My fellow Democrats
I just visited the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon today and the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.
Those experiences, among others, have led me to this note.
To everyone else, sorry, this is one of those times I’m going to get into politics. If you don’t like that, come back tomorrow when I’ll be at AT&T and talking about the cool technology they are showing me.
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My fellow Democrats,
I keep seeing you, and the press, taking pot shots at Sarah Palin. I’ve taken a few myself, if you’ve been over on FriendFeed the past couple of weeks.
You also know that I’ve been demoralized lately and believe that John McCain and Sarah Palin have, through the changing of the framing of the imagery presented to the American people, have already won the election.
But today I’m calling on you to be better than the Republicans.
Instead of aiming at Palin’s groin, let’s aspire to be better.
This is America. When we aspire to be better than we are, we change the world.
When John Kennedy asked us to go to the moon, we did. When Martin Luther King said he has a dream we’ve made his dream happen. When Ronald Reagan told the Germans to “tear down this wall” they did.
When we try to make the world better, we often do!
It’s time, my fellow Democrats, to start living that change.
Instead of blogging about our political opponents, can you learn about one issue that you care about and blog about that?
My issue is that I’m seeing high tech jobs leaving America for a variety of reasons.
1. Our education system. Today’s CEOs say they aren’t seeing the quality of graduates that they need to make the next big scientific and technological breakthroughs. After the cameras are off I keep hearing about the better graduates in places like Israel, China, and India.
2. Our taxation and infrastructure. When I went to Israel I interviewed Gil Shwed, CEO of CheckPoint. They have offices in California and Israel. You should listen to the video because he tells how it’s easier for him to get stuff done in Israel than in California.
2b. Our infrastructure is wacked. When we’re 19th in the world in broadband and way behind even China in the use of IPTV and other technologies that can be used to wire new R&D workers together, that tells me we’ve lost leadership and that it’ll take a concerted effort to get it back.
3. Our health care costs. CEOs are telling me they are drowning in the costs of our health care system and that’s pushing jobs overseas. Not just those manufacturing jobs, either (many of the people reading my blog are geeks and can’t relate to people who work on factory lines in places like Detroit, let’s just be honest) but the jobs going overseas are our R&D jobs that pay $150,000 a year. Lose rafts of those and you see entire economies changing.
4. Our immigration policies. It used to be that our best workers and best ideas came from people who moved here from somewhere else. But in today’s America we’re angry about immigrants who come to America to take our jobs. That anger, while justified, is causing us to close down our borders to even the smartest who come here for an education and then are forced to leave to go back home. Guess what, our globalization can’t be stopped, so every job that leaves our shores is $150,000 that will never come back (and probably more, because of the trickle down effects of our economy).
5. Our anti-science and anti-technology discourse and beliefs. In the Republican America today we are seeing a debate, not about whether science should drive our national debate, but whether religion should and, let’s just be honest, religion is winning. Stem cell research is being forced off our shores. That research will still be done, albeit now it’s done over in some other country. More $150,000 jobs down the drain. Plus, will we really invest in the right energy technologies? Who is best suited to decide those? A scientist? Or someone who lives close to an energy pipeline? We need to do better and aspire to be smarter.
6. An anti-technology and anti-science stance by those who fear government. When I wrote about America getting a CTO, I was amazed at some of the pushback I got in comments. Driven by fear. An inefficient government is a good thing, quite a few said. After getting out of the Holocaust Museum today, I understand where that fear comes from, but it’s misplaced and misguided because that fear will cause policies that cause us to lose more and more of our $150,000 a year jobs.
So, my fellow Democrats, can we have a debate about what government should DO over the next four years? What, my fellow Democrats, can we do to be better than ourselves? To make the world a better place?
We have only a week or two before the debates to give Barack Obama some real, tangible things to call us to aspire to.
If he aims for the fences and calls on us to build a better world, then we have a shot November 2.
If we only aim for Palin’s knees we play into the Republican’s game and we’ll end up with more of the same for the next four years.
It’s all up to you now. Every post you make. Every conversation you have. They all add up to what will happen November 2.
Will you call on your fellow Americans to be better? Or will you point out what a wacky lady Palin is.
The more you point what a wacky lady she is, the more likely you are to help Republicans win. After all, we’re all wacky and we all love to vote for someone like us: unless someone is calling on us to be better.
So, my fellow Democrats, I hope you’ll join me in focusing totally on building a strong economy for the future for the next four weeks. That’s our only hope.
Thank you, your friend and supporter, Robert Scoble
UPDATE: Over on FriendFeed they are discussing this post and imran stated that the trillion dollar war with Iraq is also draining our resources and making it hard to compete on a global stage. Good point.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
here here! awesome and inspiring post robert! im proud of it…im a democrat…im voting for Obama!
September 14th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
well said, Robert !
September 14th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Good points. But regards to 3); will taking away benefits attract more people into the workforce? Or do you have an alternative in mind?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Thanks for taking us all to task Robert!! Sure hope everyone, including Obama’s campaign!! seriously considers what you’ve said. You’ve hit the nail on the head!
September 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Great post and I’ve been enjoying your election commentary and links on Twitter. But please don’t lose heart, this election is definitely not lost yet!
September 14th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Yes, we need to do whatever we can.
But the election is hardly lost. Obame, I’ve noticed, waits a while until he responds. He did it with Hillary. He’s just now responding against McCain. In a calculated manner, with a plan. He doesn’t shoot from the hip.
I think we’ll see the results of that soon. But by all means, we need to do whatever we can.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Thanks for speaking out, Robert. Earlier in this ridiculously long campaign season, Obama ran on pointing us toward the future, we all need to continue that direction and insist on that whatever the outcome. No more should we accept the mediocre, the shallow, the self-indulgent, the least effective answer to any public need.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Good points Robert, but you are asking an inherently mean group of folks to be nice. All the points you make are solvable by real conservative principles. But to say Conservatives are anti-Technology and Science is absolutely wrong. We do look at at it differently than you do, we belive in free market driving discovery. You (liberals/socialist) believe it can only be driven by over taxing the market and redistributing the loot to what you decide is a worthy cause. Free markets work, yah you have occasions that take the headlines where a bad person or group of people do something bad, but you get that and at a higher rate by letting underpaid and underequalified goverment employees do it.
McCain and Palin offer a true conservative ticket, one that is inspiring like Regan was. And do not forget that Obama is campaigning on reimplementing the Carter policies of uber taxation and wimpy defense that will lead to more dependance on foriegn oil, agresive attacks by terrorist states and of course the misery index. I was a kid in the 70s and I remember it well and that is why I will never ever be a liberal/socialist. I believe in free markets and unbridled desire improving the state of the country and world.
You are a good guy and you want the same things I want, as an open liberal you just want things differently, through government control. I want it through freedom.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
nicely done.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Germans!, was Gorby a German?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I’ll take point #1
“Our education system. Today’s CEOs say they aren’t seeing the quality of graduates that they need to make the next big scientific and technological breakthroughs.”
Haaa! When a huge chunk of the population “believes” the earth is 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs and humans lived at the same time, what do you expect?
Look at the “teach the controversy” crowd, who arduously preach that ID/creationism should be pitted up against the theory of evolution by natural selection. The reality is that ID is NOT SCIENCE. Period. It makes no predictions and is not based on any evidence. Evolution by natural selection IS SCIENCE, and the evidence is clear and abundant.
