Artificial intelligence can be used to control, deceive, and manipulate, or it can be used to remind us of our progressive, revolutionary past.
Category: Autocracy
Losing the Asymmetrical Information Contest
Knowledge is power, and COMPLETE knowledge is absolute power. Those who display the greatest paranoia and fear of being controlled and manipulated are unwittingly being distracted by a regime that will make their most alarming fears a reality. While the extremists on the Left and Right are fighting wars over LGBTQ+ rights, a little company…
A Ten-Year Moratorium on AI Laws?
The “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by our House of Representatives contains a 10-year moratorium on state and local laws concerning artificial intelligence (AI). There is much to consider in House Bill 1 (its official name is “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”). We know the bill has lots of pork, but if anyone criticizes this bill,…
The Washington Cringe
Cringe: a feeling of embarrassment or discomfort in response to something awkward or unpleasant. Most of us, particularly younger people, have listened to confused fathers and uncles bloviating about topics they know little about. The fictional Archie Bunker from Queens, New York, is the perfect example. Here are some of his humorous witticisms: Archie was…
Making America Stupid Again
There can no longer be any doubt. The Trump Administration is hellbent on destroying American higher education. Trump is attacking higher education, as Mussolini did in 1931, Mao in 1968, and Viktor Orban in 2019. All dictators want to neuter and control the intellectual gold mines of their societies. This impulse is fueled by the…
21st Century Crime
When America was “great” between 1890 and 1932, there was an active, overtly criminal culture, particularly in large cities. The most famous criminal icon in this era was Al Capone of Chicago. Capone and his associates were able to control neighborhoods in many ways, including violence and intimidation. However, over time, many gangsters were able…
Chaos Leads to Disaster for Most of Us
The chaos of the Trump Administration’s tariff war is already causing importers and exporters to halt shipments worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic caused factories and most supply chains to freeze for extended periods. Have we forgotten the empty shelves of toilet paper? Do we remember the hoarding behavior? We can expect a similar experience by this…
Trump is a Genius
The most recent Real Time With Bill Maher episode concerned Maher’s recent White House meeting with Donald J. Trump. Maher’s shtick is a unique comic style. He portrays himself as a truth-seeker with no limits. He proudly proclaims his atheism, libertarianism, political incorrectness, and satire. He skewers every shade of the political spectrum, except for…
The Ultimate Litmus Test for Trump Voters
Many books document the aftermath of countries and cults that fail spectacularly. The scenario should be familiar to everyone: A charismatic leader convinces his cult followers that they have mighty, secret powers or standing in the world. He convinces them that their unique beliefs will allow them to triumph in the afterlife, the current life,…
A Real Life Goldfinger
Arrogance really comes from insecurity, and in the end our feeling that we are bigger than others is really the flip side of our feeling that we are smaller than others. Desmond Tutu While some of James Bond’s movie scenarios involved undercover spying with foreign governments, several involved spying on rouge, power-seeking entrepreneurs. One of…