Illegal Immigration - A Different Take

With the passing of Arizona SB1070, the issue of illegal immigration has once again been thrust to the forefront of the national discussion. With an estimated 10 million-plus undocumented immigrants in the United States, despite the wishes of politicians on both parties, the issue is certainly not going away anytime soon. The poor economic conditions of the last two years, and the increasing drug-related violence near the border has exacerbated the issue.
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The political solutions offered in the U.S. are predictable on both sides. On the left, calls for "comprehensive immigration reform" largely consist of large-scale amnesty of illegals currently residing in the states. On the right, large-scale deportation, and reinforcement of the border wall are the primary solutions offered. Of course, these are over-simplified generalizations for the sake of brevity.

However, the one proposal I have not heard from either side, is large-scale aid to Mexico, to help improve economic and living conditions south of the border. Now, I can hear the critics already..."Trust the Mexican government with billions in aid? Ha!" Admittedly, the Mexican government does not have the best track record of prudent fiscal management. The nationalization of the oil industry in 1938 could have potentially made the modern Mexican state a model of prosperity and development in Latin America. Instead, Pemex has become the honeypot of the political elite.

Some would say that giving aid to Mexico for internal self-improvement is tantamount to rewarding bad behavior, as the Mexican government has openly flouted U.S. immigration policy, and has in fact encouraged its citizens to migrate northward, whether by legal or illegal means. Remittances from the U.S. represent 3 percent of the entire Mexican GDP, and surpass direct foreign investment by nearly 30 percent.

Clearly, this is a dysfunctional relationship. Improvement of living conditions in Mexico would likely reduce the influx of illegal immigration. But simply giving Mexico a carte blanche with no strings attached would not accomplish anything substantive, other than increasing Mexico's dependency on the U.S. either directly or indirectly.

The aid would need to be supervised, as well as multi-faceted. The key areas I would direct the aid would be infrastructure, security/defense, and education. I am not enough of a scholar of global economics or diplomacy to make any definitive recommendations in terms of which domestic or international agencies should be in charge of meting out the aid. But supervision and direction would be key to making these initiatives effective.

I want to hear your thoughts. Are my proposals too far-fetched? Long overdue? Hopelessly naïve? Please leave your comments below.

Apple iPad - Breakthrough or Next Newton?

In late January, Steve Jobs, the controversial CEO of Apple, unveiled the iPad, the company's ostensible answer to the Amazon Kindle. But unlike the fairly uni-tasking Kindle, the iPad can surf the web, run apps, and play iTunes, among other things.

The hype leading up to its introduction bordered on the ridiculous. Expectations were set impossibly high with all sorts of wild speculation regarding display technologies, processors, and connectivity. So when the device was finally revealed, many were disappointed by its uncharacteristically sparse features list, at least for Apple. No camera, and no multi-tasking capability (at least as announced at launch.) Also, many were hoping there would be networking options beyond those offered by AT&T, widely reviled by iPhone owners in San Francisco and New York for spotty 3G coverage.
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Yet looking back to the introduction of the original iPhone, there are some striking parallels between the two devices, especially in terms of their public reception and critical response. Many said Apple was already too late in the game with the iPhone, and much like where the iPad stands currently, there were few, if any, native applications available for it. Likewise, with the Kindle and Nook already on the market, along with other e-readers from Sony and other manufacturers, some are already saying Apple has missed the boat on entering the e-reader market. Yet for all the early prognostications of failure for the iPhone, it remains the iconic standard in the smartphone market, and has spawned dozens of competitors.

Likewise, I believe apart from dedicated bookworms, the general public is more attracted to a color, multi-function, multi-tasking device than a black & white uni-tasker. As others have said in the electronic enthusiast community, the iPad will likely live or die by its apps. As of now, the device is still not on sale, and it's unknown if it will receive the same support in the developer community as the iPhone did.

My prediction in terms of overall sales volume and developer support, is that the iPad will not quite reach the same dizzying heights of sales and sector dominance as the iPhone, but will certainly be one of the top three best-selling devices in its segment. I also expect that many of the initial criticisms leveled against it will be addressed in future versions of the device, most likely multi-tasking, and video support, as well as additional data carriers.

