Slashdot Mirror
John McAfee On Why He's Running For President
Velcroman1 writes: Our government is in a dysfunctional state. It is also illiterate when it comes to technology. Technology is not a tool that should be used for a government to invade our privacy. Technology should not be the scapegoat when we fail to protect our digital assets and tools of commerce. These are matters of priorities." So says John McAfee, offering up a brief explanation into why he's running for president. As noted earlier on slashdot, McAfee has filed paperwork already (PDF) to found a new party.
He will slow down the government...
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Being president is sort of like winning the lottery, but in reverse. You accept the blame for everything that happens during the next 4 years, and sometimes you get to take credit for a few things... then you ride the gravy train down to your grave. Anyone who believes that the president alone can fix "Our government is in a dysfunctional state. It is also illiterate when it comes to technology." is already drinking the cool-aid. It takes a president, a congress, and state politicians working together to effect change, and nobody's been able to round up that crowd in a few decades now.
Which has more power: the hammer, or the anvil?
It's easy and predictable to sit back and call John McAfee crazy. It is also unhelpful.
Some of the nice, responsible people that do this actually believe that the system of government in place in the US is fully functional and healthy. I can't say much to these people except: see you at the finish line.
The remaining people with functioning brains realize that many, many things are going horribly wrong with the US system of government. In fact a majority of Americans believe this today. Trust in government is at an all time low. For these people, even if they disagree on the specifics, clearly things are not going well. Many even doubt for any future at all if we continue down the same course.
And yet many of these people will also stand up and say McAfee is crazy. Well so what? Beyond that, will anything be done in the absence of a crazy person to attempt it? To win one would have to usurp the Political Machine by defeating both the Republicans and Democrats in the election, the whole time thwarting their joint efforts to protect their system. They will literally be walking around with a target on their back. Who but a crazy person would attempt it?
It also shouldn't be forgotten that crazy often comes part and parcel with a whole host of other traits and characteristics that are very desirable. That Mr. McAfee has at least some spark of these is evident in the success that he has met with in the past. To dismiss him as a gibbering loon would not only be a mistake, it would be completely in error.
In 2016 Let's Put Career Politicians on the Unemployment Line