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Just to have a consolation prize if Obama happens to lose.
When you bring this up, you get hand waving about how smart Obama is, and how he won't do any of these things (never mind the fact that his base wants it, his Congressional backers want it, and he'll likely have the political capital to achieve it).
Sarbanes/Oxley has been an atrocity that has helped destroy the IPO market. We're about to elect a man who is bound and determined to destroy the rest of it - and the people who make their living in that space are cheerfully voting for that.
So go ahead - vote that way, and end up stunned and astonished when the tech sector gets taken to the cleaners by the new administration and Congress. The only fun I'll end up having over the next few years is saying "I told you so" repeatedly.
Mind you, this is not to say that McCain is much better. At best, he's a lesser evil in this area. But that's what I'm left with in this election: a choice between dumb and dumber.
And that's all fine and dandy, but one thing that sticks in my mind (and I'm an Independent voting for Obama) is that the prevailing image of Republicans is that they hate change. In technology circles though, we all know that change is inevitable. When we consider things like bullshit copyright laws, fiber, or infrastructure, who is more likely to bring that about? Certainly not a guy that was born before the printing press!
Obama is the lesser of two evils, no doubt. His plans are to some degree socialistic, but McCain (despite labeling himself a Republican) is a symbol of big government, plutocracy, and more of the same incompetence GWB has exhibited so well.
Let's all remember that McCain voted for everything we have come to hate in technology restrictions. So those that think he'll do a better job than he's already done may want to get a clue.
And... just 13 bucks on McCain at Intrade.com will give you insurance for your bets. Ask them to raise the bet to a $1000, or more :-)
The idea of 2 grown men making misstatements about each others asperations for the PEOPLE is shamful. And neither man has the perfect plan to turn things around in the economy.
But I do think the McCain plan is a little more rational.
So I am going to vote independent and not show my support for either candidate.
James Robertson@6:14pm is right. Obama would be a disaster towards innovation. Why? Because Modern Liberals/Socialists want everything to be "equal". Success is a big problem for them. That's why they always work to tax success.
I don't know why it's so hard to see, but Obama would be terrible.
Second, Scoble, you said "Whew, glad to hit Wednesday and be done with all of this." We're not going to be done with this.
We're not going to be done with this because the polarization is not the result of "politics". It's the result of Modern Liberals have a different belief system than normal people and it's finally coming out. The media, which is infested with Modern Liberals, used to be able to control the flow of information. The internet changed this and now we are in a culture war.
That statement is typical of Neocons. Whatever happen to Reagan's philosophy among conservatives? Small government, individual liberty, and personal responsibility? Conservatives these days have done everything they claim liberals are for, bigger government, loss of liberty, and government primacy over the people.
Liberals are not the problem (and I say this having adopted Reagan's philosophy). It's the Neoconservative's that are screwing everything up. Liberalism of today is more akin to Reagan of yesterday. Thank gawd there are some that still try to keep that ideal alive.
One thing that's clear, I'd rather earn 80% of a 10% increase in the stock market than 90% of a 40% loss.
Would anyone trust a political poll anymore.
It will be interesting to compare the Popular Vote with the Electoral Votes
Obama has the tech sector completely snowed. What he - and Pelosi and Reid - want is an economy more like Europe's. One dominated by large employers whose employees are protected by large unions. What they don't want is a large class of small businessmen, because such a class tends to resent regulation and high taxes. They would much rather have a class of large employers who cheerfully submit to such regulation in exchange for government protection.
If that's what you want, fine. But bear in mind that voting for Obama is voting for such a system. It's not voting for what Silicon Valley has been.
Some of his solutions have a Scandinavian flavour, e.g. lower health care costs and good education for all.
Overall, he seems to be "build bridges" sort of guy, uniting and respecting people across the globe. If I lived 10 time zones behind, I'd vote for him.
James
I am a senior Lay rep for a tech union and that isn’t how it works out in Europe :-)
A large number of small business men are in favour in cutting red tape except where it benefits them.
And if large employers mean the average employee is better off what’s the problem. As FDR said Capitalism works as long as we all get a share.
And if Silicon Valley wants to be what it always has been, it will stay on the innovation path and get some of those dollars.
I will bet you $100 that Obama will win - I will even give 2-1 odds;
In fact I will even donate my winnings to charity - any takers?
