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Robert M.
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2 years ago
in Your input on Brave New Films’ future projects on Brave New Films
The one thing I'd like to see forced into the arena of public debate is ELECTION REFORM.
Not much is being done about this; at least I haven't heard or read anything about Congress acting on this vital issue. And why would we? The next election isn't until 2008. What I expect is that during the Spring of 2008 some politicians will begin making some noise about pushing for election reform -- just in time to avoid doing anything until after the 2008 election.
If American is to continue being a "democracy" this issue MUST be taken seriously, and it is the People who must get out and LEAD before any real reforms will be instituted. So, I think a continuous, slow-buring campaign directed at specific politicians to get them motivated to push for reform now, or explain why they oppose Election Reform on the record.
Next on my list of two items is the growing menace posed by private, para-military companies. Blackwater has a large training complex in North Carolina. Recently it has established a second complex in Illinois, and I just heard about a third complex slated for California.
These people are getting their foothold in the door right now. There is time to stop them if we act quickly. But the idea of a private army organized on a nationwide basis is a frightening thought. It brings to mind the activity of graduates from the School of the Americas operating in Central and South America, and the thousands of civilians who "disappeared."
There is an unratified U.N. Convention on Mercenaries that prohibits hiring, training and funding the activities of mercenaries. Wouldn't it be nice to see Blackwater go out of business because the U.S. finally ratified the Convention that dates back to the 1980's?
Not much is being done about this; at least I haven't heard or read anything about Congress acting on this vital issue. And why would we? The next election isn't until 2008. What I expect is that during the Spring of 2008 some politicians will begin making some noise about pushing for election reform -- just in time to avoid doing anything until after the 2008 election.
If American is to continue being a "democracy" this issue MUST be taken seriously, and it is the People who must get out and LEAD before any real reforms will be instituted. So, I think a continuous, slow-buring campaign directed at specific politicians to get them motivated to push for reform now, or explain why they oppose Election Reform on the record.
Next on my list of two items is the growing menace posed by private, para-military companies. Blackwater has a large training complex in North Carolina. Recently it has established a second complex in Illinois, and I just heard about a third complex slated for California.
These people are getting their foothold in the door right now. There is time to stop them if we act quickly. But the idea of a private army organized on a nationwide basis is a frightening thought. It brings to mind the activity of graduates from the School of the Americas operating in Central and South America, and the thousands of civilians who "disappeared."
There is an unratified U.N. Convention on Mercenaries that prohibits hiring, training and funding the activities of mercenaries. Wouldn't it be nice to see Blackwater go out of business because the U.S. finally ratified the Convention that dates back to the 1980's?
3 years ago
in Academics vs. Wikipedia on danielmiessler.com | grep understanding
It's understandable that educational institutions would be threatened by the explosion of indexed information available to the average person on the internet. They don't want to go out of business, and in America, education is a VERY profitable business.
One legititmate argument academics might make is that there is so much false information available.
There are two additional arguments that need to be considered. First, with the consolidation of electronic and print media, the internet has the ability to play a key role in keeping democracy alive. Witness the role of bloggers in uncovering abuses and propaganda our local, state and federal government officials are involved in.
Second, involves the issue of information itself. Universities are paid to propagate certain lines of theory and academic inquiry. Take, for example, allopathic medicine. At the turn of the century drug and chemical corporations began pumping funds into medical training institutions. Over time, other forms of medical practice which offer legitimate treatment regimens were pushed to the side. In this manner drug companies were able to shape the curriculum and have turned the majority of doctors practicing Western medicine into pill pushers for the drug manufacturers.
Another example involves archeology. There is a conservative attitude among archeologists that automatically rejects any information that contradicts established theory. In his work "Forbidden Archeology" Michael Cremo has documented hundreds of cases where archeologists cover up or try to discredit out-of-hand evidence that has been uncovered showing intelligent, human activity from millions of years in earth's past. Robert Schoch in "Voices of the Rocks" shows the age of the Sphynx in Egypt is perhaps 10,000 - 20,000 years older than archeologists are willing to consider.
Universities act as gatekeepers to legitimacy. All gatekeepers have the ability to something out, and something else in. The internet makes it difficult for those who exercise control over society to do so by keeping information in.
One legititmate argument academics might make is that there is so much false information available.