The U.S. is in the dark ages with respect to science. So any candidate that is delusional with respect to rational thinking deserves to be ostracized, belittled, ridiculed, if they refuse to use their heads.
Unfortunately, the majority of Americans will probably vote the idiots into office. Take a guess why.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
docluv: I was a kid in the 70s too and don’t want to see a return to that, but there is a place for government and its ability to educate large numbers of people (private industry isn’t going to do that, especially not when focused on next quarter’s results), infrastructure like broadband (I interviewed the Cable and Telecommunications Association’s CEO and he basically told me they can’t invest that much in infrastructure without both government mandate as well as help), keeping costs down (health care costs won’t be solved totally by a free market economy), and immigration policies (free markets tend to try to close up, rather than open up, so you need government there, too).
Oh, and we need to be inviting for the world’s geeks. I’m a geek and I don’t want to live in a religious-controlled state. Sorry, if that worked, we’d all wanting to live in Iran. I want a state with fewer religious controls. To me, that’s true freedom.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Totally right on so many levels. I’ve actually recently stopped talking about Palin, and have begun engaging my Repub friends in conversations about the issues. If they truly believe it is okay that my homosexual family members not have the same rights as other individuals, then they should vote Republican. If they believe that my two daughters should not receive equal pay for equal work when they enter the workforce, then yes, they should vote Republican. I ask them if it’s okay with them that the billions of dollars being spent on the Iraq war is being borrowed from China, a communist state. If so, then by all means, vote Republican. I have many other examples, and have found that when drilled down to individual’s lives and how it affects them DIRECTLY, they give it some more thought. May not change everyone’s mind, but it sure gives them something to think about and takes the reality show competition (which this campaign has become) out of the discussion.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
But with a complete and admitted lack of experience, how will that happen Robert? Biden admits Hilary is the better VP choice and Obama himself admits his Lack of experience to run on a national ticket.
By your travels to these locations you been to should tell you how important knowing history is, Obama does not even know how many states there are! To want a party to win for the sake of winning is not in the best interest of the USA. A call to action is not enough without a leader with a record of action and experience.
I respect your technical views, but you are off on your candidates. Time to re-evaluate Robert.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I love the sentiment expressed here, Scoble. I think my issue, that I now make a solemn promise to you to blog about until Nov. 2nd, is the need to fortify our personal health in all aspects -mental, physical, social, and psychological. As Obama, we are the ones we are waiting for.
Be each of us taking control of our health with great nutrition, exercise, and rest we gain strength of limb but we do more than that - we make an affordable health care system achievable. If we didn’t get as sick as we do now, the overall costs would go down considerably.
By embracing the momentus crossroads in history we have here to combine technology and entrepreneurship with global reach, we can fortify our social (and financial) health. Entrepreneurs, especially women, are poised to revolutionize the world if we will just take the wheel and drive.
By fully embodying tolerance for others and commitment to food, shelter, water, and literacy for everyone worldwide, we gain psychological and physical security and health. Loving your neighbor and forgiving grievances is more than a cliche or church story - it’s our duty, our responsibility - to each other as human beings.
These ideas are why I am a liberal Democrat and I don’t think I have to put any lipstick on those ideas to make them strong. They stand on their own. And, I embrace and welcome anyone, of any political party, that joins me.
Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman
follow me at http://twitter.com/smartwoman
September 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Yes, thanks Robert, aside from Tina Fey’s brilliant Palin impersonation on SNL last night and Maureen Dowd’s NYT’s oped today, I am totally over the Alaskan scary hockey mama. Let’s get back to what matters!! Economy, energy, health care and education… oh, and the war in Iraq.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
>CMT
Sorry, but experience is no longer on the table for national debate thanks to the choices that McCain has made.
Also, the last administration, a Republican one, was the most experienced in history and look at what they did with that experience: screwed up.
So, no, you don’t get to play the experience card any longer.
Obama has plenty of experience calling on people to be better and smarter than they are.
I hope he gets back to that.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
You’ve made a great case for economic development from the Democrat perspective. Health care, immigration, advancement of science, education… these are issues we must pay attention to if America is going to compete in a 21st century economy. I’ll add that foreign policy and economic policy are inextricably linked. We’ve spent hundreds of billions on the war in Iraq - what if we’d spent that money on developing innovations in energy?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
@docluv Very well put! Couldn’t have said it better myself!
September 14th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I really loved this article. So great! Really wonderfully written and you manage to express quite a few of the same sentiments I have had recently. Thank you!
September 14th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
You have many great points, but have just a couple that I would like to comment on.
First thing, you should have addressed your points to My Fellow Americans. We should be asking all politicians to rise above, not just the Democrats, which when you do is actually fueling the horrible partisanship gripping our country.
Second, I want to add to your point on anti-tech/sci and religion debate. I think we need to stop making it an antagonistic debate but a starting point to concentrate of what is mutually agreed on. I personally belief in intelligent design and evolution, which surprisingly can be very much integrated. My belief is in God as creator is that he made such a wonderful mechanism for life by way of evolution. I guess a contemporary example is the game Spore. The main example you give though of stem cell research has one issue that will not be resolved. That is embryonic stem cell research. Discussing that will not be resolved as it mixes in a debate of what do you consider murder and life, which is not something you can convince someone either way. Most everyone believes in non-embryonic stem cells, such as skin.
Third, your immigration point is a little too general. Legal immigration by and large is very favorable and not as much part of people stealing our jobs. And again, the fence only applies to illegal aliens. We must separate the issues of attracting highly skilled immigrants by the likes of H1b visas from the fight against illegal immigrants willing to work for pennies on the dollar.
And lastly, I must say my biggest comment for you is quite cynical. Your tone and points are very admirable and should be considered on the POLICY level, unfortunately elections are won on the POLITICAL level. JFK, MLK Jr., Reagan all said those words while in office or not running a campaign. Taking the high road while campaigning does not win elections. That is not the fault of our political leaders, it is the fault of the American people who get affected by attack ads and extremely exaggerated out of context sound bites. Politics will not change until citizens change. It has start from the grassroots level, b/c above all, politicians will pander to their constituency.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
While I am not a Democrat (I’m a Libertarian) allow me to make a few quick observations:
1. Our education system is held hostage by the NEA, a union that supports Democrats exclusively. Democrats want to maintain a government monopoly on primary education/indoctrination.
2. Our corporate taxes are much higher in the US than virtually all of the industrialized world. Democrats demonize corporate profits and want to raise taxes on them… including Obama.
2b. Our infrastructure does need improvement. I have not studied the issue to comment on this.
3. Our health care costs are high… and many of those costs go back to everything from the cost of liability insurance to the cost to educate our medical professionals. Democrats have not helped to reduce the cost of education nor have they helped with tort reform. In fact, they have prevented reform.
4. Leaving our borders open to gather votes have been the hallmark of many Democrats. I won’t say that closing the border is a good idea - but securing the border IS.
5. Stem cell research is not being forced offshore. The federal govt. actually funds some of it. Government does not have to fund ALL research. Religious fanatics oppose federal funding of embryonic research. Big difference.
6. We do need a technology czar who can help to modernize the various levels and functions of government. The government needs an overhaul, and such a czar would help facilitate it.
