The Technological Least Of These - How Peddling Black Inferiority In The Advanced Technology Space Fails Us

The Root.com Interviews Progressive-Fundamentalist Activist James Rucker: New Rules Exclude Key Ways Blacks Get Online

Please note the two key elements of the title of the piece from "The Root.com".  It contains the words "Blacks" and "Exclude".

While I can't confirm that it was Mr Rucker - founder of progressive-fundamentalist activist group "The Color Of Change" who provided the label to the interview piece - the person who did should have gone ahead and made a "Whites Only Sign" using an flat screen LCD computer display.  This is the image that they were shooting for in their carefully selected words.

I find it stunning that people who have the tremendous capability to "read between the lines" to find even a hint of a slight against Black people in the political space by our popular enemies appear to oblivious to other gems that are dropped for us to feast upon.  This done by those who seek advantage by keeping us in a defensive posture.

When I view the aggregate antics of certain activists I can't hope but think of the words stated by Carter G Woodson regarding the "back of the bus" and how certain people can bore a hole through any wall that is placed which blocks their access to it.

When we note that many of these same people proclaim that technology is the great equalizer per its ability to provide access to information for the edification of the consumer - their antics should be brought into question even more.

Welcome to the latest instance of the METHODOLOGICAL divide that exists between those who have differing viewpoints.   My outlook as a "Black Conservator" promotes the notion that a resource which is of value should be ACTIVELY pursued as it is prioritized against all other alternatives that prove far less productive.  It appears that James Rucker has the belief that something which has the value of uplift should be ADVOCATED for.  Those who are out of the loop should have "RIGHTS" to access this technological uplift.  From the movement to provide them access as "SOCIAL JUSTICE" is carried forth - new rights are created and a suite of "redistributive policies" that have regulation which will control for DISCRIMINATION will be put forth.

The Progressive points to "The New Deal" as their trademark legislative work.  The TVA brought electricity where there was kerosene lamps.  Later on the "Universal Service Fund" brought land line telephones where there was only universal US mail service.  They argue that a network that has universal coverage is of higher value because of the functionally maximized number of nodes on the network through which information is exchanged.

My argument is not against the taxation that is used to build up the fund to do these things.  Of course the sparse population and longer cable infrastructure runs weaken the business case for these rural places.   My primary argument is the tired, conspiratorial rantings that we often hear promoted by people who think as they do.  All of this fear is for no other purpose than to have the government strengthen its hand in relation to business.  In their view when "progressive run" government is in place then the "people's voice" is expressed where they would otherwise be silenced.

How To Move From The Transactional Indictments To The Big Picture

 My response to the views of Mr Rucker is effective (in my opinion) because it forces him to move off of his moral stance on this one issue in which he warns the consuming public to not TRUST big business as they have screwed us (or has been racist against Black people) in the past.

I itemize the last several stances in which "Social Justice" was brought to Technology and then note the ultimate solutions that was found and - most important make the reader aware that the "Social Justice ACTIVISTS" were not the "solution providers".:

