Information Ops: Gaming Policy Institutes and Elections
The story.
The (bogus) policy institute.
The (bogus) political consultancy.
What I’m Working On
Unlocking the full extent of Gandhi’s thinking (swadeshi) on building sustainable rural governance systems, extracted from his approach (swarj) to building a self-sufficient nation. Too much focus has been placed on the philosophical or environmental aspects or misappropriated as a form of isolationism.
Gandhi was thinking about security, energy, and organically growing wealth. Multiple dimensions of the framework that simply haven’t been unpacked yet. That’s what I’m doing. It’s going pretty well.
At the same time, as one of the few energy security professionals in the world, I’m doing my best to build a model for the field that does not rely on highly-vertical competency. Tough process in the policy world, where everyone is a vertical thinker (marked by a very high concentration of M.A’s in the arts). Slowly moving along. Horizontal thinking is appreciated, but because of the rigidity of most hierarchical organizations around here, few know what to do with insight being generated at the bottom of the pyramid.
So, I’ll be trying to publish more in outside publications instead of focusing a brunt (90%+) of my efforts on the backend work.Personally rewarding, and energy is important work, especially in the global crisis of our time.
Brooks: The Young and the Scarce
Brooks has a good piece on scarcity. In other words, a generation that built the only functioning economy of abundance in history (online) is about to take power for 8-12 years, when shortages, firewalling, hoarding, and disconnectivity will be core survival mechanisms. Instead of efficiency, stability.
End of the GOP
Agree with Krugman on this.
When McCain loses, it will herald the end of the GOP that was able to take up the right half of the voting spectrum. The Dems will absorb moderate conservatives as they take over centrist districts, and the GOP, instead of taking them on, will just run farther to the right. Think Palin/Jindal going forward, with Rovelings, Gingrichlings run amok.