January
9
2010
Today I had the great pleasure of having this blog hacked. Talk about something that will scare you to death. Fortunately, my assailants were relatively benevolent, and didn’t destroy everything I’ve worked so hard to build. All things considered, I’m actually pretty grateful that things didn’t turn out much, much worse.
Regrettably, it appears that the hackers may have cracked my website using the previous theme – one that I enjoyed using very much. Nevertheless, this new theme doesn’t look too bad; the more I fiddle around with it, the more I like it (feel free to share your opinions with me).
The real heroes of the day are the tech support guys over at hostmonster.com. I can’t say enough good things about these people. They helped me get back into my site (the hackers had done a nice job of changing my login settings) and restored most of my blog’s content. Seriously – if you are looking for a hosting solution for your website or blog, they are the first place you should go!
Moving on – it’s been a little while since I’ve been actively posting, largely due to the craziness of a new job and a new baby on the way (thank you, thank you). I hope to remedy this soon with a flurry of new political commentary, entertainment reviews, and random musings. For those who have continued to follow this website, I thank you for your attention. It’s good to still be here.
June
5
2009
I read an article in Newsweek about a recent congressional hearing on the economy where Ben Bernake offered a strong warning against uncontrolled deficit spending. While Bernake is a controversial figure (many question his competence as Fed chairman), Democrats should heed his words and prepare for a coming storm if they fail to exercise greater restraint with our national budget.
There is a strong possibility that trillion dollar deficits could become a liability for the Democrats in much the same way that Iraq became a liability for Republicans. When the Iraq War began, most of the country – including several prominent Democratic politicians – actually supported it. And yet, only a year or so later people began questioning the necessity of the war. As the war dragged on, and the cost in money and lives continued to escalate, Iraq became an albatross from which the Republicans could not escape. The Iraq War is now considered a blunder by many Americans, and is largely responsible for the devastating defeats the G.O.P. has suffered in recent elections.
Similarly, America has largely supported President Obama’s initial push for widespread government intervention in the current economic crisis. During times of emergency, people demand action. And yet, optimistic projections suggest the economy is set to rebound later this year. As the economy improves, and the trillion-dollar annul budget deficits continue, questions will inevitably begin to arise about whether all this spending was truly necessary.
With something as complex as the economy, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the precise cause of an upturn or a downturn. People still debate whether it was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” or World Wars II that got us through the Great Depression. While media pundits and political ideologues from both the left and the right are happy to give very loud opinions on this question, most of the true economists I know simply shrug their shoulders in response. Bottom line: it will likely be impossible to determine what effect, if any, deficit spending will have on economic improvement.
Republicans have long endeavored to paint the Democratic Party as the “tax-and-spend” party. Despite President Clinton’s success in balancing the budget, Republicans have warned that if Democrats are in power deficits will skyrocket. It is true that recent large budget deficits began during George W. Bush’s administration – a fact to which Democrats will happily point during these debates. But the projected deficits of the Obama Administration will vastly eclipse those of his predecessor. As time passes, Democrats will find it increasingly difficult to fault George W. Bush for all of our current problems. Just as Republican attempts to use 9/11 to justify their policies have become hollow and ineffective, so too will efforts by Democrats to permanently blame Bush.
Democrats can expect to take some serious fire in 2010 and 2012 from Republicans on the issue of deficit spending. While recent Republican attacks against Democrats have had little impact, there’s a good chance that national concern in the future with the deficit will increase their potency. Democrats would do well to start preparing for those debates now, or the Republicans will emerge as a strong “underdog” opposition to the reckless spending of the Democratic establishment. The collective memory of this country is notoriously short, and like the Iraq War people will quickly forget their initial support of government intervention if they feel it has gone too far.
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May
28
2009
Last night I had the chance to go see Terminator: Salvation. This movie has received mixed reviews from critics, but overall I quite enjoyed it. It was filled with stunning action sequences and a lot of nostalgic throwbacks to the original Terminator movie. It was exciting to see the way this movie paid homage to its roots, culminating in a memorable appearance near the end (which I won’t spoil in this review).
For those who have had their head under a rock, the Terminator movies occur in a world where a malevolent computer intelligence – Skynet – has triggered a massive nuclear apocalypse and wiped out most of the human race. To clean up the remaining human survivors Skynet begins building killer humanoid robots called “terminators”. These robots murder any humans they find without pity or remorse.
