While it is the upcoming Australian federal elections that has prompted this post, it is not intended to be either political or parochial. I’ll be very surprised if everybody everywhere doesn’t find this interesting, enlightening and maybe even a little bit frightening.
This coming Saturday, August 21, 2010, Australians go to the polls to elect their Federal government for another three-year term. It’s basically a two horse race between the Labor Party and the Liberal/National Coalition, with a bunch of odd-bods thrown in to confuse the issue.
The incumbent Labor Party has committed to a A$43 billion fibre-based National Broadband Network (NBN) providing speeds of up to 100Mb per second. Additionally, there was a recent announcement by the NBN Corp that the same equipment and infrastructure will be capable of delivering 1Gbps.
The technological downside to Labor Party policies is their insistence on pursuing a ridiculous and unworkable compulsory Internet filtering scheme. However, I think we can deal with that in due course by constantly educating the general public in how to bypass it. Render it useless and our pigheaded, self-aggrandizing and clearly technologically challenged Communications Minister will be left with egg all over his face. He’s been warned repeatedly by every expert in the country, so he deserves it.
On the other side of the political divide we have the Coalition, unfortunately led by a complete Luddite. Prime Ministerial aspirant Tony Abbott, who has proudly proclaimed on national TV that he is “not a tech head”, has promised to cancel and dismantle the NBN. His solution is 12Mb (peak) delivered via a mish-mash of wire, cable, DSL, wireless, fibre — and maybe even string and tin cans for all he knows. In other words, more of the same old same old.
Speaking at a recent People’s Forum in Sydney, Abbott said:
“For me, broadband basically is about being able to send an email, receive an email”
And, for his daughters (he claims)
“it’s about downloading movies, songs, all that kind of thing”.
I would like to think his daughters are a bit smarter than dad, but with that intellect as a role model, who knows?
So the man who wants to lead this country on into the 21st century doesn’t understand the critical importance of quality, world-class Internet connectivity to commerce, health and education. And yes folks, this really is AUSTRALIA that I’m speaking from and about, not Afghanistan.
Anyway, back to my reason for this post…
If you have trouble visualizing the limitless potential that lies ahead, if you think the Internet is just about e-mail and downloading movies, this short five-minute video is a real eye-opener.
As I said in a another post recently (Dreaming the Future), “One way to free up your imagination to roam unrestricted is to compare the past with the present.”
And if you think that’s amazing, those facts and figures are already two years out of date. The video was posted in October 2008. If you found it interesting your friends probably will too, so send them over here for a look. Here is a convenient shortened link you can copy and send to someone else: http://budurl.com/CAOS1
Agree? Disagree? Got something to say? There’s a comment box below this post.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Gandhi once wisely said, “There is more to life than increasing it’s speed” and when asked what he thought about western civilisation he replied’ “I think that it would be a good idea”.
Information can be found on line but wisdom comes from above.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
Demonstrating only that even a great and justifiably revered man like Gandhi wasn’t beyond employing the trite throwaway line. Literally dozens of his apparently deep and astute observations are, in a completely practical sense, either wrong or irrelevant, regardless of the purity of the sentiment behind them.
Of course any reasonable person would have to agree that indeed “There is more to life than increasing it’s speed”, but what’s the relevance here, in a modern life that we actually live?
This video is stunning. Makes me want to pass it on. How do I do that?
Russ
Russ, I have created a short link that you can copy and pass on to your friends:
http://budurl.com/CAOS1
That will bring them to this page and they can view the video for themselves.
I have to say that the video clip does absolutely nothing for me except that I see it as a bunch of interesting facts. If it could be shown that this vast explosion of technology has contributed one iota to the betterment or happiness of humanity I would sit up and take notice. Sadly, the driving forces for new technology are the incredibly sophisticated killing machines, standing armies, maintained by all the advanced nations on this earth to the direct disadvantage of the so-called developing nations where the people are kept in poverty while the leaders accept vast wealth as bribes from the developed nations to remain sources of the raw materials needed to fuel the much vaunted advances in technology. If technology could be directly linked to full bellies and smiling faces I would be the first to applaud it, otherwise it must be treated with a great deal of caution. It is not, by definition, good, but only so if applied wisely.
