Pete Ashdown on his Run at the Hill

adamdrayer writes "Wired recently conducted an interview with Pete Ashdown, the tech-minded ISP owner who is hoping for a major upset in the race for Utah's Senate seat against long-time incumbent Orin Hatch. Ashdown hopes to help pave the way for better decision-making on the Hill regarding technology. Hatch is among the more conservative politicians on the issues of 'digital privacy' and 'fair use,' while one of Ashdown's main objectives is to reform the Digital Millennium Copyright Act."

Comments

Polls don't look so good for Ashdown

[panaceaa]

Polling data: Utah U.S. Senate: Hatch 62%, Ashdown 25%

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseacti on/viewItem/itemID/13412

While I agree with Ashdown's position a lot more than Orrin's, the incumbent is looking pretty strong.

Re:Polls don't look so good for Ashdown

[Bios_Hakr]

The reason States keep electing jackasses like Hatch and Stevens is simple: Power.

If your state has a powerful incumbent, it is in your best interest to keep him/her. Sure, you get fucked over and party-line voting, but that would happen no matter what. Dems and Repubs will *always* vote the party line on things like DMCA, USAPATRIOT, Mickey Mouse Copyright, etc. Just because you hire somebody new does not mean he'll abandon the line.

Powerful incumbents are good for your state. They have a name and can work the game in DC to get things done. Hatch and Stevens (and Kennedy and Clinton) may seem like jackasses to the other 49 States. But they bring home a lot of pork. And that means money and jobs for their State.

One way or another, your Senator *will* fuck you over. Even if the new guy promises blowjobs, hookers, and beer for everyone, does not mean he can deliver. DC will corrupt him within a few months. If they can't corrupt him, then they will turn powerful lobbyists (AARP, NRA, **AA, etc) against him; He'll soon be jobless or embroiled in a scandal.

Stop thinking you can actually change anything under the current system; you can't. How can you really push for change?

1. Term limits for House and Senate.
2. Force reps to disclose *everything* they do on a daily basis under the penalty of perjury if they lie. Meeting attendees and minutes should be published within 24 hours of a meeting on a web site available to all registered voters.
3. Force people to vote. Make voting days a Federal holiday and force employers to pay employees for that day. Count it as the cost of doing business in the USA.
4. Force campaign promises to be carried out. If a politician promises to repeal/enact $LAW, hold him to it as an impeachable offense.

Re:Polls don't look so good for Ashdown

[pashdown]

guess again, dean didnt put him up to this, dean didnt pay him to do this, hes doing it because it should be done. DNC paid zip to this campaign

Actually Dean did do something. He shook my hand twice over the course of the past 18 months, then promptly forgot all about me.

Re:Polls don't look so good for Ashdown

[pashdown]

Which is why the gubernatorial Democratic candidate got 42% of the vote in 2004.

Re:Polls don't look so good for Ashdown

[Heir Of The Mess]

You might be trolling, but I'll bite.

According to http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0778562.html/ the UN ranks 9 other countries above the US on the livability scale. Although frankly for the most part I think that life is pretty much what you make of it. I've seen people living in what we would call bad or primitive conditions, and yet they didn't seem to fussed about it.

Those countries in the UN list from 1-9 are Norway, Iceland, Australia, Luxembourg, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland and Belgium. Except for Australia, it would be a bit cold in those countries for people who like tropical climates. Depends on taste and philosophical issues, like what is the best movie? So maybe the US is the better place for you, but you'll probably have people who would like to differ with your opinion as you've stated it such that the US is the better place for everyone.

Re:Polls don't look so good for Ashdown

[pashdown]

You really need to take a look at what I'm pledging. I think term limits are a good short term solution, but the real problem is incumbent advantage. Eliminate that and if you have a level playing field for elections, voters really are the term limits.

Re:Polls don't look so good for Ashdown

[pashdown]

I'm in Utah, actually knew he was running and yet I have barely heard a word about him.

Do you read the paper or watch TV? That's OK, you can catch up at my media page.

Re:Polls don't look so good for Ashdown

[Shihar]

I think it is pointless to argue if the US is the "best" country in the world to live in. I am sure by some standards it is the best and by others it is not. A lot of it is simply taste. If you want to be an artist, you might find France with public funding of the arts to be a nicer place. If are into the highest tech gadgets and food in a pretty package, cost be damned, Japan might seem like a paradise.

You also need to realize that simply by living a place you taint your ability to enjoy other places. It is found that some traditional tribal folks living in a stone age culture in the middle of nowhere tend rate themselves as happier then your average cosmopolitan Joe. That might be true, but I can promise you that your average cosmopolitan Joe would be murderous to get back to his "hellish" city after spending a couple of weeks without toilet paper, Starbucks, and dentist. So, maybe the people of Norway are happy being in Norway, but that doesn't mean that you would be.