Although things look bleak in this future, one man rises up to lead a human resistance against the machines. His name is John Conner. Under his leadership, humanity fights back and begins to win the war. In all the pervious Terminator movies, Skynet decides to send terminators back in time to kill John Conner before he can become a great general. In the first movie, a terminator actually goes back in time to kill John’s mother (Sarah) before he is even born. Although terminators come from the future, the setting for these movies is usually the present day (or close to it) where John and/or Sarah must flee for their lives while being chased by a killer cyborg.
Terminator: Salvation ditches the traditional formula and actually takes place in the near future after the war between humans and machines has already begun. John is starting to step into his role as a great resistance leader, and terminators are roaming the land in search of humans to kill. The visuals in this movie are truly breathtaking, and beautifully render a convincing post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Some critics have pointed to the obvious time-travel and causality plot holes that abound in this movie, as well as the Terminator universe in general. These contradictions exist in so many other good movies (e.g. Back to the Future) that I’ve developed a certain tolerance for them. As such, I can watch a movie like Terminator Salvation without focusing on these pitfalls. My normally inquisitive mind has learned to shut them out.
There is, unfortunately, a much more serious infraction that director McG commits with his epic tale; unlike time travel paradoxes this is one I simply cannot forgive. While it doesn’t ruin the movie for me, it severely diminishes its potency. If any further Terminator sequels are on the horizon, future director’s would do well to heed what I’m about to say.
I believe the success of the Terminator franchise lies in the distinctiveness of its villains – namely, the terminators themselves. Über-powerful villains are nothing new to the silver screen, but terminators are truly unique. The terminator’s compulsion for murder doesn’t stem from some deep, twisted psychological need. It has no emotional buttons to push, no human weaknesses to exploit. It zeroes in on its target without fear, hesitation, pity or remorse. Nothing can dissuade it from fulfilling its purpose.
Terminators are best compared to the terrifying specter of Death. The mythological figure of Death is a demonic skeleton, covered in a dark cloak, which can steal the life of a human being with a mere touch of its finger. The giant scythe that Death carries around is a symbol of its singular purpose in harvesting souls for the afterlife.
It’s not hard to see a resemblance in the hulking robotic skeleton of a terminator. Like Death, a terminator is capable of immediately ending life. That is its sole purpose. It doesn’t need to exert any effort to choke you; it can crush your throat in an instant. It can snap your neck like a twig. If a terminator can lay its mechanical hands on you, death is certain.
This is what made the first Terminator movie so terrifying. In the original movie, Sarah Conner is hunted by a robotic terminator sent back in time from the future. This cyborg is determined to kill her before she can give birth to the man (John Conner) who will eventually lead humanity in its struggle against the machines. A human soldier (Kyle Reese) also travels back in time to protect Sarah, and with his help Sarah struggles to stay one step ahead of her robotic would-be assassin.
No one who has seen this movie can forget the final action sequence. After multiple attempts to destroy the killer robot, the terminator’s broken frame lies on a factory floor. Sarah is badly injured from the explosion responsible for blowing the terminator in half. Suddenly, the terminator revives (without legs) and begins crawling toward Sarah. Sarah can barely crawl herself and tries to escape. The sight of the terminator’s outstretched hand almost grasping Sarah’s ankle is among the most frightening moments in the movie.
So what does this have to do with Terminator: Salvation? I’ll tell you, but only if you’re willing to read a few minor spoilers. There are a couple of scenes in the movie where John Conner is confronted by a terminator. During these encounters there are moments where the robot actually catches him – has him in its mechanical grasp – only to throw him against a nearby wall. John is able to recover from the impact and has an opportunity to try and escape from the cyborg.
Why, if these deadly machines are so desperate to kill John Conner, would they not act on the first opportunity to end his life? Why hesitate to deliver a fatal blow, and choose instead to throw him around and give him a chance to get away? Does this make any sense what-so-ever? The lethal image of the Terminator is forever tarnished by this absolutely illogical behavior.
Some might try to argue that this behavior makes terminators even scarier, because it shows they have a sadistic streak. They want to play with their victims before finishing them off. Like many of Hollywood’s best villains, they want you to suffer.
I couldn’t disagree with this argument more. The image portrayed in the original movie of an emotionless killing machine is precisely what made the terminator so terrifying. For most movie villains their sadistic tendencies ultimately lead to their downfall. By playing around with his victims a sadistic villain gives them the unintended opportunity to turn-the-tables. Not so with a terminator. Its purpose is singular; its focus absolute. No games, no torture, no cat-and-mouse – it simply wants to kill you.
