BR  COMMENTARY


Bob Rucker
Former CNN
Correspondent

Undergraduate
Coordinator
&
Radio/TV/Online
Coordinator


School of Journalism
&
Mass Communications

San Jose State University

 

RUCKER BIO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARE YOU
STAYING CURRENT
WITH
TECHNOLOGY?


Thomas Friedman


" The world is moving to
an Internet-based platform for commerce, education, innovation and entertainment. Wealth and productivity will go to those countries or companies that get more of their innovators, educators, students, workers and suppliers connected to this platform via computers, phones and P.D.A.'s."

 

"The technological model coming next ...will revolve around the power of networks and blogging. The public official or candidate will no longer just be the one who talks to the many or tries to listen to the many. Rather, he or she will be a hub of connectivity for the many to work with the many - creating networks of public advocates to identify and solve problems and get behind politicians who get it."


 

  

 

  


        Post-Katrina: Irresponsible Behavior Across The Board
                                  Posted Sept. 2, 2005

Looking at everything from the TV journalism to emergency management response since Hurricane Katrina came ashore, it is clear this week will be remembered as a disaster enabled by  colossal poor judgment and irresponsible behavior by people on many levels.

First were the TV journalists, in desperate need to be noticed or recognized as studs, who proceeded to show viewers how to defy life-saving, law enforcement orders. These self-absorbed, Star-Want-To-Bees, foolishly dubbed by their anchor people as “brave and courageous,” dared to venture out in the dangerous hurricane winds, as if that was impressive.. Some of us could barely contain our laughter. Others, like me, were angry that such an important function in our society was being so trivialized. Truly it was, “Send in the clowns.” Someone needs to remind TV news people that flying glass, steel or other objects can kill even you. Maybe that warning should come directly from the FCC.

Next came the looters. Again, most of us who have lived long enough to reasonably anticipate human nature were waiting for this to happen. That, however, does not excuse the reprehensible behavior of some. Stealing a pair of NIKE tennis shoes or designer clothes from a vandalized department could apparently be justified by some. It seems to me, later, those individuals should be identified, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to using their ingenuity and hardship experience while serving time in the U.S. military effort in Iraq.

Some looters, however, who did break and enter to find food and drink for their survival can and should be understood and forgiven. If they were motivated to take those supplies directly to starving people in their community, they indeed are the true Heroes of this tragic week in history. Who knew it would be a down-and-out, compassionate looter who would shine a much needed light on selfless behavior and humane action.

Next…Government officials. No amount of photo ops of the President hugging the poor folks in the South can cover-up the reality that government officials were not properly prepared, and unbelievably inept with their first response to Hurricane Katrina victim. All that rhetoric about homeland security and regional practice drills that past few years have proven to be pure theatre, and bad acting.

Let’s face it, despite numerous efforts by people in the know to get lawmakers and leaders to wake up to a disaster waiting to happen, no one pitched a fit when the President,  a while back, cut major funding to enhance New Orleans levies to only one-sixth of their original request. Heads should roll in the federal government, and everywhere else, for taking FOUR DAYS to get life saving relief to human beings known to most of us as our fellow Americans. Every time a foreign nation offers us aid, I suspect a few may be snickering with the added irony they are giving us a taste of our own medicine. Somehow the greatest nation on earth can screw up like everyone else.

Finally, …Those Americans and residents who won’t follow this tragedy, and history, as it unfolds because “it’s too depressing.” The new WAKE UP IDIOT, IT’s NOT ALL ABOUT YOU award goes to every person in this country, young and old, poor or wealthy who can not find time to care about what’s going on in the South, or see how it affects the whole nation.  This special award category also includes anyone who dares to think, "There’s nothing I can do about it.” Sorry to bother you, but staying clueless about what’s going IS THE PROBLEM. That lack of interest by so many people has enabled authorities to mass produce and feed us ‘feel good messages” for years now.  They think that’s all some people’s attention span can handle. Remember: On the food chain, we’re the ones who can think for ourselves.

It would seem irresponsible behavior is contagious.

