The Military Industrial Complex has us by the balls. Even though the rest of the country is reeling from the recession, military spending keeps on going. We now spend more on defense than the rest of the WORLD does. Why are we so paranoid? Who is after us?
We could easily cut our defense spending in half and perhaps save our teetering economy. We have no need to be spread all over the world like some old-time imperial power. We could close bases in other countries, cut back on mammoth projects designed to fight the nonexistent USSR, and start using soft power instead of destructive wars.
http://caps.fool.com/Blogs/how-not-to-save-money/413647
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Some challenges to the Wisdom of Crowds
Two books to get you started on the idea that groups of otherwise unconnected people can accomplish amazing things: Clay Shirky's Here Comes Everybody, and J. Surowiecki's The Wisdom of Crowds. As a quick example, the computer language Linux was essentially written by programmers who didn't even necessarily know each other, but contributed as much and as often as they desired to create a part of the whole.
So "crowdsourcing" is becoming a cool idea. Have a problem? Post about it on an appropriate web site, and let the vast masses out there offer solutions. Often times, you'll get a pretty good result.
This can go overboard though. As an example, when Allen Greenspan was head of the Federal Reserve, he deferred to "the Market" as being smarter than he was. He thought that there should be little regulation of the Market because the communal mindset was always smarter than any other input. Well, we know how that worked out.
Another problem is that a crowd is not a collection of people who mind-meld and then become a smarter unit. Instead, crowds often turn into mobs, or unthinking masses that follow one another over the edge.
What this shows is that yes, the crowd can create amazing things like Linux. And yes, the crowd can turn ugly and instead destroy things. Basic rules and boundaries are required. The group Anonymous, for example, took on the Church of Scientology. At first they just randomly did things to annoy the church. But then they decided on a few basic ground rules; nothing illegal, protest monthly, wear masks to keep anonymity, etc. With these basic rules, people who never knew each other magically began effective protests and actions against Scientology that have continued for 2 years now.
So yes, I believe in the Wisdom of Crowds. But only if there are rational basic rules laid down for the action that is proposed.
So "crowdsourcing" is becoming a cool idea. Have a problem? Post about it on an appropriate web site, and let the vast masses out there offer solutions. Often times, you'll get a pretty good result.
This can go overboard though. As an example, when Allen Greenspan was head of the Federal Reserve, he deferred to "the Market" as being smarter than he was. He thought that there should be little regulation of the Market because the communal mindset was always smarter than any other input. Well, we know how that worked out.
Another problem is that a crowd is not a collection of people who mind-meld and then become a smarter unit. Instead, crowds often turn into mobs, or unthinking masses that follow one another over the edge.
What this shows is that yes, the crowd can create amazing things like Linux. And yes, the crowd can turn ugly and instead destroy things. Basic rules and boundaries are required. The group Anonymous, for example, took on the Church of Scientology. At first they just randomly did things to annoy the church. But then they decided on a few basic ground rules; nothing illegal, protest monthly, wear masks to keep anonymity, etc. With these basic rules, people who never knew each other magically began effective protests and actions against Scientology that have continued for 2 years now.
So yes, I believe in the Wisdom of Crowds. But only if there are rational basic rules laid down for the action that is proposed.
Monday, March 1, 2010
the best explanation EVER for health care reform
http://www.visualeconomics.com/healthcare-costs-around-the-world_2010-03-01/
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
thousands rally for health care reform; media misses it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifoo/sets/72157623493792126/
Universal health care will solve most of the healthcare issues. Insurance companies are already raising prices over 30% annually, 30 million Americans are without coverage, and yet people still fight against health care reform?
Universal health care will solve most of the healthcare issues. Insurance companies are already raising prices over 30% annually, 30 million Americans are without coverage, and yet people still fight against health care reform?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Robin Hood Tax?
http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/
A simple, intriguing idea. The banks get kid glove treatment from our government, so asking them to give a little back is not outrageous.
A simple, intriguing idea. The banks get kid glove treatment from our government, so asking them to give a little back is not outrageous.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
what if we started a Peace Department?
Sure, I'm not the originator of this idea. But the SS Comfort sitting off Haiti got me thinking once again. What if our Navy fleet was mostly hospital ships and freighters carrying water and food? I mean, there's hardly any military in the world that can get close to coming against us. Can't we slice off, say, 20% of the military's budget and use it to prepare to help the next country that has an earthquake, tsunami or whatever?
Imagine us as a country known for helping people, with no recompense. Who would care to attack us?
Imagine us as a country known for helping people, with no recompense. Who would care to attack us?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Move your money to a community bank!
http://moveyourmoney.info/
A movement is rapidly growing to give up on the banks that are Too Big to Fail, and turning to community banks, where service and accountability still exist. I wholeheartedly agree with this idea. We can vote with our money for which type of banking system we get; one run by fat cats who only care about their bonuses, or local people who care about service and the local community. It's an easy choice.
A movement is rapidly growing to give up on the banks that are Too Big to Fail, and turning to community banks, where service and accountability still exist. I wholeheartedly agree with this idea. We can vote with our money for which type of banking system we get; one run by fat cats who only care about their bonuses, or local people who care about service and the local community. It's an easy choice.
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