Now that the Mac is not back, is it better to buy PC or Google? Whatever the case may be, I am so happy that the choice is still an American one. I always had this image of Obama being a 007 in a 747 flying America's best hopes and dreams all over the world. The guy's very focused and down to earth and having lived abroad in Indonesia and with roots and family still living in Kenya let's hope he will make a great President not just for America but for everyone around the world. He showed great respect for McCain and was very sober in his victory speech. I think America did a great hire in this election
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Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
A radical international relations idea..
What if we made it mandatory that all students of international relations complete a minimum of one sexual experience with a man/woman from all 190 or so different countries that exist in our world? A 4 year degree takes 1460 days to complete which allows, on average, 7 days to enjoy a close and intimate relationship with a foreign partner.
I think people tend to be more sympathetic and open to other people's problems if they had (good) sex with them (sex usually is good and fun to have). By adding this requirement, we enhance the quality and real-life experience of our diplomatic corps and foreign policy experts. Actually students of any discipline that adopts this requirement can become better international relations experts.
Multinational student exchange programs will become more popular and with the aid of the internet, students will be left to freely choose the foreign partner they prefer. Those who can't find one can join group study :D:D:D
http://www.thinkaloo.com
I think people tend to be more sympathetic and open to other people's problems if they had (good) sex with them (sex usually is good and fun to have). By adding this requirement, we enhance the quality and real-life experience of our diplomatic corps and foreign policy experts. Actually students of any discipline that adopts this requirement can become better international relations experts.
Multinational student exchange programs will become more popular and with the aid of the internet, students will be left to freely choose the foreign partner they prefer. Those who can't find one can join group study :D:D:D
http://www.thinkaloo.com
Friday, May 15, 2009
Vote Against!
What is your opinion about making the Protest Vote in a democracy more explicit and direct? We consider it a Protest Vote when people vote for a minority or fringe candidate that has no chance of getting elected or when they post a blank or spoiled ballot paper. What if, instead of voting for the candidates we like, we voted against the candidates we don't like and the candidate with the least amount of Against Votes wins. I know it sounds cynical, but isn't the Protest Vote in the many indirect forms it takes more cynical anyway??
http://www.thinkaloo.com
http://www.thinkaloo.com
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Why are Italians so approving of Berlusconi And his wife?
I don't argue that all Italians approve of Berlusconi's publicly flirting with younger women. I find it interesting, however, that his image as a politician is not affected negatively whenever his wife will publish a rebuke of him in the press. What does that say about Italian culture I wonder. Do Italians excuse his behavior because he is a prime minister or because he is a married man? Do Italian men share secret pride when He flirts or when She criticizes him?
His wife is mentioned in the British media as Veronica Lario not as Mrs. Berlusconi, is that deliberate? How about the Italian press? Why do you think she feels compelled to criticize him publicly if the public seems ok with his behavior? If she is so upset at him, why doesn't she divorce him? That would be a strong statement to make about finding her husband's behavior deeply offending. The public letter rebuke seems a business-as-usual response. Is it?
http://www.thinkaloo.com
His wife is mentioned in the British media as Veronica Lario not as Mrs. Berlusconi, is that deliberate? How about the Italian press? Why do you think she feels compelled to criticize him publicly if the public seems ok with his behavior? If she is so upset at him, why doesn't she divorce him? That would be a strong statement to make about finding her husband's behavior deeply offending. The public letter rebuke seems a business-as-usual response. Is it?
http://www.thinkaloo.com
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The wisdom of relying on one president
This thought was posted on Thinkaloo on 3 April 2008 by member stormy
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Have you ever thought to challenge the wisdom of relying on one president as the final authority on all matters of government? Why not vote for as many different presidents responsible for different policy areas as there are cabinet members? It is more democratic, more engaging and can be more efficient if authority and decision-making is clearly delineated! What is your opinion?
