Obama consults Steve Jobs on making America great again Barack Obama called on Steve Jobs yesterday to discuss the challenges facing the US economy. According to an AP wire report, Obama's wish list included solutions to boost America's competitiveness and rebuild the crumbling education system. Energy independence and job creation were also on the agenda. No details have emerged …
Between the Googlers that Obama has let infest the White House, and now this seeking of advice from sociopath Jobs, perhaps the conclusion that he will come to from their advice, and the lessons to be learned by studying their paths to success, is that the Constitution and Bill of Rights need to be repealed.
Then we'd have cars with a hood that can't be opened, tires, fuel, oil and windshield washer fluid would all be proprietary and you'd only be able carry approved passengers and store approved items in the trunk.
Oh and there would be only one model each year, which of course you would be expected to upgrade to if you don't want to be a social outcast.
And make sure not to grip the steering wheel the "wrong" way :)
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Changing oil/brake discs/ that sort of thing is hard? A quick ask around suggests that it's not that hard on the Fiesta, various BMWs, a TVR 350c or a Honda Accord.
Anyway, if the ECU dies you're left with a repair? Yes, but that's like saying "if you delete the kernel from Android it's a piece of junk!". It's not so much "working on" the car as "very technical repair work that's outside the scope of 99% of user's needs". Unlike, say, changing the battery.
Actually, we're talking Apple- so I guess if they made a car it'd have a non-replaceable battery and a stack of filters... still, at least it'd look great and have nice "Hand Apple The Power"-steering.
I'd insert the obligatory joke about Windows being a poor choice for cars 'cos it crashes all the time, but I've had Win7 running for a month or two now as a day-to-day OS and it hasn't....
Has Microsoft SYNC installed and I like the hell out of it.... Voice commands, hands-free cell phone - even says my son's name correctly!
This would upset me tremendously... couldn't stand hearing Jobs' voice coming out of my speakers... "I'm sorry, please repeat command - Our records show the person you are trying to reach uses the BlackBerry system"
And one more thing... Today I present a strategy that's like nothing you've ever seen before. The Political Reality Distortion Field. We've worked hard at this and it's absolutely beautiful. Stock markets will soar. The poor will be fed. Terrorists will lay down their arms when they see this sleek system. It's really amazing and it's ready today.
To benefit your average American. It would be great if Obama was talking to Jobs to see what would make American soil a better place to produce electronics than Asia. A great president may not be recognized for generations. If America had listened to Jimmy Carter with regards to energy, we wouldn't have had to go to Iraq to secure the oil.
All that happens when silly presidents come to the bay area is tie up traffic (they close down BIG sections of freeways around here) and ask (beg) for money. They RARELY (if at all) ask for advise, and even rarer actually use it.
Look, if you want advise, use the modern conveniences like telephones (so last century), and possibly video conferencing. If would be so much easier. Sorry if that doesn't get you lots of glowing press reports from the lackeys in the press, but you might actually get something done and not waste time flying that nice blue plane we all pay for!
Go Home!
Is it just me, or does asking for advice from a man who products have often had flaws (maybe not in the asthetics, but dodgy aerials, overheating, exploding etc) seem to be a bad idea? Or is this why Obamas asking for advice, "Steve, you're the master of fobbing off the public, any tips?"?
For politicians to consult successful businessmen. To find out exactly how Apple came back from the dead to become one of the biggest companies on the NYSE. Steve Jobs might have the vision but he relies on a lot of highly educated people to make it happen. More of that sort of working would give American industry a real boost.
And by comparison, when the last government wanted industrial experience to form policy who did they get? Alan bloody Sugar.
There are many teachers who have achieved tenure, largely by unions obtaining school board concessions with respect to employment agreements, so they are stuck with old fashioned, out of touch teachers whose skills have atrophied over the years and are just hanging in there for the pension.
Everyone has a teacher in their past who went out of their way to help students and who lives on in the students mind. Mine was named HASLETT, who taught in a secondary school in Harrow-on-the-Hill. Possibly still really alive, but fondly remembered by many, no doubt.
Obama is really scraping the bottom of the barrel if he seriously asked for advice from a school drop out (from Reed College of Oregon). Jobs also attended Indian Buddhist training and experimented with LSD.
He also cheated his friend Wozniak out of $2,150 when he claimed Atari only offered a $700 design prize when the amount was actually $5000.
Great choice, Obama!
...he could do a lot worse.
Anyone from the upper and lower houses for example. Or anyone on the EU gravy train. Or anyone in politics in general. Our UK politicians expenses affair shows just how honest they are. I mean, have you seen anything constructive come out of politics recently?
At least Jobs has actually done something (rebuild Apple) constructive. Though it's more a "I-built-a-deathstar-and-I-intend-to-use-it" type of success admittedly...
America's problems cannot be solved by better marketing or product image - in any case, Obama has nothing to learn on that score. His deficit is in believing that successful people - i. e., wealthy celebs, in one field - e. g., corporate moguls, speculators, snake-oil salesmen etc, have useful information to share in running the country. They don't. A country isn't a business or a market - politics may be, but ruling wisely isn't.
In "I shall be free"
"Well, my telephone rang it would not stop,
It's President Kennedy callin' me up.
He said, "My friend, Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?"
I said, "My friend, John, Brigitte Bardot,
Anita Ekberg,
Sophia Loren."
County will grow."
Somehow I can't see it happening this time
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