There are two additional arguments that need to be considered. First, with the consolidation of electronic and print media, the internet has the ability to play a key role in keeping democracy alive. Witness the role of bloggers in uncovering abuses and propaganda our local, state and federal government officials are involved in.
Second, involves the issue of information itself. Universities are paid to propagate certain lines of theory and academic inquiry. Take, for example, allopathic medicine. At the turn of the century drug and chemical corporations began pumping funds into medical training institutions. Over time, other forms of medical practice which offer legitimate treatment regimens were pushed to the side. In this manner drug companies were able to shape the curriculum and have turned the majority of doctors practicing Western medicine into pill pushers for the drug manufacturers.
Another example involves archeology. There is a conservative attitude among archeologists that automatically rejects any information that contradicts established theory. In his work "Forbidden Archeology" Michael Cremo has documented hundreds of cases where archeologists cover up or try to discredit out-of-hand evidence that has been uncovered showing intelligent, human activity from millions of years in earth's past. Robert Schoch in "Voices of the Rocks" shows the age of the Sphynx in Egypt is perhaps 10,000 - 20,000 years older than archeologists are willing to consider.
Universities act as gatekeepers to legitimacy. All gatekeepers have the ability to something out, and something else in. The internet makes it difficult for those who exercise control over society to do so by keeping information in.
3 years ago
in Academics vs. Wikipedia on dmiessler.com | grep understanding
It's understandable that educational institutions would be threatened by the explosion of indexed information available to the average person on the internet. They don't want to go out of business, and in America, education is a VERY profitable business.
One legititmate argument academics might make is that there is so much false information available.
There are two additional arguments that need to be considered. First, with the consolidation of electronic and print media, the internet has the ability to play a key role in keeping democracy alive. Witness the role of bloggers in uncovering abuses and propaganda our local, state and federal government officials are involved in.
Second, involves the issue of information itself. Universities are paid to propagate certain lines of theory and academic inquiry. Take, for example, allopathic medicine. At the turn of the century drug and chemical corporations began pumping funds into medical training institutions. Over time, other forms of medical practice which offer legitimate treatment regimens were pushed to the side. In this manner drug companies were able to shape the curriculum and have turned the majority of doctors practicing Western medicine into pill pushers for the drug manufacturers.
Another example involves archeology. There is a conservative attitude among archeologists that automatically rejects any information that contradicts established theory. In his work "Forbidden Archeology" Michael Cremo has documented hundreds of cases where archeologists cover up or try to discredit out-of-hand evidence that has been uncovered showing intelligent, human activity from millions of years in earth's past. Robert Schoch in "Voices of the Rocks" shows the age of the Sphynx in Egypt is perhaps 10,000 - 20,000 years older than archeologists are willing to consider.
Universities act as gatekeepers to legitimacy. All gatekeepers have the ability to something out, and something else in. The internet makes it difficult for those who exercise control over society to do so by keeping information in.
One legititmate argument academics might make is that there is so much false information available.
There are two additional arguments that need to be considered. First, with the consolidation of electronic and print media, the internet has the ability to play a key role in keeping democracy alive. Witness the role of bloggers in uncovering abuses and propaganda our local, state and federal government officials are involved in.
Second, involves the issue of information itself. Universities are paid to propagate certain lines of theory and academic inquiry. Take, for example, allopathic medicine. At the turn of the century drug and chemical corporations began pumping funds into medical training institutions. Over time, other forms of medical practice which offer legitimate treatment regimens were pushed to the side. In this manner drug companies were able to shape the curriculum and have turned the majority of doctors practicing Western medicine into pill pushers for the drug manufacturers.
Another example involves archeology. There is a conservative attitude among archeologists that automatically rejects any information that contradicts established theory. In his work "Forbidden Archeology" Michael Cremo has documented hundreds of cases where archeologists cover up or try to discredit out-of-hand evidence that has been uncovered showing intelligent, human activity from millions of years in earth's past. Robert Schoch in "Voices of the Rocks" shows the age of the Sphynx in Egypt is perhaps 10,000 - 20,000 years older than archeologists are willing to consider.
Universities act as gatekeepers to legitimacy. All gatekeepers have the ability to something out, and something else in. The internet makes it difficult for those who exercise control over society to do so by keeping information in.
