Comments for AMBASSADOR MICHAEL C. POLT

Comment on Internet Freedom AND Intellectual Property Rights by IT support West Midlands

IT support West Midlands — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 06:14:47 +0000

Security of Internet is a sensitive issue related to the harm of intellectual properties, but t is not an easy task. First thing is, if you want to save your intellectual properties then you should go for “ethical hacking”. This type of hacking is done by the permission of admin. It helps you to understand the weakness of security of your website.

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by Colonel Tim Evans

Colonel Tim Evans — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:04:41 +0000

Sir,

Awesome thoughts on Estonia. I know you were one of the first cyber Ambassadors in the State Department.

V/R,
Col Tim Evans

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by For U.S. Diplomat, Culture Shock after Estonia Stint

For U.S. Diplomat, Culture Shock after Estonia Stint — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:43:25 +0000

[...] “So I did spend two and a half hours at my local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in order to get my car license plates – something I should have been able to do by inserting my ID card into a license plate vending machine similar to an ATM in about 2 minutes,” Mr. Polt wrote in his blog. “Of course my gripe is not simply about waiting in line for a government service or even slow or expensive Internet access. It is my concern that what should be America’s leadership as a modern, agile, and innovative society is in a bit of a rut.“ [...]

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by Mantas Pakenas

Mantas Pakenas — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 21:53:58 +0000

Justin: You have to understand that the same difference in purchasing power that prevents iPhone penetration reaching US levels affects smartphone penetration in general, meaning there are less Android devices as well…

Also, when it comes to app availability, it just doesn’t make sense to compare a market of 300M people, more than half of which are smartphone users, to a market of just more than 1M, with maybe a hundred thousand smartphone users It’s simply not economically viable for many businesses to invest in creating apps for their clients.

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by Justin

Justin — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 03:50:22 +0000

JFK immigration is a good example. I’ve waited just as long to go through immigration at London Heathrow.

However, there is a faster solution developed, using IT. It’s called Global Entry, and I can now enter the US within a minute or two using a kiosk which has my biometrics on file. http://globalentry.gov/

They actually have something similar in the UK (the IRIS system) though I don’t believe it is as widespread.

In fact, using the same system (Global Entry), I am now qualified for TSA Pre-Check so at most US airports, I can go through security without removing my laptop, shoes, or jacket, since I’m an approved traveler.

I definitely agree US infrastructure is in need of updating in many areas, and the aging JFK is a good place to start. When I fly to New York, I aim to travel to Laguardia or Newark airports since those are more modern and things do go more smoothly there.

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by Justin

Justin — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 03:43:13 +0000

Steke: I do see your point about the Apple products being out of reach for many Estonians cost-wise, but then what about Android?

Let’s take the example of mobile parking. The Android app for mobile parking appears to have been released only in March 2012:
http://www.parkimine.ee/yhisteenused/uudised/uus-nutitelefonidele-suunatud-parkimisrakendus

The first Android phone was released in October 2008, and Android became the leading smartphone OS by the end of 2010. So why aren’t we seeing Android app penetration in Estonia?

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by For U.S. Diplomat, Culture Shock after Estonia Stint - Estonian World

For U.S. Diplomat, Culture Shock after Estonia Stint - Estonian World — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 02:12:30 +0000

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by Philip Ewen

Philip Ewen — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:29:42 +0000

Michael, thanks for engaging with me in this very interesting discussion. Yes America will survive but things will never be the same and the personal security and freedoms of Americans will no doubt be eroded by the continued polarization of wealth. Wealth has been concentrated and low taxes and funding wars means infrastructure and services in the country has fallen behind. My comments are not derived from popular media they come from my experience in business here, reading statistics and the like of sitting in factory lunch rooms listening to factory workers who had to skip medication due to cost. Living for the past month in a wide cross section of American homes across the country. From retired surgeons who say their tax is too low. To former students struggling to repay student loans, to the unemployed to small business owners struggling with palliative care costs looking after dying parents. And finally immigrant professionals who skip health insurance due to cost and employers not providing it and figure it’s better insurance for the future to leave and return to Germany.

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by ambassadorpolt

ambassadorpolt — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:22:50 +0000

Philip: Thoughtful comments, even if I very much disagree. The American economy will not only return to what it was, but expand to new dimensions. Our country has overcome far more difficult times than the current downturn and come out even stronger than before. I cannot prove the future today, but send me your comment a year or two from now and tell me what you think. Throughout history, whoever has bet against American success, has lost that bet. As to health care and university education, aside from the hype in some public debates, everyone who wants and is qualified can have and afford a quality university education in the U.S. Health care for the vast majority of our population is as affordable in relation to income and of absolute top quality. One of the challenges we face is that our health care system is tied employment and during economic hard times and high unemployment, that hits people hard. We know that and are working to improve that aspect of our care, along with the high cost of truly state-of-the art medicine.

As to American exceptionalism, it is not a sentiment of a small elite, but a deeply ingrained understanding of most Americans. Please understand that this sense is not that we are great and flawless and other societies are wanting. It is the understanding we have that we as Americans have been blessed in many ways and must in turn help others who seek freedom, democracy, and a just society. Finally, our country has afforded more opportunities for our citizens to achieve success on all levels than any other society in the world. Even if there were a “normal for the rest of the world,” our tried and true prescription for continuing to provide for all our citizens is to maximize individual freedom and opportunity for every American in a healthy and fair global economy — a global economy that is sustained by U.S. innovation, production and consumption.

Comment on Seriously–Two Hours in Line for Car License Plates? by Philip Ewen

Philip Ewen — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:24:40 +0000

Sorry…my phone ….the strongest economies in the world today. The exceptionalism you refer to is focussed and eminating from a small base in pockets of elite categories of people around the country. So considering a population of 300 million one would expect that to exist. The challenge for the USA is to adjust to what is accepted as normal in the rest of the developed world and that is a more egalitarian and inclusive social structure that properly cares for the weaker less exceptional individuals in society.