DailyKos Bloggers Share Thoughts
by Maverick Grunfeld
| Blogging has changed the exchange of ideas, allowing anyone to express their given viewpoints. Virtually Speaking Sundays focuses on bringing “Real Bloggers, Real Values, Real Ideas” to Second Life in a point and counter point talk show program. DailyKos bloggers Chris CS Kendrick and Adam Lambert (aka clammy) discussed their perspectives on the current “State of the Union.”
One of the key topics the bloggers focused on was the recent terrorist foiled terrorist attack. Both felt more preventative measures needed to be taken, and believed that body screening would not make a significant deterrent in preventing future attacks. |
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| Adam Lambert said “It becomes a situation where the reaction is a reactive one instead of a proactive one.” He felt the possible solutions proposed in the aftermath of the attack would not serve as a long term solution. “Something that makes sense, something that isn’t a Band-Aid” would need to be found he asserted.
Chris believed that change would be extremely difficult given the nature of transportation both domestically and worldwide. “We are so dependent on two modes of transportation; the highways and the airways” he said. “People may say fine I can’t drive there, I’m not going.” He summarized with commenting that “It is a fragile, complex system” which makes it susceptible to a variety of security concerns. |
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| As the discussion transitioned to current military actions around the globe, Adam commented “Doesn’t this show how silly the current policy is?” He cited the terrorist attack as reason that “This isn’t working” from a policy perspective.
“I don’t know what it will take us culturally to change” said Chris in response. “Not just as a superpower, but culturally as a political power and as a mass society.” |
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| Adam focued thoughts on the public perception of military action on foreign soil. “I don’t see the public support for continuing this military campaign and yet it doesn’t show any sign of ceasing” he said.
He asserted that to change the culture, a large aspect is the will of the people. “It seems like there is an overwhelming view, yet it is not doing anything really” stated Adam. “I don’t understand how here we are with something overwhelming unpopular .“
Chris added some future concerns regarding the Chinese long term in regards to military and political impacts to the United States. He believed their growing status as a superpower would eventually come to raise the concerns of Americans at some point within the next decade. |
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| He transitioned to how military spending could be redirected to other areas to help the United States gain a better position within the world. “Think of how much of an investment a lot of this can be in our own country to bring it to the forefront again” Chris stated. “It goes back to unemployment and the stimulus bills.”
Chris added further that the strength of the American economy remains with technological innovations. “There’s a lot creative knowledge out there” he said. Chris elaborated further and cited Second Life as an example of what the future may hold for businesses.
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| The discussion included the future of transportation especially with growing environmental concerns. Chris simply stated that “We love our cars.”
Adam’s position on the environment was that the topic has become too extremist with some political viewpoints to be productive. “The point is you need to have something to move the conversation to back where it was before” he said. “There’s got to be a way to pump some money back in to make these things happen.” |
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| Adam later addressed politics and what he referred to as the “myth of the conservative independent.” “Really what this comes down to are republicans not identifying as republicans anymore. They’re not changing their ideology or their voting habits. But there are more of them being ashamed being linked to the Bush years” he asserted. The belief that American politics may be shifting to the conservatives again after recent political struggles by Democrats he dismissed citing statistics on voter preferences.
Chris reflected on what he referred to as a “Great Arc of Progress.” “We can dare to dream to do far greater work than we did this last year” he said reflecting on the country as a whole. “We have to demand this of ourselves.” |
Upcomming virtual discussions include David Waldman and Olivier Knox on January 7, 2010 from 6pm to 7pm PST as well as Marcy Wheeler & Cliff Schecter on January 10, 2010 from 5pm to 6pm PST.
Daily Planet Second Life: www.kryptonradio.com
Blogs:
CS Kendrick – http://cskendrick.dailykos.com/ http://twitter.com/CSKendrick
Adam Lambert – http://clammyc.dailykos.com/ http://www.bluejersey.com/ http://twitter.com/clammyc
To Visit Virtually Speaking: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtually%20Speaking/164/111/25
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