space moment. A plane crashed, the sound bite "pilot error." The facts might be the ground controller spilled hot coffee in his lap and lost focus while ice built up on the wings because a mechanic left a rag in a poorly designed vent and the pilot missed it all because he was studying the latest government regulation, get the picture?
Television is blamed for the death of print, but think about it. Buy a new four-foot television and tune into one of the many news shows for the latest jokes and sound bites. There are three different messages speeding across the bottom of the screen while two more are crawling the other direction across the top, on the right is a column of some unrelated information. Viewers are left watching a ten-inch picture of some visual while a disembodied voice talks about something else; confusion replaces enlightenment. Independent studies have shown that people who receive all their news by television are less informed than people who receive no direct information.
The new Dark Age will have bright lights, color, music and laughs but contribute little to knowledge. Knowledge in the 21st century is not carved in stone nor inscribed on parchment. A thousand years from now space travelers studying our century will open our time capsules and find biodegraded CDs. Of course there may be a few isolated monks hiding in decaying libraries inscribing the decline and fall of mankind on a more permanent medium. Is there hope, sure light a candle in the darkness by demanding real explanations, debate and answers recorded in real libraries.
Unfortunately these gatekeepers of knowledge are not far wrong. The public is complicit in its increasing ignorance. In the not to distance past people read, anything and everything including many competing newspapers. Newspapers were never all that trustworthy with, "just the facts" nor the truth but readers could usually pin down who said what, when, where, how and sometimes even why. Print has fallen on sad times. Remaining major newspapers have slipped from a hundred pages a day to maybe that many a week, even the comics have slimmed down. Serious books once measured in pounds with thousands of pages have been replace by electronic books of 20 pages, 50 if there is enough sex included.
Politicians love the new reality; they can throw out a quick sound bite on any subject and deny they said it because it's not easy to track. The electronic media love sound bites because they fit between commercials. The public loves sound bites because they can seem intelligent without having to study or dirty their fingers with printer's ink. Born and matured in the 20th century electronic media is casting darkness over the 21st century.
The reality is that events are the products of a confluence of many factors that react in a particular time and space moment. A plane crashed, the sound bite "pilot error." The facts might be the ground controller spilled hot coffee in his lap and lost focus while ice built up on the wings because a mechanic left a rag in a poorly designed vent and the pilot missed it all because he was studying the latest government regulation, get the picture?
Television is blamed for the death of print, but think about it. Buy a new four-foot television and tune into one of the many news shows for the latest jokes and sound bites. There are three different messages speeding across the bottom of the screen while two more are crawling the other direction across the top, on the right is a column of some unrelated information. Viewers are left watching a ten-inch picture of some visual while a disembodied voice talks about something else; confusion replaces enlightenment. Independent studies have shown that people who receive all their news by television are less informed than people who receive no direct information.
The new Dark Age will have bright lights, color, music and laughs but contribute little to knowledge. Knowledge in the 21st century is not carved in stone nor inscribed on parchment. A thousand years from now space travelers studying our century will open our time capsules and find biodegraded CDs. Of course there may be a few isolated monks hiding in decaying libraries inscribing the decline and fall of mankind on a more permanent medium. Is there hope, sure light a candle in the darkness by demanding real explanations, debate and answers recorded in real libraries.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Train wreck 121014
Civilizations emerged over thousands of years by merging of cultures. Cultures began in families, flowed from villages, to regions and eventually became national beliefs, values and traditions. Parents instilled cultural norms into their children who accepted an expectation of hard work and honor as their duty.
From the Stone Age the process of enculturation was slow but flexible enough to accept change brought about by fire, the wheel and migrations. Fires and wheels were technological advancements but immigration brought a human richness to cultures. Immigrant enculturation is a two way street where they learn the traditions of the host while contributing to its culture and sharing the common duty of hard work and honesty bound by the axiom that their word was their bond.
While not exclusive, much of the melding of cultures took place in the Americas through the 19th century becoming more universal in the 20th century. The universal culture of integrity and hard work beginning the century gave the world a technological whirlwind of advancement. The 20th century was also one of almost constant universal warfare (colonial, global, national and cold) and a breakdown of traditional cultures.