What is unfortunate is the entrenched views of both the right and left that keep us from truly moving ahead. There are good ideas on both side to draw from.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Robert, Reagan didn’t ask Germans to “tear down this wall”, he asked Mr. Gorbachev.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Boris: fine. But his points were made in Berlin: to Germans. Gorbachev wasn’t there. The implication was made clear to everyone that everyone possible should work to tear down the wall. When, a few years later, it was everyday citizens who tore it down (and no one officially made a proclimation to do so) that speech gave them some major encouragement to do just that.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
>I think we need to stop making it an antagonistic debate but a starting point to concentrate of what is mutually agreed on.
Fair enough. I’ve been on both sides of that fence (I was a very conservative Christian attending a very fundamentalist/evangelical church for more than a decade).
I see the science/religion debate differently, because of that. Scientists have to be open to observation and things that run counter to their beliefs. They have to have an open mind. Most of the religious people I run into don’t have the ability to open their minds. It’s really tough when you buy into the worldview espoused by a book that can’t be morphed, changed, or argued with.
It also makes debates over these things very frustrating for both sides. I don’t see that getting better until a leader really steps up and asks us to knock it off and get back to doing what’s best for our country.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Doug: I agree with many of your points, which is why it’d be a lot more satisfying talking about the issues rather than aiming at the knees of Palin.
But your last point I agree with too. We get the politicians we deserve. If we can’t have open and civil debate about real issues without getting distracted by TV ads, then we’re doomed.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
You have made some interesting points, but democrats have ruined another election by selecting someone who is just an empty suit. I would like to ask these same CEO’s what their thoughts are on the taxes that Obama will use to pay for some of the things they are complaining about.
Now I don’t care for McCain either, but to think that raising taxes and restricting regulations on business is going to better the economy is just crazy.
The anti-science and anti-technology comment is truly off the mark. Science itself has become a religion. We see that with the Global Warming crowd. Science and technology will be better off if we have a limited government, not another nanny state.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
This is all well and good but some of you, especially the ones who live in swing states, might want to think about taking off your blogger hats and going over to your local Obama office and work a few hours at a phone bank or hit the colleges to register new voters. There is so much you can do. For the most part the swing voters do not read blogs! Opinionated folks who made up their minds a long time ago are the ones reading and commenting. The link you should be forwarding is the one that goes to your local supervisor of elections office so they can register to receive an absentee ballot. There are many older people who are much more likely to vote if they can get the ballot sent to their home. I just spent the afternoon canvassing with my child and it was awesome and lots of fun. There are a lot of Republicans on the fence. Go get ‘em!!!
September 14th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Spencer: >>The anti-science and anti-technology comment is truly off the mark.
Actually, no, it’s not. Which demonstrates the depth of the problem here when people can’t even see that our debate has been turned into something nonsensical here.
Global warming is something that’s observable. Not a religion. A religion is where you take things on “faith.” The fact that we are even calling it a debate in this country shows how far down we’ve gone.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
So you think that because the Republicans nominated someone who has more experience than the guy at the top of the ticket for the number two spot, that that takes the experience card off of the table, Robert? It’s a little late for that. And if you really think you can talk the left side of the blogosphere into cutting out the vileness and stop frothing at the mouth, well, I’d guess you haven’t spent much time reading DU or dKos. It isn’t going to happen.
“It also makes debates over these things very frustrating for both sides. I don’t see that getting better until a leader really steps up and asks us to knock it off and get back to doing what’s best for our country.”
And therein lies the problem. There is a huge, fundamental disagreement as to what’s best for the country. Should the government grow bigger, and do more for us, or should it shrink, and stay out of our way? Should we respect all of the bill of rights, or only those portions that the NY Times approves of? On these, and many other issues the country is polarized.
McCain was not my first choice for the Republican nomination. In fact, he wasn’t in the top three or four. If the Democrats had chosen to nominate a moderate, rather than an ultra-liberal empty suit, I very well might have been able to vote for him. But that didn’t happen, and as such, we have to choose between the options before us.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Excellent and most appreciated Call to Action here, Robert… THANKS!
I’d love to focus on a systematic revamping of each of the areas you mentioned - and YES… I’ve got plenty of ideas to share! ;-)
Frankly…I’m very confident that Obama intends to call on people to be better and smarter… that’s been his proclivity up to know and despite powerful temptations to lower his standards… I don’t see him succumbing to those temptations to any significant degree.
This will fare well IF most people… including mainstream MEDIA people… respond to the call to step up, be SMARTER and engage in conversation of the ISSUES… and fare poorly if the Republicans were truly successfully in the dumbing down of America that they’ve been working on these past 8 years…
Obama has definitely got the experience and record of demonstrating strong leadership abilities, charismatic communication skills and intelligent evaluation of issues… let’s hope most people CARE about those things enough that they’ll consider educating themselves about what IS going on… what they’d like to SEE going on… and which candidate most strongly evidences moving in a direction they desire!
September 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
it’s time to do whatever it takes to win. With honor, with certainty.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
You are right that we need to discuss issues. Not just the Democrats, but all Americans. We need to do so with respect. The divisive nature of politics make people different sides dig in their heels.
I was originally excited about McCain vs. Obama because both candidates spent the spring talking about wanting a “different type of campaign”. I imagined an issues based discussion that would engage Americans in a new way that we had not seen before. WRONG.
Instead we have both sides now trying to take shots at each other and it is the same old thing from two people I thought could bring change. The lesson is that we cannot expect change from politicians who want the PRIZE.
If we want real change we are going to have to make it a grass roots effort. I love your suggestion about getting bloggers to blog about the issues. But not just Democrats. Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, etc… Americans!
If we want the rest of the world to respect us, we first must find ways to respect each other.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
While, I lean more towards right-wing politics, I am decisively pragmatic in making a decision for the leader(registered Republican, but have no problem voting the other side of the ticket). That’s the biggest mistake of our environment we stigmatize our competitors on party lines, rather that on the values that they bring to the table. You have brought up all the points that we need to be inspecting our candidates on and as someone with a rather large influence, I thank you.
On another note, I would like to point out that most of these points are actually centrally connected to our education system. The education system is weakened by the giant subsidization provided by the government, on estimates I’ve made un-adjusted over the last 30 years $2.4 trillion dollars have been wasted; meanwhile, the higher educations system cost has been rising at 2-3 times that of inflation. Thus, the doctors and pharmacologists feel entitled to their $150,000 dollar a year salary, which we see repercussions in our Health Services. In subsidizing the elementary-high schools we have opened it up to public ownership allowing these people to insist on the Creationist Texts as a provision.
So who focuses heavily on subsidization of our primary economic structures?
If you look it’s the Democrats that insist on equal provisions of wealth and services that allows these kind of situations to occur. If you really wanted them to change all of these things you need to focus on assisting the Republicans in having a capitalistic government. The Democrat’s are the biggest enabler by there own socialistic behavior.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I have been “campaigning on the issues” on NGL all summer, or at least trying to, but Steve Gillmor keeps telling me people don’t vote on the issues and that it’s about character and values and context and I have to focus on microcommunities and their power. And I dare say he is right. So we continue to point out how McCain lies.
