The Manufactured Border Crisis
OR… “How the GOP wastes taxpayer time and money on a fabricated crisis.” Does this crisis really exist and who’s actually responsible for it? Let’s explore.
Watch, But Don’t Listen!
With any politician, it’s more important to watch what they do, not listen to what they say. As has been stated, if a politician’s lips are moving, they must be lying. Nowhere is this true more than now… and more specifically within the ranks of the GOP, but it’s not limited to this party. The GOP has simply taken it to a whole new level. That’s not to say that the Democrats don’t lie; they do. Even Independents lie to get elected.
The difference now is whether they’re lying to you over something they’ve already done or lying to you over something they haven’t yet done. With the GOP, more often than not, they are not only lying to you over something they’ve already done, they’re lying to you over what they plan to do.
As stated, don’t listen to their words, watch their actions. Actions speak louder than words. If you watch what they do, then their lies fall right into place. They can’t lie their way out of their actions… though they may try, but that’s actually called gaslighting.
Border Crisis and Number of Crossings
Let’s begin this discussion with these dhs.gov border crossing statistics up to fiscal year 2013:
These above statistics set the tone of this article with regards to the statistics to come next. These above statistics also go to prove that we have had years under both Democrat and Republican Presidential leadership of higher than expected influx. Both parties are to blame here. Let’s further understand who was President at the time of the above statistics going back to 1989. Presidents prior to 1989 are not needed for the point this article is making. However, if you’re interested in all past Presidents, here’s a link.
In fact, up until 2013, the highest border crossings occurred at 1.8 million per year under Bill Clinton (D). George Bush (R) would get close second to this number at 1.3 million during fiscal year 1993. Here’s the list of presidents going back to 1993:
With the above table in mind, let’s proceed to the most updated DHS statistics for border crossings for 2013 and beyond. Let’s keep in mind that George Bush (R), Bill Clinton (D) and “Shrub” Bush (R) all presided over border crossings well above 1 million per fiscal year. It wouldn’t be until 2009 when border crossings began to subside again, but would then drastically surge during and after the COVID pandemic.
Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans can exclusively say that their border crossing policies have worked to lower immigrant attempted ingress. Here are the border crossing apprehensions from 2013 to the 2024 (YTD):
At this point and with these ever increasing numbers under Joe Biden, you might be wondering what the hell is going on? This is a very good question. Before we get into the REAL answer, let’s discuss what the GOP is saying, but not actually doing.
Republican Lip Service
Clearly, the Republicans are paying a lot of lip service to this ever increasing turn of events around the border, but without pointing fingers at the actual situations and actual politicians who are driving this migrant influx to the southern border states. No, the GOP prefers to point fingers at the Democrats, even though the Democrats aren’t the ones driving the border crisis directly. While Democrats aren’t the party causing this drastic border influx, the Democrats also haven’t done much to arrest it either. This is called complacency, of which the Democrats are fully and entirely guilty. In fact, the Democrats prefer playing on the world’s stage rather than tackling difficult domestic issues. This is fully evident of the Biden administration’s continual meddling in world affairs, like Ukraine and Israel, all while fully ignoring the problems at home… except when such a problem suits their political fancy.
One thing is certain, nothing happens in a bubble. If something is occurring, there’s definitely a driving factor behind it. It also means that someone or something stands to gain from that driving factor. Let’s also understand that what the GOP / Republicans are saying is absolutely not what’s actually driving the influx to the United States southern border.
The Republicans are claiming that it is Joe Biden’s lack of policy around border that is the cause and reason behind this influx. In fact, this could not be further from the truth. Let’s get to that truth right now.
The Truth Behind the GOP’s Manufactured Border Crisis
The reason immigrants are now flocking to the United States southern border is actually due almost solely to Florida’s Ron Desantis (R) and Texas’s Greg Abbott (R) actions. How are these two governors responsible for this influx? It’s quite simple….
When these two nab immigrants from the border, place them onto expensive cushy busses and expensive, but cushy chartered jets… then feed, clothe and subsequently fly or drive them across the the United States… what do you think is going to happen?
Yes, the word is going to get out that now these Governors are now pro-migrant and, more than this, are willing to place you, as a migrant, onto a bus and transport you to a nice new city… FOR FREE. This transportation is literally considered winning the lottery for many migrants. These men are taking migrants and placing them onto a very cushy busses, only to drop them handily off in Chicago or New York or anywhere else other than at the border. They might even get new clothes and food in the process. What migrant would say, “No” to that? In fact, these actions might even drive more migrants to the border… and that’s exactly what’s occurring. Yes, the word does get out.
The millions of recent influx of immigrants is NOT due to lax government policies or even due to policy changes at all, no. The influx is due to these insane trafficking policies performed illegally by irresponsible governors. This fully Texas Governor endorsed and costly trafficking of migrants across America is almost solely and completely responsible for the wild influx to the United States, that and the remnants of COVID. I did write that nothing occurs in a bubble. Right here is where that bubble pops. The GOP would have you believe it is Biden’s policies that are failing… when it’s just the opposite. The policies are failing because it is the GOP who is sabotaging the United States for their own political agenda. They are they ones placing hundreds, if not thousands of illegal migrants onto busses and jets, then transporting them all across the United States.
Yes, this word DOES get out to those seeking asylum here. The GOP realizes this enticement fact and is continuing to do it anyway, yes, on purpose. It is, in fact, the GOP who is attempting to force Joe Biden’s hand. Even then, these policies under Joe Biden are almost identical to the policies that have come before. Yet, we now have double, if not triple the number of migrants to the border? And where is Joe Biden’s administration on this border issue? Twiddling their thumbs.
Texas has spent more than $148 million bussing migrants across the country. Greg Abbott has also bussed more than 102,000 migrants (and counting) to cities around the country. Greg Abbott has even paid to fly at least 120 migrants on jets to Chicago.
