Obama's planned economic stimulus efforts have been compared to those of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt,such as CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and WPA (Works Progress Administration),in that it is meant to rebuild and strengthen our nations public spaces,roadways and other infrastructure as well as provide numerous jobs at a time when companies are shutting down and unemployment levels remain at record highs. In the process, it is hoped that our country will once again be lifted out of a crippling economic downturn and some prosperity restored. Many public facilities right here on the Eastern Shore were constructed by WPA and CCC workers ( Mr. Chevalier could tell you better than I which ones). Another of FDR's agencies, REA (Rural Electrification Agency) brought electric power for the first time to many farm families on Delmarva during that era as well, at a time when private enterprise did not serve them. Nationwide,valleys were flooded and dams constructed to power these forgotten communities and the citizens and their businesses prospered from it.
Now Obama plans to do for broadband internet what FDR did for electricity-make it accessible to those potential users that the private telecom and multimedia giants have overlooked by failing to develop and invest in their networks, and if he indeed follows through on this, he will have won at least one convert right here. Yep, he finally find a way to get me and other conservative leaning tekkies to "drink the Kool-Aid".....read on.
I know that for the most part,the private sector can pretty much do anything better than the government does but in the area of internet technology, private companies have done too little,too late and our country is falling way behind as a result. An article in todays Baltimore Sun stated that "The United States ranks 15th worldwide in broadband access". That is just no longer acceptable in the so-called "internet age". It may not seem like a big issue but it is one that impacts our educational and economic future.
I am by no means advocating "free broadband for all"-of course users should pay for it-but right now there is no access to broadband for many areas. We cannot pay for something we do not have. Users like myself have one option-Hughesnet-and while they do have affordable basic residential service plans, they are still prohibitively expensive for commercial users. There are many businesses and organizations that would greatly benefit from high-speed internet access and are not "being served". We really cannot afford to be left in the proverbial dust when it comes to information technology so despite my reservations about it all, I am also optimistic. It goes beyond being able to download videos and music and it is about time the issue was addressed.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
22 comments:
The only thing I have learned about Obama is to not count your chickens before they are hatched !
He is so wishie washie with his "Change" policy. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see how he "changes" his mind next.
I think theres more to just providing broadband internet, I think it is time to move into the next century by interconecting every entity through out the world. Lets truly make this a Historical election year by doing something great for all. The end of seperate entities replaced with unity and harmony for all. We can become one in perfect harmony.
Excuse me for stealing that old "coke" comercials words, I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony....its the real thing. And then Eddie Murphy comes on and says " have a coke and a smile and shut the f--- up...obama"
But seriously how can this guy do anything with a spiritually bankrupted country, that has allowed its own Government to literally steal Billions of dollars from the people ? I'm waiting to see.
Tot,
I must respectfully disagree. Remember this. If the govt. installs it, they will control it. Inasmuch as the internet is the fastest growing form of media, it will soon become depended upon by the people. As we learned with crude oil, when society becomes dependant upon something we become totally dependant. If the govt. has control over something on which we are totally dependant, they will control us completely. Look past the convenience and remember, the road to hell is paved with good intention.
dependent - sorry, verb form
Just wait to see how much it will cost when it's free.
First they will control the content, then monitor where you surf, then when the private companies are all out of business, the costs to operate the service will skyrocket as all of the graft and political corruption takes over.
Constant tax increases to pay for it will be required, so that all the government employee cable guys can sleep in their service trucks somewhere.
Sounds like great news to me. I hate dial-up!
Grand Dad makes a valis point, but I say let's wait and see.
Did the REA and RFD of times past cause government control over our lives?
True, Croatia has better internet than we do. But is it really going to be a useful tool or a toy for entertainment?
An aside:
I remember two older men talking. One man says," Do you remember those seven-holers the WPA built?"
But the other man looked puzzled and said, "No, I don't remember that."
