Advice for President Obama on Using the Internet

Max's advice for March 23, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Max grew up as the son of a man who knew 'ALL' the answers to the problems of the world. Max's father said so! Many times, his father let everyone know that anyone who didn't know that he had the answers was a turkey or a knucklehead.

The famous Ma Bell, the second most powerful force in the world (next to God of course), thought so much of Max's father's opinions that she made him 'Supervisor of Troubles'. This is true!

The advice Max promised you, President Obama.

Max spent thirty five years of his life putting together software so that business and government could use computers. Though other people came up with the current versions of technology, these people often learned how to make it work from thousands of unnamed people who shared code and techniques through professional organizations.

Until large companies started copyrighting and patenting everything in sight, the information technology (IT) community shared all the building blocks that support the current trademarked world of the Internet.

Now, Mr. President, we have an Internet that even you are allowed to use. Most likely people other than yourself developed the web pages and sites that have made your campaign so successful.

No one expects you to do anything in relationship to technology, except perhaps to throw out a lot of phrases to show you are savvy.

Everyone expects you to actually use the Internet to check facts before you do a speech or say things that are just not correct.

As a wealthy person from an Ivy League school, you have been shielded from the facts of life for most Americans. Like George Bush Senior, you have shown that everyday experiences that people have are not something that you have experienced in decades. And you are not all that old.

Wealthy people like yourself share the misfortune of Marie Antionette of not recognizing that not everyone has access the way you and all of your associates do.

The elder Mr. Bush showed his ignorance in a grocery store when he saw the check out process for the first time. He acted like he just landed on a new planet. In a way he did.
You live on that same planet, although you try not to acknowledge it. You live in a world where bus drivers make double what they really make. You live in a world where the new jobs are going to pay two to three times what they are being budgeted for. You live in the same world that has government paying twice what anything is worth.

Mr. President, no one blames you for going around without needing to carry a wallet, a few bucks if you should break down, or a set of car keys. You cannot change who you are or who you have become. No national leader can.

But you can use the Internet to learn a few of the facts about how much people make and how they live. The Internet even has pictures of parts of places that are currently in rough shape. When you are planning your speeches and key points, knowing the information more accurately will make you seem more in tune with the average person.

You may think that you have to describe "pie in the sky" jobs to the people. That is what Marie Antoinette would do. The people don't want a president that is out of touch or a "pie in the sky" job that never materializes.

You have bragged about the power of the Internet. Now you should consider latching on to that power personnally (most libraries offer free access if the kids are on the computer at home).

Max wishes you well in all your efforts to be a life long learner.

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Link one is an article on an out-of-touch George Bush the elder.

Link two is an article on an out-of-touch George Bush the younger.

Link three is a site on French Queen Marie Antoinette.