User:Robert W King: Difference between revisions
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Let's pretend. | |||
We'll start with an assumption that we're tracking these factors: | |||
* The cost of housing | |||
* The cost of consumer goods | |||
* The cost of living | |||
* The amount of jobs that are sent overseas | |||
Given what we know: | |||
* The latest news over the past year is the subprime lending market crash. Turns out, as a direct result of the irresponsible lending practices by financial institutions, housing forclosures have risen 149% from 2006. (Source: CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/29/foreclosure.data/index.html?iref=mpstoryview#cnnSTCOther1) The fallout so far seems unmeasurable. | |||
* Corporations like Wal-Mart adjust their policies and force suppliers and manufacturers to reduce their costs, thereby decreasing the cost of consumer goods. The net effect of this is that many lose their jobs as a result, employee pay and benefits are reduced (or lost), and shareholders get returned value. | |||
* The cost of living is forcing many Americans to use credit lines to support themselves as hours are cut, and wages are reduced, in order to increase shareholder stock and CEO value. (Search Any financial section in any newspaper over the last year for terms like "cut jobs" or "Reduced workforce"). | |||
* Many jobs and processes have been outsourced to China, India, and other nations that can do them under a fraction of the cost of the average employee in the United States. | |||
So | So as an average Joe Citizen, what are you to do? | ||
Move to live somewhere else, obviously; get a different (or a second or third) job; get more education; changing careers. However, consider the following: | |||
* Moving will cost you the time it takes to find somewhere else to live, plus any moving expenses you incur along the way (including down-payments, security deposit, vehicle rental + gas). | |||
* Average college tuition rates are rising all the time. You'll almost certainly have to take out a loan (read: more debt). And then there's the time it takes to complete a degree which may interfere with your work hours. | |||
* Career fields only have a certain number of opportunities. Also anything that can be outsourced for cheaper, probably will be (at the behest of shareholders). | |||
I can't help but wonder if all those books written about futures where a large population of the world lives in slums are inevitably going to come true. Maybe we should consider cashing out what we've got and moving out west somewhere, and starting a burbclave: building homes from recycled materials and landfill waste. The days of democratic capitalism are gone: we certainly can't expect the government to pick up the slack and care for those in need in our home country, nor will corporations. | |||
If we as a people do not change our ways where; where will you live in 2020? | |||
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[[Category:CZ Authors|King, Robert W]] | [[Category:CZ Authors|King, Robert W]] |
Revision as of 11:12, 4 February 2008
Status
- Work is 60% complete on the Milling Machine(see flickr set here). The Z-Axis needs to be constructed.
- ContribBot is delayed, possibly indefinately. If you have any questions feel free to leave me a message at my talk page.
- I am currently a Cruft-Fighting Extraordinaire.
( Where Robert lives it is approximately: 13:48)
About me
I am a young man working in the field of Information Assurance, and living somewhere in Northern Virginia. I hold an Associate's in Information Technology from NVCC and am working (infrequently) on my B.S. in Information Technology from George Mason University. My interests include data organization, networks, philosophy, critical thinking, and observation.
In the past I have contributed to U.S. Government articles within Wikipedia, and reported on the Wired-sponsored Assignment Zero. (Profile here, contributions here)
I would eventually like to pursue a career in global policy.
Books I have read or am currently reading:
- The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand (cmplt.)
- Status Anxiety - Alain De Botton (cmplt.)
- The Use and Abuse of Art - Jacques Barzun (un-r)
- The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell (mostly-r)
- Talk to the Hand - Lynne Truss (cmplt.)
- Stiff - Mary Roach (cmplt.)
- The World is Flat 3.0 -
- Supercapitalism -
Quick Links
Tabella Nemorosus | ||||
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I performed levels of relentless editing on these articles:
I created the following images:
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List of Wikipedia articles I have authored and/or contributed to:
- OMB Circular A-21
- OMB Circular A-16
- OMB Circular A-130
- OMB Circular A-126
- OMB Circular A-123
- Hatch Act of 1939
- Geographic Information System
- General Services Administration
- Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949
- Executive Schedule
Philosophies
Humor
In contrast to the serious efforts of projects, I find that often ridiculous insignificancies amuse me greatly. Within the scope of CZ, here are a few that I enjoyed.