Fabian Foale.
I couldn’t really disagree with anything you have said Fabian.
But this is the world we live in, and we are still developing and evolving — each of us as individuals and the human race as a whole.
I believe that technology can indeed be linked to full bellies and smiling faces — but it’s up to us to make that a reality.
This is all very frightening but understandable in my 88 years. I’ve seen a lot of marvelous things take place in that time and I hope that our younger generation can cope with it as well as we have. I am as Tom Brokaw has proclaimed, a member of the “Graetest Generation” and I believe that we have accomplished quite a bit. We also had some terrible incentives to overcome, the great depression followed by WWII. I believe that played a greater part in our progress than what many will confirm.
John, my mother is a few years older than you and she uses a computer pretty much every day. Admittedly her needs and usage aren’t terribly sophisticated, but that could apply to many people of any age.
The important thing is that we don’t attempt to define the needs of others by our own limited requirements.
I’m always imploring people to consider the bigger picture. If they don’t understand what a modern broadband infrastructure can do for business, health, education, etc then find out before making decisions (or casting their vote).
Hey Bill,
I’ve only had a computer for about 10 years and I see how;
Too many people really think that it is just for e-mailing. I believe Too many people enjoy IGNORANCE!!! Either that or they are afraid to try!!!
I know more about computers in the 10 years that I have had one than most of my friends that have had them long before I had mine. Because all they use it for is e-mailing!!!
A lot of information is out there and too many people just don’t know how to look for it.
If the people I know are any example they just don’t wan’t to learn and that will for now hurt the internet when you have politician’s trying to change things that they are ignorant about, because these other ignorant people just won’t get it either!!!
They also will listen to the politician and vote there way because they know no better.
Obviously there are a whole lot of people that are very knowledgable about the internet and computer’s, but will they speak out and be heard???
They will and do speak out William, but getting heard is the problem.
As far as the general media is concerned, politicians are “people of note”, so they get the sort of coverage that those of us with something to say can only dream about.
Every even half-reasonable technologist in this country has told the current government that their proposed Internet filter simply cannot work, for very valid technical and social reasons. They do not hear.
Similarly countless people who know business, health and education, not to mention technology, have tried to convince the other side that a fast, modern broadband infrastructure is critical to our national well-being. They do not hear.
Bill, whilst the National Broadband network is a good idea, one wonders whether it will be delivered if Labor win the election – they’ve delivered very little and spend money like water spilling over both the Victoria and Niagara Falls.
Luddites !? Well you may have to fall in line behind “Comrade Julia”, why Comrade, well she is a Commo !!
Ron, I think it’s generally accepted that one of several differences between communism and socialism is that the former is a combination politico/economic system, while socialism is a straight out economic system.
With the exception of Fidel & Raul Castro, it’s pretty much universally accepted that communism has been proven to be a failure, and no leading politician here would argue otherwise.
The closest I could come to agreeing with you would be to acknowledge that Julia Gillard’s Labor background has probably instilled in her some socialist leanings.
Of course as a self-employed entrepreneur, the socialist principle that goods and services produced in an economy should be publicly owned is anathema to me. And again, I don’t believe that we have any leading politicians who believe otherwise. Even so, there are some aspects of the underlying Labor ideology that any entrepreneur would find troubling.
Of course, since these are professional politicians were dealing with, you have every reason to be sceptical of the promises. But personally I’d rather pin some hopes on Gillard keeping her promise, than knowing for sure that Abbott will definitely keep his and abandon the entire project.
Actually, my hopes are fairly high that the NBN will be delivered. The first customers were connected in Tasmania back in July, and much work is already underway elsewhere. All Independent analyses and costings that I have seen seem to have little argument with the government’s projections.
As a nation we simply can’t afford not to have this opportunity.
Bill, didn’t you like my comments about Julia being a Commo.
and Labor unable to deliver anything .
Surely my comment is only fair if you call Tony a “Luddite”.