Illegal Maneuvers
Let me get this one out of the way right now. What Greg Abbott and Ron Desantis have done by placing migrants onto busses and into jets, then transporting said migrants across the country is actually an illegal Federal Offense under 1907. Title 8, U.S.C. 1324(a):
Subsection 1324(a)(1)(i)-(v) prohibits alien smuggling, domestic transportation of unauthorized aliens, concealing or harboring unauthorized aliens, encouraging or inducing unauthorized aliens to enter the United States, and engaging in a conspiracy or aiding and abetting any of the preceding acts. Subsection 1324(a)(2) prohibits bringing or attempting to bring unauthorized aliens to the United States in any manner whatsoever, even at a designated port of entry. Subsection 1324(a)(3).
and
Domestic Transporting — Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) makes it an offense for any person who — knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law.
Clearly, 1907. Title 8, U.S.C. 1324(a) makes it federally illegal to knowingly transport illegal immigrants across the country. Yet, the DOJ has done nothing towards indicting either Greg Abbott or Ron Desantis for their ongoing part in this illegal campaign of transporting illegal aliens across the country. Where is the DOJ on this action? Once again, the DOJ is missing in action.
Homeland Security and ongoing Security Threats
For GOP governors to actually play these illegal shenanigans all for the sake of politics, this says a lot about the United States… and not in a good way. Governors are elected to govern, not to backstab and cause security risks to the United States Federal government. And once again, the Department of Justice and Merrick Garland have done nothing to enforce federal code over this matter. There’s not even been a peep about this, not out of the DOJ and not out of mainstream media. Illegal is still illegal, yet nothing.
Encouraging Illegal Migrants and Manufacturing a Crisis
The point to all of the above for Greg Abbott is to show that the United States border policies are not able to handle migrants at all. This has been Greg Abbott’s ongoing shtick for months. However, when a rogue governor decides to undermine and, indeed, run afoul of the rule of federal law by endangering the United States of America AND becoming a national security threat himself AND by knowingly and willfully using paid transportation to move illegals around the country, this is a serious federal problem. It’s also crime. Worse, his actions only serve to encourage and entice would-be migrants around the world to flock to the United States southern border. More than this, tensions are now rising between the United States and Mexico over Greg Abbott’s actions and the GOP’s wider actions involving the border.
In fact, it is Greg Abbott who is causing the border migrant flood. It is Greg Abbott is who causing the problems that the United States is seeing at the border. It is Greg Abbott’s policies that are indeed undermining the rule of law and the United State of America. It is Greg Abbott who is single-handedly ruining our relationship with Mexico… all for what? To score political brownie points with his Texas base and the GOP? Greg Abbott, just like Donald Trump, is a clear and present danger to America. If he wants to play games with Texas, have at it. When his games endanger the security of the United States as a whole, that’s when his shenanigans must stop.
Since when is it okay for Governors to perform federal illegal actions and get away with it? I guess it’s when Merrick Garland and the DOJ both choose to turn a blind eye to it. When the rule of law doesn’t apply to politicians, then who does it apply to? Clearly, not to anyone else. If politicians aren’t considered to be citizens under the same rule of law as anyone else, then there is no rule of law.
The rule of law must apply to everyone or it applies to no one!
Joe Biden and the Democrats
The Democrats don’t get a pass here. The Democrats are just as much complicit in this situation as is Greg Abbott and the rest of the Republicans. By Joe Biden and the rest of the Democrats staying mum about pushing an indictment onto Greg Abbott over his illegal transport of many, many illegal immigrants, the Democrats instead choose to sit idly by doing nothing at all. That’s also not governing. The point is, if you’re elected to govern, then govern. Sitting around doing nothing is not governing.
Unfortunately, this is what the Democrats are doing. Yes, some Democrats might have extreme liberal agendas, but it doesn’t matter when the Democrats of any type won’t push anything through. Sitting on your hands is not governing any more than bussing migrants across the country.
The State of America: Two Party System
America is under siege, not just by the Republicans, but also by the Democrats. Both parties are actively sabotaging the United States by either intentionally performing illegal actions (Republican politicians) or by sitting around doing nothing (Democrat politicians) allowing others to perform illegal actions. Right now, politicians of any party are running roughshod all over America and its citizens.
It is, in fact, the two party system that is failing America. Neither of the two parties are working towards or for the best interest of America. They both have their own internal agendas which don’t include working for the citizens or in actually solving problems. In fact, both parties seem intent on either doing nothing or in creating problems, rather than solving any.
The reason we elect our representatives is to work on our behalf. Yet, so many of these elected representatives only have personal agendas they wish to push. For whatever reason, these selfish, self-centered, egotistical, ill mannered politicians seem to be continually elected and re-elected. Why? What are they doing for you?
This is the state of America. America is being overrun by elected people who have no interest in fixing America. They only have interest in making bank for themselves and doing nothing else in the process. Lip service doesn’t fix things, only actions do. We need to tell these politicians to shut up and get to work.
Reactive versus Pro-Active
America has always had mostly a reactive system with politicians. Something bad happens, we make a law against it. That’s pretty much how the founders wanted it. That also means that knee jerk reactions tend to rule. What that also means is that when something bad happens, we can’t just ban it in the locale where it happened. No, we have to ban it everywhere.
This is what’s happening with abortion rights. When we thought we had the abortion issue locked down, conservative justices come along only to completely upend what had been in place for years… all to throw it right back into turmoil again.
Once again, knee jerk reactions rule the roost. Let’s not just ban abortion, now we have to ban everything possible involving abortion, including IVF, drugs, stem cell research and eventually, nearly everything that has come out of the technologies involving birth, babies, stem cells and all the rest.
The point now is that these politicians are taking aim at the very medical technologies which have given America incredible quality of life and longevity improvements. Yet, the fundamentalist Christians feel it is their place to take it all away and throw America back into a medical dark age. It’s coming, folks. You had better get prepared… all thanks to the GOP.
Drugs that had been created using these technologies are now under fire for the same reason as abortion. It’s only a matter of time. This is why FEDERAL laws handling fundamental rights must exist. They must exist and they must matter because it puts EVERY citizen on a level playing field no matter where they live. Having states create a haphazard patchwork of laws only serves to put everyone at risk. This is why Federal laws matter. It’s why Federal laws must exist. It’s why Federal laws have to continue to exist. It’s why Congress must act swiftly to craft Federal abortion laws that apply to all states equally. And yet, crickets!
