By: Big G

Big G — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:53:41 +0000

As I look back on some great ideas that have shaped the world, the automobile, the airplane, electricity, telephone, radio, television, computers and cell phones, these were all initiated by entrepreneurial visionaries. In fact, government took many of these advancements and figured out how to use this technology for military purposes. I’m not sure what context he is referring to in his comments, but if I had to stretch, I might concede to him the Space Program and the Internet, but even still, the advancements that came from these ideas were fueled by opportunistic innovators, not big government. Actually both of these big ideas are truly rooted in our Defense departments concern during the Cold War of maintaining military superiority and our ability to defend ourselves. The Space Program, that Kennedy turned a public relations juggernaut, was positioned as a race to the Moon and tapping into our competitive nature for America to be first. The real objective was to maintain military dominance in the air. Same holds true for the Internet, with the advent of transcontinental capable nuclear war heads, large metropolitan cities could be destroyed in a flash and with that our telecommunications network obliterated and our ability to communicate severely threatened. In the early 60’s the Defense department went to MIT engineers and asked for a redundant network (i.e. spider web) not located in major metro areas (i.e. universities) as a go to system if our telecommunications network were ever crippled. If I take exception with any of Biden’s comments, I think his use of the word “visionary” is over reaching at best to describe governments involvement. While our progress as a civilization was accelerated with the advent of the Space Program and the Internet, the innovative technologies and applications we enjoy today are the by product of innovative, individual, industrious capitalists. So to Joe and big government, I proudly give a tip of the cap, for without them, I would have had a life without Tang.

By: flataffect

flataffect — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 22:12:48 +0000

I notice that he left out the 18th Century which was when we rebelled against oppressive government and declared our independence and ratified the Constitution. Where’s his list? The New Deal has brought us to the brink of bankruptcy and he wants to add more to the debt. Right, Joe.

By: Shoebox

Shoebox — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:22:21 +0000

In reply to Chris from Racine. Yes Ma'am, I knew that and it was one of the reasons I chose this great American invention!

By: Chris from Racine

Chris from Racine — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:11:34 +0000

And Ms. Nesmith Graham was also the mother of Mike Nesmith, of “The Monkeys” fame. LOL

By: steveegg

steveegg — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 03:28:11 +0000

Wite-out also works.

Comments on: What To Say About This…

By: Big G

By: flataffect

By: Shoebox

By: Chris from Racine

By: steveegg