I hope Americans as a whole aren't ignorant enough to believe all this FUD being spread about Obama.
And to suggest that Obama will be bad for the tech industry... get out! We stand today at a financial crisis bordering on recession that is going to severely impact every industry, including the tech industry, brought about in part by the policies of a Republican government - and you want to slag off at Obama's policies?
And also brought about by the greed of wealthy people, those who think it's the working class who should bear the tax burden because though they (the wealthy) have been successful and successful people have some sort of right to pay less taxes as a reward for their success.
I grew up in a household staunchly right-wing house that believed that claptrap and it took me many years to see it for what it is: greed and selfishness. And greed and selfishness have brought down many governments, both right and left wing.
The irony, of course, is the Republican side of politics has large Christian support base. Yet true Christians should be the most socialist people on the planet. The New Testament advocates the distribution of wealth, living in common, etc etc etc. Very, very socialist ideals, and even communist ideals.
Funny how those Republican Christians overlook that aspect of Christ's teaching.
Obama's got no hope of turning the US socialist because your form of government does not allow radical change. The mere fact a person can be president for only eight years is one safeguard. And further, like the UK and Australia, there's not a big difference between the two major parties anymore anyway.
Changing governments from left to right, right to left, simply allows us to maintain an overall average direction to where we, as a country, want to go.
If Obama wins, then in four or eight years, some of you will look back and blame all the problems that have begun before Obama and that he'll have to deal with, on him. Which means it will be easy for you to look back and say "I told you so." A win-win for you guys!
But most will look back and see it wasn't that much different to the last eight years, or the eight before that.
Call Seagate for me -- tell them that you've got a candidate for CEO. He's never run anything, not even a lemonade stand. His current job he mostly phones in, because he's been applying for another job for the last three years. When asked about his actual performance, he talks in generalities and says that he has hope.
I'm curious if they'd be interested in taking him on or not. My guess would be that they'd be a little worried that the total lack of experience might put their enterprise at risk, no matter how great his ideas and intentions were.
But at this point, I'm actually kind of looking forward to an Obama win and a Democratic congress. I see two possible outcomes:
1. Miracles happen, the heavens part, and all problems are solved. My purse swells with coin and the mideast becomes a peaceful oasis. Healthcare is available to all, Social Security is saved, war is banished from the earth and rectal itch is a thing of the past; or
2. I get to make fun of all my liberal friends for years and years.
Either one sounds great, to me.
It's not scaremongering about Obama. He's stated that he wants higher cap gains taxes, higher taxes on upper income people (who already pay the vast majority of taxes in the US). He's stated that he wants to institute cap and trade on carbon, which will do wonders for anyone in a cold weather state who might want heat in the winter.
And to the guy who said "it doesn't work that way" with regard to European unions - a few years back we had a guy in Germany who announced that he disagreed with our business plan, and would not do any work unless it was changed. It took us a year to terminate his employment - against the will of his local union.
That sure helped us out, having him on staff.
Are you the programmer of Insomniac? Any news about your program?
I am sad actually. Sad because I actually think that most Americans don't have a clue as to what is going on with the big picture and with U.S. national politics and to be honest I don't think they want to really know what's going on.
And I don't claim to have the "all knowing eye" either. But I will tell you that from my cheap seat, neither of these candidates are actually going to make our country, as a whole, better off in four years. I think the country has gotten so large and divested that we as a people are so splintered as to what direction and priorities we need to be working on.
For instance, NEITHER of the candidates have a real plan for paying down and eventually paying off the 10 trillion dollar national debt. If you think the problem will fix itself, you are the dumb electorate that these politicians want voting for them. Each of the candidates say they will get to a balanced budget in three to four years --- THEY ARE SMOKING CRACK AND WANT YOU TO SMOKE SOME WITH THEM.
Another instance... NEITHER of the candidates have a real plan to fix social security. In fact they say there isn't a problem. I've even heard rumors that one candidate has let it be known that they are open to taking 401K/IRA accounts and putting them into the social security system, but I can't substantiate that rumor. But for there to even be a rumor like this is so crazy it might be true.
NEITHER of the candidates have a real plan for addressing the 700 billion dollars in oil we purchase from foreign countries every year. Everyone wants to talk about independence from oil, but NEITHER of them will tell the American electorate the hard, cold facts and come up with a plan to get the problem fixed.