Then the first man said, "Well, you're from Oriole. You used to sh** in the ditchbank!"
If government is strong enough to give you everything you want it's strong enough to take it all away!
OK..Let us not commit comedic blasphemy here. Those true words of wisdom actually were given to Mr. Murphy by Richard Pryor regarding Bill Cosby being too uppity. Secondly, I have had people trying to "control me completely" all my life. This is too bad for them because I am a bird that will never change. I smile, take everything they offer for free (scholarships, free computers, internet access, those pitiful little $300 "please be my friend" checks from W.) and learn the Constitution {something tells me this document probably won't be censored from sight on the free government computer} so I know what rights I actually have and what authority the government has/or lacks. This pays off tremendously because I am able to develop a strong, independent mind/voice of my own and I don't have to give a flying fig what flatulant thought balloon is going to emit from the likes of Roseanne Barr and/or Dennis Miller next.
Bob,
These programs absolutely enabled the govt. to exercise further control over the people. It "justified" (in the eyes of the govt. in power at the time) the taxation of some to redistribute to others.
You know "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." Karl Marx
Not only did FDR violate the tenth amendment, but he created the entitlemt mindset that has plagued this nation ever since. After all was said and done it was WW2 that brought us out of the great depression - not some socialist policy of entitlements that continues to choke this country to death. So - yes Bob, it is my opinion that each of these programs have contributed to the systematic increase of govt. control over the citizens. In fact one could argue that by implementing these programs, the govt. insured that we the people would not be able to avoid becoming dependent upon every service provided and on the govt. to make sure the service would continue. Wouldn't you agree that when we all depend on the govt. to supply and maintain a service that has become a necessity, that govt. possesses a great deal of control over those who depend upon it?
Last time I checked the Federal Student Loan Program was run by Uncle Sugar himself. Because I couldn't afford the laughable tuition figures required by PRIVATELY run Universities/Profesional Schools- looking more to make nice campus offices and banquet facilities than educated graduates-I found myself "dependent" upon him out of necessity too. Ironically, I now use the fruits of that "government controlled" program to speak out against them when they act like fools {perhaps you have read my work}. You sound like the type of person who would pass on the swine flu vaccine because it really is just a chance for the government to microchip you and steal your DNA. So "Bob" thinks perhaps you are the one being a little smug here-you had your chance in a different era...don't crap on opportunities for growth for the youth of today.
I cannot help but think that without REA, it would have been 1959 before a large number of rural people had the choice of electric power.It is a similar principle and I am going to be cautiously optimistic about it.
Mr.P your comment about the 7-holer vs. ditchbank conversation was hilarious!
Being a moderate it's hard to decide how to feel about which way to swing here. Having said that, I often wonder to myself how much real quality of life would be without all the progress, electric and running water.
I mean, if I've never had it I wouldn't miss it, or all the crime, technology and progress provided by opportunity. Now criminals can go online and research an easy area to target for scams and crimes and find a community with a lot of sex offenders so they can feel at home.
As always I value your opinion Totmom, I do like the way you think, just another view I guess. Peace
12:55 you have me all wrong.
I certainly am not some anti-govt. paranoid nut. I would definitely choose the swine flu shot - only I would choose to take the shot and make an appointment at my doctor for it. I also don't want someone telling me I have to have it. You would probably come across more intelligently if you backed off the personal attack.
If a student wants a loan for school it should be done at a lending institution. The loan should be personally gauranteed not provided or gauranteed by the taxpayer. I think most of the problems we have right now are due to unqualified federal governmental entities becoming involved, directly or indirectly, in things they shouldn't. The tenth amendment is important yet was stepped on early in our nations history. Now we are paying the price. Also, I may have enjoyed your work but I have no way of knowing who you are.