I wish I weren’t so well-informed on the issues and could just take a pot shot at Sarah Palin, but i, too, keep asking Obama to aspire to something: rebuilding our national infrastructure, and I mean more than broadband, while encouraging alternative energy. Those are things he can actually DO things about. Health care costs are beyond him, except at the margins; the players are too entrenched. His best bet would be to create jobs that would allow people to AFFORD health insurance, however we decide to tweak the system. He can’t do too much about education, either, because most control is local. He has to pick one national BHAG that the President can actually have some impact on.
Because of our (fantastic) system of checks and balances, many things are beyond the next President, no matter which party wins. So the only thing to do is build consensus between Congress and the Presidency again — which has been destroyed by Bush.
I’m an Independent, but I wouldn’t vote for McCain if they threatened me with death. Especially now that he has chosen Palin. I’m no dope. McCain can flip flop and shift to fit the political winds, but he is an old man with recurring melanoma, which is a very potentially deadly form of cancer, and I am terrified of the ignorance represented by Sarah Palin.
I want someone who earmarks every dollar of the budget to attack the infrastructure and energy problems of America: there is a place for earmarks if they actually do some good. We’re tangled in semantics, rather than actions. Forgive the rant.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Obama is not an ultra-liberal empty suit, but the leader we need now, pragmatic, cool, compassionate. For those who usually support Republicans, and I know that many may read this column, just look at what has happened to our country and your party in the last few years. The same gang is pulling the strings again, and McCain has surrendered to them. The Maverick gave up his fight to big oil and the boys from Haliburton.
Palin is frightening, truly. A narcissist who hangs onto her ignorance with righteousness and pride. The Republican talking heads should be embarrassed when they try and hold up Alaska’s proximity to Russia as a qualification, when they celebrate the small town values they are condescending to people in small towns.
So, I plead with my fellow Americans, my Republican friends. Look closely. When Bush Cheney said there were WMDs they lied. They played on our fears. McCain Palin are doing the same thing.
Obama is the antidote that the world needs for all the poison put out in the last 8 years. He is OUR opportunity to do ourselves and the world right.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Yes, global warming is observable. That’s not particularly in dispute, although recent trends have gone th other way. What is in dispute is to what extent various factors cause the warming, when it occurs.
The problem with the current anthropogenic global warming “science” is that it’s not falsifiable. More hurricanes? Caused by climate change. Less hurricanes? The same. If you were to ask the major proponents what data would be acceptable as a refutation of the current theories and models, they don’t have any.
This is exactly the problem with the “intelligent design” crowd, by the way. If your theories aren’t falsifiable, they aren’t science.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Friends, you have to check out this great website, http://www.milfandmccain.com. It is fantastically funny!
September 14th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
“Let’s turn to the economy and Bush’s allegedly failed economic policies. Under President Bush, the economic pie grew. Tax receipts grew by 20 percent, to the highest level in our nation’s history. And remember, Bush inherited an economy going into a recession. On Sept. 11, 2001, America suffered the worst attack on its soil in its history. Spending increased for Homeland Security and the war in Iraq. And of the current economic sluggishness, most can be attributed to the slump in housing. Does anybody, except for the most ardent Bush-hater, blame the president for the housing downturn? Following 9/11, polls showed that Americans overwhelmingly expected another attack within six months to a year. We have not had another attack on American soil in the seven years since 9/11″
–Larry Elder
September 14th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
the only thing i can say is, good luck with your next election, america. after 8 years of GWB, the USA has become the laughing stock of the world in so many ways.. it’s not even funny anymore. believe me, NO COUNTRY on earth is taking the US seriously anymore. would you? looking from the outside?
the USA has declined to a hollow, corrupt, despotic war hungry country of idiots. and how can a country full of idiots vote for a new intelligent president? i’m afraid they wont.. goodbye USA. fix your own mess, before you come back and want “to lead the world” lol.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
netposer: on Jan 21, 2001 you got €1.07 per US$; today you get €0.70 per US$ http://www.xe.com. So, whenever you travel you are getting hit with a sizeable tax that wasn’t there. Oil was, what, about $20 a barrel when Bush took office? Now $100 or more? Yeah, our economy is healthy.
During Bush’s reign the Republicans deregulated the mortgage industry. Bush might not have had anything personally to do with that, but that’s a great example of what happens sometimes when you deregulate industries and open them up to profiteering and greed.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
“Global warming is something that’s observable. Not a religion. A religion is where you take things on “faith.” The fact that we are even calling it a debate in this country shows how far down we’ve gone.”
Well Skip pretty much summed up what I was going to say. Global Warming is a fact, it’s the causes that have made it some type of religion.
But regardless, Obama isn’t going to wave his hand and solve global warming (although his followers probably believe this), his tax positions are more horrid than any jokes they can make about Palin.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Spencer: interesting. Do you make more than $250,000 a year? I guess for those people they might look pretty horrid. But, how many more years are we going to keep spending on our credit cards?
September 14th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Sigh! Where to start?
okay, point by point
1) NOT the President’s for the Federal Govt’s problem to solve. Take this issue up with your local and state leaders. No where does the Fed Govt have authority to act in this area
2) I don’t know what this means, but if you are a Democrat I’m assuming it means taking more of my money.
3) Hey, whaddya know? A Democrat advocating a socialist agenda. Again, neither the President’s or the Fed Govt’s problem to solve (and for the umpteenth time, the “General Welfare” clause in the Constitution has absolutely noting to do with welfare as we define it today.) Again, because it’s not specifically granted to the Fed Govt, as per the 10th amendment, this is a state problem to solve. I will add and agree with what P.J. O’Rourke once wrote: “If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see how much it costs when it’s free”
4) Agreed. But the simple solution here is to enforce the laws we have on the books. But the border states and the Fed Govt are afraid to do that for fear of appearing heavy handed. If you want to come here, come here legally. Pretty simple
5) Again, not the President’s or the Federal Govt’s problem to solve. This should be done at the private sector level. One of the major problems is that most politicians don’t understand enough about the science they are trying to advocate. For example, Biden blasts the administration for not funding stem cell research by saying that doing so would reduce the number of birth defects. Nothing could be more inaccurate. But again, my Federal tax dollars are not to be spent on this type of thing. I’m not against your basic premise. I’m against the implication that the Fed Govt is on the hook to solve it. They aren’t
6) I have no idea what point you are trying to make here. Again, seems like a private sector issue to resolve. The last thing we need is another Govt entity and another cabinet officer, or any govt official. I agree there needs to be more progress made in this area, but the Fed Govt is the LAST place you want to turn to.
Robert, and your fellow Dems would do well to remember the words of Thomas Paine:
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one”
And if you Dems really want Barry to win, someone needs to sit him down and tell him he is not running against Sarah Palin. Makes me wonder who is the one lacking experience. If Barry be so easily thrown off course and intimidated, no wonder “the rest of the world” wants him to be President. I gotta believe, Putin, Amadeenajad, Kim Jong-Ill, and the like can’t wait to sit down have this dolt negotiate with them. They will quickly bat him around like a cat playing with a dead mouse.
@Cyndi: Since the nomination of Palin as VP, there are fewer Republicans on the fence than you likely think.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Hi Robert,
Awesome post, Robert. Thank you.
At a time when our economy is in the dumps, 1,000,000 Americans have lost their homes, 750,000 Americans have lost jobs (2007), and our image is so very tarnished around the world as a result of 8 years of poor foreign policy, we need so many changes to bring us back on track.
