(The Big Disrupt) IoT: Will the Internet of Things Enhance Democracy or Empower Autocrats? by NED

Check out this brilliant, insightful and important debate hosted by the National Endowment of Democracy back in February about whether The Internet of Things will enhance or empower Autocrats    

(Politics) “Mansanto protection act” and assault weapons ban abandonment: two examples of why Americans have no faith in their political class

Congress has long been one of the most unpopular political bodies in the free world and in the last few weeks, it has earned it’s status as the body dropped the assault weapons bill and effectively gave a corporation a bye from reprimand should it’s products harm the American public .

There has much made of the fact of how beholden America’s political class is to the interest of big business to the detriment of their fellow citizens, but the actual protection of corporation from reprimand  if it’s products have adverse effects on the public’s health has to be one of the most shocking instances yet.

In an eager rush to get a funding bill passed or face a government shutdown, President Barack Obama signed the bill that had “language” that “effectively bars federal courts from being able to halt the sale or planting of GMO of GE crops and seeds, no matter what the health consequences from the consumption of these products”[1].

Food safety advocacy groups  have made their disgust for this bill clear as it serves as a major “gift to Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) and other firms that produce genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) seeds and crops.”[2].They expected their government would be cognizant enough to spot devious ‘language’ buried in legalese but, no surprise to anybody paying attention over the last five years,  the public interest is the last thing on the minds of members of  it’s political class.

It’s safe to say that the US public are aware that their political leaders could care less about the public interest as congress’s approval rating, according to public policy polling, is only a shade more popular than  “Lindsay Lohan, the Ebola virus, the Kardashians and North Korea” and is bested by “Genghis Khan”[3].

Any dissenting doubt of this fact was quashed just several days before the Monsanto debacle as Senate majority leader Harry Reid publicly gave up on the assault weapons ban citing a lack of votes for the measure.  However this should be no shock to anybody as democrats already gave up on passing an assault weapon ban a month in advance.  Contrast the difficulties of getting votes for a assault weapons ban in the wake of multiple mass shooting s including the tragic events that took place in new town and the near consensus in both houses to protect Monsanto form legal reprimand goes to show where congress priorities lie. 

In sum, it has not been a very good week for congress as the body has shown why it is one of the most unpopular democratic bodies in the free world as it dropped the assault weapon ban in the face of  a number of tragic mass shooting and granted immunity for a corporation which goes to show that the political class are beholden to anything but the public interest.

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[1] C. A. Sheets, 2013, Farmers and food safety advocates lead Monsanto blacklash, http://www.salon.com/2013/03/27/farmers_and_food_safety_advocates_lead_monsanto_backlash_partner/

[2] Ibid

[3] J. Stephens, 2013, Congress Approval Rating Lower Than Cockroaches, Genghis Khan And Nickleback, Poll  finds,  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/congress-approval-rating-nickelback-cockroaches_n_2435601.html

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(Opinion) Pew research center poll: the america you never hear about

According to a poll carried out by the pew research center, 32 percent of adults of voting age identify themselves as ’lower class’ marked by a great increase in all age and race groups except black people[1]. People in this class seem to be waning in confidence of the American dream as they cite an increased need to ‘cut back spending’ and  only 51 percent believe that ‘hard work bring success’[2].

The fact that there is an marked increase in people who identify themselves as members of the lower class also has political implications as there has been big increase among independents and democrats who , but the most profound increase is among those who are republicans, who experienced a 10 jump[3]

However what is really profound is that the two major political parties have gone out their way not to recognise this voter bloc. While such an omission may be expected by republicans who have long been considered as the party of the rich, it is not so readily accepted by the democratic party, the self -claimed party of the ‘little guy’.

From the Clinton era onwards, the Democratic Party has made it a point to market itself to the middle class rejecting a growing working class/lower class demographic that is pessimistic about America’s future to say the least. The most revealing findings in the poll was the increase in young people between the ages of  18-29 who consider themselves lower class  from from 25 percent in 2008 to 39 percent in 2012[4].

This represents a major blow to one of the most reiterated values in American life;   future generations should have it better than their predecessors. If the Romney campaign had any competence they would come up with ads in record time targeted in swing states where Obama currently has the edge  citing these findings  running into the continued theme of the campaign  asking Americans if they are better off than they were four years from now.

But knowing this campaign, they have so far never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The Romney campaign managed to turn what should have been an week of easy press into a comedy of errors by insulting Britain during the Olympics and Palestinians while in Israel. They have failed to answer calls of democrats to release his tax return as democrats have successfully framed Mitt Romney as a cold blooded capitalist in a climate where one could be burned at the steak.

