In May 2001, the professor of law at Georgetown University was tapped by the Justice Department to work for two years as an assistant attorney general, working primarily on judicial nominations for the department.
But three months later the World Trade Center towers collapsed, and Dinh was drafted to work on the USA Patriot Act, a bill that would give the government some of its most controversial surveillance powers. The bill, coupled with the government’s subsequent treatment of immigrants and native-born citizens, prompted critics to charge the administration with overthrowing “800 years of democratic tradition.” Wired.
Tom Peters on Outsourcing
Tom Peters posts 16 points on outsourcing/offshoring. Points 6 and 7 are interesting.
6. Americans’ “unearned wage advantage” could be erased permanently. (“There is no job which is America’s God-given right anymore.” — Carly Fiorina, Hewlett-Packard)
7. The wholesale, upscale entry of 2.5 billion people (China, India) into the global economy at an accelerating rate is almost unfathomable.
His conclusion: we need to train many, many more creative, risk-taking entrepreneurs. That will require a massive shift in how we educate our youth. The only reliable indicator of whether you will be an entrepreneur: you are the son or daughter of an entrepreneur. If that skillset can’t be transferred more generally, most people will be left behind.
Thanks to John Robb.
I’ve lived in the west, and there’s no question, that residents in Wisconsin and the Midwest in general need to start to take some business risks, and grow more entrepreneurs (It is truly genetic, I believe).
Song of the Day
Annie Lennox’s Into the West from The Lord of the Rings – Return of the King.
Pier Wisconsin Unveiled
Acting Milwaukee Mayor Marvin Pratt and Pier Wisconsin officials made public the long-awaited redesign of the $46 million lakefront education center at Municipal Pier. In an earlier interview, Pratt called it “spectacular” and “a wonderful addition to the lakefront.”
Art Rainwater Profile
Doug Erickson profiles Madison Metropolitan School District Administrator Art Rainwater.
Nader Announces Run for Presidency
Dave Winer (UW Grad and the original blogger) has some useful comments on Nader’s run.
Frontline: Tax Me if You Can
PBS’s Frontline has an interview with Robert McIntyre, Director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy regarding Federal Tax Policy.
Our current tax system is a mess, with many special interests (ethanol, SUV’s) feeding at the trough.
Business Week had an interesting article recently on the “fairness” of the current tax system (including the controversial Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) implications on middle income Americans).
A friend thinks we’re better off taxing everything at the cash source….
WSJ on MMSD Teacher Buyouts
s objectionable as the idea is, buying off terrible teachers often works better than firing them.
Many times, settlements save taxpayer money and more effectively protect students. But the Madison School Board went too far last week in giving superintendent Art Rainwater sole authority to flash cash to settle employee misconduct cases.
A 4-3 board vote allows school administration to, in essence, pay teachers to quit – without board discussion or approval.
Opinion Page: Wisconsin State Journal
Teresa as X Factor
Ms. Heinz Kerry compares her husband to a “good wine,” adding, “You know, it takes time to mature, and then it gets really good and you can sip it.” DAVID M. HALBFINGER NY Times
John Edwards Internet Team
Ed Cone interviews John Edward’s internet team.
Edwards raised $450K online Thursday, with an average contribution of $79.82.
Aaron Myers, says that the current campaign is far from business as usual. ?Things are totally different now from 2000,? he says. ?The biggest difference between this year and four years ago is the number of people acting independently, out somebody?s garage, supporting the candidate. That?s exploded.?