Brian Gongol Show on WHO Radio - November 29, 2015
Podcast: Updated weekly in the wee hours of Sunday night/Monday morning. Subscribe on Stitcher, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or iHeartRadio
Please note: These show notes may be in various stages of completion -- ranging from brainstormed notes through to well-polished monologues. Please excuse anything that may seem rough around the edges, as it may only be a first draft of a thought and not be fully representative of what was said on the air.
The self-interested case for taking in more refugees
- Economic stimulus effect
- Force government to use private contractors (it can't do the job on its own)
- Most pro-life thing we could do
- Depopulate radicalized regions of the world
- Spur assimilation/syncresis
- Take pressure off Europe
- Do the right thing in the view of history
- Stress test for the government (vis-a-vis Toyota or Honda -- this isn't the last time we'll have to do this)
- Fully understand governors objecting to taking in refugees: The White House has shown no conscious understanding of federalism
- Shaming them into action is pointless -- this isn't about shame; it's about a rational reaction to government failure and unfunded mandates
- But there's a reason the executive branch is given primary scope of responsibility for foreign affairs -- to do what's best for the nation as a whole
- The administration has thus far failed to respond to extraordinary circumstances that have been extant for months if not years
- There is nothing to be gained from further delay
- Winter is coming
- Appoint a czar now for refugee accommodation
- If you can find time to show up on "Between Two Ferns" to promote your insurance program or to light the White House in rainbow colors to celebrate marriage equality, then find the resources and leadership to do this
- Herbert Hoover made his name rescuing the children of Europe from starvation during and following World War I
- Want a legacy? Show that you're a serious executive and not a pandering waffler. The buck stops here. Present a vision.
Quote of the Week
"We have to make sure we are the ones replacing our products instead of someone else." - Bill Gates
Tin Foil Hat Award
"Why you should have a messy desk". Like many similar clickbait articles on the Internet, this one is profoundly silly and reductionist. It could be counterweighted easily by articles about "Why you should always start with a blank sheet of paper" or "Always go to a blank drawing board". What matters is figuring out quickly what works most effectively for your own method of thinking and then sticking to whatever enhances it.
Yay Capitalism Prize
Team backed by Jeff Bezos lands a reusable rocket
Listen on-demand
- Podcast of this episode - segment 1 (President Obama should channel his inner Herbert Hoover)
- Podcast of this episode - segment 2 (The self-interested case for taking in refugees)
- Podcast of this episode - segment 3 (Government needs to give itself a stress test)
- Podcast of this episode - segment 4 (Don't buy the hype: There's no best way to keep a desk. Clean or messy, it all depends on what works for you.)
- Official station page for this episode