The System is Hopelessly Broken
The Federal government cannot keep twiddling its thumbs doing nothing… thanks Democrats. The Federal government cannot keep throwing out and replacing the Speaker of the House… thanks Republicans. These are wastes of taxpayer time and money. When Government workers are not governing, then what the hell are they doing, other than collecting a paycheck? Why do we keep electing these worthless people? Something has to change. Exactly what that is and when it will happen is unknown.
I’d love to offer up a quick fix solution here. Unfortunately, our political system is so intrinsically and hopelessly broken, the only way fix it is to throw it out completely and start over fresh with a brand new and modern Constitution. We must endeavor to make a new modern Constitution that takes into account MODERN ideologies and technology, that limits the damage any one political party or political actor can do to America and that allows quick, easy and PERMANENT removal of bad actors from the stage. We cannot afford or allow this level of sabotage to remain in the ranks of politicians. Politicians need to work for the betterment of America; they are not elected to sabotage it.
One thing is crystal clear, America cannot stay on its current political trajectory. If anything, the manufactured border crisis proves this sabotage situation out… in spades.
↩︎
Why Lying is Bad for America
Lying, a ubiquitous aspect of human behavior, has been a long-standing issue in societies worldwide. While deception may seem harmless in certain situations, its detrimental effects on trust, democracy, and social cohesion cannot be overstated. In the United States, a nation founded on principles of transparency and honesty, the prevalence of lies poses significant risk to America’s fabric.
This article explores the multifaceted reasons why lying is detrimental to America, spanning political, social, and moral spheres. Let’s explore.
Let’s establish exactly how lying poses a threat to America:
- Erosion of Trust
Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, be it personal, professional, or societal. Lying fundamentally undermines trust, making it difficult for individuals and institutions to rely on one another. In the political realm, when elected officials deceive the public, it creates a sense of cynicism and disillusionment among citizens. This erosion of trust weakens the bond between the government and the governed, hindering effective governance. Moreover, mistrust fueled by lies can lead to conspiracy theories and the spread of misinformation, further polarizing the population. - Deterioration of Democracy
Democracy relies on the informed participation of citizens. When lies are perpetuated, the truth becomes obscured, impeding the ability of people to make well-informed decisions. Political campaigns based on false promises and misleading information undermine the democratic process, manipulating voters and distorting election outcomes. Additionally, lying can hinder accountability, as it allows politicians to evade responsibility for their actions. A healthy democracy requires transparency and honesty to ensure the will of the people is properly represented. - Weakening of Social Cohesion
Lying erodes social cohesion, the glue that holds a society together. When lies become pervasive, individuals become suspicious of one another, leading to a breakdown in social bonds. In a diverse nation like the United States, trust and understanding among different groups are vital for societal harmony. When lies and deception permeate the social fabric, it deepens divisions, exacerbates prejudice, and fuels social unrest. Open and honest communication fosters empathy, cooperation, and a sense of shared purpose, all of which are crucial for a united and inclusive society. - Moral and Ethical Implications
Lying carries profound moral and ethical implications. It violates the principles of honesty, integrity, and respect for others. When lying becomes normalized, it weakens the moral fiber of a society. By condoning or tolerating deception, we create a culture where honesty is undervalued, undermining the ethical foundations that guide our actions. Furthermore, lying can have severe consequences for individuals and communities. False accusations, damaged reputations, and shattered relationships are all byproducts of deceit, causing immeasurable harm.
Lying, in all of its forms, is deeply harmful to America. The erosion of trust, deterioration of democracy, weakening of social cohesion, and moral implications of lying have far-reaching consequences. Addressing this issue requires a collective effort from individuals, institutions, and leaders; necessitating promoting a culture of honesty, fostering open dialogue, and holding accountable those who perpetuate falsehoods. Individuals must also cultivate critical thinking skills, fact-check information, and reject deceptive narratives.
Media outlets also have a responsibility to prioritize truth and objectivity over sensationalism and misinformation. Political leaders must lead by example, upholding the principles of transparency and integrity. Finally, education plays a vital role in fostering a society that values truth and rejects deception. By recognizing the detrimental impact of lying, we can work towards restoring trust, strengthening democracy, fostering social cohesion, and upholding the moral fabric of America.
Better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie
—Khaled Hosseini, “The Kite Runner”
Truth Disclosure: Most of this article was written using ChatGPT. This article is simply an experiment to determine if ChatGPT has value in crafting articles that seem genuinely written by a human. The jury is still out, yet ChatGPT nails this topic. Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
↩︎
Disney and DeSantis: Who wins?
With Disney canceling its plans to spend $1 billion on a new Florida campus, this is Disney’s first salvo lobbed directly at Ron DeSantis. Can Florida survive this fight? Let’s explore.
Ron DeSantis is Playing with Fire
Tourism in Florida accounts for more than $40 billion each year. Tourism also generates massive tax revenue; tax revenue that grosses $11.4 billion in state and local taxes and $13.3 billion in federal taxes annually. DeSantis and Florida clearly stand poised to lose hard when Disney pulls the plug on its Florida Disney resort properties entirely. Yes, “when”, not “if”. The United States also stands to lose a lot of federal tax revenue as well. This article, however, intends to focus primarily on the ramifications to Florida.
Once DeSantis makes Florida’s actions so punitive that Disney can no longer make money in Florida, Disney WILL pull out and leave Florida. DeSantis has wrongly assumed that Disney will remain in Florida. That’s a completely wrong assumption. When state legislators make doing business in a state a major problem to the bottom line, corporations have to make hard, but necessary choices. Some of those hard choices may involve leaving that state.