- (diff) (hist) . . m Kilt accessories; 11:15 . . James F. Perry (Talk | contribs) (typo corr4ection + rephrase) (oh, the irony)
- 12:23, 4 April 2007 Larry Sanger (Talk | contribs) unblocked Stephen Ewen (contribs) (Stephen, please don't block yourself. ROTFL)
- 12:20, 4 April 2007 Larry Sanger (Talk | contribs) unblocked Stephen Ewen (contribs) (It's too embarrassing to explain)
- 12:06, 4 April 2007 Robert Tito (Talk | contribs) blocked "Stephen Ewen (contribs)" * with an expiry time of 2 hours (he was having too much fun)
- 03:17, 4 April 2007 Stephen Ewen (Talk | contribs) blocked "Stephen Ewen (contribs)" with an expiry time of 2 hours
- 15:01, 16 February 2007 blocked "Larry M Sanger (contribs)" with an expiry time of infinite (evident: one LS is enough)
- 10:54, 14 February 2007 blocked "Mozilla Firefox (contribs)" with an expiry time of infinite (I wonder. :) )
- 10:41, 14 February 2007 blocked "Biff Soupbone (contribs)" with an expiry time of infinite (If you have to ask, I'll have to selll you on ebay. )
- 18:22, 10 February 2007 Larry Sanger (Talk | contribs) blocked "Jimbo WaIes (contribs)" with an expiry time of infinite (No doubt the vandal again. If that is you Jimbo then e-mail us at constables@citizendium.org)
- 17:37, 10 February 2007 blocked "Artemus (contribs)" with an expiry time of infinite (name not according to standards (full name needed), and neither two of the 4 musketeers)
- 08:40, 30 January 2007 blocked "Stanley matthews (contribs)" with an expiry time of infinite (Name of dead British footballer)
- 10:52, 26 January 2007 blocked "The Gambler (contribs)" with an expiry time of infinite (Las Vegas is somewhere else)
- Yes, we have a Biology of Living Persons Policy.
- Now that's funny :-)
- Hayford_The_Wikicomber
- Hayfords's Fine French Bar & Grill - don't miss this.
- The term "buttery" came to mean "panty" - Bad butler!
- Exploding Primates - what a mess!
- "I'll alter Larry to the matter". I think you meant 'sacrifice' :D My question is if we can suggest the necessary alterations:-)
- Careful of those corrupt fonts, they're a doozy!
- The new free content Chicken Head Copyright License - a.k.a. the "I don't care" license.
- "We'll figure out a way to sue those people whose image we use under fair use, I just know we will!".
- Wow. Rough night, eh?
- 00:05 (cur; last) . . Larry Sanger (Talk | contribs | block) (deleted "Here": Here today, gone tomorrow)
- These MUST be some ducks! (scroll down)
- Welcome to a new author, er, uh, rather a new bot!
- Illicit eliciting - yep, sounds about right.
- This new license may really catch on....
- WP:OR and a simple Pole in a complex plane
- Taken out of context (see http://blog.citizendium.org/2007/11/07/financial-times-on-citizendium/): Yes, I wake up every day fired by the thought, “This is how I’m going to get back at Jimbo!” -Larry Sanger
- Sexual dimorphism - Yes, this is in the Category:Hobbies Workgroup...but just exactly whose hobby is that?
- A powerfuk analyst of world affairs - boy, ya really gotta watch those fellows.
Neutrality
There are three properties that I believe should be adhered to in the context of this project when it comes to non-philosophical topics: fact, relevancy, and neutrality.
- Fact: Everything that pertains to a particular subject should not be made up or speculated on. There should be no lies and no conjecture. I believe in trails, audits, and observations. That which is shown to be absolutely provable.
- Relevancy: There will always be a percentage of information which points to a demonstratable conclusion. Only the upmost definitive evidence that shows A leads to B should be included.
- Neutrality: Every viewpoint should be shown, and substantiated with credible sources. Credibile does not mean "existing", "popular", or "notable"; but rather those sources that are known to exhibit only the observable and objective truth and not an agenda or bias. Documentation is a must.
It is the reponsibility for everyone who wishes to further the knowledge and education of the masses to provide the basis for others to make their own decisions. One should be "informative" and not "convincing" when it comes to the essential elements of knowledge.