Osama Bin Laden
I've been thinking about our war on terror. We have a huge reward posted for Osama and yet have made no progress in taking him out. While his influence seems to diminish, he still is a powerful influence.
Maybe we are going at this wrong. How about inviting him to the negotiating table? He seems to want to influence the US people...what better way? I realize that we are more interested in taking him out than talking to him, but taking him out is not working. Regardless of the crimes he has committed against us, it doesn't hurt to talk with him because of his obvious stature in the Mid East.
If that fails, at least we know where he is.
Government Competence
So, now we have had FEMA at New Orleans and the Medicare Drug plan. It gives me no comfort that the same government that provides these is also fighting the war on terror.
Obviously, there is something fundamentally wrong here. It seems to not be dependent on the political party in power, except that one would hope they can recognize the the issues and do something about it. If not, we need to look for other political leadership.
I am hoping that blogging might have a positive effect on all this, so please provide your comments and invite others to join in.
Thanks...Ben.
Think Clearly
Political Influence
Only rich people can afford to be politicians without contributions or party help.
After they are in office for several years, they lose touch with the electorate, for example:
1) Politicians generally have their own retirement
2) their own medical care
3) they make much more money than the average person
4) they send others to war, but don't send their kids or go themselves.
How can we change this so they stay in touch?
Financing Politicians
The political process of selecting candidates should be more like a tournament.
Start at the lowest level, such as Congressional Districts. Limit the campaign to publishing a list of candidates and their information, financed by public funds. No other financing or advertising allowed. Select top candidates by vote and move them up to the next level. Continue this process to the top, eventually electing to the office. Do this for all from the lowest to highest elected officials.
This eliminates political fund raising, which many National politicians say takes over half of their time. The result: No legal influence buying, more time for the politician to do his job.
What do you think?
Jill Carroll - Hostage
There seem to be three choices:
1) Do not give in to terrorists and take what we get.
2) If she is murdered, execute all the women "terrorists" being held by the Coalition. Effective, but a response that would lower us to the level of the terrorists in Iraq.
3) Give in to the terrorist's demands, encouraging more atrocities.
All bad.