I agree, that we all need to use whatever influence we have to educate people. By changing the conversation, we have an opportunity to remind everyone of all that is at stake.
We must remind people that McCain endorsed Bush 90% of the time, and we cannot afford another four years of this. Can’t afford even a day more.
Because I am especially concerned about what is being referred to as “the silent epidemic” - high school dropouts, I will take #1, our education system, to blog about.
“Every 29 seconds another student gives up on school, resulting in more than one MILLION American students who drop out every year.” (The Silent Epidemic)
One million students. Every. Single. Year.
Imagine if we actually equipped students with modern-day skills to meet the challenges we face. Imagine if we created a school environment that engaged students and made them want to go to school to learn. Imagine — if we provided an environment that helped students deal with the the many “social stresses” that come along with being an adolescent and that also cause them to fall behind. Imagine … the national landscape and world we could live in if one million more students every year received the education they need to survive - and thrive - in Life and in society.
We need a president at this critical time who sincerely values education and is willing to “walk the talk” with concrete plans - and a commitment - to invest in teachers and education. This is the topic I will blog about.
I appreciate your post, Robert: thank you for your call to everyone to start talking about the many issues that are at stake.
Sincerely,
katrinah
P.S. For those who still need to register to vote, I believe the deadline is October 6th. This election, Obama is The Change we need. Please vote.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
@kensho:
“the only thing i can say is, good luck with your next election, america. after 8 years of GWB, the USA has become the laughing stock of the world in so many ways.. it’s not even funny anymore. believe me, NO COUNTRY on earth is taking the US seriously anymore. would you? looking from the outside?”
Actually I’m pretty sure the majority of Americans couldn’t give a crap what the rest of the world thinks of us. Yea, we are not taken seriously…. until some natural disaster occurs, genocide is happening in a country or some other evil being inflicted on people by a corrupt govt. I ask you, who does the rest of the world turn to whenever there is a crisis?
“If you can read this, thank a teacher. If’ it’s in English, thank a Soldier”
September 14th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
[...] election about, anyway? Posted in Politics, Stupidity by gecampbell on September 14th, 2008 Robert Scoble has a brilliant essay on how the Democrats can win the next election. He’s repeating, from a somewhat different point of view, the same thing that I’ve been [...]
September 14th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Well stated but I have one question: How could any thinking person be a Democrat?
September 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Yes, please let’s talk about what matters. With every smack at Palin the validity and rational discussion of Obama as President get more obscured, and a moderate voter on the fence turns away in annoyance. I can’t even have a discussion here in Tucson with some Democrat friends, they are like angry zealots. Obama must talk more to his older audience (we ain’t all 30-something urban professionals anymore). He can’t continue to alienate those who still believe in some republican values (yes, that means wanting things like businesses to profit). Broaden the conversation, engage all, or risk earning the tag of effete snob talked about years ago. Thank you.
September 14th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
If you really want Obama to win the election change the title to “My Fellow Americans”. The folks that decide the outcome have no strong political party leanings.
September 14th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Interesting post but you don’t have your facts correct. Reagan did not tell the Germans to tear down the wall. That would have been hard with the Russian guns aimed at them. President Reagan told the Russians to tear down this wall. In fact his exact words were,
“We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”
September 14th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Robert,
I completely agree with you that American politics needs to move away from political fighting and instead discuss the issues. However, none of our candidates are truly discussing the issues. Instead, both McCain and Obama discuss goals.
It is easy to discuss goals. Both Republicans and Democrats want better education for our children, better and cheaper health care, and more high paying jobs. Let’s be honest, it is so easy to say “I am for improving our education system. We need more affordable health care for all Americans. Let’s bring our jobs back home!!” But both parties want these things. Neither Republicans nor Democrats want a worse education system, poorer health care or rising unemployment. But, that is all we hear from the media, and too often Obama and McCain.
So let’s actually CHANGE the political discourse in the country. Let’s not allow our politicians and media to fool us into discussing who wants these things more. Instead, let’s focus on how each candidate, Party or political philosophy would handle each issue.
Let’s look at each of the issues you highlighted. In order to actually discuss issues intelligently, I will focus on one issue at a time. Let’s brainstorm on how to fix these problems, not fight over whether Obama or McCain is the right person to fix them. These issues are bigger than these two men. These problems are bigger than Washington. But, if Americans actually discuss the issues I am sure we can come up with the solutions and compromises needed to improve them.
1. Education. Again, let’s acknowledge that each party wants to improve the education system. The real difference is in political philosophy. What will actually make our education system better? Let’s face it, that is the real question.
I tend to be a conservative in my political leanings, but I try to always see others’ points of view. Personally, I believe that there are two big problems with education in America.
The biggest problem is that some Americans don’t value a good education. No matter how much we spend on these families, no matter how good of teachers they have, these American families will not take advantage of the resources that are already provided. This is a huge problem because there is nothing government can do to quickly fix this problem. You have to change hearts and minds of people and this can take generations.
The second biggest problem is that we can’t fire bad teachers. We all had great teachers, average teachers and bad teachers. We cannot afford to waste a year of our child’s education on a bad teacher. We must have a system that can fire bad teachers.
Despite there being no quick fixes to improve our education system, I have outline some things that I would like to see changed that would get us moving in the right direction. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and I hope that your other readers discuss my ideas and add their own.
a. Make Schools and Neighborhoods Safe - Kids can’t learn if their biggest concern is for their safety.
b. Make Education a Priority - We need our community leaders, politicians, religious leaders and families to talk about the importance of education. Show kids how they can improve their lives if they study now. Many in our society believe that they will never improve their lives and therefore quit before trying.
Education spending in this country is at an all time high, but our graduates are not getting the most out of the resources that are being spent. If we are going to spend more on education, let’s at least reevaluate what we are spending the money on.
c. Teach Our Children the Fundamentals - I believe that we are failing to teach the fundamentals to our children. Our school curriculums focus too much on “nice to knows” instead of the “must knows.” Everyone must know how to read, how to write, how to research, mathematics and science. Our curriculums must always focus on these things.
d. Get rid of Bad Teachers - It is funny because I remember my sister who is seven years older than me complaining about certain teachers who were simply not very good or unmotivated. Seven years later, I had to suffer through these same bad teachers. Why? It was not because no one knew that they weren’t any good. In fact, everyone knew that they weren’t any good. The teachers knew it, the students knew it, and the parents knew it. Sadly, I bet that those bad teachers knew that they weren’t very good too.
We cannot afford to keep paying these bad teachers. The real problem is not the money. Sure the $30,000+ salaries add up, but the real problem is that instead of learning algebra from a good teacher our kids waste a precious year of their lives trying to learn as much as they can from a bad teacher. The system needs to be able to weed these teachers out of the classroom.
If we are going to guarantee their salaries, well let them clean the parks, but don’t saddle my children by leaving them in the classroom.
This means that the Teachers Union will need to put our children first and revise the tenure system for teachers. In my opinion, tenure should not exist. I don’t have the luxury of tenure in my job and teachers shouldn’t either. Let merit determine which teachers stay in the classroom and which do not.
As stated above, these four ideas will not magically make education better. But, if they would be focused on, I believe education would be significantly improved. I hope that you can tell from this comment my passion for helping our children to learn. I am sure that my conservative leanings are evident in each of my ideas, but that is just how I approach issues. What do you think would improve our education system?
