The new Conservativism and why it fails.

This article got me thinking about conservatives and the Republican party in general and my own dissatisfaction with their current policies.

Many Americans are fiscally conservative and socially liberal and not well represented by the conservatives in the Republican party now. I like many believe in a solid national defence (Guns/Roads/Bombs).

Like many I am in favour of spending on transportation (and communications) in general, and opposed to almost all other non-defence spending.* I am opposed to legislating morality, and ignoring the benefits of shared spending on infrastructure. I am also mindful of inequalities in wealth and justice due to financial inequalities and support policies that tend to distribute wealth evenly across generations. I also believe in holding those responsible for harming the republic to account. The Republicans presently do a poor job at all of this.

* Defence regarded as the safety of the republic taken broadly - this includes food defence, defence against dangerous products or pollution, defence against wasting money on foreign oil (MPG standards), defence against falling behind in science and technology, etc.

And Obama got the bad guy, so he gets my vote in the next election. Simple as that.

Blizzard and Gold Farming Prisoner Abuse

Chinese prisoners are allegedly being forced to work long hours earning money for prison administrators in China by illegally playing Blizzard's World of Warcraft MMO. I am distressed to hear about the many recent negative stories with regards to alleged prisoner abuse. I would like to hear Blizzards side of the story.

Q1: There have been several reports in the press and elsewhere that Chinese prisoners have been forced to play games to earn money despite Blizzard's official policy against gold farming. What steps is Blizzard taking to prevent prisoner abuse?

Q2: The current Warcraft(tm) gold farming policy has been in place for some time. Given the apparently large scale size of the underground economy and ongoing abuses is Blizzard going to be taking additional steps to prevent criminal activity using Blizzard systems?

Q3: Can Blizzard comment on the pending litigation the company may be facing as a result of the reported criminal activities?

Q4: Is Blizzard working currently with US or Chinese law enforcement investigation of the alleged illegal activities?

Q5: Do you have any other statement for the public regarding these alleged incidents?

The world wonders...
-Let's Declare Shenanigans

We got Bin Laden! Hurrah! Now what?

Should the USA continue to give aid to Pakistan?
Should the USA align with India?
Should the USA leave Afghanistan, declaring victory, only leaving behind trainers co-ordinators and some CIA and military security?
Should we go after Mullah Omar?
How does this affect our relationship with Russia, China and India?
Should the US revisit it's internal national security arrangements?
Should the navy seals be given a ticker tape parade through the streets of New York city?

There is much to think about and discuss.
It seems clear that the Pakistani ISI got caught red handed with it's paws in the cookie jar.

Libya Freedom Slavery the UN and US Obligations

The people who do not want the US or the world to become involved in Libya burn me up. A typical comment: The issue is that it is a Libyan problem. Another: I agree... The United States should no longer involve itself in these internal fights in the middle east or anywhere else. We are not the World Police Force, World Court of Justice or World Welfare Provider.

This situation is EXACTLY like slave labour making cotton. Britain didn't have slaves a century and a half ago but she bought cotton from the USA which did. When a civil war broke out she and other European powers dithered and ended up supporting the union against their own immediate self interest. THANK GOD. Can we do less?

We have a responsibility to support freedom loving people all over the world. Both a UN resolution and the Arab League have asked the entire world to do so. We are a member of the UN and have international as well as moral obligations. We are the leader of the free world and the leading democratic power on earth and we have an obligation not to follow only our own narrow interests.

I want there to be a peaceful and just world order enforced by every means humanity can bring to bear. Right now that is the UN as led by the USA, France, Britain and the rest of the EU as the closest regional powers with the ability to project force.

Oil makes the world order run and as part of that order you have an OBLIGATION to oversee EXACTLY how it is produced and who profits from it's sale. To deny that is to try to absolve yourselves of the crimes of the producers while profiting from the abuse.

Like Pontius Pilate washing his hands of the blood of Jesus while allowing the Pharassies to kill him and profit thereby, you would have the world stand idly by as hope and change are crushed underfoot while you continue your own pleasant existence.

Steve Jobs - Thank You

Steve Jobs is apparently very ill. That makes me sad. His company and it's products performed valuable services showing what computing could be like if the usability and user experience was considered carefully. Though not the cheapest or fastest, good well designed sleek products that meet consumers needs were the hallmark of his companies. It let us see that the bright happy shiny future we were were expecting was possible, if only we worked hard for it.

I want to say thank you Mr. Jobs. Your life has made a big difference to humanity.

Dear Time Warner

Dear Time Warner:

I want to protest your use if the Intel insider technology. I resent you using it and will not buy your products till you stop.

Please don't screw consumers. Fair use if part of the law. Follow the law.