Clinton gets standing ovation after address to ICANN community.
I just finished watching Bill Clinton give a keynote address at the ICANN meeting in San Francisco. I’ve never seen him speak in person before, and it was cool to be only 20 feet away.
I get the distinct feeling that he could talk gibberish up there and we’d still all be wowed. But a (one of his) messages about the differences between the haves and the have-nots really resonated. It’s something I’ve been thinking about more lately. The problem in America is we think the haves are rich Americans and the have-nots are middle class Americans. Or heck, even welfare recipients.
But this pales in comparison to the have-nots in most countries around the world who’d be delighted just to get clean drinking water.
Clinton said a billion people around the world couldn’t even fathom the very event where he spoke. His said the audience would be surprised if the microphone, projector, or lights stopped working during his speech. In much of the world people would be surprised if they were all working at the same time.
In American we know if we work hard, follow a semi-prescribed path, and do good, we’ll be rewarded. In many other places there is no guarantee or even a chance.
Clinton pointed out that you can give every poor person a computer but it wouldn’t do much good alone if they don’t live in a place with hope and no moral framework.
Jp says
I will disagree with him that in America Working hard and following a semi-perscribed path gets you rewarded. I find that in the US this is the path to mediocrity at best. You can just stop working and social programs etc… Will take care of things for you an bring you to a level really not that far off of those funding the social programs. It’s like studying really really hard to get a B+ when if you don’t study at all you will just get a B-, have to sometimes wonder is it worth it. You have to really go above and beyond what seems possible to get that A.
Spending a lot of time in 3rd world countries I find much there is more capitalism alive even in non capitalist countries. There is a much stronger correlation between your work and your rewards, however a paradigm is established in a lot of these places that is hard for people to see past.
Jeff Edelman says
Bill Clinton is an amazing speaker. I wish that I was there to see the speech.
Monica says
Oh, Bill; I’ll always love you! 😉
Mark says
This is the same Bill Clinton who lied to America when he told us all that Globalization would be good for America?
How are all the jobs getting sucked out of the country good for America?
He is a NWO shill.
No thank you.
Brad says
Standing ovation? I think I’d be the only one in the room to sit during that.
People are just morons.
Gazzip says
“I get the distinct feeling that he could talk gibberish up there and we’d still all be wowed.”
Politicians talk complete gibberish (s***) 99% of the time, the gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider all around the world including in the UK and America. When the riots hit your streets you will be forced to beleive it.
If the futures so bright why do we all owe so much money to other countries like china, why are some of our governments printing an insane amount of money with nothing to back it up? Why are most of the western governments pretty much teetering on bankrupty and facing huge spiraling debts they can never EVER pay back.
We’re all in this mess because politicians have been making bullshit promises for years without real meaningful longterm common sense action and they have spent far more money on the public sector than the private sector could ever pay them in taxes. That’s the reason they need to borrow.
The government does’nt earn money, they just spend it.
The Public sector has grown far too big and the private sector has shrunk, died off or moved overseas to places like India, China etc. How do you address that problem without borrowing more money to invest in local training and manufacture. Even if they did that could they compete in a global market?
The best they can all come up with is to keep borrowing, keep printing and pretend it is’nt happening while continuing to collect their big fat paychecks and expenses.
ie: STALLING the inevitable and looking after themselves rather than looking out for the masses.
They have already spent the future of your childrens children.
So what happens when the lenders stop lending ?
Without profitable growth there can only be one alternative, MASSIVE CUTS.
Pep talks are fine but there’s a big difference between a pep talk and selling a pipe dream to nowhere.
Hope, moral framework and common sense is pretty much in the gutter. Reality is what it is and it won’t go away by ignoring it.
Debbie in Dallas says
“No Moral Framework”…LMAO this is the same guy who was testing cigars with his intern in the oval office bathroom, correct?…. Each president does manage to do one thing right, even Bill but for him to dictate to us about “Moral Framework” and American work ethics is just laughable. I would have liked to have been there for his speech as he is an important historical figure, but I dislike his character…immensely
Ken Starr says
I’m still watching you, Bill…waiting in the shadows…
Mark says
I am encouraged by the disdain for Clinton in this thread.
Also,…the fact that some here even recognize the debt backed money scheme for what it is..is encouraging.
RON PAUL 2012