Long ago I concluded there are two kinds of people in the world: sail boaters and power boaters.
You may complain that not everyone owns a boat.
That misses the point. It is a question of attitude, not platform.
Sail boaters are always alert to the world around them. What is the wind doing? What will it do? Which way is the current moving? Sailors don't just analyze the surface of things. They want to know what's under the surface. There may be unseen obstacles.
Sailors know how to reach their goal by indirection. If the destination is upwind, change course back and forth (tack) to reach the goal. It might take a bit longer, but it works. They trim their sails to make the boat go faster, and sometimes to operate more efficiently.
Most of all, sailors know that every destination is just a way station toward another destination, not the end of a voyage. It's about the going, not the getting there.
To be sure, there are people who own and operate power boats who think along the same lines. I say they are really sailors at heart. Many of them own trawlers.
But if you hear someone express disdain for tacking and trimming sails, that person is a power boater. Especially if they just want to aim the pointy end in a particular direction and push the throttle all the way forward.
There's room in the world for both kinds.
As my fellow Oklahoman, Will Rogers observed:
A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Scholarship
"You can lead a man up to the university, but you can't make him think."
Mr. Dooley (Finley Peter Dunne)
Mr. Dooley (Finley Peter Dunne)
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Ron Paul and the Census
A couple of nights ago I saw Congressman Ron Paul of Texas declaim on TV against the current US Census. He claimed that the 2010 census, which arguably asks the fewest questions since the 1790 census, exceeds the requirements of the US Constitution.
Balderdash!
Congressman Paul, who admittedly has some interesting ideas on a number of subjects, is a physician. Apparently he believes, like some other physicians in Congress, that this qualifies him as a Constitutional Scholar, an Economist, a Historian, an expert in International Affairs, nuclear physics and Rocket Science.
As I have pointed out before, the US Census was NEVER just a head count. For one thing, since slaves only counted three fifths of a person for purposes of apportioning seats in the House of Representatives, they had to be counted separately.
It's in the Constitution.
Balderdash!
Congressman Paul, who admittedly has some interesting ideas on a number of subjects, is a physician. Apparently he believes, like some other physicians in Congress, that this qualifies him as a Constitutional Scholar, an Economist, a Historian, an expert in International Affairs, nuclear physics and Rocket Science.
As I have pointed out before, the US Census was NEVER just a head count. For one thing, since slaves only counted three fifths of a person for purposes of apportioning seats in the House of Representatives, they had to be counted separately.
It's in the Constitution.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Energy: Key to Survival
There's a helpful opinion piece in today's on-line edition of the New York Times.
Andrew Revkin offers some thoughts on the energy gap and climate crisis. Key thoughts: the world is well on its way to having nine billion inhabitants. Some two billion right now essentially have no access to energy. This will worsen as both China and India move toward an automobile-based transportation system.
Most discouraging is that our own basic research into energy is lagging. Take a look at the colored graph Revkin posts in his article. It makes the point.
A few years ago Public Radio's "All Things Considered" contacted a think tank that thinks about such things "what is the maximum population the world can sustain at a European standard of living?" The answer: we already have three times the population that could be sustained at a european standard of living.
Think about that.
Andrew Revkin offers some thoughts on the energy gap and climate crisis. Key thoughts: the world is well on its way to having nine billion inhabitants. Some two billion right now essentially have no access to energy. This will worsen as both China and India move toward an automobile-based transportation system.
Most discouraging is that our own basic research into energy is lagging. Take a look at the colored graph Revkin posts in his article. It makes the point.
A few years ago Public Radio's "All Things Considered" contacted a think tank that thinks about such things "what is the maximum population the world can sustain at a European standard of living?" The answer: we already have three times the population that could be sustained at a european standard of living.
Think about that.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Public Figures and The First Amendment
First Amendment to the US Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Originally this was only a constraint on the Federal Government. In modern times, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it also applies to the states.
The way this plays out is to pretty much allow the press to say anything they want to about public figures. Libel laws, for example only come into play if an aggrieved public figure can prove "actual malice." Figuring out what phrases like "actual malice" mean is why lawyers earn the big bucks.
Who is a public figure? Pretty much every elected and appointed official falls in that category.
What if the press prints something that isn't true? What if the press or even a private person mischaracterizes something a public figure says? Tough!
There's that pesky first amendment.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Originally this was only a constraint on the Federal Government. In modern times, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it also applies to the states.
The way this plays out is to pretty much allow the press to say anything they want to about public figures. Libel laws, for example only come into play if an aggrieved public figure can prove "actual malice." Figuring out what phrases like "actual malice" mean is why lawyers earn the big bucks.
Who is a public figure? Pretty much every elected and appointed official falls in that category.
What if the press prints something that isn't true? What if the press or even a private person mischaracterizes something a public figure says? Tough!
There's that pesky first amendment.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
South Avenue
I just bicycled past the fence at the end of South Avenue. There had been a sign on the fence announcing the Corps of Engineers project to repair the town breakwater. That project is now completed and the sign is gone.
It's time for the town to clean up the street end and remove or cause to be removed the fence that blocks the end of South Avenue and a portion of the town's right of way on Avenue A.
The case is over. Let's take possession of what is ours.
It's time for the town to clean up the street end and remove or cause to be removed the fence that blocks the end of South Avenue and a portion of the town's right of way on Avenue A.
The case is over. Let's take possession of what is ours.
Voting in North Carolina
Just got back from a very interesting training session for county election officials offered by the State Board of Elections. I'm still digesting the information.
One message came through loud and clear: North Carolina is one of a very small group of states leading the way in modernization and reform of election law and procedures. Other states and the federal government often look to North Carolina for ideas.
An example is the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act of 2009 which amended prior law (Uniformed and Overseas Civilian Absentee Voting Act)concerning overseas voters. Of ten provisions in the law, only one provision will require amendment to North Carolina law.
In fact, the US Department of Justice has asked to use North Carolina as a model for other states and as a pilot for new ideas. That speaks well of the leadership of our State Board of Elections.
One message came through loud and clear: North Carolina is one of a very small group of states leading the way in modernization and reform of election law and procedures. Other states and the federal government often look to North Carolina for ideas.
An example is the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act of 2009 which amended prior law (Uniformed and Overseas Civilian Absentee Voting Act)concerning overseas voters. Of ten provisions in the law, only one provision will require amendment to North Carolina law.
In fact, the US Department of Justice has asked to use North Carolina as a model for other states and as a pilot for new ideas. That speaks well of the leadership of our State Board of Elections.
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