A Tech Savvy White House

On today's yahoo tech page it was reported that the tech savvy staff of President Obama were dismayed at the old versions of both software and computer equipment in this age of facebook, twitter, and my space along with youtube! I would comment that this may not be the case going forward.

Web savvy government can be accomplished. California has good web openness, and this is due to caring and tech sharp elected officials like our Secretary of State, Deborah Bowen. Granted the extra security of federal regulations may cause certain extra levels of security; but you can still establish approved links. Messages and updates can be cleared and a more open posting will insure substance to the new administrations dictates on a more open process for FOIA [Freedom of Information Act]. White House Communications, pronounced WHOCA, can be tasked to do that within secure guidelines.

National Security Concerns along with the White House Counsel's concerns can be part of a more open and technologically accessed government. It seems POTUS can be given a special General Dynamics hand held PDA, that has been approved by the NSA; that has dual functions that both allow open access by President Obama, and also cyber protected secure communications. Then the West Wing can be upgraded and enter the 21st Century with this new vital administration.

I personally look forward to hearing of the next upgrade in communications that we will see in the people's White House.

Is this the Promised Land?

As I thought about Dr. King yesterday and watched today’s inauguration, I started wondering: with the inauguration of Barak Obama, have we at last crossed the River Jordan and reached the Promised Land that Dr. King told us he’d seen from the mountain top the night before he was killed?

I’m sure I don’t know. But then I had another question. What if we act like we have?

Reaching the Promised Land does not mean that our work is done, it only means the journey is over. We sometimes forget that only the land is promised. The milk and honey and sweet fruits come only after long days of labor. And it can all recede in the distance again if work isn’t done. And done again.

“We are likely to preserve the liberty we have obtained only by unremitting labors and perils." --Thomas Jefferson, 1796

How to help finance the Obama Economic Package

This morning President-Elect Obama spoke on his proposed economic stimulus package and the changes that must begin in Washington to address this national crisis.  It appears to be a 800 billion package with a possible 300 billion tax cut directed to small business and the middle class!  The deficit for the coming budget year is looking to be 1.2 trillion as a point of departure.  This package is proposed to create 3 million jobs in the coming years.

One area that is obvious is the timely extrication of our troops from Iraq!  The green zone is now protected by the new Iraqi army.  If our troops are going to be off the street, and barracked to some extent; let's bring numbers of them home soon if not immediately.  We should see tens of thousands return to the United States.  This is both a wise fiscal decision, and a moral imperative!  Cut our financial hemorrhaging by decreasing our occupation of Iraq as promised!

Lastly, since these infrastructure projects are meant to improve roads, bridges, and other construction and refurbishment; let's get money to the states to restart stalled projects already on the street.  One good example is the construction at Hollywood Way and the 134 freeway that is closed down due to California comparable financial crisis.  This is a visual I see everyday in my hometown of Burbank, California.