tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post3416944370020556936..comments2024-03-28T23:39:08.616-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Truly Major Issues, helping decide the fate of democracyDavid Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-48193333187736564322018-10-30T02:33:41.697-07:002018-10-30T02:33:41.697-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.siskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07076079736141144027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-81843087000911883542015-06-15T17:52:50.396-07:002015-06-15T17:52:50.396-07:00@Tacitus2,
Sorry about the verbiage, but until sh...@Tacitus2,<br /><br />Sorry about the verbiage, but until she finally got some decent treatment (seven months and six doctors later), she sure seemed to be "s-word"ing. In case I wasn't clear, though, she's much better now.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-44966978184366817472015-06-15T17:33:43.585-07:002015-06-15T17:33:43.585-07:00Larry Hart
From our off forum email I am delighte...Larry Hart<br /><br />From our off forum email I am delighted to hear favorable news on your end...but Dude, don't every use words like "succumbing"!!!! Gonna scare folks, ya will.<br /><br />TacitusTacitushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007086196578740689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-55488366497247081722015-06-15T17:04:38.912-07:002015-06-15T17:04:38.912-07:00Alfred Differ:
I don't know of anyone who tre...Alfred Differ:<br /><i><br />I don't know of anyone who treats it as a 'secret' identifier. I DO know of some who accept it without authentication demands AS an identifier. If it were secret or hard to know, that might work. Obviously it isn't.<br /></i><br />Well, I think that's what Duncan meant by "secret identifier". They operate under the assumption that anyone who knows your name and SSN must be you.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-30631416714198006172015-06-15T16:46:30.328-07:002015-06-15T16:46:30.328-07:00Be well, Tacitus2.
I'll never forget that you...Be well, Tacitus2.<br /><br />I'll never forget that you gave me some good...I shouldn't use the legal term "advice" in this context, so let's say "guidance", when my wife was succumbing to an illness no one could diagnose, and much as I disagree with you on many political issues, I'll always see you as a <b>mench</b>.<br /><br />I also went through a father slowly and miserably dying in a nursing home a few years ago. Not sure how that compares to your family situation, but I think I can sympathize, if not fully understand.<br /><br /><i><br />You get quixotic but important gestures like Rand Pauls filibuster - a real one btw - against renewal of the Patriot Act.<br /></i><br /><br />It rarely happens, but I was compeltely cheering for Rand Paul that day. I have to say I am more comfortable with the existence of the <b>traditional</b> filibuster than with the modern version that makes a 60 vote supermajority a requirement for everything. A real filibuster doesn't last forever, but it can last long enough to swing public support, or failing that, at least to leave a mark on the record which will be revistited later, especially if you were right all along. That's a different thing than a defacto veto by the minority party.<br /><br /><i><br />I like Pataki criticizing the Republicans for too much focus on Social issues and not enough on economic growth and fighting radical Islam. I give him a couple of points for just being able to say the phrase radical Islam instead of whatever PC mush is now in vogue.<br /></i><br /><br />This is one issue where I don't think leftist PC rules the day. If anything, Islam-bashing has been in vogue since 9/11. I'm reminded of an episode of "The West Wing" during Bartlet's re-election campaign where the ambassador of a fictitious Arab nation told Leo that he (the Arab ambassador) understood that the president had to act conciliatory toward his country in order not to make a political gaffe, and Leo responded that, on the contrary, "The easiest way for him to assure his re-election would be to shoot you (the ambassador) in the middle of Times Square and then walk across the street to Nathan's and eat a hot dog." <br /><br />To me, that statment reflects reality more than the notion that politicians have to talk nicely about Muslims for PC reasons. If the politicians tone down the rhetoric, not wanting to declare a war against a billion Muslims, I believe it is to avoid creating new enemies where they didn't previously exist, not out of concern for the feelings of the terrorists.<br /><br /> LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-61292636514188092862015-06-15T16:16:02.625-07:002015-06-15T16:16:02.625-07:00I don't know of anyone who treats it as a '...I don't know of anyone who treats it as a 'secret' identifier. I DO know of some who accept it without authentication demands AS an identifier. If it were secret or hard to know, that might work. Obviously it isn't.<br /><br />Everyone I work with makes a huge effort to avoid collecting that kind of information from the people with whom we interact. Not all agencies can do that for tax reporting reasons, but I'm on the DoD side of the house. We very rarely need to know any PII and prefer to use digital certificates nowadays. There are very strict rules about collecting and storing PII around here, so rather than face the costs of compliance with federal law, we altered our processes to avoid the whole mess.Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-8893834040327153072015-06-15T16:04:55.235-07:002015-06-15T16:04:55.235-07:00The biggest problem with "security" in t...The biggest problem with "security" in the USA is that your social security number is treated as some sort of secret identifier<br />It's NOT - and can't be<br /><br />IMHO you should make peoples social security number and address available on a public website<br /><br />This would force the idiots who try and use these as security indicators to stop doing that and use proper passwords and separate verificationDuncan Cairncrossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-44963222632825249572015-06-15T14:13:48.320-07:002015-06-15T14:13:48.320-07:00The self-inflicted wounding doesn't stop until...The self-inflicted wounding doesn't stop until we get to two-factor authentication and require it everywhere. That won't stop the bleeding (people are still thick-headed about this stuff), but it will slow it enough to matter.<br /><br />Everything that talks to everything should pass through strict authentication processes or face a vigorous immune response. Identity matters. 8)Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-19739991864595584382015-06-15T12:57:15.011-07:002015-06-15T12:57:15.011-07:00* "We're only how many decades behind Eur...<b>*</b> "<i>We're only how many decades behind Europe to do this?</i>"<br /><br />FourLaurent Weppenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-49324309685931019252015-06-15T12:36:49.862-07:002015-06-15T12:36:49.862-07:00@Alfred The most likely use for that data is frau...@Alfred <i>The most likely use for that data is fraud, phishing, and identity theft.</i><br /><br />I agree. After the spate of lost laptops with personnel databases, isn't that exactly what happened? I'd love to get the stats on the increased likelihood of identity theft that occurred, rather than just anecdotal evidence. That data just get sold to all sorts of criminals looking to squeeze money out of unwary folks.<br /><br />OTOH, that data breech of the porn social site was being used to blackmail people. Quite blatantly apparently. Perhaps momma could have made more money with blackmail at the Harper Valley PTA :)<br /><br />On a related note, last month I received my replacement credit card with a security chip. We're only how many decades behind Europe to do this? Was it increasing losses that prompted the change, or new regs? Unfortunately they partially shot themselves in the foot by leaving the magnetic strip in place.<br /><br />Alex Tolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01556422553154817988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-84895539496329567782015-06-15T10:57:21.325-07:002015-06-15T10:57:21.325-07:00One small point to make for now...
The data the O...One small point to make for now...<br /><br />The data the OPM keeps on us is intended to help THEM discover how difficult it would be for someone else to blackmail us while we serve in our government jobs or contract positions. If someone else is using it for the same purpose now, they will have to be better at it.<br /><br />The most likely use for that data is fraud, phishing, and identity theft.<br />Black mail is not high on the list.Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-21373453946101469792015-06-15T09:20:42.462-07:002015-06-15T09:20:42.462-07:00Well knock me down with a feather: The crashed Phi...Well knock me down with a feather: The crashed Philae lander has woken.<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/14/rosettas-lander-philae-wakes-up-from-hibernation/" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/14/rosettas-lander-philae-wakes-up-from-hibernation/</a>Paul451https://www.blogger.com/profile/12119086761190994938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-9390188055585823672015-06-15T08:58:33.431-07:002015-06-15T08:58:33.431-07:00@Larry Hart,
I think we may be have a "com...@Larry Hart,<br /> I think we may be have a "common language" issue. When I hear "discipline" what it means to me is that the whips ensure that all party members vote with the party. This is very much how the British Parliamentary system works for crucial legislation. <br /><br />My example was the failure to to pass "Fast Track" in the house last week, despite it being a rare case of the GOP and the president being in alignment. Wasn't Boehner's job to get it through? He has the majority, so what was the problem? To me, that is "lack of discipline". But the same words do have different meanings depending on experience. Alex Tolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01556422553154817988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-31412625295834426612015-06-15T08:44:36.784-07:002015-06-15T08:44:36.784-07:00Tacitus, one reason I like you is that you confron...Tacitus, one reason I like you is that you confront my truisms and sometimes make me adjust. Yipe, I had been saying that ONLY Reagan was a GOP prexy candidate with a qualified running mat… who later turned into the worst US President since Buchanan, worse even than his wretched-vile son. But yes, GHW Bush was "qualified," on paper. And yes, I suppose Ryan was also at least marginally qualified, as much so as Obama himself was. Thanks guy. You made me backtrack! (A bit.)