Why is the thousands of years of cultural continuity suddenly heading for a global train wreck? Early in the 20th century a new cultural dynamic began replacing the traditional parental enculturation. It was slow off the block but as war accelerated advances in communication; advertising, mass marketing and spin rapidly gained control of cultural messaging. Print requires a overt act of reading while radio and television are passive tailored to sell not only soap but also new cultural norms to everyone within range.
By mid century sociologist began to note that regional dialects were beginning to even out to a television standard. By the end of the century they noted that new generations had a totally different beliefs and values than their parents. The rich culinary heritage of merged cultures was disappearing under the weight of franchising where the same bad food can be eaten everywhere, all the time. Advertising agencies were quick to normalize bad as the new good. Poor quality production kept the factories feeding superstores where choices disappeared under marketing blitz. Politicians joined the mass marketing culture of lie with style and are repeatedly reelected. Youth sees through the misdirection of advertising, marketing and spin and is alienated to the point of developing their own cultural norms where hard work and integrity no longer exists. An innovator becomes one who finds new ways to plagiarize new ways to deceive new ways to corrupt and new ways to gain unearned profits.
The cultural trains are already racing down the track to a cataclysmic wreck between traditionalist and futurist cultures. Traditionalists are attempting to hold the track, but life being limited, the futurist will win. That future culture is a feared unknown of eroding traditional values. It's speculated about even demonized in popular fiction. Despite all efforts there can be little doubt that whatever it will become, it will eventually become the new reality.
From the Stone Age the process of enculturation was slow but flexible enough to accept change brought about by fire, the wheel and migrations. Fires and wheels were technological advancements but immigration brought a human richness to cultures. Immigrant enculturation is a two way street where they learn the traditions of the host while contributing to its culture and sharing the common duty of hard work and honesty bound by the axiom that their word was their bond.
While not exclusive, much of the melding of cultures took place in the Americas through the 19th century becoming more universal in the 20th century. The universal culture of integrity and hard work beginning the century gave the world a technological whirlwind of advancement. The 20th century was also one of almost constant universal warfare (colonial, global, national and cold) and a breakdown of traditional cultures.
Why is the thousands of years of cultural continuity suddenly heading for a global train wreck? Early in the 20th century a new cultural dynamic began replacing the traditional parental enculturation. It was slow off the block but as war accelerated advances in communication; advertising, mass marketing and spin rapidly gained control of cultural messaging. Print requires a overt act of reading while radio and television are passive tailored to sell not only soap but also new cultural norms to everyone within range.
By mid century sociologist began to note that regional dialects were beginning to even out to a television standard. By the end of the century they noted that new generations had a totally different beliefs and values than their parents. The rich culinary heritage of merged cultures was disappearing under the weight of franchising where the same bad food can be eaten everywhere, all the time. Advertising agencies were quick to normalize bad as the new good. Poor quality production kept the factories feeding superstores where choices disappeared under marketing blitz. Politicians joined the mass marketing culture of lie with style and are repeatedly reelected. Youth sees through the misdirection of advertising, marketing and spin and is alienated to the point of developing their own cultural norms where hard work and integrity no longer exists. An innovator becomes one who finds new ways to plagiarize new ways to deceive new ways to corrupt and new ways to gain unearned profits.
The cultural trains are already racing down the track to a cataclysmic wreck between traditionalist and futurist cultures. Traditionalists are attempting to hold the track, but life being limited, the futurist will win. That future culture is a feared unknown of eroding traditional values. It's speculated about even demonized in popular fiction. Despite all efforts there can be little doubt that whatever it will become, it will eventually become the new reality.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Holidays 112814
'Tis' the season, there is one common thing across religions and cultures, they all have holidays of some sort. They aren't universal holidays but from the most primitive culture to the most sophisticated they celebrate something. It is probable that a fast moving world traveler could find a celebration everyday of the year.
Holidays are a time for reflection, giving thanks and thoughts of peace and good will. They tend to look at a nostalgic past, but seldom at an unknown future. For the most part feasting is the tradition although some are noted for fasting or temporary sacrifice.
As the world wobbles on its axis honest reflection sees there is little peace in the world and a great many people have little reason to be thankful. Large and small conflicts continue to send streams of refugees searching for a safe haven in forest, deserts, or their communities' rubble. Domestic riots abound where stores, homes and shelters are put to the torch adding to the stream, keeping the masses moving somewhere else. Massive fires, snows, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes destroy more homes and lives sending even more homeless into the stream of homeless refugees.