In the original movie the character of Kyle Reece said it best when describing the terminator’s absolute focus on ending life: “That’s what he does, that’s all he does!” More than the memorable one-liners like “I’ll be back” and “Come with me if you want to live” it is this desperate exclamation of Kyle’s that defines the Terminator movies for me. It still sends shivers down my spine whenever I hear it.
Mr. McG, if you create a sequel for your summer blockbuster I would challenge you to respect the rules of the universe you are inheriting. The main character(s) in a Terminator flick have one enormously important rule to follow: if you are going to survive the movie, you cannot – under any circumstances – allow a terminator to catch you. If this happens, there had better be a very good explanation for your survival.
While there are other imperfections I could criticize this is the only one which really undermined the entertainment value of this movie for me. While Terminator: Salvation may not live up to the pedigree of the original, it is still a lot of fun with pulse-pounding moments certain to spike your adrenaline. And in the end, isn’t that what you expect from a summer blockbuster? I personally give this movie 3 out of 5 stars.
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May
22
2009
If you are a returning visitor, you may have noticed some changes to the appearance of this website. I am very happy with this new template entitled “Soulvision”, and grateful for the work of those who donate their time, energy and effort to make the process of managing a blog so much easier for those of us without a lot of computer experience.
This website’s appearance isn’t the only change I am making. Until now, this website has focused almost exclusively on my love of philosophy and politics. The tone and feeling of this website has generally been serious (albeit sometimes satirical), and I’ve been reluctant to share my thoughts and feelings on a broader range of topics, such as entertainment and personal experiences. These are things I would now like to include.
In the near future, I also hope to introduce podcasting technology to this website; I find there are some things which are much easier to share by talking as opposed to writing. I hope you’ll enjoy these changes, and I look forward to your participation in this blog in the future.
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March
23
2009
Good leaders are haunted people. Anyone who serves in a leadership capacity for an extended period of time, especially one of importance, will make mistakes. These mistakes will often hurt other people. This realization will invariably create a crucible of regret that leaders must bare.
Despite this regret, leaders must not allow the mistakes of the past to paralyze them. They will be periodically confronted with decisions that don’t have a clear answer, but still require a timely choice. But regardless of how good a leader’s intentions may be, being a leader requires that one accept responsibility for the consequences of important decisions.
This isn’t to say leaders need be condemned to perpetual misery. Effective leaders may derive a sense of satisfaction from their good decisions which ultimately outweighs their regret from the bad ones. Nevertheless, it is healthy to occasionally reflect on those mistakes and feel their sting. Such reflection is essential for wisdom – the most important virtue a leader can cultivate.
For those who wish to live an existence of perpetual bliss, leadership is probably not something to which they should aspire. As for leaders who claim to have no regrets whatsoever: they are either supernatural beings unfettered by the burdens of mortal imperfection, or they are very, very dangerous people. Any leader who harbors the capacity for such self-deception should be shunned at any cost.
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March
23
2009
The news cycle has been consumed lately by the scandal of $165 million dollars in bonuses going to American International Group (AIG) executives. AIG has received over $100 billion in federal aid to remain solvent, and the very executives who are receiving these bonuses share a large portion of the blame for our current economic predicament. To call this a travesty is something of understatement. And yet, as outrageous as this abuse of our tax dollars is, it’s time for us to get over it. Before anyone accuses me of sympathizing with rich and corrupt executives, please hear me out.
$165 million dollars is a lot of money. That is, until you compare it to the complete $750 billion dollar Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). This program was instituted by the Bush administration to stabilize large financial institutions like AIG, and has given AIG over $100 billion to prevent its meltdown. Economic advisors in both the Bush and Obama administrations have predicted dire consequences if large financial companies like AIG fail. A little math reveals that $165 million is less than on half of one half of one percent of TARP. Yes, the executives at AIG are crooked, incompetent, and absolutely undeserving of bonuses of any kind (let alone their jobs). But our economy is in serious trouble, and we need to be focusing on larger issues than how a tiny fraction of our TARP money was abused.
Speaking of abuse, we need to accept the reality that you can’t throw a trillion dollars around without some of that money going to people who shouldn’t have it. During better times we might have the resources and energy to properly investigate each instance of abuse and hold the perpetrators accountable. These are not the circumstances in which we find ourselves. The time that our politicians are wasting on Congressional investigations into AIG – investigations that will almost certainly accomplish nothing beyond public spectacle – could be better spent fixing a broken system and closing the gaping chasm into which our tax dollars are haphazardly falling.
