| Policy for the Google generation |
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| Written by Dr Eamonn Butler | |
| Thursday, 26 June 2008 | |
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Comments (3)
Government failure in the internet connected world
written by Charles D Quarles, June 26, 2008
With all due respect, Dr. Butler, you are badly misinformed about the government's response to Hurricane Katrina. The Federal government of the US, including FEMA, put in place the most rapid and effective search, rescue, and relief effort in the history of the US to a hurricane related disaster; even though these efforts are historically done locally by private parties, charities, and local governments. To the extent that the government failed, it was Governor Kathleen Blanco's (State of Louisiana) and Ray Nagin's (City of New Orleans) failure to implement their own disaster plans and to hinder the Federal government's efforts. FEMA, Dr. Butler, is a logistics agency. It coordinates information so that private citizens, private charities, local governments, and State governments are able to implement disaster relief plans and efforts.
In the US, the Federal government cannot "take charge" until the Governor gives permission, including asking for the National Guard (which is State based) to be activated as armed forces under the orders of the President of the US. Governor Blanco, for whatever reason, delayed giving that important authorization. The US Federal government has no Constitutional authority to provide personal information to any third party without express permission. Local law enforcement, generally City and County agencies, do that; and these are always assisted by private parties and charitable organizations.
... written by Richard Calhoun, July 02, 2008
The only way this revolution will start is by radically cutting public expenditure, particularly the welfare and benefits area and introducing a flat tax that will take all earners below £15000 p..a. out of the tax system.
Follow this up by reducing the size of the House of Commons ( surely long overdue ) and devolve powers to the people by localising and giving them the right to spend their own taxes on education and health for a start. Write comment
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Jeremy Hunt, the UK Conservatives' handsome, dynamic, young (42), wealthy Culture spokesman, was our guest at a power lunch in Westminster this week. His theme was policy for the Google generation. Technological advances – computers, mobile phones, the internet, interactive online stuff – have given people access and empowerment in ways they've never had before. But, think the Conservatives, politics and public policy has not moved on. Sure, you can file your tax form or buy a fishing permit online, but so what?
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In office or on getting into office, I can't see any of our political parties (Conservatives included) relinquishing centralised power to their employers, the people. Our present government is clearly rushing in the other direction. It seems to me that politicians are politicians because they wish to wield power over their fellow citizens - even if, as a consequence, those fellow citizens are worse off. Perhaps the significant word in the article's final paragraph is 'revolution' – or we need a different breed, a Gorbachev (in his latter years - as I'd like to be around to see it happen).