pic: Governor.jpg

[Validius]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

I really mean this in the nicest possible way, and not to insult you, but it is suspect that you have no real-world experience with politics, and have never worked with politicians to get something accomplished. I suggest that you widen your vision a little bit and learn that there are lots of different ways to accomplish many things. There is a lot more to politics than swaying the sheeple in your direction.

It is a tremendous boost to FIRST to have politicians at all levels interested in our program. I have been actively working to get local politicians interested in our program -- both to ask them for help with community support and funding, and to educate them on what we do for the community. Rather than disparaging elected officials, we should heed Dean's suggestion that we build and cultivate relations with them.

I disagree. Everything that politics touches gets tainted by the politics. I want all politicians as far away from FIRST as possible. Politics and FIRST have nothing in command and any relationahip would be strictly one way (we give them a platform to spout their agenda) .

There could be a place for elected officials but not the govenor or presidant. If there is widespread media coverage then its a bogus political stunt. If perhaps the mayor of Ann Arbor (where GLR is held) came out, thanked everyone for being there said how proud he was of Pi Hi and Huron and left that would be very nice.

Lets keep in mind the #1 rule of politics: money=power. FIRST is a league who is as $$ independant as can be reasonabley expected. Nothing good can come of political involvment.

[Beth Sweet]

I was thrilled to see Gov. Jenniffer Granholm at the event. It kind of goes along with the theory that the biggest players in the fights against cancer etc are those who have been first hand affected by them. Well, now she's been to a competition. Now she's seen the balls flying (including the one at her head in autonomous, whose was that???) and gotten excited about the program. Senator Nancy Cassis has been a champion for FIRST Robotics teams in the state of Michigan for years. Here's the great thing about politicians. Even if they can't get laws passed for the cause, they know a lot of people. Now that she's been exposed, I can guarantee you that she will be talking to people about it. And if that brings more money and publicity to FIRST well than thank you Gov. Granholm

[Validius]

I guess that my entire point is that nothing good can come from pilitics and FIRST getting involved with eacheother. politics has nothing to offer FIRST and FIRST has has only a political soapbox of offer politicians.

Think about it: What good coud come out of it? We have little to gain and everything to loose! History tells us that everything goverment and politics gets involved with goes bad.

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by Validius

Think about it: What good coud come out of it?

I think that I clarified this in my post. The good that can come out of it is acknowledgment of the program and potential new sponsors. Politicians know these people, thus they will be affected by her getting involved.

[Validius]

Originally Posted by Beth Sweet

I think that I clarified this in my post. The good that can come out of it is acknowledgment of the program and potential new sponsors. Politicians know these people, thus they will be affected by her getting involved.

fair enough then, we shal have to agree to disagree. You may be right (i hope you are) but history tells me otherwise.

[Jack Jones]

Ring ... Ring:

Hello - homeland security? Have I got a guy for you!

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Validius

Think about it: What good coud come out of it? We have little to gain and everything to loose! History tells us that everything goverment and politics gets involved with goes bad.

As you get older and learn more about the world there is an excellent chance that you will rethink the extreme views of your youth. Go ahead and keep testing your hypotheses. You may find out that the world is not all that simple.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Validius

History tells us that everything goverment and politics gets involved with goes bad.

You don't seem to know very much about history.

Government is the mechanism of the people to effect change and has served a valuable purpose in American history. The implementation of better government is really the only reason this country and all that it affords you exists at all.

Democracy was and continues to be a great experiment. It allows you the right to whine about those people and policies you dislike, but it also gives you every opportunity to change them.

Your free to let the Governor use the event as a political soapbox as you've suggested she's done just as you're free to communicate with her to ensure that more comes of her visit. If you think she was there only for political capital, follow up with her office and show them that FIRST is paying attention. Demand results. Get your friends to do the same.

Whether or not you voted for them, you employ public officials and they are accountable to you. It's one of the job responsibilities that come with being American.

[Validius]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

Your free to let the Governor use the event as a political soapbox as you've suggested she's done just as you're free to communicate with her to ensure that more comes of her visit. If you think she was there only for political capital, follow up with her office and show them that FIRST is paying attention. Demand results. Get your friends to do the same.

what results are you talking about? Money? Money does not make a FIRST team, 1549 proved that this year. We were #4 in GLR and we used kit everything except for a pair of snowblower tracks that i picked up for $50 in a small engine junkyard. Everything else was made by students by hand on the machienes. Nothing CNC'd, nothing custom

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Validius

what results are you talking about? Money? Money does not make a first team, 1459 proved that this year. We were #4 in GLR and we used kit everything except for a pair of snowblower tracks that i picked up for $50 in a small engine junkyard. Everything else was made by students by hand on the machienes. Nothing CNC'd, nothing custom

I have no specific result in mind. Rather, you seem upset that nothing will come from the Governor's visit when you have the power to change that by communicating with her office about the things they may do to help. What results do you want for FIRST in the state of Michigan? The Governor's office, if they see incentive for change in the form of an outspoken populace, will work for FIRST.

Do you want more money? You can have it. Do you want a FIRST team in every high school in the state? You can have that, too. You just need to work at it with your elected officials rather than complain about how they're unable to divine what it is you'd have them do.

[JoeXIII'007]

Originally Posted by Beth Sweet

Now she's seen the balls flying (including the one at her head in autonomous, whose was that???)

Hmmm... our robot went out and shot at the control table across the field from the judges, but I do not think it shot at Granholm. We trained it not to do that and for good reason.

Later on, autonomous worked for our bot, so I've made a conclusion that our robot had the butterflies when operating with the Governor watching.