In sum, the recent findings serve as further proof of a truth that is becoming self-evident; the American dream is in trouble and it going to take longer than four years to keep it alive.

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[1] R. Morin and S. Motel, 2012, A Third of American Now Say They Are in the Lower Classes, http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/09/10/a-third-of-americans-now-say-they-are-in-the-lower-classes/

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

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(Opinion) Egypt military reshuffle: Way to go?

While most leaders (in the west especially) go out their way to accommodate the military from generously funded weapons programs and research to praise of dead and living soldiers , in the Middle East of late, the opposite seems to be happening. The Egyptian government is outwardly dismissing and retiring army chiefs left and right underlined by the news that 70 generals are set to be retired[1]. This announcement comes after recently elected president Mohammed Mursi was quick to get rid of top military personnel such as General Mohammed Hussein Tantawi and his chief of staff[2].

The current trend is strong in turkey as the Turkish government has recently prosecuted more than three hundred current and retired military personnel for allegedly planning a coup against the government[3] and have retired “dozens of generals and admirals”[4]. Civilian rule in Turkey have become more assertive in the last decade since Tayyip Erdogan came to power who has successfully sought to dominate a military that has had a ”dominant role” to play in Turkish politics[5].

The similarities between the Egyptian and turkey governments are striking as both leaders have a pro Islamic platform and are part of parties that have traditionally been marginalized by secular parties in power. This trend represents a step in the right direction as the military in many Middle East have had dominant role to play in civilian rule outwardly dominating the political class. Such a set up is clear in countries such as Pakistan where the military and judiciary are aligned against politicians who hold an almost a platonic view of politicians and democracy.

However there is another perspective from which this trend can be viewed.  Such a trend can be viewed as a step backward in the secularization of Middle East countries as two major countries in Middle East are now run by pro-Islamic leaders. The military has had a large part to play in the secularization these countries with the military producing leaders hostile to Islamic organizations and, especially in Attaturk Turkey, to Islamic culture.

While this perspective has some validity, the trend of assertion by civilian rule over the military is a step in the right direction as the military organization skills are efficient, it is limited as the military is built to deal with rigours and challenges of warfare not the governance of a nation.

In sum, the assertion of civilian rule in the Middle East has a step in the right direction after so many years of military dominance. Egypt, after so many years have full control of their destiny as they can hold their leader accountable as he is no longer owes his position to the military but to the Egyptian people.

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[1] BCC News, 2012, Egypt retires 70 army generals, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19456182

[2] Ibid

[3] E.Toksabay, 2012, Turkish military coup trial nears verdict,

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/08/06/uk-turkey-military-trial-idUKBRE8750G120120806

[4] AFP, 2012, Turkey military ‘coup suspects’ forced to retire, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jnYNOJ27QxdqFFyu3v3N_PBgcT9w?docId=CNG.3a08c6899195c45e01f258f28bb7edc1.5a1

[5] Ibid

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(Opinion) Celebrities: Watch your tweets!

With the news of a Greek medal hopeful being kicked off the Olympic team hours before the open ceremony  because of controversial tweets on her personal account, public figures must realize their tweets don't exist in a digital vacuum where free speech is unfettered.

From the controversies of the 'choc ice' tweets to the poorly executed attempts at humor by  premiership footballers and Hollywood actors, public figures have not grasped that there are responsibilities as well as rights when comes to free speech and careless tweets are cannon fodder for news coverage. Unless public figures realize this , they will be subject to controversy likely to affect their careers and the public perception of them.

However this is bound to happen as the twitter format doesn't exactly encourage thoughtful debate. It's quite difficult to clearly articulate  your position on a given issue in 140 characters. it serves as a reason why most twitters seek to be clever rather than succinct as they only have a limited amount of words to express themselves. It encourages the skills needed to write good ad copy rather than reasoned debate when addressing the public.

In sum, Public figures end up in controversy as they see twitter as a just social forum when it more than that. Twitter however, doesn't encourage reasoned debate as public figures need more than 140 characters to articulate their positions on any given event.

It encourages skills required for ad copy than addressing the public explaining why most controversies on twitter have come from public figures poorly executed attempts to be ironic. Public figures have rights to free speech, but in an age where the words they speak are under scrutiny by the media and wider public alike, their responsibilities with regard to free speech are just as important.

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