Monday, December 30, 2002

2002 was a rough year for liberty and trust. As another year winds down, it's time for our annual review of the technology world, the economy at large and fundamental liberties. Even though we took two steps backward for every step forward, there are still some reasons for optimism. [Tomalak's Realm] 9:00:21 PM

Chile's hole in the sky Everything is different here at the bottom of the world, starting with the weather. For the last decade, the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica has been growing larger and recently expanded over Punta Arenas, the southernmost city on the planet. Its 125,000 residents have reluctantly learned to adapt. [Daypop Top 40] 8:59:18 PM

The Super Rich Are Out of Sight [Daypop Top 40] This is a great article, explaining how the "super rich" are missing from our national statistics, which "hide" that wealth. Policy decisions -- like, say, a flat income tax -- made on current stats would thus be being made with incomplete information. That missing information is just how much more money the super rich will be putting in their pockets which, needless to say, isn't something Dumbya is going to be using to promote the benefits of his tax plans. The simple math is that money has to come from somewhere. It's either going to come from cutting services (even further), or your pocket. 8:56:24 PM

Year in Privacy: Citizens Lose. Each year, governments chip away at citizens' civil liberties. It's a tactic the United States condemned during the Cold War but now uses in the war on terror. [Wired News] Now that we don't have any "enemies" we need to be holier than, all bets are off... 8:22:46 PM

Rangel calls for mandatory military service "When you talk about a war, you're talking about ground troops, you're talking about enlisted people, and they don't come from the kids and members of Congress," he said. "I think, if we went home and found out that there were families concerned about their kids going off to war, there would be more cautiousness and a more willingness to work with the international community than to say, 'Our way or the highway.' " [Daypop Top 40] I like Rep. Rangel's reasoning here; I just wish that Dumbya's daughters could perform mandatory service, too. I wonder how quick to pull the trigger Dumbya would be then. On the other hand, I don't believe in mandatory military service. It's important to recognize that many people have deep moral qualms about military service, and frankly not everyone is suited to it, either. I do believe in mandatory national service, though. Two years of service is not a lot to ask of our citizens, and would serve as a binding experience for us as a country. Military service would be one option. The Peace Corps could be another. Teaching could be another. And so on. I read an excellent book on the topic in college, The Reconstruction of Patriotism, by Morris Janowitz. Recommended, especially in these times of distorted "patriotic" duties. 10:31:00 AM

© Copyright 2003 Michael Alderete.