Why the stimulus package isn’t enough

and what to do about it

by Mark Hewitt

President Elect Obama has inherited the greatest power on earth; he is that one man than can make a difference at a time which change is possible.

Today the powerful force of the “Status Quo” is still at hand; where established systems are simply asking for more resources to do what has always been done before; From State and City governments to entire industries; i.e. Automotive, Retail, Banking, Transportation, etc.

At the core of our economic crisis is a fundamental flaw in how an economy actually works. We have allowed for accounting systems such as the “Federal Reserve” to play games with how we measure productivity. (see the book Creature from Jekyll Island) this process has led to wide spread business value where real productivity is traded for promissory notes without any backing or substance. (Sounds like something familiar in the news today i.e. Bernard Madoff).

My conclusion is that continued funding of established broken systems only delay an already failed system.

How to fix it

First it is important to understand that we live in a Universe where nothing is ever wasted and from a Physics perspective everything is always in balance which translates into the national debt is just a gross misrepresentation of someone’s accounting of real value.

The current set of notes and accounting used in today’s world economy has been primarily built on the basis of a “non-renewable” source of energy or Oil, Gas, & Coal. With minor exceptions for materials based uses of these products a real accounting of productivity will show that our books are actually very balanced.

Today we have the opportunity to leverage what resources we have as a nation and focus it on the following priorities:

1. Replace non-renewable energy sources with renewable energy
2. Establish infrastructure in a format that can be maintained and or replaced
3. First and foremost is communications; establish an open and “Free to access” national “Intranet”.
4. Build a transportation network that favors renewable energy based systems of transportation; i.e. Maglift Rail systems, electric cars, etc.
5. Establish a network and system of accountability for use of our energy sources and other resources.
6. Establish a basis for basic health maintenance and health care.
7. Education is the foundation of human understanding; it should be a social and national priority and not restricted to legacy university systems; we have the technology and with a National Intranet we can deliver.
8. National and Personal safety and security; is a responsibility not a right; education and training empower each of us to be responsible for safety and security.
9. Foreign policy; we are all part of the same family on this planet; diversity is part of establishing a successful future; however threats and the use of violence can not be tolerated in a evolving civilization and it is the responsibility of our neighbors to tolerate or ignore members of their own culture that support or use force on others. International foreign policy should have a zero tolerance for the use of violence against others.

I realize that this may be radical thinking and that an understanding of how symbiotic Energy and an Economy are with each other should be at the forefront of everything we do.

Even to the point that conservation is not a solution; we have the energy to live in a balanced world without giving up the things that make us more productive and healthy.

Remember that “Change” is the only truly universal constant.

Mark Hewitt

Incumbent "Child Like" response to consumer rights

by: Mark Hewitt - June 23rd, 2007

Verizon the only primary RBOC left to support fiber via the Fios project has today reached one million subscribers in a statement by the companies CEO this week. The incumbent which still controls regulated utility status and thus the ability to use “eminent domain” to secure property for easements to deliver communication services – has again shown a child like respect of consumer rights –

In a move much like “we want our cake and eat it too” approach to the FCC 1996 Telecom law designed to protect consumers rights to multichannel video programming called CableCARD – Verizon is hoping for an FCC reprieve from the ruling.

In similar actions the old MaBell used invalid patents to cripple an upcoming competitor to the telephone side of Verizon’s service income – in an attack on the VoIP provider Vonage – costing millions of dollars that could have been used to improve customer service and release new products.

Verizon Wireless was also hit by a recent Patent dispute over Broadcom technology which is most commonly used in the Cell Phones sold to consumers of the Verizon Wireless network – a recent halt to the import of these devices by a DC judge – and again rather than respect the Intellectual Property of another party the carrier appeals to President Bush for a reprieve.

Draw your own conclusions – however I feel that it is time to take control over key utility infrastructure as is today the case of several State and Local government actions – such as the recent eState initiative in Vermont and proposed legislation in New Jersey and New Hampshire.

The need to separate the Infrastructure from what should be “Open Market” services has put the United States 15th in broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants.

“We are failing to bring the benefits of broadband to all our citizens, and the consequences will resonate for generations. There is no justification for America’s declining status as a global Internet leader. Instead of more excuses, it’s time for true national broadband policy that will put America’s digital future back on track.” said Ben Scott, policy of director of Free Press. [via broadband reports]

Unanimous Support for Broadband

Mark Hewitt - Friday June 22, 2007

First is was Rhode Island and the now historical Business Innovation network – a wireless project backed by the Governors Economic Development authority, and built by Stratum Broadband (an EcoSystems Partner)

Followed soon by the eState initiative just signed into law by Vermont’s Governor Jim Douglas becoming the first true e-state with the authority to bond and develop a Communications infrastructure to be shared by carriers and generating significant economic benefit to the residents of Vermont.

Now we see many others follow – today a New Jersey bill specifically authorizing municipal wireless pass the Senate “unanimously.

And let’s not forget some of the early leads that bore so much of the wrath of incumbent carriers – Truckee – now again the PUD debate the possibility of high speed fiber optic for residence.

Keep up with this and other Broadband and Technology related issues by subscribing to Mark's Blog and News Feed