Prior to its official introduction, I was planning on being one of the early adopters of the iPad, and be the proverbial coffeehouse geek clutching one in my nerdy hands. However, as it currently stands, I will wait until it arrives in stores for some hands-on playtime, and possibly holding out until the 2010 holiday season for some mid-cycle updates.

Scott Brown Election - What it Means

Those of you that closely follow politics are likely aware of Scott Brown's stunning upset election in Massachusetts over Martha Coakley. As the seat was filled for more than 40 years by Ted Kennedy, many assumed it was a foregone conclusion that whomever took the seat over would be a Democrat as well.

Evidently, the voters of Massachusetts had a different idea. Brown's margin of victory was five points. Whether or not you consider that margin "decisive" is beyond the point. It was a solid enough win that it didn't appear the Coakley campaign was going to request a re-count, which seems to be a Democratic tradition lately when elections don't come out in their favor.

So what does the election of a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic state presage for upcoming elections, and what was it in reaction to, if anything? I believe the euphoria over Barack Obama's election is wearing off, and the scores of liberal politicians that rode his coattails into office are starting to realize that Obama's idealistic aura is no longer enough to protect them. Voters have likewise moved beyond being dazzled by his charisma, and come to realize that strongly liberal agenda of the current congress may not be in their best interests.
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As a Republican, I'm heartened that Brown was able to win in a deep blue state. But I don't necessarily see it as an unqualified omen of success for the GOP. Rather, I see it as an indication of American voters' innate sense that no single party or faction should have absolute, unchecked power.

The Democrats assumed Obama's election gave them unconditional license to push through a hard-left agenda, chief of which was health care reform. However, the further along the legislative process went, the more people came to realize the program would bring staggering new costs with little perceived benefit. They rightfully told their representatives and senators to slow down and get it right. But the liberal majority continued full speed ahead, tone deaf to the calls of their constituents.

So, taken in that context, Brown's election isn't such a surprise. And I do believe it's a preview of a significant shift in the balance of power in Washington come the 2010 mid-term elections.

The Chaos Scenario - Book Review

Okay, I know it's been a long, long time since there's been much of a pulse here on CC. I apologize to any of you (if there are any) that follow this blog with much regularity.

Well, I finally finished The Chaos Scenario by Bob Garfield. The main premise of the book is how the internet and the instantaneous communication afforded by advancements in technology have had a highly disruptive effect on traditional media. Back in the "good old days" when wizened, cigar-chomping editors and fat cat publishers controlled the flow of information via the limited outlets of newspapers, magazines and television, the "powers that be" had the power of controlling the dialogue between companies, government, and other institutions, and the general public.
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Now, with Facebook, instant messenger, texting, cell phone cameras, YouTube, and too many other variations to count, the "gates" that were so carefully guarded by the gatekeepers of yore have been effectively obliterated. Now, we're essentially experiencing mob rule in communications. People that prior to the web's invention would have gone unnoticed their entire lives suddenly become YouTube sensations, celebrity bloggers that are celebrities in their own right, or those with a single-minded vendetta against individuals or corporations that they feel have done them wrong. There's really no longer any effective way of controlling which way communication flows.

The one term Garfield uses over and over in the book is "Listenomics" wherein companies suddenly have a vested interest in listening to consumers, and serving and meeting their needs more effectively. Those companies that ignore the unwashed, interconnected masses do so at their own peril.

Another key concept in the book is how the traditional and current model of advertising is largely ineffective in the new communication model. In the days of the primacy of traditional media, consumers accepted advertising as a "quid pro quo" trade-off for "free" or reduced-cost media. Now, advertising is considered an unwanted intrusion on the user experience, yet at the same time, people expect nearly everything online to be free. Clearly from a business standpoint, this is an unsustainable model.

Overall, the book presents many more questions than it does authoritative answers, but the author invites readers to continue the conversation at http://thechaosscenario.net/blog/. For anyone that works in media, either old or new, or that has an interest in the direction that technology is taking communications, it's a worthwhile and thought-provoking read.