Musk and Tesla made that choice after California and Gavin Newsom made doing business in California almost impossible for Tesla. Tesla moved its headquarters to Texas and is likely poised to cease all of its operations in California eventually, manufacturing or otherwise. Even though Musk has made a small move to bring some portions of Tesla back to California, that doesn’t mean Musk embraces California for its business structure. Moving a portion of Tesla’s engineering staff closer to Twitter is likely more of a strategic and convenient business arrangement than it is embracing a move back to California. Musk is simply attempting to keep Twitter from collapsing most likely by leveraging Tesla software engineers when possible to do double duty between Tesla and Twitter. Dividing work time between two separate companies is not a job I’d want to do. We digress.
Disney’s stance, after cancelling its $1 billion campus project, is now crystal clear. Disney is on the verge of making a similar hard choice that Tesla was forced to make. Nothing says that Disney’s entertainment parks must remain in Florida.
Disney’s Contributions to Florida
Disney properties are responsible for generating at least $1.1 billion in tax revenues annually TO Florida. Ten percent (10%) of the entirety of gross taxes generated in Florida are generated by one single entity, Disney. Yes, that’s 10% from Disney alone. When factoring in all of the non-Disney owned businesses which exist because Disney drives massive tourism to Florida, such as restaurants, hotels and transportation, tax revenue attributed to Disney’s presence in Florida could account for as much as 40-50% of all of Florida’s tax revenue. Meaning, when combining Disney’s income with income generated by all other businesses which rely on Disney remaining in Florida, that’s a number that could literally tank Florida’s economy were it to dry up overnight.
Putting a number on it, this equates to between $4.6 billion and $5.5 billion of tax revenue lost were Disney to close shop and leave Florida. On top of the tax base lost, Disney closing shop would definitely cause most, if not all of Disney’s 75,000 Florida workers to lose their jobs. Further, the loss of Disney’s tourism industry would have massive repercussions on tertiary businesses which partially or fully rely on Disney remaining open in Florida. Thus, Disney leaving Florida could potentially cause the loss of another 100,000 or more Florida jobs simply BECAUSE Disney has left Florida. That’s just the beginning of Florida’s woes. Disney leaving Florida would likely cause a massive recession in Florida, followed by major unemployment in Florida, which, in turn, could potentially trigger a massive recession around the rest of the United States, particularly around tourism. This at a time when tourism is just beginning to rebound from COVID.
Because Airlines carry so many passengers to and from Florida almost entirely for Disney’s tourism, such a closure could mean almost certain problems for the whole of the United States. In fact, a Disney Florida closure could potentially even bankrupt some smaller airlines; airlines which may rely on as much or more than 20-40% of their business ferrying tourists to and from Florida. Car rental companies could also be impacted. The gasoline industry might even be impacted as far fewer people hop onto the roads to visit Florida. Even national and state parks could be impacted as fewer RVs show up due to a Disney closure. There are too many industries that wholly or partly rely on Disney’s continued operations in Florida. Without Disney parks, what incentive is there to visit Florida?
This right here 👆 is exactly how Ron DeSantis is gambling with Florida and the rest of the United States economy.
Juggernaut without Federal Response
At this point, Biden and the feds need to step in and stop DeSantis from further meddling with Disney. The longer this DeSantis vs Disney fight drags on, the more likely Disney will consider moving its operations somewhere else, thus ceasing operations in Florida. Worse, the more DeSantis pokes at Disney’s Country Bear Jamboree, the more likely Disney is to perform a knee-jerk reaction by shutting it all down instantly… leaving Florida, the tourism industry and the rest of the country reeling.
As with most types of shutdowns like this, it won’t be felt instantly around the nation. It’s one of those slow trickle economic problems. Florida, particularly around the general vicinity of Disney’s campuses, will feel the closure pinch almost instantly. The unemployment of Disney workers will throw a huge crimp into Florida’s unemployment statistics. From there, like a juggernaut, it will continue to roll downhill gathering momentum and growing bigger, expanding its damage across Florida, then across hotels, airlines and transportation as a whole and finally affecting the whole of the United States.
The stock market will reel at first over Disney, but then those stock losses will expand into the tourism industry as a whole, including the entirety of both the transportation and tourism sectors. Even restaurant chains like Olive Garden and McDonald’s alike, chains which at least partly rely on Disney to keep their restaurants full in the immediate vicinity of Disney’s properties, will also likewise begin to feel the pinch; first at the cash register, but later as Wall Street outlooks dim over Florida’s economy.
Disney as a Global Entity
The loss of revenue from Disney will be immense as Disney ceases its Florida operations. There is no doubt. However, moving Disney’s Florida properties to a new location is definitely possible. Disney isn’t beholden to anyone to maintain its Florida resort properties other than Disney and Disney shareholders. If Disney cannot maintain appropriate income under Ron DeSantis’s oppressive government ideologies, Disney will have no choice but to close down its properties and move to a better location.
For example, Texas would likely welcome Disney with open arms, even though Greg Abbott has the potential to become just as oppressive to Disney as Ron DeSantis. Disney would have to weigh the risks of moving its operations under a Greg Abbott controlled Texas as a result. For Texas, out of the frying pan and into the fire comes to mind.
What this might ultimately mean is Disney could choose to move its biggest resort property outside of the United States entirely. It could find property in Dubai, for example. Don’t think that Disney doesn’t have a task force actively searching the globe for possible properties to replace its Florida resorts at this very moment. If Disney finds a property that’s an equal or better value to the deal it formerly had (past tense) with Florida, Disney would be stupid not to choose to move to that new location, leaving Florida’s economy and, by extension, Ron DeSantis reeling.
The best way for Disney to fight Ron DeSantis is not to fight with him at all. Instead, closure of all of Disney’s Florida properties would say all that needs to be said. It might be just the trigger that causes a massive United States recession, but that’s not Disney’s concern. It is the concern of the Federal Government, however. Disney’s concern is to continue to make money at its resorts. If Disney is unable to do this because of an oppressive government leader, the only choice is to move on and find a new, better property to again house its resort operations.
These are the matches 🔥 to which Ron DeSantis feels compelled to light and throw at Disney. Ron DeSantis, be careful throwing matches because when fires start, someone gets burned.
As a Florida resident then living under a massive recession after a Disney closure, just remember that it is you who chose to vote Ron DeSantis into office.