Visit www.thinkaloo.com, our new online community where you can share your thoughts and knowledge, discuss your ideas, ask questions and meet smart people
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Have you ever thought to challenge the wisdom of relying on one president as the final authority on all matters of government? Why not vote for as many different presidents responsible for different policy areas as there are cabinet members? It is more democratic, more engaging and can be more efficient if authority and decision-making is clearly delineated! What is your opinion?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
How to fight corruption from pork barrel politics
This thought was posted on Thinkaloo on 27 February 2007 by member james85
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Pork barrel politics is spending taxpayers money on projects that benefit special interests and lobbyists. Obama proposed that all such spending be reported online for the public to know where the money is spent. Knowing where the money was spent after it was spent helps transparency but doesn't give direct decision making power to the public. I think online majority vote for all such projects will give people full control.
Our democratic system works this way. On local or national elections people vote for their favorite party and representative based on their ideas and proposed policies. Most pork barrel projects however, even if they are promised and announced before election date do not include details. The devil of corruption however is in the details. We should keep in mind that a lot of new projects and their specifics are decided only after elections are over.
In order to give full control to citizens, voters and taxpayers I think it is a good idea to pass law that requires that for any large amount of public spending, majority vote is required by taxpayers whose money will be spent on that project. That will completely take away decision-making influence from the hands of lobbyists and special interests. This way not only transparency but also control will be preserved.
To those who might argue that this idea will make the system more inefficient, I say this. If you can report all transactions online with the click of a button at low cost, then you certainly can have taxpayers vote online in a day at minimal cost.
Visit www.thinkaloo.com, our new online community where you can share your thoughts and knowledge, discuss your ideas, ask questions and meet smart people
---
Pork barrel politics is spending taxpayers money on projects that benefit special interests and lobbyists. Obama proposed that all such spending be reported online for the public to know where the money is spent. Knowing where the money was spent after it was spent helps transparency but doesn't give direct decision making power to the public. I think online majority vote for all such projects will give people full control.
Our democratic system works this way. On local or national elections people vote for their favorite party and representative based on their ideas and proposed policies. Most pork barrel projects however, even if they are promised and announced before election date do not include details. The devil of corruption however is in the details. We should keep in mind that a lot of new projects and their specifics are decided only after elections are over.
In order to give full control to citizens, voters and taxpayers I think it is a good idea to pass law that requires that for any large amount of public spending, majority vote is required by taxpayers whose money will be spent on that project. That will completely take away decision-making influence from the hands of lobbyists and special interests. This way not only transparency but also control will be preserved.
To those who might argue that this idea will make the system more inefficient, I say this. If you can report all transactions online with the click of a button at low cost, then you certainly can have taxpayers vote online in a day at minimal cost.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Why do we need superdelegates in an election?
This thought was posted on Thinkaloo on 18 February 2008 by member liz
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A democratic election is one based on people's votes. I don't understand why people who were not elected have power and authority to decide on an election outcome. I think we should remove super-delegates and electorates in US party and national elections. They complicate the vote and make the systems less democratic and transparent.
When Gore lost to Bush back in 2000 not on the basis of the majority of the national vote which he had won but on the basis of more electorates in Florida, that was a setback to the credibility of US democracy. We were criticized for that by people abroad.
I am worried that the tight race between Obama and Hillary might result to a similar situation. What do you think? Shouldn't we simply move away from this system, wouldn't it be an improvement to our democracy to get rid of delegates and electorates all together?
Visit www.thinkaloo.com, our new online community where you can share your thoughts and knowledge, discuss your ideas, ask questions and meet smart people
------------------------
A democratic election is one based on people's votes. I don't understand why people who were not elected have power and authority to decide on an election outcome. I think we should remove super-delegates and electorates in US party and national elections. They complicate the vote and make the systems less democratic and transparent.
When Gore lost to Bush back in 2000 not on the basis of the majority of the national vote which he had won but on the basis of more electorates in Florida, that was a setback to the credibility of US democracy. We were criticized for that by people abroad.
I am worried that the tight race between Obama and Hillary might result to a similar situation. What do you think? Shouldn't we simply move away from this system, wouldn't it be an improvement to our democracy to get rid of delegates and electorates all together?
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