Sincerely,
Fred Peters
September 14th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I am so sad to see you drift your blog into politics. Does Seagate sponsor this post too?
September 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
[...] in his post today that was geared towards the American political scene Robert Scoble may have inadvertantly point [...]
September 14th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
[...] lately in the current discussion on politics that have take place on FriendFeed but on his most recent blog entry I agree with him on a lot of [...]
September 14th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Very interesting post, Scoble. McCain has certainly had to spin things since the campaign became out the economy instead of national security. I hope Obama can catch up to that shift.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
also, Lance Weatherby makes a great point
September 14th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
1.- For your words, I think you have more of a Republican than a Democrat.
2.- About the trilion dollar war: how about the costs of getting your buildings bombed apart? The U.S.A. has been doing the war for 100 years and it doesn’t seem it has been that bad.
3.- Being a a religious person is not being anti-science. That is cheating. Cheating is not science.
4.- Focusing only on stem cell research is not science. Remember stem cell hasn’t healed any of the illnesses we know.
5.- Blackmailing people is not science. “Let me research with stem cells or you are guilty of the unhealed illnesses” is blackmailing.
6.- Health costs? Talk to Hillary Clinton.
7.- Wacked Internet? Talk to its inventor: Al Gore
I see you are not interested in guns, the Carter-provoked-Clinton-augmented subprime crisis, energy supply or Global Colding (or was it Warming?)
Cheers!
September 14th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Agreed. Whenever someone starts in on Palin or the race, I redirect the subject back to what they can do in the moment to raise awareness and get people out to the polls. We must focus on the present moment. I share with them what I’ve done to contribute to show they can make a change through action, fundraising and voting. This year is the first time I’ve given towards a presidential primary. I’ve also staying involved with local events through the BarackObama.com website.
We have never had such an easy opportunity to participate and connect during an election. Through the use of technology, we are able to call voters (Skype), contact our neighbors (Print a list of your neighbors at my.barackobama.com) and stay in touch with volunteer opportunities through presidential websites and twitter.
I’ve been the to Holocaust musesum in NYC and I’m Jewish so I know what people before me fought for (and sacrificed). I’m taking up their cause in the moment because it’s the right thing to do…
We’re making history even if we can’t see it.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Reagan told Gorbachev - not the Germans - to tear down the wall.
Trust a democrat to get the facts wrong about Republicans.
You do know your history, I assume?
C
September 14th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I’m still voting for Mccain because he is “more” independent than Obama but you are 100% correct. Great post.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Well, I won’t get into the debate because nothing ever gets solved on the internet. (For the record, I’m a conservative.)
Bravo to you though, sir, for encouraging people to actually tell us a bit about what exactly it is they plan to do if they get elected. A person’s conduct and lifestyle is clearly going to affect the way that they govern, but at the some point, talk a little about HOW it affects your beliefs, and how you plan on making them happen. A great number of people on my side of the aisle as well as yours would benefit from adopting this method.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
( : )< Aflac!
September 14th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Obama is a radical socialist with anti-American friends, associates, confidants, religious leaders - and even his wife hates this country.
Democrats are liberals first! - everything else second.
This makes you blind to the truth.
For the majority of Democrats to get behind a 140-day senator for president of the United States, is glaring evidence that emotion is the liberal foundation - rather than facts and results.
This nation barely survived Carter, and survived Bill Clinton only because a Republican Congress gridlocked Hillary’s destruction of our nation.
Now the Democrat Party has scraped the absolute bottom of the barrel for this community agitator as presidential material. How low can you degenerates sink?
Luckily for you, the Republicans have selected another domestic socialist as their presidential candidate - giving liberals who are not stricken with Bush Derangement Syndrome - hope that the exponential growth of socialism in this nation will not be stopped regardless of which one of these losers win the White House.
I’m doing what I can to wake up voters both in my state and across the country. Both main stream parties need to be brought back to our Constitution by defeating them first.
Mike Nikitin
US Senate Candidate - MI
US Taxpayers Party / Constitution Party
“Citizens Win With Nikitin”
September 14th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Well, you’ve really gone down the dark road. Sorry to see a post about politics. If I wanted to see this kind of drivel, I’d go read Digg.
September 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
First I would like to say that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. people will bash me and say I have no proof but fail to notice evolution is a THEORY and does not have proof either. Government was never meant to be the solver of all our problems. If you think the democrats can fix America you need to sit up and pay attention! Until the people force reforms and change the way things are going you are going to get the same old broken government whether it is democrat or republican.
September 14th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I can’t wait for the election to be over. McCain/Palin may not be the best ticket to ever grace the political scene, but, Obama/Biden? Give me a break.
Obama is useless without a teleprompter, and Biden is so ultra-liberal and wasteful with taxpayer monies, that it’s laughable.
The dems messed up, here, big time. Hillary would be better than either Obama or Biden.
Get ready for McCain/Palin, embrace them, and hope that the field gets better in the future…
September 14th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Unfortunately, politics is a zero-sum game, at least for the candidates, and that’s the reason negative campaigns work. Want to debate about the proper role of government in our lives? Great - but it’s not going to happen in a presidential campaign. As soon as one candidate or the other thinks they’re slipping, all we hear about are pigs and Bill Ayers.
It would be nice to believe that an Obama presidency wouldn’t be as bad as, say, Carter’s. But he’s Not the One. I know enough about Chicago politics to know this: Obama’s just another a Chicago pol, backed by the machine, and any talk about reform is just to get him through the only really tough election he’s ever had. His words may solund different and inspiring, but his policies are the same old stuff that’s been peddled by politicians for at least the last 50 years.
Is McCain any better? I used to think so - now I’m not so sure. But real progress, true progress, isn’t going to come from the government anyway. It’s going to come from the people, the ones who get things done if they can only get their government out of the way. At least, that’s what our founding fathers believed, and I’m still naïve enough to think they were right.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Chris: Reagan was in Germany talking to Germans. I stood where he gave that talk just a few days ago. Yes, he invoked Gorbachev’s name, but he was definitely talking to Germans when he said that.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
@Jeremy,
I’m tired of theocracy and ready for rational thinking to prevail. I’m tired of candidates who equate science with mumblings found in a book written by desert dwellers in the bronze age. Apart from western clothing and an attitude, how is the Republican part any different than the Taliban?
Let’s see. Ban gays. Ban stem cell research. Dig for and burn more oil. Wage war. Aaaargh!
This is the 21st century and the country I love has become an embarrassment. Wake the hell up, will ya.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Rather, the East Germans, all the godless Commie Stasi. But being in the thick of the Cold War, Germany couldn’t do squat without Moscow.
Nicely said (in parts), but no matter, it’s game over, McCain/Palin have already won, anyone with any marketing sense can see that miles away. Maybe Obama can fire up the lawyers and go all Gore-Florida-hurricane whirlwind and try and steal it, while we have to listen to the history ignoramuses go on and on about how evil the Electoral System is.