• "The Digital Divide:  The claim that the lack of computers or Internet access due to economic concerns or the rollout schedule of the telecommunications companies left poor Blacks in an "Internet-free Ghetto" as others were greatly benefiting from their use of this new world
• SOLUTION:  I see the Netbook of today (low cost laptops) as the ultimate solution that was arrived at.  Even the new Google Chrome netbook comes with FREE Verizon Wireless access up to 100Mb per month before a subscription cost kicks in.   Prior to this point eMachines (for example) sold very inexpensive desktop computers to the public.   With respect to coverage - time was the answer.  With infrastructure build out as a multi-billion proposition bond financing of these projects require that the first round be cost justifiable via the subscription take rate.  This first build-out pays for the future build out projects.   
• SOLUTION: Around the world the "Internet Cafe" model has been wildly successful.  The shared use computer allows a center to invest in equipment and scarce telecommunications links - optimizing the use of these resources and charging those who use them.  JOBS are created among the cafe administrators.  A culture of collaboration is created among the users.  Taxes flow as a result of economic activity.   Sadly the "shared use computer" concept has not been adopted as a COMMERCIAL enterprise in most inner cities in America.  Instead the "Government Option" of placing them into public schools and public libraries is more popular. 
•  The Gap Between Software License Fees Between The United States and The Developing World: Large software companies like Microsoft were documented as having pricing in which American versions of Windows or Office cost $400 while they sell the same functionality in the impoverished nation of Bangladesh for $79.    (Note - if these were TAXES then the cost gap would be justified as "Progressive Taxation").  In their indictment they pointed to pharmaceutical companies that "sell high" in America's unregulated market yet cave to foreign governments who regulate or price cap the very same chemical compounds in their home nation.  The high prices in America shut out the economically vulnerable within who can't afford these fees as a barrier to obtaining a home computer.     
• SOLUTION: The Open Source Software movement is thriving.   The Linux OS is a free alternative to Microsoft Windows.  The OpenOffice.org suite does most of what Microsoft Office can do and it is also free.   Various programmers used their talents to create an eco-system of software that perform any number of tasks.  The Open Source Software Movement is freedom in action. 
• MISSED OPPORTUNITY - Unfortunately there is no popular initiative amongst activists like 'Color of Change' in which Black people are asked to put down their picket signs (or in these days - stop filling out online petititons to get some Fox News personality's advertisers to stop spending money there) and instead DEVELOP software as the ultimate fight against the "corporate machine".   Many of the players in the OSS movement develop skills that afford them a place within a salaried or contract employment position OR they can start their own entity - selling software via the expanding "App Store" environment.
• I was happy to see the minority representation at the recent "Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Developer Kickoff".   MS has a vested interest in getting as many developers as possible lined up to produce software on their platform which will be competing against Apple and Android and BlackBerry and Palm.  They gave corporate and individual developers alike a STORE FRONT by which to feed their families after applying their intelligence toward making compelling software solutions for offering to the general public.   
• The Municipal WiFi Fiasco - The last major "social justice" move in technology happened about 5 years ago.   The plan at that time was to "stick it to the major telecomms" by having cities construct their own 802.11 wireless networks.   Free or greatly reduced rates of Internet access was to be offered in competition to both the $39 per month DSL and Cable subscriptions and the $59 per month wireless cellular offerings, both of which economically shout out 'the least of these' due to profiteering.    After about a year of flexing and grand media coverage these initiatives crashed and burned.  It seems that credentials in "technological activism" does not always translate into sound business models.  After hundreds of millions of dollars spent these systems were not profitable.  The commercial broadband operators dropped their entry level access services down to as low as $14.95 per month, further eroding the value of the municipal offerings.  Today many of these same cities have their basic financial viability in question per their own eroded revenue base.  

• SOLUTION -  The commercial broadband operators dropped their entry level access services down to as low as $14.95 per month, further eroding the value of the municipal offerings.  Today many of these same cities have their basic financial viability in question per their own eroded revenue base.  The coverage map that Verizon Wireless blasts on a daily basis gives us a hint  at the pervasiveness of high speed cellular wireless coverage today.  Every "urban ghetto" in America is painted as red as the ubiquitous "suburb with more resources" that resides nearby.  

In summary what should be a tale of continuing PROGRESS that is acknowledged, however reluctantly, by Mr Rucker instead is seen as a possible retirement of his relevance.   His general disposition is that of INDICTMENT, thus he positions himself as the arbitor of the "Black permanent interests" keeping watch over all corporations and Republican politicians.   A "Media Matters In Black-face" indeed.

It is important that I make note again that the SOLUTIONS to the problem that Mr Rucker and other "technological social justice activists" had stood - unbought and unsold - a few years ago did not arrive upon the Black community via their hands.  Instead it was the forces who saw an OPPORTUNITY in "underserved markets" who ultimately filled the void.   Sadly much of the equipment is made in China but that is another story.

If nothing else - please note that the very same corporations that Mr Rucker and others sought to "stick it to", hitting their revenues using municipal WiFi are the same corporations against he has a new disposition in his defense.  NO LONGER is he questioning the available access to the Internet by Blacks and Browns - his "Least Of These".   Instead he has initiated a slight of hand and promotes his concern that the WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS THAT THEY DO NOW HAVE  will be intentionally slowed.

Just Because You Don't Respect Economic Fact Does Not Mean That They Are Not True

In my former job with one of these evil telecomm carriers I survived several rounds of  staff reductions "cuts to the bone".  All of this as a result of the collapse of the "Internet Bubble".  Business slowed and the price points for the services that were being sold was slashed into fractions.