<br /><br />But to call the current GOP field anything but a pack of multi-colored fingers to Rupert Murdoch's sock puppet is, frankly just sad.<br /><br />I'll admit though that your list does include a few very very minor variations from dogma… and I am willing to chew them all. I just cannot imagine how you deem them to be significant.<br /><br />Flat tax i ancient and it is just more doubling down on supply side voodoo.<br /><br />Festering? Most red states… the blue islands within them are their crown jewels and the best places in the states! Austin, Raleigh-Charlotte and so on.<br /><br />But yes, thanks for engaging. You are at your best right now… even if you remain my (third) favorite Ostrich.<br /><br />And you know I hold no truck with lefty PC police, who are 1% as crazy and 1% as numerous as the mad Entire Right. Yes, THAT numerous and crazy.<br /><br />Good luck in family crises. Been there.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-60348850688308434222015-06-15T08:08:27.080-07:002015-06-15T08:08:27.080-07:00Paul
Regards swift and non distracting.... it is ...Paul<br /><br />Regards swift and non distracting.... it is far, far too late but thanks for the sentiments. And regarding equitable, probably not. Some situations exist where winning and losing are not much different.<br /><br />No argument on the PC stuff. There are different species of "weaslespeak" but the dishonest intent and the impoverishment of our political discourse is bipartisan.<br /><br />TacitusTacitushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007086196578740689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-24075041726860825642015-06-15T06:38:44.926-07:002015-06-15T06:38:44.926-07:00Tacitus, hopefully your legal battles will be swif...Tacitus, hopefully your legal battles will be swift, equitable and not distract family from the more important issues. If we don't hear from you for awhile, it won't be taken as negligence. We all have lives outside the blogosphere.<br /><br />I do want to take issue with a term you used, though perhaps you won't be back with us until this thread has passed into the archive. I have missed many good conversations that way ...<br /><br />"PC mush" - the term PC has been used for quite some time now by the right wing to denigrate the left, but this is a clear case of hypocrisy. The right has its own demands for terminological conformity and are no more "honest speakers" than the left. "Border Security" as code for failing to institute immigration policy reform, "creation science" as code for subverting the Separation Clause of the US Constitution, pro-life, compassionate conservative, freedom fries ... need I go on? Paul SBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-44371855140644035572015-06-15T05:30:01.557-07:002015-06-15T05:30:01.557-07:00David
I don't want to be accused of hiding, b...David<br /><br />I don't want to be accused of hiding, but this is going to be a week from Hell for me. Think about failing parents, family members on non speaking terms. Add some lawyers. You get the general drift.<br /><br />So...<br /><br />I don't know why Paul Ryan is not running. Some people (Think Tip O'Neil) just like being in Congress. Ryan did his part last time and may have found the experience unpleasant. He does have young children to raise up. Perhaps he reads Contrary Brin and you hurt his feelings saying that all R VP choices were unqualified jokes. If I run into him I will ask.<br /><br />The current R field is interesting firstly for its diversity. You have Hispanic, white, an admittedly anomalous black fellow. A couple of doctors, some Senators, some governors a female businessperson. And probably a few individuals who are holding back but might be surprise VP picks. <br /><br />At this point in the campaign, naturally, they are all trying to increase name recognition without saying anything that will make the sharks (media gotchas and political operatives...hmmm, a bit repetitious there....on both sides of the fence) streak in and bite fatally. <br /><br />If you toss out some obvious clowns, I mean really who cares what The Donald thinks, and look mostly at recent statements you do start to pick up a few things.<br /><br />Listing an idea as interesting by no means brands it as either good or likely to be brought to pass. Health Care Reform in 2008 was both interesting and a good idea, but botched badly on so many levels.<br /><br />You find little gems like Ben Carlson saying motorcycle riders who don't wear helmets are an unfair burden to the medical system. A gutsy public statement, up there with Carly Fiona opining that ag subsidies should go away. (bet that plays well in Iowa).<br /><br />You get quixotic but important gestures like Rand Pauls filibuster - a real one btw - against renewal of the Patriot Act. Marco Rubio gets points in my book for his apparently genuine attempt at Immigration reform. Does the fact that he stood down count against him? Or is it a wise thing to recognize that public opinion is "not there yet"?<br /><br />I note the support for flat tax plans by Perry, Paul and Cruz. Not sure how I feel on that one but the current code certainly could use some improvement.<br /><br />I like Pataki criticizing the Republicans for too much focus on Social issues and not enough on economic growth and fighting radical Islam. I give him a couple of points for just being able to say the phrase radical Islam instead of whatever PC mush is now in vogue.