Eventually the stream will begin to disperse, find new lives integrated into new cultures, those young enough to start their lives over. With the exit of the young the stream loses its dynamic nature that attracts world attention. What is eventually left in the wake of natural and manmade disasters are isolated elderly, dispirited and far to old to begin building again and to set in their ways to be part of new cultures.
They are depressed, often alone, without resources and to proud to beg for charity. They worked hard all their lives, saved a little then suddenly through no fault of their own everything is lost. Their world disappeared. At best they were under insured so there is little replacement of lost homes and possessions. Eventually, if they are lucky, they may end up warehoused in some State run "shelter" where the food is below subsistence levels and accommodations inadequate. Shelter staff will relieve the elderly of their few remaining possessions and brutalize the defenseless. Sooner or later some politician will see few votes or protests from the shelters but sees personal profit in privatizing.
Too harsh a view? From earliest news reels to the present there are records of old people struggling in the stream with their few pathetic possessions. Scenes from developed nations where some aid is possible. There is little film of even worse conditions in the more remote regions of the world were the old and weak just disappear.
Even the relatively well off must face the possibilities, as disasters by nature are often total; wealth, records and homes disappear in the blink of and eye leaving only despair and diaspora. For the elderly there is no recovery, ever.
This holiday season reflect a little on the future. Work for peace in the streets and battlefields. Consider recovery assistance, one dynamic is unchangeable, everyone who lives long enough is "old." and vulnerable.
Holidays are a time for reflection, giving thanks and thoughts of peace and good will. They tend to look at a nostalgic past, but seldom at an unknown future. For the most part feasting is the tradition although some are noted for fasting or temporary sacrifice.
As the world wobbles on its axis honest reflection sees there is little peace in the world and a great many people have little reason to be thankful. Large and small conflicts continue to send streams of refugees searching for a safe haven in forest, deserts, or their communities' rubble. Domestic riots abound where stores, homes and shelters are put to the torch adding to the stream, keeping the masses moving somewhere else. Massive fires, snows, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes destroy more homes and lives sending even more homeless into the stream of homeless refugees.
Eventually the stream will begin to disperse, find new lives integrated into new cultures, those young enough to start their lives over. With the exit of the young the stream loses its dynamic nature that attracts world attention. What is eventually left in the wake of natural and manmade disasters are isolated elderly, dispirited and far to old to begin building again and to set in their ways to be part of new cultures.
They are depressed, often alone, without resources and to proud to beg for charity. They worked hard all their lives, saved a little then suddenly through no fault of their own everything is lost. Their world disappeared. At best they were under insured so there is little replacement of lost homes and possessions. Eventually, if they are lucky, they may end up warehoused in some State run "shelter" where the food is below subsistence levels and accommodations inadequate. Shelter staff will relieve the elderly of their few remaining possessions and brutalize the defenseless. Sooner or later some politician will see few votes or protests from the shelters but sees personal profit in privatizing.
Too harsh a view? From earliest news reels to the present there are records of old people struggling in the stream with their few pathetic possessions. Scenes from developed nations where some aid is possible. There is little film of even worse conditions in the more remote regions of the world were the old and weak just disappear.
Even the relatively well off must face the possibilities, as disasters by nature are often total; wealth, records and homes disappear in the blink of and eye leaving only despair and diaspora. For the elderly there is no recovery, ever.
This holiday season reflect a little on the future. Work for peace in the streets and battlefields. Consider recovery assistance, one dynamic is unchangeable, everyone who lives long enough is "old." and vulnerable.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Three R's 111914
Remember the "Greatest Generation," those people that created an American century?
Born in the late 19th and early 20th century, many first or second generation Americans, they built modern America by brainpower. They created aviation, tying the world together. Henry Ford is credited with inventing mass production, but Ford knew it was his workers that solved the problems and made it work. They pioneered oil exploration and highway designs that serviced Ford's automobiles. They built bridges spanning rivers and dams electrifying the nation. They designed rail networks, radio networks, medical networks, business networks and created a cultural network that was America, then exported that culture to the world.