Can this situation be defused? Yes, but don’t think that it also can’t escalate for Florida? We’ll simply need to wait this one out.
Who Wins?
No one, not even Disney. If Disney closes its Florida properties as a result of DeSantis’s meddling, this closure has the potential to be the catalyst which causes a United States recession.
↩︎
Can Trump actually ban TikTok?
There are two sides to this question. Let’s explore both sides.
Technological Ban
Could TikTok actually be technologically stopped from working? Yes, and to be honest, it wouldn’t take that much effort, though it will take some time. Let’s explore how this works.
Domain Name Service (DNS)
DNS is a fundamental internet service that maps Internet names, like google.com, into an IP address, like 8.8.8.8 (which is Google’s DNS server IP address, actually). When you type in a name into the address bar of your browser, DNS converts that name into a numeric IP which is how your browser then connects to and serves you (and your browser) that web content.
This same system applies to all apps including apps like TikTok. When you launch an app on your phone, the app then uses DNS to resolve its service into an IP address which then connects to, for example, TikTok’s servers to begin serving you (and the app) its content.
DNS is the Achilles heel of the internet. It is both a cornerstone and a single point of failure. If DNS fails, then apps fail to connect to their required services.
This is the first touch point where Donald Trump could target. Donald Trump can mandate that the registrar who operates the domain tiktok.com drop serving DNS for this domain… assuming it operates within the United States (hint, it doesn’t).
Further, the secondary non-authoritative DNS system (those servers operated by your ISP or phone provider) relies on caching (or temporary memory storage with expiration timers). So long as the timer hasn’t reached zero, DNS will continue to serve content for that domain based on what’s in the cache rather than asking the authority each time (much faster performance). However, most domains have, at most, a 24 hour countdown timer on cached data. At the end of that 24 hour period, the cached data must be renewed into the cache. If the registrar has disabled DNS resolution for a domain, the cache will fail to renew and the service will go offline.
What that means is that as caches around the Internet slowly expire after the domain registrar has pulled the DNS plug, TikTok will stop working.
The difficulty with this request is which registrar handles this domain. It appears that the tiktok.com domain is operated by the registrar ename.com. Visiting the ename.com registrar’s domain shows that it’s written in Chinese. Since this domain and its IP space is registered and operated outside of the United States, Trump may find it hard to get the registrar to do anything for him.
Even still, Trump could request (via executive order) U.S. based Internet Service Providers to block the tiktok.com domain from being served within U.S. bordered DNS servers. See ISP blocking below for more on this.
App Store
Donald Trump can further request both Apple and Google to remove the TikTok app from each respective app store. This action doesn’t stop the app from working for those who have downloaded it already, but it does stop new users from downloading it. It also means no more app updates for this app.
When Apple or Google release a new operating system update, they can then stop the app from working entirely. In fact, these OS creators could, in fact, wipe the app from any remaining devices with it still installed. However, they can also simply block the app from launching. However, this part can only work if Apple and Google release updates that explicitly perform this operation and that both of these companies agree to doing this in the first place.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) Blocking
The third avenue that Trump can seek requires ISPs to block network access to TikTok’s servers within the United States. This requires contacting and requesting this action of many ISPs all throughout the United States, including all phone carriers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint. This is a long tail request and could take weeks to see roll out. This one also has a low probability for success as ISPs are notorious for not wanting to be told what to do or how to run their networks. This particular request is not one that will work quickly or, indeed, at all in some cases… until the DOJ brings action against ISPs that refuse to comply.
In addition to blocking access at the network level, he can also request DNS blocking for the tiktok.com domain within United States DNS servers operated by ISPs. Basically, an ISP double whammy… assuming ISPs agree (or are forced to agree) to these terms.
App remains functional?
For a time after Donald Trump requests DNS and network IP blocking, the app could remain functional on devices that have it downloaded. Why? Because DNS has up to several day caching in combination with the fact that network IP blocking can be circumvented by the use of a VPN. Though, exactly how many kids are going to run out and buy a VPN service just to use TikTok is unknown.
If Donald Trump can get all four actions lined up (the first three at least) as follows:
- App removal
- IP network blocking
- DNS blocking at the registrar
- Secondary DNS blocking within U.S. ISPs
Then, the app may stop working as early as 24 hours for many and for as long as a week for outliers. It is also dependent on how long it takes for each of these steps to be completed. Some companies require long convoluted internal processes and testing to avoid inadvertent screw ups before changes are allowed to proceed.
All of these technical measures are ALL doable. They will all work IF everyone complies (and that’s a tall order).
The most damaging of these four banning steps is seeing Tiktok removed from the app store. If Trump can get the app removed from the stores, this cripples TikTok’s ability to gain new users. That means that for a time, users who have already downloaded the app can continue to use it. But, as they buy new phones, restore their phones before it was installed or if they accidentally delete the app, the app is gone forever. No more TikTok on that phone device.
Removal from the app store also means no more updates. As Apple and Google roll out OS updates, they can invalidate TikTok’s functionality. An OS update can see a small banner pop up that says something similar to “This app is no longer compatible with this device” and prevent it from launching. The only option the user has at that point is to delete the app and move onto something else. If you can’t launch the app, then it’s useless.
This step, by far, is the simplest step to banning an app. It only requires two touch points: Apple and Google. That also assumes that both Apple and Google would be willing participants in this action. They may not. If they choose to challenge Trump’s legal authority to request such actions.. that leads me into the second half of this article.
Legal Authority
I guess the biggest question on people’s mind is, “Does Donald Trump have the authority to ban an app like TikTok within the US?” The short answer is, “I’m not sure”. Trump’s executive authority powers do allow him to write and execute executive orders.
Wikipedia states of Presidential Executive Orders:
Article Two of the United States Constitution gives the president broad executive and enforcement authority to use their discretion to determine how to enforce the law or to otherwise manage the resources and staff of the executive branch. The ability to make such orders is also based on express or implied Acts of Congress that delegate to the President some degree of discretionary power (delegated legislation).
the Wikipedia article further goes on to state:
Like both legislative statutes and regulations promulgated by government agencies, executive orders are subject to judicial review and may be overturned if the orders lack support by statute or the Constitution.