A large parade of individuals who had been making 6 figure salaries were ushered out of the door just like the union represented people making $55K per year.   Some of the same people who appeared to be rising through the ranks of management that were identified as benefiting from "White Privilege" by my Black peers who congregated on occasion were left go as well.  (I am thinking about a few of them as I type).

 The way the "badge of honor" works within the prevailing Black Political Consciousness Enforcement Model - Mr Rucker who stands against the exploits of big business - STANDS FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

Me - who has an inside view, however, am a "co-conspirator" on behalf of the same big businesses who are screwing Black people - according to them.

I have seen with my own eyes Black account executives and sales managers who doggedly go after large bonus checks  per their sales only to VOTE for people who's dogma would like to see the corporate entity that is paying for their upper middle class lifestyle brought down to size.  These places are where the "Black Flight Progressive" work.

Beyond the point about personal benefit - even Mr Rucker acknowledges the VALUE that the Internet has brought to the nation and the world.  Yet they are loathed to make note that in their pursuit of PROFITS in their business operations the value that he now is attempting to distribute more equally was established.

I don't coward from my "struggle" - however imagined - against those who ABSTRACT THEORIES do our communities ultimate harm.   They produce a virtual labor strike - holding resources off of the marked as they wait for some magical point of an agreeable compensation package.  This when they NEED to be working to build up collaborative resources by which they saturate a market with TALENT and slowly take it over.  Positioning themselves to be able to call the shots against their long time adversaries.  (Oh wait - I may have just described the China model).

The key point of understanding about Mr Rucker and those who think like him is that their strength is the INDICTMENT.  This is what they transact upon.  From this indictment they can bring resources into the communities that have been "economically disenfranchised".

One man's "Economic Disenfranchisement" is another man's FLAWED STRATEGY where the KEY INSTITUTIONS that they now control have not been able to prepare these EQUAL HUMAN BEINGS to obtain the COMPETENCIES necessary to slowly but surely enter into these places where value is created in the economy.   FaceBook has created several millionaires and at least one billionaire - all without charging any of its large Black base of users a penny of money.  (Note - I saw FB gift cards in Target and have no clue what they are.  Despite being a technologist I have NEVER responded to any of those "Farmville" or "Mafia Wars" requests from my friends.  I have no idea what these games are all about.  It would be great if people stopped sending them to me.   :-)   )   I suspect that the prepaid cards are related to the games that are available.

It is time to retire the Mass-Indictment model, leaving it for the areas where it truly is appropriate.  In the world of advanced technology and communications this type of "social justice" model is akin to demanding new 'Ipads' for inner city school children when they have been found to mostly be 4 grades behind in their reading proficiency level.

While it is true that technology is merely a tool by which learning can be conducted upon - it is also true that the present array of TECHNOLOGICAL GRIEVANCES are merely the latest space within which the grievance based activists choose to operate.

I challenge everyone to check my theories against their with the possibilities of ORGANIC COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT being the primary measure of the respective worth.


My response on "The Root.com"

Mr Rucker:

The best way to get a full understanding of your activism is to plot your antics upon a time-line.

1) If we move back to about 10 years ago the grievance dejure was called "The Digital Divide". This was the notion that past economic discrimination had channeled Black people into the "Internet ghetto" where they lacked computers to access the Internet, lived in communities that did not have broadband coverage because the CORPORATIONS went after more "profitable" communiites

SOLUTION - The market came up with a series of low costs computers. In foreign nations the "Internet Cafe" allowed for shared use computing. With TIME - more broadband coverage came and WIRELESS BROADBAND filled the vast majority of the nation

2) Grievance #2 - Microsoft and other software companies were charging Americans $400 for MS Office and Windows while they were selling the same software for less than $99 in other parts of the world. Like drug companies - PROFITS made off of the backs of Americans were enriching them while they sold the products "at cost" elsewhere

SOLUTION - The Open Source movement brought us Linux as a FREE competitor to MS and Open Office just the same

3) TODAY'S GRIEVANCE - Blacks and Browns who WERE stuck in the "Digital Divide" now suffer the cruel trick of the FCC imposing Net Neutrality but not on WIRELESS.