GD. Have had computer issues today-sorry I can't blame them on the government yet. Didn't mean to challenge while anonymous. And if you now see who I am you would see I am also very critical of government abuses (on all levels). Don't mean to comment and be viewed as making a personal attack, but I don't understand the logic of 1) Slamming FDR kind of unnecessarily-hence my snippy retort; what is your next trick? Kitten Juggling? Initiating a lawsuit against a car full of elderly nuns? 2) Being kind of close minded even during those times when the government can actually give you a deserving helping hand {we are talking about opportunities for clean air, water, education rights, liberty issue type stuff}. Arguments can be vigorously made that most of you folks who had the most to lose in the last two years lost it to DEREGULATION abuses, not the other way around. If you knew what tuition costs these days, and how little private institutions are lending without actually putting your "least attractive child" into toddler escrow, you would know those Federal Loans are the only chance many have to better themselves and not end up with McHigh blood pressure from working 3 part-time jobs. Have to cut this short, but also consider this: restricting the internet to people most needing information is a denial of their basic right to read blogs like this-otherwise they may be forced to read what pretends to be a local newspaper for their "education". Pretty scary if you look at it that way, huh? Gotta' watch the Ravens finish these dudes off-hope that makes my comments as passionate, yet less personal.
Reese Bobby,
Yes I am in agreement with many of your comments regarding many issues. I would, however, say that my criticism of FDR was not unnecessary. Most of the programs he implemented have opened the door to wasteful govt. spending, socialist policies, and the creation of govt. agencies without the proper authority. I would also vigorously argue that if the federal govt. had not gotten involved in strong arming the lending institutions into loaning money to "low income" people who otherwise wouldn't have qualified for mortgages under the threat of investigations by the Department of Justice, we wouldn't have needed the level of oversight the Republicans fought for and Barney Frank opposed (see recent youtube video). Everytime the govt. forces itself into a situation, it ultimately goes bad.
Additionally I have ho intention of juggling kittens of filing lawsuits against nuns. Where did that come from? Sarcasm? I would ask you this though. What entitles anyone to a "deserving helping hand" at the cost of the taxpayer. You see, this is where we part ways. I have 4 daughters and a son. One is currently in college. We work our butts off to make sure the we have the means to help our kids get the education they want. Notice I said "want" rather than "need". A "need" is food, clothing, shelter, etc. We all make decisions in life that affect our future. Planning ahead is essential. Failing to plan is equivelent to planning to fail. How can it be the responsibility of the taxpayer to assure that my child goes to college? It is incumbent upon us all to make sure that we all pay our own way in life. It's part of being a responsible, contributing member of society. The spirit of entitlements is destroying this nation.
blutojthetotmom I am slightly confused by your post. The post and copy paste of the baltimore sun article I fully understand. I am just thrown by this post when you made comments on a post regarding "transplants" if you cannot accept a person from 75 or so miles away and their life style then why is it you would feel you are entitled to broadband internet service? If you do not want to come to terms with the FACT that people move from all over the world and an even greater number of people move intra and interstate than why do you feel you should be brought up to speed with the rest of the world? If the "transplants" are ruining this area why would you want access to the internet that would just completely sabitage this life style?
Do you realize how ridiculous that makes you seem? To, whether meaningfully or not, bash someone based on the society they grew up in but then expect you are deserving of the perks of the city life! Have you not heard the old saying "you can't have your cake and eat it too"? You cannot expect the advances with modern life if you refuse to open your mind to other people. I doubt you will even publish this, but I hope it does make you think about how hypocritical you sound. Take time to get to know the individual, just learning that a person is from the western shore does not automatically make the person evil, bad, or unworthy. For such a religion based area, there sure are a lot of nasty people. Isn't there a time in life when a person must evaluate themselves? Wouldn't you like that time to be now, before it is too late to confront your fears? When it all boils down to it that is the majority of the reason for the insults, the eastern shore natives are fearful of the western shore because there have been so many advances in so many ways that the eastern shore feels inferior to the western shore. Just a little second amongst open minded people: The western shore every day Americans do not judge you or the shore as a whole. They care about the person as an individual and have the ability to treat each person as they deserve to be treated.