Hey, will Microsoft make me download a 70 meg dictionary file to include Palin (and her crazy kid names) like they did for Obama? Only fair.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Great post, Robert. I’m a conservative, but I support anyone who calls on those around him to rise above what we allow ourselves to fall into as ‘the norm’. Just a thought though, you referenced a fence, presumably along the US/Mexico border. I’m happy to forgo my support of the fence if we agree to tax only Dems (or those who choose to be taxed) for the costs of managing illegal aliens who come across. I’m happy to “rise above” and offer my tax dollars to people who come to this country through the legitimate processes already available to them, but never to those who do so by breaking the law and failing to respect our country from the moment they set foot on our soil. I’m not saying those people don’t deserve a chance at success and happiness or that I wish anything other than their success and happiness. But I can’t afford to have health insurance myself…why should I have dollars taken from me to pay for health services for people whose first action as participating consumers in the US economy is to break a most basic of laws. It’s not about compassion here…it’s about common sense.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Great post! Many of us agree with you. Unfortunately, when I listen to both parties, I realize that the dudes up there are competing not for the chance to make any of the aforementioned changes. Therefore, no matter which one of them takes the office - most of these things are nto going to improve. Here is an example. Obama is going to make changes to the tax code and to immigration, but the changes that he is going to make will help people who struggle to make ends. It is a good thing to do, but he will impose more taxes on those 150K+ earning people, thus driving even more of them out of the US. He may create a sensible guest worker program, but again, it won’t be for those 150K+ jobs. McCain, on the other had, may reduce the taxes for those who are making 150K, but he will also cut funding for education and science (unless it is for military), and he will worsen the immigration policies - so, once again, those 150K+ jobs will end up somewhere else, where stem cell research is not outlawed, and where the students will be forced to go back to after getting their degrees here. So, no matter whether you are a democrat or a republican, if you want the things that you wrote about to happen, your best shot is to start working on campaign 2012.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
docluv, you are right that these things align with conservative values. Unfortunately, McCain and Palin have nothing to do with…. well, “values” at all, let alone “conservative”. The say what they are told to say now and they will do what they will be told to do by the people who give them money.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
[...] Politics I read this and thought it pretty much summed up why this election is losing my interest. When it first [...]
September 14th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
All that said, I’ll vote for Obama hoping that he will prosecute current administration, take the money they have pocketed through the war and spend it on what it should have been spent.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
inspiring post. :) i don’t usually read your blog, but hubby told me to chk it out today. glad i did.
i’ve been trying to figure out what i should write about re: the election and with this post you’ve helped me narrow it down. thanks!
September 14th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Robert, I know you like to take part in events and lines, but for the rest of us showing up to the polls on November 2 when the election will be held on November 4 is not a good use of our time.
Make sure you call people to action on the right day. November 4th everyone.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:22 am
(I’m a Republican.)
Thanks for this Scoble! A call to take things seriously. If people heed this call, not only will they make the America better but it’ll also raise the quality of BOTH parties.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Robert, as I stated in my previous post, your own candidates admit the are not the right choice for the country.
http://twurl.nl/h51657
and
http://twurl.nl/2xj8jw
and last but not least:
http://twurl.nl/ezgmeo
This is your own candidates and your party speaking.
Hard to beat your own facts.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:08 am
I seem to be in the minority here… I’m a true Independent who actually votes for what I perceive to be the candidates policies. I take the time to look at their record and compare it to their retoric to see if they actually do what they say/said they will do… It makes absolutely no difference to me what party they belong to.
Except for a couple of matters I won’t waste your time or mine giving my opinions on all the important the issues raised here.
I believe the FEDERAL government should be involved in ONLY those things authorized in the Constitution… Nothing Else… Nada.
If you’re not familiar with exactly what is allowed in the Constitution, I would suggest you take a few minutes to read it over several times… Especially if you are going to vote in the upcoming election… While you’re at it give a quick read of the Bill Of Rights. I believe anyone who votes without a good understanding of what is contained in these documents is doing a disservice to their country.
While you are reading these documents keep asking the question: “Is what I want from my government even covered here”? If it isn’t, maybe you should do some more thinking before you cast your vote.
When you are listening to your favorite candidate speak, tune in carefully… Ask the ol’ “Who, What Where, When, Why and How” questions… Get the DETAILS, Not the DREAMS…!!! Much, if not Most, of what I’ve heard cannot and will not come to fruition for one reason or another.
Here’s a tidbit to chew on: Both sides lie…!!! And both sides know they lie…!!! If they told the truth you would never vote for them… If one of them told you the tough measures that really have to be taken to save Social Security, Medicare and Medicade you’d run them outa town on a rail… If they told you how globalization is really going to affect the lower and middleclass lifestyle you’d shout em down… Bad News/Truth will not get them elected, so you get the “opposite”.
Now this next comment is just my opinion, but I come to it honestly… I have owned my own business for almost three decades, and I can honestly say that everytime my taxes were raised or the minimum wage went up I immediately raised the price of my products/services to the consumer… In essence, the customers paid for those raises… Oh, by the way, that’s what all business’s do if they want to stay in business… They pass this cost on to the consumers… YOU… It’s just basic math.
The bitter pill for you is to know that both sides know who is going to pay… And pay… And Pay… They both it’s never the businesman or woman… They both know it’s you, the public.
So when you hear either side telling you their new tax strategy or any of their “feel good” ideas; listen to them with an open mind (but not so open your brain falls out)… Use Your Common Sense…!!!
Well, I’ve rattled on longer than I anticipated… Remember: Use that lump sitting on your shoulders to think things through, and Don’t swallow the BS without holdin’ your sniffer…!!!
September 15th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Oh, politics. I know there couldn’t be a perfect person for the office but I do know that given the opportunities and the length of stay of an incumbent, it just makes sense to try another option given the unflattering rating the outgoing administration has gotten. Or was it all just mirage?
Strange.
best.
alain
September 15th, 2008 at 2:57 am
Education, taxation, healthcare and immigration policy certainly all need work. Others have already pointed out that the Democrats are on the NEA’s side in opposing education reform and are unlikely to cut healthcare costs or taxation. The real problem with immigration seems to me to be that it’s too easy to get in illegally and too hard to do so legally: you don’t start up successful software companies by sneaking across the border at night with fake papers, but you certainly can work as a cleaner that way.
What the first line misses, though, is that these aren’t Democrat issues (or indeed ones Democrats tend to be willing to address effectively), they are issues which affect *everyone*. Scoble, you have your priorities backwards here: you seem to be aiming to use these issues as a platform for one side to win one election, rather than actually trying to get the issues resolved as a goal in itself. Ask yourself, if you were offered progress in these issues along with a Republican victory, or a Democrat victory without making progress, which would you choose? I want the former - but right now, your post reads as if you’d prefer the latter.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Robert,
I’m not sure what troubles me more, your fellow liberals thanking you for speaking your mind, or you calling for a Marxist (Obama) to build a better world. For you to address this post to your fellow Democrats, that was a slap in the face to readers who might actually know a thing or two about politics. Our next President should be concerned about building a better America. Fellow Americans should want to a strong, energy-independent nation. For you left-wing “global citizen” types, you’re always more concerned about what other countries think of America than your fellow citizens. Unfortunately, you don’t have the guts to leave America.
Proof that liberals are socialists: Conservatives are never afraid to speak their mind and say something against their own party. When do liberals ever speak out against a Democrat? Answer: Never. As a matter of fact, you usually have nice things to say about Chavez, Ahmadinejad, or some other lunatic.