OBSERVATION - Notice, Mr Rucker - the COVERAGE MAP from Verizon as an example. The sea of RED has taken away your GRIEVANCE about coverage of where "Blacks and Browns" live. Every "hood" is colored RED.

Since you receive your POWER from the GRIEVANCE - you are forced to make some other indictment. "We got gamed!!! The wireless Internet won't be regulated by Net Neutrality".

EVERYONE - please find any mention of PROGRESS made in this nation's telecommunications capabilities over this TIME LINE that I mention.

He won't. This is like the Ally Bank commercial where the rock band singer is called out for COMPLIMENTING his bank in the song. Mr Rucker must maintain his defensive position lest he be deemed as a "Sellout".

BUT WAIT - Look at the SOLUTIONS that I have listed.

Can anyone tell me what part "THE MOVEMENT" that Rucker has lead participated in delivering the solution?

* Are there many Blacks in the Open Source Movement - where PROGRAMMING skills are the way to slay the giant?

* Did Mr Rucker think about the "One Laptop Per Child" innovation as a means of bringing low cost hardware to the masses?

Mr Rucker:

When you mention "Fast Lanes" - Can you tell us your opinion of firms like Akamai?

For everyone else's benefit - When a big event like the Super Bowl is streamed over the Internet - the way the present technology works is that every INDIVIDUAL browser session must be transmitted in total from the source of the broadcast. If, for example there are 1 million people streaming the live event - then 1 million COPIES of the same event will be transmitted over the Internet backbone.

IF the event is streamed from Los Angeles - for example - and the media services to which you are connected to are in LA then Internet traffic from all over the nation (the world) will converge in LA - potentially saturating the network trunk circuits, routers and servers in this place.

A company like Akamai seeing this problem has built their own PRIVATE network around the nation. This one signal from the live event is transmitted into their network and then distributed ONE TIME to their servers that are closer to the array of large cities around the country.

When you - living in Miami want to see this live event - instead of connecting all the way across the country - your browser is directed to the Miami office of Akamai.

HERE IS THEIR KEY TALKING POINT!!!!!

Akamai must PURCHASE PRIVATE CONNECTIONS between their data centers and Comcast, AT&T DSL, Time Waner, Cox, Verizon Fios etc.

YES, YES, YES the video quality of this connection will be better for those broadcasters who PAY to use Akamai's service!!!!!!

The point that Mr Rucker won't address is the WASTED RESOURCES and potential Internet meltdown that is the case WITHOUT THIS MORE EFFICIENT SETUP.

Do you see - IF this was about Rush Hour Traffic - Mr Rucker would be AGAINST VAN POOLING!!!!!!

He would be looking at the people who DON'T HAVE A VAN rather than the MASSIVE TRAFFIC JAM that is relieved by THOSE WITH A VAN!!!!!!!

I beg Mr Rucker to poke holes in my argument above.

Don't listen to oft repeated TALKING POINTS. Get them to explain what their concepts of "Fast Lanes" is.

I forgot:

2.5) The Municipal WiFi Fiasco

Roughly 5 Years Ago the friends of Mr Rucker set out to "Stick It To Da Man". They were going to create CITY OWNED WiFi networks that offer free or discounted Internet access - sticking it to the (evil) corporations who dared charge money for their service.

After hundreds of millions of dollars spent - these projects ALL went belly up.

It seems that the "Progressive Activists" are better at "Struggling" than they are at developing a sound BUSINESS MODEL.

By the way Mr Rucker - I printed out the article and underlined the key points.

Can you explain how YOU SPEAK FOR "OUR COMMUNITIES" per your claim that a "Loss" was had?

It seems to me that WE LOSE as people follow your theories instead of leveraging the OPEN POTENTIAL that our present IT resources provide to us all.

Do you realize that MILLIONS of Black people using the FREE service called "FaceBook" has made several MILLIONAIRES out of its founders? The primary guy is now a BILLIONAIRE!!!

Do you see that you confuse "COST" with "VALUE".

Time Magazine's Man Of The Year is now a BILLIONAIRE not because he CHARGED USERS an arm and a leg but because he brought a product to 500 Million EQUAL HUMAN BEINGS around the world who saw its VALUE.

Please tell me how your theories incubate a new generation of "Black and Browns" who will enter into this game, converting them to the "UN-Least Of These"?