Now…Consider this. Scientists have been predicting for years that a major hurricane could hit the United States and devastate us. They also have been telling us a major earthquake here in the Bay Area is a good possibility too.

Stay tuned to the news. You might want to see what NOT to do.

Bob Rucker
Former CNN Correspondent
Undergraduate Coordinator
School of Journalism & Mass Communications
San Jose State University

 

OTHER VIEWS...OTHER ISSUES

 
I've been thinking of running for high office on a one-issue platform: I promise, if elected, that within four years America will have cellphone service as good as Ghana's. If re-elected, I promise that in eight years America will have cellphone service as good as Japan's, provided Japan agrees not to forge ahead on wireless technology. My campaign bumper sticker: "Can You Hear Me Now?"

       NY Times Forum: By Thomas Friedman

I began thinking about this after watching the Japanese use cellphones and laptops to get on the Internet from speeding bullet trains and subways deep underground. But the last straw was when I couldn't get cellphone service while visiting I.B.M.'s headquarters in Armonk, N.Y.

But don't worry - Congress is on the case. It dropped everything last week to pass a bill to protect gun makers from shooting victims' lawsuits. The fact that the U.S. has fallen to 16th in the world in broadband connectivity aroused no interest. Look, I don't even like cellphones, but this is not about gadgets. The world is moving to an Internet-based platform for commerce, education, innovation and entertainment. Wealth and productivity will go to those countries or companies that get more of their innovators, educators, students, workers and suppliers connected to this platform via computers, phones and P.D.A.'s.

A new generation of politicians is waking up to this issue. For instance, Andrew Rasiej is running in New York City's Democratic primary for public advocate on a platform calling for wireless (Wi-Fi) and cellphone Internet access from every home, business and school in the city. If, God forbid, a London-like attack happens in a New York subway, don't trying calling 911. Your phone won't work down there. No wireless infrastructure. This ain't Tokyo, pal.

At the City Hall subway stop this morning, Mr. Rasiej plans to show how one makes a 911 call from the subway. He will have one aide with a tin can in the subway send a message to another aide holding a tin can connected by a string. Then the message will be passed by tin can and string up to Mr. Rasiej on the street, who will call 911 with his cellphone.

"That is how you say something if you see something today in a New York subway - tin cans connected to someone with a cellphone on the street," said Mr. Rasiej, a 47-year-old entrepreneur who founded an educational-technology nonprofit.

Mr. Rasiej wants to see New York follow Philadelphia, which decided it wouldn't wait for private companies to provide connectivity to all. Instead, Philly made it a city-led project - like sewers and electricity. The whole city will be a "hot zone," where any resident anywhere with a computer, cellphone or P.D.A. will have cheap high-speed Wi-Fi access to the Internet.

Mr. Rasiej argues that we can't trust the telecom companies to make sure that everyone is connected because new technologies, like free Internet telephony, threaten their business models. "We can't trust the traditional politicians to be the engines of change for how people connect to their government and each other," he said. By the way, he added, "If New York City goes wireless, the whole country goes wireless."

Mr. Rasiej is also promoting civic photo-blogging - having people use their cellphones to take pictures of potholes or crime, and then, using Google maps, e-mailing the pictures and precise locations to City Hall.

Message: In U.S. politics, the party that most quickly absorbs the latest technology often dominates. F.D.R. dominated radio and the fireside chat; J.F.K., televised debates; Republicans, direct mail and then talk radio, and now Karl Rove's networked voter databases.

The technological model coming next - which Howard Dean accidentally uncovered but never fully developed - will revolve around the power of networks and blogging. The public official or candidate will no longer just be the one who talks to the many or tries to listen to the many. Rather, he or she will be a hub of connectivity for the many to work with the many - creating networks of public advocates to identify and solve problems and get behind politicians who get it.

"One elected official by himself can't solve the problems of eight million people," Mr. Rasiej argued, "but eight million people networked together can solve one city's problems. They can spot and offer solutions better and faster than any bureaucrat. ... The party that stakes out this new frontier will be the majority party in the 21st century. And the Democrats better understand something - their base right now is the most disconnected from the network."

Can you hear me now?