This is one unfortunate example of how our democratic system of government can actually work against the interests of its people. Americans are outraged by the bonuses given to AIG executives and by the economic bailout in general. As average citizens are losing their jobs and homes, the notion of tax money helping the very executives whose greed and incompetence have brought us to the brink of a new depression is intolerable. Politicians who fear for their jobs and don’t want to end up on the wrong side of rising populist rage are doing everything they can to prove they understand our pain. Nevertheless, their efforts to recover the $165 million given to AIG executives – even if they are successful – will do absolutely nothing to heal our wounded economy.
The simple litmus test for how our leaders should be using their time is this: does this activity have a reasonable chance of significantly improving the economy? If the answer is “yes”, then it is worthy of their time and attention. If the answer is “no”, they need to move on. It’s really just that simple. During periods of serious crisis a proper focus on priorities is essential for survival. We don’t have the luxury of being angry right now – we need to be smart.
Even without the bonuses going to undeserving executives there are still a lot people who disagree with the very existence of the TARP program. This is a complex issue with many different viewpoints and no easy black-and-white solutions. Americans have a duty to carefully study the problems we’re facing and reach thoughtful opinions concerning the best way forward. We should spend our time on this type of study and debate, rather than wasting our energy on a torch and pitchfork tirade against AIG. We owe it to ourselves, and especially to our children who will ultimately reap the consequences of how we handle this crisis.
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February
3
2009
One of the big topics in Washington right now is the future of the Republican Party. The Republicans have elected a new committee chair, Michael Steele, who is promising a revival of the party that hasn’t had anything to celebrate for the last four years. Many pundits in the media and blogosphere are asking what changes, if any, the Republican Party is going to make to its platform to rebrand itself and repair its tarnished image. Nevertheless, recent events indicate that serious change is not in the cards for Republican ideology.
After House Republicans voted against President Obama’s stimulus plan – a move which was championed by conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh – many in the media criticized the Republican Party for catering to its base and alienating the rest of the country. They argue that taking such a strong, partisan stance against Obama and the Democrats will only continue to marginalize the G.O.P. Certainly, the media is not exaggerating about the fatigue the country is feeling toward the Republicans and “politics as usual”. Nevertheless, it is precisely due to this anti-Republican climate that Republicans should cater to their base now more than ever.
The logic behind this is simple: after the disastrous Bush years the country has become thoroughly disenchanted with the G.O.P. Democrats have won overwhelming electoral victories and established a presence in many traditional Republican strongholds (like Virginia). Swing voters have clearly tilted to the left, and only the most devout conservatives remain in the G.O.P.’s corner. At times like these you need your party faithful to carry your torch through the darkness. After alienating everyone else, the Republican Party simply cannot afford to push away its true believers.
The talking heads are correct to suggest that this attitude will doom the G.O.P. to minority status – at least for the time being. But nothing can change that. Obama and his Democratic revolution are a force of nature. If the Republicans attempt to declare themselves the true advocates of change in this political climate they will be perceived as cheap Obama knock-offs; independent voters just won’t buy it. Worse yet, if they attempt to change their platform they’ll dishearten the very people they’ll need most if they are ever to make a comeback.
It’s remarkable to think about how dramatically times have changed in just the last four years, and it is here that the Republicans should take a lesson from history. After losing the 2004 election to President Bush (despite his rising unpopularity) many in the media began to wonder if the Democratic Party was on the way out. Indeed, questions about the party’s platform and message began to circulate. Rather than attempt to reinvent itself, the Democrats chose to hunker down (i.e. cater to their base) and wait for a time when their message would be compatible with the mood and outlook of the nation. When that time came, devout Democrats came forward en masse to promote their party’s message and put Obama in the White House.
It’s not hard to see how this could also happen for the Republican Party. Expectations for President Obama are high – ridiculously high. He is dealing with an economic crisis that doesn’t appear to have any good solutions, and yet people expect him to affect a radical “change” of goodwill and prosperity. The fervor that propelled him to the White House has put him on a pedestal so high he could easily fall off and break his neck.