I think the larger point is this; if you live in the US, you live in a damn good place. Maybe it is or is not the best for you, but chance are if I closed my eyes and pointed to another spot and sent you there, you would be miserable. Further, a lot of human misery comes from a loss of perspective. Nothing sends me into a murderous rage more then someone wallowing in their own self pity over the trite challenges that they face in their life. Yeah, your six grade girlfriend dumping you was traumatic and all, but get a grip and stop listening to whinny music reminding you of that black day. Better one girl in 3 billion dump you then living your life in what Americans would consider a glorified sewer, suffering war, experiencing violent cultural and political oppression, or any of the other horrors regularly visited upon many people in this world.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to change the place you live in for the better and looking to other cultures for examples of how to do this, but don't lose perspective. If you are reading this post, chances are you are living in some place that isn't so bad. The challenges and the trails that you face are unlikely to kill you, and even if they are (who knows, maybe you have cancer) you are probably in one of the better places of this world to face them.

Make the world a better place, but remember that the place you currently have is well worth appreciating despite whatever faults it might have.

He's the perfect candidate - for 2026

[Salvance]

Given the tech savvyness of the younger generations, Politicians like Pete Ashdown are sure to become more commonplace over the next 10-20 years. Unfortunately, the vast majority of voters and capital hill aren't ready for the reform. Remember Ross Perot's "revolutionary" voting ideas? He wanted to enable people to vote in elections (and even on every congressional act) from their computers or at government kiosks. Everyone laughed at the idea, but his kooky vision is getting closer to reality.

In politics, it never seems to pay to be a visionary ... while they may eventually effect great change in how our government functions, their lack of mainstream appeal never gets them very far in the election.

Understatement

[A beautiful mind]

Hatch is among the more conservative politicians

That's like saying the Amish are among the more conservative users of computer technology.

Just wond'ring...

[Black Parrot]

> Hatch is among the more conservative politicians on the issues of 'digital privacy' and 'fair use'

Is that good or bad? I.e., what is the writer's notion of what makes a 'conservative' position on those policies? (Is protecting fair use conservative or progressive?)

Re:Mormons.

[portforward]

I am Mormon. No we are not.

All together now

[mattwarden]

Ashdown hopes to help pave the way for better decision-making on the Hill

You're new here, aren't you.

Sincerely,

Washington

His photographer should be shot

[spagetti_code]

Whomever did this photo of Pete could have done better. They've used wide f-stop creating a narrow depth of focus. Thats OK except when you do it on someone up close, it makes their nose look big. Also, because his face is in focus but his shoulders and body aren't, they look like they are a long way away - so he looks like he has a 2' neck.

Re:His photographer should be shot

[pashdown]

There are other photos from other photographers on the site. If you'd like, I can send you a signed copy whatever one you like the best.

Re:He already lost my vote

[pashdown]

You never gave an effective argument as to how the average American voter could ever hope to understand it. Voting is already pretty simple, and we're lucky to get a 25%. You want to enforce a system that most people can't pronounce, let alone understand?

Re:Good on him

[pashdown]

Why not demonstrate a system to change it? I remember years ago it cost $25M to make movies, then Spike Lee made "She's Gotta Have It". You used to not be able to get music distribution without a music contract, but that isn't the case any more is it? International business and communication also used to be difficult too, but is it any more?

The status quo will remain status quo unless people work to change it.

Dumbocracy

[Doc Ruby]

Orrin Hatch has been the dumbest man in Congress for years. Ever since Alan Simpson retired, anyway.

Re:Mormons.

[swillden]

Speak for yourself, portforward.

I'm Mormon, and I'm out to get them. All of them.

BWAHAhahahahaaa!

Excuse me while I polish my horns.

Re:Unfortunately

[pashdown]

I demand full accountability of our representatives by having them post schedules and call logs online. Every department of government should post their budgets and expenditures on a monthly basis. I will involve the American people in the process and I am demonstrating ways to do that. I believe the Constitution is more than a "piece of paper" and should be upheld if I swear to do so. Please explain to me how this is "full-bore liberal", because people all over Utah have told me that it sounds good to them.

Re:Democracy etc

[pashdown]

Transparency breeds efficiency. If the public is able to reveal and know the inefficiencies of government, they're more likely to be eliminated or changed. I believe in a limited government, but I also don't believe we should sell our government services to the lowest bidder (or no bid).

Education is one area where "No Child Left Behind" has put big government into the smallest classroom. In most cases regarding local issues, the feds should be cutting checks to local governments then getting out of the way. In non-interstate issues, the locals can always do it cheaper, better, and quicker than the feds.

Re:Interesting...

[pashdown]

Nobody wants to see base closures in their home state. The question is who can best handle the economic redevelopment if the government closes the base anyway?

Mandatory voting

[Tsunayoshi]

3. Force people to vote. Make voting days a Federal holiday and force employers to pay employees for that day. Count it as the cost of doing business in the USA.

In Peru (my wife's native country) every legal adult is REQUIRED to vote. You have a "libreta electoral" card you carry with you and each election you get a foil stamp in it. If you get a traffic fine or such, the police can check your voting card and if you are missing the latest election's stamp you can get fined for missing that also.

When I lived there, during election periods the energy of people supporting various candidates was psycho. You could probably ask any Peruvian about the candidates for their area and get into a much detailed discussion about them. I wish American's gave a tenth as much attention to voting here as they do in Peru.