If you are religious than how can you go to church and say you love all people this that and the other, but have the never to get on here and bash someone simply based on the first place that persons butt touched air? It is really stupid.
Stop all the tension and stop spreading the ignorance, not one person benefits from it.
GD. You could say it is sarcasm. I grew up in the debating circles where you don't earn a lot of points or supporters by calling out perhaps America's greatest president (also in a wheelchair all his life) and micromanaging him like an armchair quarterback while he presided over multiple profound world events that not only shaped our nation, but the new "New World." I am pretty sure I recognize you as a diehard supporter of George Bush, who will go down in history as possibly the most retarded president to ever have been given an election by a dubious Supreme Court. If you have disdain for the way things have been run lately, you still have time to gas up and spew your venom at its proper targets on Pennsylvania Avenue. In case you didn't get the memo, it isn't inaugeration day yet-you or I currently have the same amount of executive power as president-ELECT Obama. With regards to "giving of helping hands", I also find it horribly incongruent that many here (mostly falling under the Republican label) pound their chests as the most pious people {getting lost in the 'steeple envy' of their Mega-church}-The "true patriots" who don't want "god" stripped from their pledge, currency, or inaugeral oath. But the minute any government entity tries to do something proactive in the best interests of the whole with tax money {instead of chucking it into their own pockets with things like the presidential election fund where Michelle Obama can eat Iranian caviar as a snack while watching The Oprah on the can}in an effort to "be their brother's keeper"-everyone starts labelling them as Socialist. And I can make a pretty sporty case that based on framer intent, that a free quality public education is in fact a liberty right. But we will save that for another day.
Reese
I wasn't looking for points or supporters.....just civil debate. You don't recognize me correctly. As a matter of fact I did support Bush initially but the more his presidency unfolded, the more stupid mistakes he made. No, Reese, I have come to the conclusion that political parties had worn out their welcome. When the majority of elected officials would oppose a good idea just because it was introduced by someone from another party, the time has come to recognize that both major political parties have betrayed the people. I would even go so far as to say that the parties have forgotten who "The People" are. In my previous comment I mentioned that the Republicans tried to implement oversight that Barney Frank and his cronies opposed. That was just one incident of many that neither party is prone to any more than the other.
GD. I appreciate you for taking the time to debate intellectually. Seriously-it is the true embodiment of the "marketplace of ideas"-fundamentally granted by our First Amendment; the spirit the framers of our Constitution agreed upon during the era they were immersed within (during a time which we had no foresight to see technical advances such as instantaneous communication-subsequently, note the "decisive" battle fought against Britain in New Orleans- In retrospect, a 'Blackberry" might have been kind of helpful). I must leave you a little short right now {while relying upon our Fifth Amendment-and wrapping my knuckles with foil} because I have an uneasy feeling we have "paper-media" zips within our wire. Kiss my butt, Polly.
"Transplants" is not an insult, I am merely referring to people who move to the area from somewhere else-not just across the Bay from all 50 states and beyond.