That means that an Executive Order can be challenged via judicial review and may be overturned if unconstitutional or lacks support by statute. And, lacking support by statute may be Trump’s biggest hurdle.
However, the Patriot Act gives the government and, in general, the President broad powers with regards to national security. If he deems TikTok a threat to national security and deems it illegal surveillance, it may invoke clauses under the Patriot Act which would allow him to write an Executive Order supported by the Patriot Act.
Yes, this is all convoluted and tenuously threaded, but it may have enough binding weight to hold together under scrutiny via judicial review.
That’s not say that TikTok is in any way performing surveillance via its app. But, seeing that it was an app developed in China, it is entirely possible that it does contain illegal surveillance mechanisms, otherwise known as spyware.
TikTok as an App
TikTok may seem an innocuous app on the surface. You use it to create a funny small video clippets (ha, just coined a new term) and then upload it for all to see. What you don’t know is whether this seeming innocuous app is spying on you when you’re not using it. You must give this app permissions to your microphone, camera, location and possibly other access. The app can turn on these devices at any time it so chooses, even if when you’re unaware. If you have given any other access permissions, such as access to your Photo Gallery, Clipboard, Contacts or other points of permission, it may have blanket access to far too much private information about you that it can feed to China.
Even if you have installed TikTok once, that data may have been shared back to someone in China. You have no idea exactly what this app is doing under-the-hood. The same can be said of many apps in the app store. However, China is under no obligation to uphold data privacy laws in the United States. If your child has installed the app, it could feed all manner of private data about your child back to China.
U.S. Company?
TikTok apparently has a U.S. presence, but if that presence doesn’t have a hand in the creation, maintenance or dissemination of the app itself, the U.S. arm may not be violating any laws if the app does unsavory things outside of its stated and intended purpose.
Even though it seems TikTok does have a U.S. presence, the company itself seems to be heavily backed by Chinese companies. Since the President’s announcement regarding a potential TikTok ban, this company has quickly attempted to divest its Chinese interest from TikTok and allow it to become a wholly owned and operated U.S. business. That may be too late for this company and this app.
Honestly, sharing tiny entertaining videos of your silly antics is really not an essential part life. It’s fun to watch, but it’s overall something to be watched and forgotten. In other words, none of the content on TikTok is in any way meaningful or, indeed, useful. It is briefly funny content that might elicit a few laughs and then you are encouraged to move on to the next.
What Wish is to trashy Chinese merchandise, TikTok is to trashy occasionally funny clippets. They’re both cut from the same cloth, but cut from different ends. I’ve watched many TikTok videos and I find most of them no more entertaining than watching a TV commercial. TV commercials are, in fact, better filmed and many times better written.
Ultimately, if TikTok is banned, it won’t be missed in the long run. Oh, it will be immediately missed by the tweens and teens alike who rely on that sort of thing to get through the boredom of their day, but even this age group will quickly forget and move onto the next app.
TikTok is ultimately another social media fad riding a temporary wave that will eventually surf its way into the next app fad, and far away from TikTok. A Presidential ban may simply speed this process up exponentially and cut short TikTok as a fad.
↩︎
Patent Trolls or why software patents should be abolished!
The patent system was originally designed to provide exclusive rights for invented ideas to inventors. But, there used to be a catch, the idea must lead to a real world tangible device. The patent system was also conceived long before computers existed. So, at the time when the patent system was conceived, it was designed as a way for inventors to retain exclusive control over their ideas for tangible devices without other people stealing or profiting from those ideas.
The patent system is enforced by the legal system. It is sanctioned by governments (specifically in the US, by the US Patent Office – USPTO and the legislative system) to protect said individuals’ patents from use by others who serve to profit from those previously ‘patented’ ideas. So, enforcing a patent involves suing an alleged infringer and then having a court of law rule whether the alleged infringer has, in fact, infringed. It is, then, the burden of proof of the patent holder to prove infringement. Â And, of course, it ties up the legal system to resolve this dispute.
Tangible vs Intangible Devices
The patent system was conceived at a time when the ultimate outcome of a patent idea was to produce a tangible physical good. That is, something that ultimately exists in the real world like a pen, a toaster, a drill, a telephone or a light bulb. The patented idea itself is not tangible, but the idea described within the patent should ultimately produce a tangible real world item if actually built. This is why ideas that lead to intangible things were never allowed to be patented and are only allowed to be copyrighted or trademarked.
Fast forward to when the first computers came into existence (30s-60s). Then later, the 70s when the US Patent Office began granting software patents en masse (although, the first software patent was apparently granted in 1966). Software, unfortunately, is not a tangible thing and, for the most part, is simply a set of ideas expressed through a ‘programming language’ with finite constructs. Modern programming languages, specifically, are designed to have limited constructs to produce a structured code. That is, an application that follows a specific set of pre-built rules to basically take data in and present data out (in specific unique ways). Â Ultimately, that’s what a program does, take data in, process it and spit data out in a new way.
Software Design Limits
Because modern programming languages have limited constructs from which to build an application and which are further constrained by such limits as application programming interface (API) frameworks, operating system function calls, hardware limitations and other such constraints, writing an application becomes an exercise in compromise. That is, you must compromise programming flexibility for the ease and speed of using someone else’s API framework. Of course, you can write anything you want from scratch if you really want, but most people choose to use pre-existing frameworks to speed the development process. Â Using external frameworks also reduce time to completion of a project. At the same time, including third party API systems is not without its share of coding and legal issues. Programmatically speaking, using a third party API opens up your code to security problems and puts implicit trust into that API that it’s ‘doing the right thing’. Clearly, the functionality derived from the external framework may outweigh the security dangers present within the framework. From a legal perspective, you also don’t know what legal traps your application may fall into as a result of using someone else’s API framework. If they used code within the framework that is legally questionable, that will also bring your application into question because you used that framework inside your app (unless, of course, it’s using a SOAP/REST internet framework).