As the Republicans learned during the Bush years, control of both Congress and the White House is as much a curse as it is a blessing. You simply cannot blame anyone else for your mistakes. History also tells us that when a political party obtains an overwhelming command of power in Washington, as the Democrats have, it is only a matter of time before the cancer of corruption sets in. It may not happen in two, four or even eight years – but it will happen. Republicans would do well to settle in for the long night and wait for that time. Their future is not their own; they must rely on the benevolence of circumstances outside their control. But nothing solidifies the will and determination of a group of people like being the minority. Only the faith of the truly converted, harnessed at the right moment, can bring the Republican Party back to power and relevance. And then the cycle begins all over again…
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January
6
2009
Nothing of great significance was ever accomplished by sane people.
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November
14
2008
Here’s a quick thought for managers and leaders:
The more tightly you attempt to control the methods employed by your people as they strive to achieve an important goal, the less accountable they become for the final result. The reverse of this is also true.
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November
5
2008
What a night it was last night! Before the election, I told many of my friends and family to watch Florida and Pennsylvania. I predicted that if Obama could carry those two states, the election would be over before midnight (MST); however, I never imagined it would end before 9:00pm. It was quite a sight to see Wolf Blitzer and his associates and CNN fumble to try and keep their coverage of the election interesting after the results became so apparently obvious to everyone. McCain delivered a classy concession, and Obama delivered a stirring and charismatic acceptance. It seems clear that expectations of an Obama presidency are very high, and the burden of history has clearly been laid on his shoulders. Now that the election is over, the real battles begin.
One of the biggest benefits I see to an Obama presidency is the immediate boost it will give to the image of the United State around the world. Under the Bush administration, world opinion of the U.S. descended to historic lows. Important alliances became strained, and foreign leaders frequently discovered that cooperation with the United States became toxic to their own political fortunes at home (e.g. Tony Blair of Great Britain). I’ve heard many here in the U.S. denigrate the importance world opinion; in fact, Barack Obama seemed to stumble a bit during the campaign as many here in the U.S. perceived his popularity abroad as a weakness rather than a strength. I think this is a big mistake. The time of U.S. unilateralism is over. We are facing too many challenges in the foreign policy arena to think that we can go it alone. If we are going to contain a resurgent Russia, a defiant Iran, a competitive China, and a dangerous North Korea, we are going to need the help of our friends. It’s nice to know that other democratic leaders worldwide can work with our president without worrying about the impact it will have on their political careers.
Another positive note in Obama’s victory is the break from the 50/50 pattern split we’ve seen in this nation during the last few elections. By achieving a substantial victory Obama has earned an important level of legitimacy as the president of the whole United States, not just “50% +1″. While there are many who are deeply concerned and discouraged by Obama’s victory the overall attitude of the nation is far more positive than it has been after any other recent election. This positive energy is something we desperately need at a time when the news cycle is perpetually negative.
A word of caution to Democrats who might interpret last night as a mandate to pursue a strong left-wing agenda: don’t forget about what happened in California with Proposition 8. The people of California voted strongly in favor of Obama (61% to 37%); nevertheless, they also voted for an amendment to the California constitution to only recognize marriage between a man and a woman (as opposed to homosexual marriages). It seems clear that the country is hungry for a change from the last eight years of Republican incompetence and corruption, but they are not interested in moving to the far left. The Republicans mistakenly thought they had a mandate after their victories in 2000 and 2004, and that arrogance led to their dramatic downfall in 2006 and 2008. Things can change quickly, and if Democrats aren’t careful they will find themselves repeating history in ways they won’t appreciate.
Ultimately, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican the outcome of last night’s election is not as positive (or negative) as you might think. Democrats who have felt disenfranchised for the last eight years are understandably thrilled at the prospect of winning the White House and strong majorities in Congress. But make no mistake – with this power comes enormous responsibility. The Democrats are inheriting a lot of problems; whether fair or not, they will be judged by their ability to solve them. For Republicans who find themselves in the depths of despair after the almost total implosion of their political party, don’t lose all hope. Yes, your situation is pretty grim, but the only way the Republican Party can revive itself after the Bush years is for the Democrats to begin making some serious mistakes of their own with their newfound power. History has shown that power tends to corrupt, and whether Democrat or Republican, politicians are politicians. It is likely only a matter of time before the same scandals that rocked the Republicans begin to shake the Democrats as well. A penitent Republican Party can then reassert itself on the national stage. Like the Phoenix, the Republican Party has to burn before it can rise again.
These are my thoughts as I reflect on the historic election that reached its climax last night. My final thought on this monumental event is simply this: how will I and all the other political junkies out there cope with the inevitable withdrawal following the close of this intense political drama?
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Translator
By N2H