Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Change The Future

One of the most important prizes awarded to any US President is the right to shape the future. If you pass laws, the next president can change them. If they create alliances, the next administration can violate them. But, in the area of the US Supreme Court you can make appointments to the bench that will affect the next 20 years of history. If you feel strongly about a candidate for president you must vote or not complain about the things that happen to you and your country over the next couple of decades.

Robert Cohan writes about the future and the past and the relationship between the president of the United States and what the court decides this country will do. Its good to remind ourselves that our participation in this democracy does make a difference.

Monday, September 27, 2004

Big And Few

Ownership of electronic media, radio and TV, has been concentrated over the past decade. Because of the possibility of great profits, corporations have invested huge amounts of money. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has allowed increasing concentration of electronic media ownership and the Chairman of the FCC, Michael K. Powell, continues to push for greater ownership concentration. That concentration (at the bottom of this link) has a chilling affect on most who see the ownership expressed graphically. The implications are clear.

If a few wanted to swing the opinions, or votes of many, what would it take for America to head in the direction desired by the big and few that own much of the electronic media. Its worth considering. What should happen? There should be open consideration of our condition and debate about what is good for America as well as what is good for those investing in America. We need to know what Bush and Kerry think about this situation. Then we might have a clearer idea of what to do with our vote.

Monday, September 13, 2004

What Competition?

I have "conservative" friends who are constantly touting the great blessing we have in the United States of competition for our dollars. I have increasingly wondered where the competition was that they were talking about. I do see competition for market share. I don't see innovation and serious competition of product or ideas until every last cent has been squeezed from the earlier research and development. So, other parts of the earth have products which are years ahead of us in the United States. They have services that are fast and useful, such as broadband. Recently Wired News shared a bit of info with us that further confuses me when it comes to the current definition of competition.