What’s with the magic number $150,000. You mention this number 4 times in your post. REALITY CHECK: Most Americans aren’t making $150,000. Education: If the education stinks, blame it on liberals who control most of America’s re-education. The whiny CEOs telling you there are better graduates coming out of other countries seem anti-American to me. They would probably like to out-source our Presidency as well. Maybe we should elect our next President from Iran to show how compassionate we are.
You obviously don’t understand our immigration problem. Our best workers and ideas always came form people from other countries??? If that’s not an anti-American statement, I don’t know what is. Americans who love our nation and grasp the immigration problem know all of the problems associated with “illegal immigration”. All the problems you’re mentioning with education, healthcare, taxation can be tied to illegal immigration.
Liberals only deal with their emotions and not the facts. The Democratic Party has focused on preserving the license to kill the unborn rather than preserving life. The party of immorality, which is why Hollywood embraces your party. Do me a favor and stick to your soft-ball interviews….
September 15th, 2008 at 5:25 am
from an Australian perspective, I’d just say that the world can’t afford another 4 years of Republican’s in the White House. The world needs healing, nut hunting. I believe that Obama is the man who can begin that healing. You’ve got to mobilize and unite Democrat voters behind him.
Scoble is right, politics of mud slinging doesn’t move things forward, you just stay stuck in the mud. Whichever nominee stands up and leads, will win.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:25 am
Yes!!! This is what I was waiting to hear. I was pretty discouraged when I thought you had already given up Robert. I’m a mother (and closet geek) from Quebec. I don’t get a say in your elections but the outcome will have an impact on every living thing on this planet. It’s incredibly frustrating for me to watch the Presidential campaign by the sidelines knowing I can’t get in there and help out. But I’m rooting for you Dems! We all are. Thanks for having the courage to speak up Robert. Peace to you and yours!
September 15th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Robert - i’m with you 100%, except I hope you decide to come out and vote on November 4th, not 2nd!
September 15th, 2008 at 5:47 am
[...] tech blogger Robert Scoble takes a break from tech to ask fellow Democrats to do everything they can to elect Obama. Scoble travels widely, talks with CEOs worldwide, and is appalled at the [...]
September 15th, 2008 at 6:35 am
ABetterAmerica: I didn’t say “all” ideas come from immigrants. But, now that you say it, aren’t we all immigrants here unless you are a Native American? So, what’s unAmerican about THAT?
What’s up with my $150,000 figure? That’s what a lot of R&D workers get paid. That’s the new middle class. That’s what you need to make in Silicon Valley, New York, or many other big cities to have a decent life. And, those jobs are where the future is, so if we let those R&D jobs go overseas THAT will be truly “anti-American.”
As for Democrats attacking Democrats. Hmmm, I’ve seen lots of self-questioning behavior on people of both sides. And I’m not following a book that tells me what to believe, so I’m willing to look at the evidence and change my mind.
Don: I used the word “Democrats” for a very specific reason. Their focus on Palin is losing the election and I wanted them to wake up.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Robert
You nailed it! Love this post.
Visitors
Listen to Robert he is right!
September 15th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Wow, So Mcain/Pallin are leading in the polls because they have re imaged themselves? Not because they offer something that Obama doesn’t or can’t. Sounds like typical media bias. But at least you come right out
and state who you want to win and not try to frame yourself as unbiased.
If Obama is not leading, its probably because of Obama. He has the media backing him and trying to elect him. Look at the interview with Stephanapolus versus Pallin’s interview with Gibson on the same network. There was a clear attack on Pallin versus the love fest and assisting with Stephanapolus.
Looking at the Obama economic plan vs the Mcain, Mcain wants business’ to
grow versus Obama wanting to create more gov’t jobs. HUH? I saw this on CNN!!!
Gov’t jobs? Obama wants to take us back to the 1930’s with his economic plan.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Why does no one bring up the point that the Democrats have controlled congress for four years and have done nothing? All those issues mentioned can be addressed via policy by the current majority power in congress. They can hold the feet of the president to the fire. They don’t.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Robert, there is debate over global warming - didn’t the scientists that supported Kyoto in Canada backtrack on it upon further review? hasn’t the president of the weather channel has called it a scam? There’s also the petitionproject that has over 31K scientists signing it? Hasn’t the temperature on Mars have the same kind of rise and fall as Earth? Is that all the Martians driving Hummers? BTW if you truly believe this why haven’t you traded in the BMW for the Smart Car?
September 15th, 2008 at 7:58 am
And finally.. we are in the final days of the republic. Enjoy while you can.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I am that immigrant with decent education being affected by US’s strange attitude toward well educated immigrants. I got into MIT and finished my bachelor in Computer Science a few years ago. And I am now working at a pretty decent giant company (not in the bay area but headquartered in the bay area) that treats me well.
But I’m looking for a small start up to join (since I believe the time to take risks is now — when I am 26, not when I am 45 with kids) and it’s much harder to find a quality start up that can sponsor H1 visa. They typically don’t have the money or the legal experience to deal with it. Due to visa issues, many tend to shy away from a candidate they would love to have otherwise.
On the other hand, my parents won this lottery program called Diversity Visa. http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html
That program gives out green cards to any random person who applied, regardless of age or education. My parents barely speak English and they are over retirement age and not physically fit. They are now in US, not working and on Medicaid.
So make your own conclusions from this very ironic story within one family. I, an MIT graduate, who already paid more than 100K in taxes in the last 3 years, can’t get a green card unless I stay at a giant corporate for multiple years and pay several thousand dollars in legal fees. My parents with not much ability to contribute to the economy got green cards the minute their flight landed in US.
I am sure Republicans think that’s a great idea.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:12 am
The best thing that could have happened for this country in this election would have been for Obama to have accepted McCain’s call for weekly townhall meetings with the two of them back in June. But Obama was leading at the time and only agreed to have one, that one to be held the night of July 4th when the country is out watching fireworks.
It would still be good if they would start doing those from now until the election.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:12 am
The last thing our country needs is another four years of Congress and the White House being controlled by the same party. I’d rather have a mixed party gridlock than let a single party (on either side) ram through all of its extreme views unopposed.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Thank you, Robert, for making such an important call to action.
Too often we the media regurgitate distractions and drama. We get away from our mission to inform the public and chase the traffic.
We blame it on the public: They’re the ones reading it! The public blames it on the campaigns: They’re the ones starting it! And the campaigns blame it on the media: They’re the ones writing it!
Someone needs to break this cycle. Every iteration is an embarrassment to America. We can do better.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Great post Robert.
I’m not a Democrat - but I think you hit the nail on the head 100%…
When an election devolves to a mud-slinging war, no one votes on the ideas or ideals.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Robert -
Completely agree with your call-to-arms. And the challenge will be whether Obama can bring this back to the *vision* of the future, or the moderators will keep it grounded in the minutia of the gutter.
The difficulty lies in the fear of the front-runner and the Democrats belief in being correct - which everyone else will see.
On thing I would like to see is the discussion on his policies - not a website of posts and PDFs, but a collaborative, community-managed wiki that allows true discourse on the issues on how the issues are good and/or bad. Instead of soundbites - give us reasoned (by the crowd) analysis. Then POINT US TO IT. Stop speaking platitudes without engagement. And put some of the influencers there - not just campaign-approved, but true multi-partisan leaders that can reason this