With all that said, embedding frameworks in your app severely constricts your ability to control what your program is doing. Worse, though, if you are using a high level programming language like C, C++, Objective C, C# or any other high level language, you are limited by that programming language’s built-in construct. So, even if you choose to code everything from scratch, it’s very likely you could write code substantially similar to something that someone else has already written. Because high level languages have limited constructs, there are only so many ways to build an application that, for example, extracts data from a database. So, you have to follow the same conventions as everyone else to accomplish this same task.
Software Patents are bad
Because of these limited high level language constructs, there is a high probability that someone writing an application will write code that has already been written hundreds of times before. And note, that’s not an accident. That happens because do()while, for() and while() loops as well as if conditionals area always used in the same way. Worse, you can’t deviate from these language constructs because they are always the same in pretty much any language. Â If these constructs didn’t exist, you couldn’t easily make decisions within your code (ie, if X is greater than 3, do this, else do that).
Why are software patents bad? Simply, because languages are written with such limited programming concepts, the probability to reinvent something that has already been invented is far too high. Unlike devising a real world idea where the probability someone could come up with that same exact idea is likely near zero, writing software using language constructs the probability is far higher than 70% that someone could design the same (or substantially similar) code, idea or construct. And. that high probability is strictly because of the limits and constructs imposed by the high level language.
Yet, the USPTO has decided to allow and grant software patents knowing the probabilities of creating substantially similar ideas within the software world is that high. Yes, probabilities should play a part in whether or not to grant patents.
Probabilities
Probability in idea creation is (and should always be considered) how likely someone is to create something substantially similar to someone else. Probability should always be relevant in granting patents. Patents need to be unique and individual. That is, a patent should be granted based on something that multiple people could not devise, guess, build or otherwise conceive accidentally. Because real world tangible items are constrained only by the elements here on Earth, this effectively makes inventions using Earth elements pretty much infinite (at least for all intents and purposes). Because software code uses a much smaller number of constructs that limit and constrain programming efforts, that smaller set increases the chances and the probabilities that someone can create something similar. Â In fact, it increases probabilities by orders of magnitudes. I’m sure an expert on statistics and probabilities could even come up with real world probability numbers between element based inventions and software code based inventions. Suffice it to say, even without this analysis, it’s quite clear that it’s far too easy for someone to devise something substantially similar in software without even really trying.
Software patents are bad, revisited
Basically, it’s far too easy for someone to devise something someone else has already conceived using software. On top of this, the USPTO has seen fit to grant software patents that are way too obvious anyway. That is, they’ve granted patents to software ideas that are similarly as common place as cotton, strawberries, a nail and yarn. Worse, because of these completely obvious patents, patent trolls (people who do nothing but patent without the intent of producing anything) game the system and produce completely obvious patents. This action has created a land mine situation for the software industry. Â This is especially bad because it’s virtually impossible to search for existing patents before writing software.
So, as a software developer, you never know when you might step on one of these land mines and get a ‘cease and desist’ notification from a patent troll. That is, someone who has patented some tiny little thing that’s completely obvious, yet your application takes advantage of that thing somewhere because you just happened upon one of the easy to build constructs in a language. Yet, patents should only be granted based on an idea that someone cannot easily create by sheer accident. Yet, here we are.
Ideas now patented
Worse, software is not and has never been tangible. That is, software doesn’t and cannot exist in the real world. Yes, software exists on real world devices, but that software itself is just a series of bits in a storage device. It is not real and will never be real or ever see the light of day. That is, software is just an idea. An idea with a structured format. It is not real and will never have a real tangible physical shape, like a toaster. We will never be able to have tactile interaction with software. Hardware, yes, is tactile. Software, no. The software’s running code itself cannot stimulate any of our five senses: not sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.. Someone might argue, well software does produce visual and audible interaction. Yes, the output of the software produces these interactions. That is, the software processes the input data and produces output data. The input and output data has sight and sound interaction. You still aren’t seeing or hearing the software code doing the processing. That’s under the hood and cannot be experienced by our five senses. For this reason, software is strictly an idea, a construct. It is not a tangible good.
Patents are a form of personal law
That is, the owner of the patent now has a legal ‘law’ that they need to personally enforce. Â That is, that patent number gives them the right to take anyone to court to enforce their ‘law’ err.. patent. Â No entity in government should be allowed to grant personal law. Â Especially not for intangible things. Â I can understand granting patents on tangible items (a specialty hair clip, a curling iron, a new type of pen, etc). Â That makes sense and it’s easy to see infringement as you can see and touch the fake. Â It takes effort, time and money to produce such a tangible item. Software patents require nothing. Â Just an application to the USPTO, a payment and then wait for it to be granted. Â After the patent has been granted, take people to court, win and wait for royalties. Â This is wrong.
All software patents should be immediately abolished and invalidated
Why?
- Software patents only serve corporations in money making ventures. Yet, software patents really serve to bog down the legal system with unnecessary actions.
- Software patents stifle innovation due to ‘land mines’. Many would-be developers steer clear of writing any code for fear of the legal traps.
- Software patents are granted based on probabilities far too high that someone will produce something similar based on limited high level language constructs
- Because software language constructs are, by comparison, much smaller in number when compared to Earth elements (when inventing real world ideas), probabilities say it’s too easy to recreate something substantially similar to someone else in software.
- Software is intangible and cannot expose itself as anything tangible (which goes against the original idea of patents in the first place)
- Software patents will reach critical mass. Â Eventually, the only people left writing code will be large corporations who can afford to defend against legal traps.
- Software patents are now being granted without regards to obviousness.
As a result, all software patents, past and present, should be immediately invalidated. Â If we continue this path of software patents, a critical mass will eventually exist such that writing software will become such a legal landmine that developers will simply stop developing. Â I believe we’ve already seen the beginnings of this. Eventually, the only people left who can afford to develop software will be large corporations with deep pockets. Â Effectively, software patents will stifle innovation to the point that small developers will no longer be able to legally defend against the Patent Trolls and large corporations seeking to make money off ‘licensing’. The patent system needs to go back to a time when the only patents granted were patents describing tangible physical goods. Patents that do not describe tangible physical goods should be considered ideas and dumped under copyright law only.