Tempered by two wars and a great depression they remained visionaries seeking to build a better future. Many of this great generation were the products of one-room schoolhouses that slowly disappeared by mid-century. Often the teachers in those schools had a limited education themselves but they taught a love of learning that emerged as a problem solving generation. Those teachers left a legacy of cowboys carrying books in their saddlebags, builders who solved complex math in their heads and libraries for continued learning. As the one-room schools disappeared neighborhood schools staffed by teachers who knew their subjects rather than theories replaced them.
As the teachers who loved sharing knowledge began to disappear they were replaced by an education industry strong on theory but unable to inspire student's visions of the future. America's lead as the world's most literate began to erode with the industry producing graduates who could neither read nor balance a checkbook. America began to slip down the literacy ladder; the problem was obvious the solution was not. The education industry saw money to be made, theories flourished. Billions were spent on mega-schools, better football but education was lost in a maze. The industry discovered even more money could be made by building smaller charter schools, big bucks but limited education. The industry reassessed, building schools cut into profits why not just write tests and lobby politicians to subsidize the industry by making its test mandatory across the country. Teachers were relegated to being petty bureaucrats keeping records and attending meetings on testing theory. In the 50s President Eisenhower warned against the military industrial complex, he did not foresee the conspiracy dangers of political- educational industry.
A legislator recently proposed a law requiring his political ideas be added to curriculums. Religious and social groups along with fringe elements are demanding their teachings. Textbooks have become politically correct but factually flawed. "Reading, Riting and Rithmetic" has given way to radiating rabid radicalism; or maybe it's raucous, rattlebrained, rascality. It may be time for rebellious parents to overthrow the reckless, recalcitrant education theorist and reexamine, refurbish and reestablish an old education theory leading to a learning renaissance. In that theory parents take an interest in academic accomplishment, trusted teachers are freed to inspire students' to visions and judge when their student have mastered the three "Rs."
Born in the late 19th and early 20th century, many first or second generation Americans, they built modern America by brainpower. They created aviation, tying the world together. Henry Ford is credited with inventing mass production, but Ford knew it was his workers that solved the problems and made it work. They pioneered oil exploration and highway designs that serviced Ford's automobiles. They built bridges spanning rivers and dams electrifying the nation. They designed rail networks, radio networks, medical networks, business networks and created a cultural network that was America, then exported that culture to the world.
Tempered by two wars and a great depression they remained visionaries seeking to build a better future. Many of this great generation were the products of one-room schoolhouses that slowly disappeared by mid-century. Often the teachers in those schools had a limited education themselves but they taught a love of learning that emerged as a problem solving generation. Those teachers left a legacy of cowboys carrying books in their saddlebags, builders who solved complex math in their heads and libraries for continued learning. As the one-room schools disappeared neighborhood schools staffed by teachers who knew their subjects rather than theories replaced them.
As the teachers who loved sharing knowledge began to disappear they were replaced by an education industry strong on theory but unable to inspire student's visions of the future. America's lead as the world's most literate began to erode with the industry producing graduates who could neither read nor balance a checkbook. America began to slip down the literacy ladder; the problem was obvious the solution was not. The education industry saw money to be made, theories flourished. Billions were spent on mega-schools, better football but education was lost in a maze. The industry discovered even more money could be made by building smaller charter schools, big bucks but limited education. The industry reassessed, building schools cut into profits why not just write tests and lobby politicians to subsidize the industry by making its test mandatory across the country. Teachers were relegated to being petty bureaucrats keeping records and attending meetings on testing theory. In the 50s President Eisenhower warned against the military industrial complex, he did not foresee the conspiracy dangers of political- educational industry.
A legislator recently proposed a law requiring his political ideas be added to curriculums. Religious and social groups along with fringe elements are demanding their teachings. Textbooks have become politically correct but factually flawed. "Reading, Riting and Rithmetic" has given way to radiating rabid radicalism; or maybe it's raucous, rattlebrained, rascality. It may be time for rebellious parents to overthrow the reckless, recalcitrant education theorist and reexamine, refurbish and reestablish an old education theory leading to a learning renaissance. In that theory parents take an interest in academic accomplishment, trusted teachers are freed to inspire students' to visions and judge when their student have mastered the three "Rs."
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Spoken? 110614
Election 14 is over; long live election 16 which began in election 08. The GOP (Grand Old Party) scored a great victory in election 14 wining control of the Senate and claiming the majority has spoken in the states.
