Surf Roots, Software Thoughts

I ranted pretty hard yesterday about American automakers getting bailed out.

Jack and Sierra just shared this, and I had to share it as well:

Photo credit: here.

Have you run a bad business?   A business that has failed to cater to the market’s needs?  A business that has continued to sell bad, unreliable products?  A business that should be filing Chapter 11?  A business that is utterly inefficient, plagued by unions and bureaucracy, and completely inferior to its competition?

It’s OK.  The government will give you billions of dollars.

U.S. automakers are “very likely” to get bailed out.  This infuriates me, because they absolutely don’t deserve it.  My first new car was an American car.  It needed a new transmission only a few months after I drove it off the lot.  I have heard similar horror stories from many of my friends.  For these reasons, my current car is a Toyota, and I couldn’t be happier with it.  I have done 360s on ice, hit snow banks, forcing me to go on 2 wheels, been hit while parked, offroaded like a mad man, and my Tacoma runs like a dream (knock on wood).  My whole family has gone from entirely American to entirely Japanese, and we couldn’t be happier.

All reliability concerns aside, I have two favorite things about American car companies:

Unions
American automakers pay nearly double for their unionized workers when compared to most foreign automakers, whose workers are not unionized but are on average happier.

Warning: the claim I have just made is not supported.  I heard this quote from a friend, who read it in a book.  Please do some digging if you plan to use this claim, research that I am too lazy to do :).

Product Development
You’ve heard of these hybrids, right?  You know, those cars that get good gas mileage?  I got an idea.  Let’s take our disgusting large SUVs, put hybrid engines in them so their fuel efficiency goes up by a few miles-per-gallon, and sell them for thousands of dollars more.  Sounds like a great idea, right?  GM would agree.

The most irritating thing about this bailout, though, is that the foreign automakers who have ran their businesses well will not see a dime of money.  The U.S. government is giving money to failing businesses and not providing any reward for businesses that have succeeded (as far as I know).  This is not capitalism.  This is ridiculous.

I should say, though, that it is easy for me to be annoyed, because I do not know anyone employed by any U.S. automaker.

Update: make sure you take a look at this photo.

I would estimate between 5,000 and 10,000 people were grouped around the steps of City Hall, listening to stories, hoping for change, and believing that Gays will have equal rights soon.  I was utterly touched by my experience today.  I laughed at a few signs like the following:

I was sapping towards signs like the following:

And I was moved by the turnout, speakers, and general essence of such a wonderful movement.  With the passing of Prop 8, a proposition that creates an amendment to the California constitution outlawing same-sex marriage, Gays are no longer recognizes as equals by our governing doctrine.  This is despicable.  Every man and woman enters this world as an equal, some loving the opposite sex, and some loving the same sex.  Certain religious organizations made large contributions to the Yes on 8 campaign, the most notable being the Mormon Church, who donated over $20,000,000 (that’s 7 zeros).

Reverend Amos Brown, one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s six students, gave the best, most motivational, moving speech I have ever witnessed.  His booming, powerful voice echoed off the concrete and steal buildings which house our governing body, preaching love and equality and peace and happiness.  His words touched our hearts, and his presence gave us that tingly feeling in our spine that makes us understand that this is something, that there is something here, something worth fighting for.  Here is the speech, though the video isn’t all that good:

After the speeches had finished, the whole crowd proceeded to march to Market Street, the most famous street in San Francisco, towards the Castro, which is perhaps the largest Gay neighborhood in the world.  Thousands marched as millions watched.  They marched for their rights to love whom they have wanted to love since they were born.  They marched for their friends and family, loved ones and childrens, in hopes of one day having equal rights.

America has fought for equality before, and now it fights again.  It fights now, not for gender or race, but for love.  It fights for love, and what a wonderful thing to fight for.  Love.

I just got finished with my semi-weekly Facebook friend-list pass.  I am utterly inspired by how many of my friends are talking about voting today.  I have at least 50 status updates from friends encouraging others to go and vote.  Some mention who they are voting for, and others don’t.

The point I’m trying to make is that this is something.  My friends, who are generally apathetic about politics, are getting involved in this election; they have an emotional connection and a deep, strong hope that this nation’s politics will change.  Generation Y wants change; we’re hoping for change.

And we need change.  Too long have we been plagued with neoconservative bullshit.  Too long have we spent money and time on issues that are both irrelevant to common good and are not our own.  Too long have we, American citizens and residents, been represented by an administration that does not represent anything that we believe in, that we agree with, that we need.  Enough.

The following two videos are utterly despicable.  Shame on those filmed for being so ignorant, and shame on those filming for provoking this, somehow thinking that these videos are productive.  The only way in which they are productive is to show us the types of people that live in this nation.

Is it too complex to ask one man to have mutual respect for a fellow man’s culture, religion, and dignity?  Is it too complex to understand that we are all living on this small world together?  It’s productive to have competition and a moderate level of disagreement, but the dialog captured in these videos is despicable; those involved should be ashamed.

There are different types of people in this world: some that believe in one thing; others that believe the opposite; and even others who believe something entirely different.  Difference is good; culture is good.  Some of the people filmed in these videos are different; some are racist and intolerant.  Though I am no moral authority, I believe that these people are wronged in hating, and it sickens me.  One is not wronged by disagreeing and holding one’s own beliefs, but one is wronged when negatively affecting others with harsh and untrue circumstances.  Treat man as thou wishes to be treated — the golden rule.  It is wrong to judge someone by their name, of which they did not even choose themselves.  It’s despicable what some of these people say.

For the record, I am not making any claim that all McCain / Palin supports have these opinions.  I am not claiming that Obama is a better candidate.  I am not claiming that the creators of this video did the right thing.  I am merely commenting on the ways in which filmer and filmee have reduced themselves to animals, with no reason or self control that would otherwise allow us to work together.

These videos have made me physically ill.  I wish we could all get along, agreeing to disagree, mutually respecting those around us, working together to create a loving, happy, working world.  I suppose perhaps things aren’t that simple, but I refuse to ever believe otherwise.

Update: the post I have just written brings to mind the following post, which I recommend you read if you’re a member of Generation Y.  Generation Y is Too Quiet, Too Conservative

Update 2: this one is pretty bad as well:

My dad sent along this interesting video, so I thought I would share it.  A fellow POW of John McCain shares his political opinions.