Is Obama hostile towards big business?
To answer this question, we need to delve a little deeper. Note, I am neither condoning nor praising Obama’s handling of his regulatory efforts. However, I would like to point out certain corrections that do need to be made.
“The truth is that not even the Franklin Roosevelt administration was as hostile to and ignorant about free enterprise as this [Obama’s] administration is.”
–Steve Forbes.
But, is Obama really hostile towards business? Or, is he making needed corrections? There is a fine line here. This issue also points out a serious problem in politics today. That problem is, you guessed it, money. Without money, the world doesn’t work. Without money, candidates don’t get elected. Without money, businesses don’t sell things and make money. Back up the train.. Businesses make plenty of money without governmental help. The trouble is that businesses want to be able to make laws that enable their businesses to make more money and then have the government be lenient with them when issues arise.
The reality, though, is that like the separation of church and state, the government now needs separation of business and state. The two are oil and water, they don’t mix. Government needs to be able to make law without interference from any party. But, businesses have deep pockets and hefty lawyers. These two elements help elect officials and help sway these same officials into making good on promises they made towards these businesses during the election.
Obama’s corrections
While I don’t agree with every single thing Obama has done, I do agree that change is necessary. The change that he is making is intended to correct the issues that led to the economic downturn. The trouble comes with statements from people like Steve Forbes. Mr. Forbes believes that he is the end-all-be-all-know-it-all when it comes to all-things-business. The trouble is, he doesn’t. Yes, he runs a successful magazine, but that doesn’t make him an authority. That makes him a successful business owner.
Obama is walking that fine line. A fine line that shouldn’t even be necessary. But, there it is. The line that’s there to help Obama help the economy, help spur business and growth and reduce the chances of a repeated failure. At the same time, the line is there to show that government values business, but isn’t there to socialize it. The trouble is, this economic downturn was of our own making. By our, I mean Wall Street. The housing bubble was just that, a bubble. Bubbles eventually burst and this bubble was no exception. It’s not as if analysts and intelligent minded people couldn’t see the handwriting on the wall. When the mortgage interest rates got down to 1% and all of those ARM and specialty loans were being issued like water flowing down the Mississippi, trouble was inevitable. We just didn’t know that banks and insurance companies were tying their financial soundness to these extremely risky loans using credit default swaps.
Until the bubble burst, no one really knew just how deep the rabbit hole went. Then, everything came crashing down and all of the nasty subprime mortgage and credit default swap issues came into view in their all fugly detailed glory. The first evidence of that was Bear Stearns followed by AIG (and the subsequent governmental bailout). I still think they should have let AIG fold, I digress.
Government and Business
It’s high time that government distanced itself from corporate businesses. It’s high time congress made laws to separate government from business (including political support). It’s high time that government stopped being a pawn for corporate businesses. Forbes clearly seems to think that Free Enterprise requires socialism to function. Free Enterprise is not part of and does not need socialism. Free Enterprise means that businesses can do whatever they need to do (within the limits of the laws) to make their business succeed. Clearly, there have not been laws enabled that have dramatically impacted Free Enterprise. The laws that have been enacted have been placed there to prevent corporations from producing risky investment vehicles with a high likelyhood of crashing down again. If businesses are now floundering, it’s not because of laws. It’s because corporations have lost their way and are still expecting handouts. Well, you can keep your hand out, but don’t expect the government to be dropping any coin in it.
Corporations have relied, no… depended on the US Government for handouts. That time needs to end. Subsidies for business need to go away. Businesses need to fend for themselves just like Free Enterprise mandates. If a business can’t make it on its own, then let it fail. I’ll repeat, LET IT FAIL. Failure is also part of Free Enterprise. Businesses that will succeed, will succeed because they produce a good product or service. Businesses that fail, will fail because they don’t produce good products or services.
Lost our way
America, and specifically corporate enterprises, have lost their way. For far too long have big corporations depended on favorable governmental conditions (sounds like a weather report) to help them stay in business. Well, that train has left (and must leave). It should be solely up to you and your business practices alone to make or break your company. It is the quality of your products, services and support that makes people want to buy your products or invest in your company. Nothing has changed about this aspect of Free Enterprise.
We need to go back to a time when quality was the key. When providing a superior product was the answer to getting people to buy things. If that also means deflation, then so be it. Businesses need to find their way by learning how to do more with less. How to manage their staff better and stop over-hiring. At the same time, many of them need to stop under-hiring and also value the employees that they have right now.
The key to keeping your business flowing is by keeping your employees active, productive and happy. Morale is a big problem in companies during any downturn. Once fear sets in over the next reduction in force (RIF), then morale falls to all-time-lows. No, taking the employees on an outing doesn’t boost morale. The way to boost morale is to stop RIFing the staff out the door. Yes, I know it gives a temporary boost to the stock price and makes the shareholders happy, but that’s a temporary fix with limited effects. Once the dust settles, the employees who are left become disgruntled, unhappy and produce less. This is completely backwards thinking. Which is why business has lost its way.
Shareholder value vs quality products
I know, someone’s going to say that it is all about ‘shareholder value’. That may be the way things seem now, but it is wrong. Currently accepted actions that lead to improved shareholder value tend to undercut production, stifle innovation, reduce profit margins and lower productivity. Why would you intentionally do this to your business? So, while these measures may seem to help the stock price, it does nothing to help the company improve its quality of products and services. In fact, in the long run, these actions almost always negatively impact the bottom line. So, the fundamental question is, are you in business to make the shareholders happy or are you in business to sell quality products and services? This fundamental question must be answered.
The true answer to this question also shows that Free Enterprise priorities today are all wrong. It used to be that the customer is #1. Now, shareholders are #1 and customers are #2. This is both wrong and stupid. Until businesses go back to the idea that the customer is #1, corporations will continue to fail and need governmental subsidies. While shareholders are considered #1, there is really no such thing as Free Enterprise when it comes to multi-million dollar corporations… which is why they always need a handout from the government.
Random Thoughts - Randocity! 
leave a comment