With my rant done, I can tell you I am so proud to live here in America. At least on Tuesday I can go to the voting booth and give my opinion without fear. Although I am sad that I don't see things getting better, I do have the hope that we can keep working on it little by little and eventually make things work out all right.
Oh yea, one last think... I am happy that for a couple of years we are done with the election process... man, being informed can really bum you out!!!
Get back to technology now Robert, please.
Obama equated his sharing of toys to that of communism. Once again, if he shared his toys, good for him. But the analogy falls apart when applying SHARING, since communism is where his teacher would have taken his toys and then spread them around. But it gets worse. Historically, those who taken the toys, usually keep the best for themselves and then spread the remaining around.
I imagine that those that think that the socialism/communism will be such a wonderful thing, should go back and review the history books. Its been tried many times over the centuries and has always failed. Just in recent history, look at the former USSR.
Personally I don't think many people voting for Obama are really putting much thought into what Obama is saying or proposing. they are just hearing the word
Change, and falling all over themselves. Many are accusing the current admin of taking away their freedoms, but under what Obama is proposing, they will have many of their freedoms (not to mention their hard earned money) taken away. Its the only way to make it work.
But they won't listen and pay attention to what has been going on recently. Any difficult questions posed on Obama, the questioner is investigated. But the question remains unanswered. We know more about the Joe than we know about Obama. And joes only crime was to be living in the neighborhood where Obama was polling and he made the mistake of asking a question that Obama answered out of his own beliefs. And instead of standing up and being responsible for his answer, Obama had Joe investigated.
The reporter who recently asked Bidden questions that followed up on Joes, the station has been removed from any further interviews. And just this weekend, those papers who have endorsed McCain, have had their reporters removed from Obama's plane.
Wow, if it were McCain that had done any of this, the people here supporting Obama would be screaming bloody murder.
And what is the problem with the rest of the media, are they afraid to question Obama? or just helping him get elected.
Once again, if this were happening with McCain, well. you know how it goes.
The people cried for a king.....
Jay, from Bangalore
done nothing except what they were schooled to be-
Civil Rights Attorney’s.
Be careful what you wish for for you are about to getit !!!!
A socialist with many socialist and questionable friends
he still claims live in his neighborhood !!!! Some neighborhood .
BHO and his wife are the biggest most successful marketing
event,project ,product or person ever.
They will the help of their media comrades——
have pulled off the greatest heist ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No the Honorable President Regan would not approve
of this person who shouts fairness and wealth redistribution.
Protects criminals,wants to speak with terrorists,approves of
partial birth abortion, increased taxation,protectionism
and weakening our National Security.
BHO does not even have a United States of America
flag on his plane ??????
Change you can count on
Fairness to all except those that disagree with BHO
Wealth Redistribution- they didn't need or earn that money any way
Be careful what you wish for -you are going to get it !!!!!
DaveBigos
Decent of you to write a post to give the opposing side a chance to speak up. You've won me back as a fan.
Here's to aiming for a better world regardless of who is elected.
-Nick
I am a social conservative, therefore lean conservative most of the time. McCain is out of touch... he caters to the rich... this is true. But he is also a Hawk, and I respect his war service, and long time public service.
I don't think Obama is any more qualified than Palin is. Unfortunately for McCain, I don't see that as a plus in his corner.
I voted to Romney in the Primaries, and Romney won my state over McCain. Had McCain chose Romney as VP I might have had a harder decision.
Its the Economy, stupid. I'm not voting my conscience. I'm voting for our better interest. All things considered... Obama has made the better argument. Doesn't mean he is the second coming, or that he will be able to right the course... just that he will be less reactionary, and more thoughtful in his decision making.
Haven't we had enough of the cowboy mentality? If he fails to get things done, he will be a single term president, anyways.
Godspeed America!
Too bad you didn't get a multiple for the electoral landslide. :-)
Now, on to climbing out of this hole that 8 yrs of Bush has put this country in...
Do you say this because you're heading to China and you're not going to talk about freedom and politics?
E.g. When will we see an elected head of state in that country? When someone from the many minorities in that countries? How to break the party monopoly, corruption, solve enviromental problems without civil war and worldwide economic collapse?
The world still has a long, long way to go.
i think so ....
Change we need!..