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_______ August 11, 1999
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The I n t e r n e t C o m m is s io n
Thomas Frey is a
w orld renowned
Futuristand founder
of the DaVinci Insti
tute. He has an im
pressive
back
ground as a former
IBM engineer when
he received more
awards for his cre
ative ideas than any
other engineer -
over 270.
“v irtu a l c o u n try " . T h e v irtu a l
co u n try is conceived as an entity
th a t is n ot b o u n d ed by any spe
cific geographical b o rd ers, and its
citizenry is com prised of a volun
tary m em bership.
A virtual country would offer
additional options for people to have
a dual citizenship and actively p ar
ticipate in both countries, or drop
citizenship with the US and con
tinue their residency as a foreign
resident.
N aturally, this proposal throws
the traditional thinking about what
a governm ent “is” into disarray. The
tax im plications are m ind boggling.
T he governm ents of existing land-
based countries see this proposal as
a direct threat to their sovereignty.
T h e general public sees it as a way
to reduce their tax burden and be
treated with respect.
Complications
T he trad itio n alists argue that
the inception of virtual countries
will totally decim ate the funding
base and integrity of these em er
gency services. T h e virtual country
prop o n en ts argue th at the biggest
th reat to m ankind is now com ing
from the new breed of techno-crim i
nals, not the blood th irsty an ar
chists of the past. A nd they envi
sion a sharing of responsibility be
tween the virtual and land-based
countries. Some vocalize th eir con
cern over a loss of national loyalty
and the general state of confusion
th at w ould be created. Lawyers see
full em ploym ent for them selves for
th e n ex t 1,000 years. B ut th e
In tern et Com m ission sees it as a
way to elevate its own status to
ru ler of the en tire world.
How would you solve this d i
lemma? How m uch authority does
the Internet Com mission have? Are
they destined to becom e the first
tru e global governm ent? W ho wins
and loses with this proposal? Are
we on a path to d estruction, or is
this offering an unprecedented op
portu n ity for o u r future?
T hom as J. Frey, a form er IBM
engineer, is senior research er and
co-founder of the D aV inci In sti
tu te , a future-studies o rganization
th a t co n cen trates on inventions
an d technology. H is w ebsite is
w w w .m am m oth.org/-davinci.
LO C A L H O T SPOT
Women, what do these occupations have in common?
♦ An Electrician
♦ A Sheet Metal Worker
♦ A Sprinkler F itte r
An Outside Electrical Lmeworker
A Power Line Clearance Tree Trimmer
The answer is they are all skilled trades that pay a Living Wage
with great benefits and they are all recruiting fo r th e ir training
programs NOW.
I f you are a woman who is
♦ Living in the Portland area, or
♦ Receiving Public Assistance, or
♦ A dislocated worker, or
♦ Unemployed fo r 8 or more weeks, or
♦ In a low wage occupation,
contact the ¿T’ Oregon Tradeswomen Network to find out more
about the Portland Pathways to Success Program and how you can s ta rt
on your pathway to self-sufficiency.
***
H u r r y , some programs close A u g u s t 11, 1999
Call (503) 943-2228 to fin d out how you can s ta r t
on your Pathway to Success
Inform ation sessions about career opportunities fo r women in the skilled
trades and the Portland Pathways to Success Program have been scheduled.
They are FREE and open to all women who are interested. The next
information session will be held on Thursday, August 19 from 9-00 a.m. until
noon a t the Portland M etro W orkforce Training Center, 5600 NE 42nd
Avenue (intersection o f NE 42nd Avenue and Killingsworth), Portland, in Room
102. Please call (503) 943-2228 to register
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