You either want real comments or only those which suit you
and I thought you were open minded.
I don’t mean to offend but Fair is Fair.
Cheers Ron
Sorry Ron, you lost me. Your comment (completely unedited) and my response is above.
While I am naturally burdened with my own preferences, hangups, beliefs, foibles and biases, I do try to be fair and open minded to the opinions of others. Not that I won’t disagree if I think you’re wrong!
While the term Luddite was coined in the early 19th century well before computers and even “technology” as we understand it today, now it is generally used to mean “Someone who opposes technological change”. Given his recent utterings even Tony Abbott’s most devoted supporters couldn’t convincingly argue that the term doesn’t apply to him. The man is stuck in the dark ages and he wants to keep the rest of us there with him.
Bill thanks -my second email was because I jumped the gun and thought you might be speedier in reply, apologies.
Julia a Commo – well it is reliably reported that she was an organiser for them and as far as is generally known Leopards don’t change their spots .
It is also my understanding that she admitted to the fact that she was an organiser.
I’m one who will never “whistle to Communism” and Comrade Julia. There are signs that she wants to control everything which is a typical Communist philosophy.
Thank you for your interchange and for the great service
and business you have. Cheers Ron.
Well Ron, who amongst us wasn’t more hotheaded in our youth? I guess I’m at an age now where I’ve had time to see a lot of people change their beliefs and attitudes over the years. There are people I’ve known most of my life who were radicals or dropouts (read potheads if you like) in the 60s and 70s, yet who are now shining examples of conservatism. So although leopards may not be able to change their spots, people can and do. I’ve been through many transformations myself.
As far as this election is concerned I haven’t been publicly advocating either side. My ideal is that both sides drop some policies altogether and adopt others from each other. What we need as a nation is a carefully selected mixture of the two.
Many decades ago, when unionism was practically universally compulsory in this country, I was a member of one of the most radical of those unions. There was simply no choice, and anyone who rejects that simply doesn’t understand those times.
Anyway, unbeknown to me at the time, my union was sending financial assistance to North Vietnam while many of my friends were in-country and in danger from those same recipients of my contributions.
None of which makes me a communist, socialist or even a Labor supporter. Back then you did what you had to do to work in your industry. No union membership, no work.
My parents and grandparents were in business for themselves long before I was born, and I was brought up to consider the Right as the advocates of business and progress.
But how much all that has changed!
If it wasn’t for the vehement opposition of the Liberal/National party to the National Broadband Network, my choice between the two sides would probably be quite difficult, given all the things that are wrong with both sides.
But as I cannot condone any deliberate action that will see this country sliding backwards in the global marketplace, Tony Abbott has made my choice very easy.
There is simply nothing on the Coalition’s agenda to balance Abbott’s unbelievable ignorance of the importance of these technologies to our future. The other mob have their share of stupid and potentially damaging plans, but nothing that bad.
Hey Bill
I can only say that in 1992 I didn’t even know exactly what the internet was and now I am streaming Netflix movies via the Internet. Since I live in the U.S. maybe we could send you guys money for the NBN from our Stimulus/Porkulus package it would be a damn site better than some of the projects our government is spending it on. FYI I have been 200% happy that I purchased your e-books and subscribed to your website. You provide us with very valuable information and I just can’t say enough about it.
Many thanks for the kind words, Roy. I’ll do my best to keep useful information coming.
Thank you also for the offer to send money. All contributions gratefully accepted. Please remit directly to me and I will pass it on to the government after deducting a small processing fee.
But in all seriousness, Australia seems to have weathered the Global Economic Crisis better than any other developed nation on the planet. Economists attribute this situation directly to the stimulus package that the current government implemented, and that the opposition strenuously opposed.
I suspect that the incumbents will probably win another term this weekend — possibly only narrowly. But I also suspect that there is enough disenchantment with the government that the opposition could have romped in if they had the elementary commonsense to drop a couple of policies, such as opposition to the National Broadband Network and their denial of Australia’s current economic strength and the reasons for it.
Frankly, both sides leave a lot to be desired, but when was it ever any different in any democracy?