Like most politics today it is mud that is being flung at the electorate. The majority didn't speak, only about a third of the electorate even bothered to vote. Contested elections were squeakers meaning a majority of slightly over a sixth ruled the day. The Republicans true to their name, claim a mandate for revolution. The election was neither a mandate nor a call for revolution, it was a statement of their message control.
Election 08 was also a GOP statement which colors the American culture. The GOP allowed a Black man to be elected to prove it was no longer racist while obstructing that President's ability to govern, supporting 19th century stereotypical racial theories. Even before the votes were counted the GOP was actively demonizing the candidate/president and arguing his every action, even protesting the color of his suit. Possibly the party's expectation was that a horrified electorate would give the President his "come uppance" in the next election and swing further to the right. The vote did swing right but to the party's own horror their "Token" returned to the White House.
Election 14 may be the most expensive in history, estimates range between one and ten billion dollars spent in a by-election. The electorate will probably never know its true cost as much of the money falls in the non-reportable category. In part the spending reflects deep pockets attempting to buy legislative agendas but also it is the result of a growing campaign industry that fuels and feeds on elections. The GOP became a frenzied mob dragging by standing Democrats along on the sole issue that the President is the devil to be cast out with all of his followers.
From the GOP's point of view they now have the best of both worlds, total control of the legislature, control of most states and a lame duck President to blame for everything. Its target is not achieving the American dream but gaining control of the country in election 16. The swing to the right is not unexpected, it follows global reactions to long periods of liberal governance. The GOP however is fractured as never before, there is no consensus on anything except that the left has carried the country in the wrong direction.
The GOP's direction? No platform, but a look at the past few years of "Red" state control give an indication. Gerrymandering districts to favor GOP voting and dilute minority influences, restrictive voting qualification, elimination of labor protections in favor of big business, hostility to women's issues and the only recognized religion is evangelical Christianity. The new majority has proclaimed that it will eliminate the Federal Reserve and turn its functions over to Wall Street money men, the same people that gave the world the 2008 crash. In short the GOP actions look a lot like the mid 19th century when minorities didn't dare vote, women had no vote, labor was told how to vote, good Christians knew how to vote, buying a vote was cheap and big money approved the results or votes disappeared.
Like most politics today it is mud that is being flung at the electorate. The majority didn't speak, only about a third of the electorate even bothered to vote. Contested elections were squeakers meaning a majority of slightly over a sixth ruled the day. The Republicans true to their name, claim a mandate for revolution. The election was neither a mandate nor a call for revolution, it was a statement of their message control.
Election 08 was also a GOP statement which colors the American culture. The GOP allowed a Black man to be elected to prove it was no longer racist while obstructing that President's ability to govern, supporting 19th century stereotypical racial theories. Even before the votes were counted the GOP was actively demonizing the candidate/president and arguing his every action, even protesting the color of his suit. Possibly the party's expectation was that a horrified electorate would give the President his "come uppance" in the next election and swing further to the right. The vote did swing right but to the party's own horror their "Token" returned to the White House.
Election 14 may be the most expensive in history, estimates range between one and ten billion dollars spent in a by-election. The electorate will probably never know its true cost as much of the money falls in the non-reportable category. In part the spending reflects deep pockets attempting to buy legislative agendas but also it is the result of a growing campaign industry that fuels and feeds on elections. The GOP became a frenzied mob dragging by standing Democrats along on the sole issue that the President is the devil to be cast out with all of his followers.
From the GOP's point of view they now have the best of both worlds, total control of the legislature, control of most states and a lame duck President to blame for everything. Its target is not achieving the American dream but gaining control of the country in election 16. The swing to the right is not unexpected, it follows global reactions to long periods of liberal governance. The GOP however is fractured as never before, there is no consensus on anything except that the left has carried the country in the wrong direction.
The GOP's direction? No platform, but a look at the past few years of "Red" state control give an indication. Gerrymandering districts to favor GOP voting and dilute minority influences, restrictive voting qualification, elimination of labor protections in favor of big business, hostility to women's issues and the only recognized religion is evangelical Christianity. The new majority has proclaimed that it will eliminate the Federal Reserve and turn its functions over to Wall Street money men, the same people that gave the world the 2008 crash. In short the GOP actions look a lot like the mid 19th century when minorities didn't dare vote, women had no vote, labor was told how to vote, good Christians knew how to vote, buying a vote was cheap and big money approved the results or votes disappeared.
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