OK, for those of you who don't know, Google periodically has interesting people come in and speak and answer questions. Today was Barrack Obama, and here are my thoughts.
I was more impressed with Obama than I have been with all the other Democratic candidates I've seen. He seemed less slick and political, and yet in a twisted way that probably makes him more so of both of those, if you get my drift. He started off with a prepared speech of about 10 minutes, and I guess it would make some people happy because he used Google themes as the whole basis of his talk, but to me it smacked of pandering to the audience. Of course, they all would have done that, so that's not really a bad mark against him. He then sat down with our CEO and had a Q&A, including a few audience questions that were of the "Oh Barrack, we love you, blah blah blah" variety.
Obama talks big. He has a lot of things he throws out that he "will change when I'm president". Double spending on healthcare, double spending on science and research, faster broadband for all US citizens, greatly reduce the federal deficit, withdraw the troops out of Iraq (of course), eliminate all wiretaps and email reading (ironic, since many argue that's what Google basically does!), welcome immigrants in, personal presidential diplomacy with other countries, and eliminate the influence of special interest groups by making all laws at a big table while broadcasting on C-Span or over the internet (huh?). The one thought that kept charging through my head was, "oh great, they're going to raise taxes to pay for all this stuff..." Perhaps it's my ignorance when it comes to the actual workings of the political process, but I have doubts about his ability to make sweeping changes like that. He sounded like the candidate who promises big things and then hopes everyone forgets when it comes time to deliver.
One thing that did surprise me a little bit was he is much less vocal about the current administration's mistakes and problems than the others have been. He alluded to them and mentioned them periodically, but he didn't build his whole platform around them as Edwards and Richardson did.
Fundamentally, I disagree with almost all of what the democrats stand for - most of all abortion and increased taxes. However, if I had to vote for a democrat for president, I believe it would be Obama - especially if the alternative were Hillary. He struck me as very young, and probably too inexperienced in the political arena, but that may not necessarily be a bad thing. Maybe he could turn out to be great, and maybe our country will be better off after all if we just get the heck out of Iraq (and hopefully stay away from Iran and Pakistan...). Anyway, it's tough to get a flavor of a candidate after just one meeting, but he's impressive and doesn't seem like a bad person.
Perhaps he'll lose this election, but build political equity for the next one four years from now...
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Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008
"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.
... Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in [The Music Man], voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”
f you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”
In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”
Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”
Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”10 May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.
Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."
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3 comments:
John,
Thanks for the insightful comments. I agree that when candidates center their talk around "Google" themes - or toward whichever group they are currently speaking - it does seem like pandering. It's a little insulting to the intelligence. Obama does seem quite young but I'm starting to think that maybe it would be good - out with the old, in with the new. There are many things I like about him but it's always easiest to see what they are all made of when we get toward the end and the skeletons come out and the mud starts slinging. He does seem the most honest and open in answering quetions, though. Have you ever listened to the podcast of his speech on religion? It was very interesting.
Anyway - thanks for posting your insights. I'm sure it's much easier to get a "vibe" of someone from watching them speak in person. Let me know if you find the perfect candidate. Is Mitt coming to Google or do they only invite lefties?
Cammi
I would be surprised if Mitt shows up here, although they did have McCain come in (which unfortunately I was not able to attend). I would really like to see Mitt, Giuliani, and Hillary (who already came right before I joined the company).
Perfect candidate?...you probably know more than I do Cammi.
I'm not sure there is a perfect candidate in the race right now. I've done a fair amount of reading on all of them but I imagine you get a good gut feel for them when you see them in a more private setting where they have to speak off the cuff a bit (like the Google speeches.) You're right - Hillary would have been a very interesting one to see in person. I can't imagine her acting casual. Let me know if anyone else does the speaking circuit at Google. I enjoy hearing your analysis of each one.
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