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Senator Johnny Isakson on Bankruptcy
Georgia's Gutless Politicians
IT Conversations: Bruce Schneier - Beyond Fear

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Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Senator Johnny Isakson on Bankruptcy

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Below is the response I received from Senator Isakson's office. Mr. Isakson was not nearly so loquacious as Mr Chambliss. But then, Mr. Chambliss is a lawyer (aka paid by the word), Mr. Isakson a real estate salesman (paid by developers.)

I sent the same letter to both. It covered both the Bankruptcy Bill and the Real ID Act. Mr. Chambliss chose to respond to the Real ID Act only. Mr Isakson to the Bankruptcy Bill only. 
Dear Mr. Frazier: 


Thank you for contacting my office regarding the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention
Act. I appreciate your thoughts on this subject and the opportunity to respond to you.


On March 10 th the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention
Act.I voted in favor of this bill because there has become a disturbing trend of
abuse in using bankruptcy provisions. Bankruptcy laws were put in place to assist
individuals who have reached insolvency, not to serve as a crutch for those who
purpose to avoid their obligations. Reform of our Bankruptcy code was necessary to
address those issues of abuse.


Thank you again for your ideas and input on this issue. If I may ever be of
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.


Sincerely,


Senator Johnny Isakson
At least neither Senator sent me the form letter that the Republicans were sending around after they passed the Bankruptcy Bill. A friend in Texas got exactly the same letter from both his senators. Sad. If I get a response from my Congressman (none so far) I'll post it, as well. In fact, if you've gotten letters from any of your elected representatives send me copies and I'll post them. Would be interesting to see the collection of generalized, non-committal, "trust me" letters.
Posted by: Send an e-mail to Terry Frazier Terry Frazier at 3:19 PM  | Permanent Link  | Trackback URL | 
Categories: Business & Finance, Policy & Regulation, Security


Friday, May 6, 2005

Georgia's Gutless Politicians

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Several years ago Georgia passed a requirement to have a thumbprint placed on every drivers license. This was done to improve security and make us all safer. But it didn't do either of those things. In fact, it made us less secure and safe. Why? Because after your initial visit to the DMV to "prove" your identity, you never had to prove it again. You could renew by mail and never have anyone check to see if the thumbprint was actually yours. Further, the DMV database was a mess. It wasn't connected to any other database, wasn't verified by anyone, and wasn't particularly secure. So this past legislative session the representatives of the Good People of Georgia drafted and signed a new drivers license law that did away with the thumbprint requirement.

Of course, with the passage of HR1268 and the Real ID Act all that goes out the window. Now we get to stand in line as DMV clerks validate multiple proofs of identity. And guess what? All three federal repsentatives of my district - Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, and Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, voted FOR the Real ID Act.

lynnwestmoreland.jpg
johnnyisakson.jpg
saxbychambliss.jpg

How Your Georgia Legislators Vote Against You and With Big Business and Big Brother

Westmoreland Chambliss Isakson
Legislation Y N Y N Y N
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act X
X
X
Real ID Act (Emergency Appropriations For Defense, WoT, and Tsunami Relief) X
X
X


That's right, these three elected representatives of the people of Georgia voted expressly AGAINST what the State of Georgia clearly wanted. Now why could this be? Were they confused? Maybe they thought we didn't mean it. Or maybe they just thought we don't know what's good for us. So let's look at another bill -- S256, titled "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act" but more appropriately called the "Banking Industry Benevolence and Screw the Public Act." Again, all three of my Georgia representatives voted FOR the banking industry and in direct conflict with the interests of the middle and lower economic classes.

So what do we have here? Three Republican representatives, voting repeatedly against the interests and desires of their constituents. Amazing. Leads one to wonder, just what is motivating these guys to act this way? Money? Did they take payoffs in cash or political favors from the Banking industry? Did they just cave-in to partisan politics and vote the party line regardless of whether it was right or not? Or do they think they have some straight line to God that embues them with omnipotent knowledge of what's good and right inspite of what We The People think?

All three options are scary...
Posted by: Send an e-mail to Terry Frazier Terry Frazier at 7:06 PM  | Permanent Link  | Trackback URL | 
Categories: Business & Finance, Policy & Regulation, Security


Saturday, April 30, 2005

IT Conversations: Bruce Schneier - Beyond Fear

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This is interview with security guru Bruce Schneier is wonderful. Wish we could get this played in every high school in America.

This is the first time I've listened to an ITConversation. I listened to the streaming media version while doing some mindless book shelving in the office. Very nice.

Host Doug Kaye says, "This is the one interview I hope everyone will hear."

In his lated book, Beyond Fear, security guru Bruce Schneier goes beyond cryptography and network security to challenge our post-9/11 national security practices. Here are some teasers:

  • "We're seeing so much nonsense after 9/11, and so many people are saying things about security, about terrorism that just makes no sense."
  • "Homeland security measures are an enormous waste of money."
  • "If the goal of security is to protect against yesterday's attacks, we're really good at it."
  • "The system didn't fail in the way the designers expected."
  • "Attackers exploit the rarity of failures."
  • "More people are killed every year by pigs than by sharks, which shows you how good we are at evaluating risk."
  • "Did you ever wonder why tweezers were confiscated at security checkpoints, but matches and cigarette lighters--actual combustible materials--were not?...If the tweezers lobby had more power, I'm sure they would have been allowed on board as well."
  • "When the U.S. Government says that security against terrorism is worth curtailing individual civil liberties, it's because the cost of that decision is not borne by those making it."
  • "...people make bad security trade-offs when they're scared."

Read or listen to this terrific interview in which Bruce also says what he thinks of the 9/11 hearings and answers questions from listeners regarding spam and biometrics. This is one of our best.

Posted by: Send an e-mail to Terry Frazier Terry Frazier at 1:37 PM  | Permanent Link  | Trackback URL | 
Categories: Policy & Regulation, Security
Terry W. Frazier
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