<br /><br />Lindsey Graham is most likely a non starter but when you look at his January 2014 predictions on what was going to happen in Syria and Iraq you have to note that he was spot on and in a field with little foreign policy chops that is something.<br /><br />Now, I really have to be off. Chat all you like but don't make demands on me please.<br /><br />Oh, and because it is part of my job to toss David cookies, here is one. If Red states have festering, dysfunctional urban blue islands in them, how does that square with the generally more religious bent of the GOP? "My brother's keeper" and "Whatever you do for these the least of mine.."?<br /><br />going to Battle Stations now<br /><br />TacitusTacitushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007086196578740689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-89752039452982974722015-06-15T02:41:26.761-07:002015-06-15T02:41:26.761-07:00Look at the legislative accomplishments of Eisenho...Look at the legislative accomplishments of Eisenhower, Nixon, FOrd, Reagan and both bushes, when they had dems controlling one or both houses. To claim Dems have EVER treated a GOP president the way Republicans routinely and always treat democratic ones is to engage in denial and delusion that is of hysteria-level.<br /><br />Recent gopper congresses have been the laziest in the history of the republic and have wages procedural war on Clinton and Obama to degrees never seen. A majority of filibusters and blocked nominations in US history have been against one president.<br /><br />Meanwhile we await Tacitus's list of "interesting ideas" from the current gang. And an explanation of why the only republican prospect with intellect - Paul Ryan - is never seen.<br /><br />Er... and deregulation? The GOP owned ALL branches of govt for 6 years. They instituted none of the things they blathered about, except bank dereg and wars and supply side (never-once-true) budget busting gifts to aristos. Name one other thing they actually did? Hence... will they actually do any of these "interesting things"?David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-82221347978925465822015-06-14T19:22:21.812-07:002015-06-14T19:22:21.812-07:00Tacitus, yes, there are a great many blue enclaves...Tacitus, yes, there are a great many blue enclaves that are foul pits of despair, but I have seen a lot of statistics in the last decade that point to the percentages being far worse in those regions of longer wavelength. And given that the entire global economic system seems to be moving everyone who is not already filthy rich to the bottom of the heap, it should be of no surprise that both sides of the divide are suffering.As far as Gibbon's opinion of Constantine goes, while he was a great scholar in his time I cant agree with everything he wrote. Constantine's switch was really just a variation on an old theme, and the poison had been settling into the Empire long before Constantine say the need to make such a switch. And yes, the Church did preserve a whole lot of ancient writing, though selectively, and they even canonized St. Cyril for burning a library, so the track record on that account isn't perfect.<br /><br />Dr. Brin, You're right that in the last 40 years the Dems have rarely had full control of the legislative and executive branches at the same time, so it isn't fair to say that the two parties are equivalent. While I have never registered with either party, I grew up disgusted with Reagan and as an adult have been dismayed and horrified by the Bush administrations. I can't name any positive accomplishments of the W Administration because they did nothing but pillage our nation and a few others while they were at it. <br />"Um... uh... every time I hear this I stare, stunned, unable to believe I am part of a species that can utter such sophistry. " Not only can their leadership utter this sophistry, their base buys it hook, line and sinker.<br /><br />When I hear Democratic proposals, though, they are often naive and reactionary oversimplifications rather than carefully thought out plans based on verifiable facts and tested methods. They are still, in many ways, more evolved than their Republican Adversaries, and I will vote for the almost any Dem before almost any Repugnant Party offering any election. I would still be happier if we had more than two flavors of politician.<br /><br />Alex, I agree with your analysis almost in its entirety, but with some added details and explanations. For one, note that I wrote "witlessly reactionary and blindly religious" - not just "religious". The European people I have known have tended to have more mature views of religion than most of my countrymen. They knew their history and were not inclined to ignore the centuries of religious bloodshed done in the name of God's love that wracked their continent. Most Americans seem comfortably ignorant that such things ever happened and have much more black-and-white views. Besides, religions are generally used to codify and justify the prejudices of the times, and to enculturate subsequent generations. Thus before Emancipation many pastors and preachers in the US quoted verse to justify slavery, but now that is no longer socially acceptable those verses are cheerfully ignored to preserve the goodness of the book in todays' eyes (though I have known many a throwback who insisted we should return to that sanctified institution because it features so prominently in the Bible).<br /><br />On the 1950s economic boom, you are right that the Korean War, and more generally the Cold War, played a huge role, but the GI Bill was signed by FDR in 1944 (though the effects of a bill that increases education would not be seen until several years later). Rising suburbanization and increased automobile purchases are structural changes, but all of those are probable epiphenomena of the Baby Boom. <br /><br />Laurent, I'll get to your idea later. My kids are pestering me to play Uno with them. <br /><br />Paul SBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-29288247546080886982015-06-14T19:00:53.604-07:002015-06-14T19:00:53.604-07:00Alex Tolley:
ut that isn't clear when talking...Alex Tolley:<br /><i><br />ut that isn't clear when talking about the GOP generally and invoking his interpretation of the "Hastert Rule" as Hastert was in the House. <br /></i><br /><br />The Hastert Rule doesn't require the GOP members to vote in lock-step. It only requires that they never bring to a vote any bill which would pass with Democratic support, but which a majority of Republican members are against. It means all the serious negotiation takes place entirely within the Republican caucus, not between Republicans and Democrats.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-21206207474664373492015-06-14T18:56:40.666-07:002015-06-14T18:56:40.666-07:00Alex Tolley:
In addition, tyranny by the "T...Alex Tolley:<br /><i><br /> In addition, tyranny by the "Tea Party" to keep legislators in line isn't the same as discipline in my book.<br /></i><br /><br />No, it's not the Tea Party threats that enforce discipline. Rather, the discipline only breaks down on issues where the corporatists can't keep the Tea Party on their side, as in the case of a vote to cede congressional authority to the wishes of President Obama.<br /><br />The dissent--open revolt, actually--is the rare exception, not the rule.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-77414361826353204252015-06-14T18:50:31.830-07:002015-06-14T18:50:31.830-07:00DB may be talking about the Senate, but that isn&#...DB may be talking about the Senate, but that isn't clear when talking about the GOP generally and invoking his interpretation of the "Hastert Rule" as Hastert was in the House. <br /><br />Can you show that this discipline was consistently maintained in the Senate, where Republicans voted down party lines, but Democrats didn't? In addition, tyranny by the "Tea Party" to keep legislators in line isn't the same as discipline in my book.<br /><br />Alex Tolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01556422553154817988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-79302659558383811882015-06-14T17:43:37.449-07:002015-06-14T17:43:37.449-07:00Alex Tolley:
So tightly disciplined that they cou...Alex Tolley:<br /><i><br />So tightly disciplined that they couldn't get TPA passed with veto proof numbers, causing the TPP package to fail and making Boehner look ineffectual given GOP policy on TTP and TTIP.<br /></i><br /><br />TPP is one of those issues that actually shows the cracks in the Republican base. The corporatists want it, but the Tea Party purists who hate Obama, distrust Wall Street, and think of TPA as "welfare for unions" aren't going to vote for it. The vote failed for the same reason that GW Bush, after ginning up xenophobia against Arabs for several years, couldn't get a bill passed giving a Dubai-owned corporation control of our port security.<br /><br />In any case, you are talking about the House. Dr Brin's "most disciplined in history" comment refers more to the Senate, back when the GOP had only 41 Senators and could stil manage to filibuster <b>everything</b> to the point where the idea became engrained in the American consciousness that it takes 60 votes to pass a bill in the Senate. LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-90310820105146523652015-06-14T16:38:34.498-07:002015-06-14T16:38:34.498-07:00re political parties "burning their bench.&qu...re political parties "burning their bench."<br /><br />This seems to be an American problem - <br />For a country with massive "competitiveness" you seem obsessed about "taking your turn" in politics<br />So the same tired old faces appear election cycle after cycle<br /><br />It seems to me that in the rest of the world a politician gets one chance<br />If he/she stumbles then he/she is replaced and there are no second chances<br />There always seems to be a supply of fresh facesDuncan Cairncrossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-86862767456046210112015-06-14T14:18:55.842-07:002015-06-14T14:18:55.842-07:00Given that the GOP is so tightly disciplined (...)...<i>Given that the GOP is so tightly disciplined (...)</i><br /><br />So tightly disciplined that they couldn't get TPA passed with veto proof numbers, causing the TPP package to fail and making Boehner look ineffectual given GOP policy on TTP and TTIP.<br /><br /><a href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll362.xml" rel="nofollow">Roll Call for House bill on TPA</a><br /><br />I think one can say that the GOP is more disciplined than the Democratic Party. If both parties are essentially doing the bidding of our oligarchs, we need a way to break that disciple and reward politicians for actually representing the people, not the money.<br /><br />Alex Tolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01556422553154817988noreply@blogger.com