blutojthetotmom I have to admit that I was guilty of doing exactly what I am so determined to stop. I jumped on you because of your comment after I had been subjected to numerous comments about transplants, FBI ("bleeping" B-more idiot as if most locals dont already know that), implants, etc. I can say I am woman enough to apologize to you for being so quick to assume you were like the people I, on a daily basis, encounter because I wasn't born here. After 4 years of giving to this community and taking in children who literally had not eaten in two days when no one else gave a hoot I am starting to get a little bitter. I am not in Salisbury, but very close to there. I have clothed some of my nieghbors and their children, have taken in a family, and feed some of the forgotten elderly and a few kids who's parents could care less because the crack is more important. I have watched as drug dealers fly by and throw their trash in my yard, I have listened to every excuse imaginable why the police will do nothing about it. I have had my back window shot and seen two houses go up in flames do to arson. I witnessed a family being cut from their vehicle because the 25 mph speed limit didn't apply to a drug dealer. My family has been shunned in more ways than one and far more times than one. Like I said I am from Anne Arundel, spent 27 years in that county and I never once had as many problems there as I have had since moving here. I am not saying one area is better than the other, although before moving here I surely thought life would be much better for my children here. I was under the impression that people still cared about one another and still helped a neighbor when times were tough. I spent a little while trying to "be a part" of here, but then it hit me, why would I want to be a part of something that doesn't care about the people around them? We are one family in this town that most have never gotten to know. I may be trying to conquer more than I will ever be capable of, but if nothing more I want the children that I see every day bored into temptation to have a place were they can go without pressures of gangs or drugs. I don't owe a darn thing to this place, it has never given me a chance much less anything more, but I am a firm believer that children should not suffer because parents are too ignorant to understand society for what it is becoming. You see I am a "transplant" as some prefer to call me, (I personally prefer the new neighbor it's much nicer) but I consider myself a pretty good person who cares. Maybe I am disappointed because I was really hoping to raise my children in an area that had a community center or where everyone took the time to say hi and maybe crack a smile. Maybe I had a false hope that the people around here would be just as nice to us as a neighbor as they were when we stopped in to make a delivery. I'm still not sure and trust me it's been laying heavy on my mind all day.
I know this has went way off base from your original post and I some what apologize for that. I do have to say though, times are changing all over the world and I will stick to my original cause we are Americans and we should be proud to stand side by side with other Americans. We should be a country that understands people have different views and opinions and the government ticks the majority of us off at times, but we are still a country that has lost sight of uniting with one another. Derogatory statements are and always will be associated with the negative so when you say transplant it automatically sticks to people who are addressed as that in a negative way as a negative statement. All areas should have broadband access, but just an FYI there are areas in just about every county in MD that cannot access it. Once again I apologize for jumping the gun and speaking out of frustration, but I do ask you and anyone else who uses terms such as those to really think about what you are saying because you might be saying it to, or in the presence of, someone who would not only be offended but also someone who is trying to do more for the community than many generational natives are. I don't have much of anything, no fancy clothes or new car but one thing I do have without a doubt is a heart. I seemed to have lost sight of that during the previous post and I am bit upset with me over that. I just hope you and possibly others hear what I am saying because like it or not people are going to come and go, the streets that were once filled with children may be filled with drugs, but the only way to stop that from happening is to take those same kids that were there years earlier and give them hope and meaning in their lives while we still can as a community. Regardless if their mom and dad came from California, the western shore, or they were born and raised on Delmarva you have to agree the children should always be given a chance and a place in life. Everyone around here could hate my guts and I wouldn't much care as long as my children were accepted, treated equally, and given opportunities to be a part of a positive change in society. When it all comes down to it THAT is what truly matters in life. No high speed internet, video game, fresh off the assembly line reeboks, or anything else material is going to make that happen. So how about just doing that? Just giving our children the chance to overcome all that is thrown at them this day and age. To be what most people want but never act on, a community, a real in the moment community that does all it can to get the drugs off the streets, to keep children involved in activities, and most importantly to instill respect, honesty, and care within not only our children but to the children of those around us as well. There is no need in seperation among people who live side by side. There is no reason for any one of us to be hostile because we move in to or out of one area to another.
I don't know maybe I am just really hopeful for this area because I think people do want to care, they have just lost sight of how to do it. The most important thing is to think about what I have said. I am no genius and like I said I am surely no millionaire but I am a mom who loves her children more than life it's self and I would and have given up my meal in order to feed other children. With that I can hold my head up high and listen to all the remarks because at least I refuse to give up on my fight to help the children any where I go. Once again I apologize for judging you as we are judged, it was wrong on my part and I deeply regret spurting off at the fingers when I should have sat back and thought before hand.
and after february 19th, you will pay.
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