TED Community » Andrew Kumler

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  A comment on Conversation: Let's have an intelligent, constructive debate on the subject of the Obama Presidency thus far.

  Apr 30 2011: Just analyzing President Obama's term so far, I would rate it at mediocre. He was successful in getting a majority of the American public excited for his 2008 campaign, but the excitement has dwindled since then. I don't approve the extended tax cuts on the rich that he approved yet the way he has dealt with the Libya conflict to date has been superb.
  
  Also, the unemployment rate has gone down 1.4% since January 2010 to 9.2% as of March 2011 (this number needs to continue falling of course). Renewable and alternative energy has increased in use, but this is mainly due to state and corporate action on a smaller scale. Not much has been done on a federal level.
  
  I could keep going on and on with examples, but the point I am trying to make is that he is doing okay. Of course there is room for improvement, but compared to the last administration President Obama is holding solid.
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  A reply on Talk: Angela Belcher: Using nature to grow batteries

  Apr 27 2011: I would have to agree with you. It gave me a good chuckle once I heard President Obama's response to her.
  
  This talk in general was incredible. It's just amazing how we can alter things at such a small scale (nano) and make things such as viruses do what we want them to do. I am really interested to see if this can make it to such a big scale so that we can utilize it in our everyday lives.
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  A comment on Conversation: One Worldwide Government

  Apr 27 2011: Although the the concept of a one world government might seem tempting, I don't think it is feasible. Having the collaborative power of that magnitude from every country to form this type of government would be immense to say the least. Even if it was broken up into respective states, this doesn't imply that wars would cease to exist. You would still have the different religions arguing/killing one another. Not all people would be provided for, because even on the city government level there would still be problems on how to deal with the homeless and particular criminals.
  
  In general I believe it would be too difficult to manage something of that enormity. We can't even come together on other things (climate change, freedom of speech, gay rights, etc.) let alone form a uniform world government. I may seem pessimistic, but I think that is close to reality.

• A comment on Conversation: Have we become overly civilized?

  Apr 25 2011: In a partial answer to your question, I do believe that the media plays a vital role in the development of children. As far as becoming "overly civilized", this could become relevant when a child (or adult) is unable to perform a certain action or thought that the generation before could easily do. At least this is my opinion. It is definitely true that with current technology we can do once considered difficult tasks, and turn them into simple actions (i.e. communicating with someone across the world). And it is once we adapt these newly learned skills that we tend to lose or forget previous ones.
  
  So to be "overly civilized" doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, it just depends on what perspective you look upon it.
  
  I though hard about this, and I believe it is the best response I can give!