Example #1: Degenerative
Degenerate -verb / Degenerative -adjective
1. characterized by degeneration
2. to fall below a normal or desirable level in physical, mental, or moral qualities, deteriorate
3. to diminish in quality, esp. from a former state of coherence, balance, integrity, etc.
4. having lost, or become impaired with respect to, the qualities proper to the race or kind.
(adapted from http://dictionary.reference.com)
Other definitions exist, but all imply the same thing: Degeneration is a bad thing! Degeneration is frequently used context of various types of degenerative diseases, (such as degenerative disc disease, hearing, arthritis, etc.) and over the past four decades we've seen the impact of degenerative social norms.
However, in the Electrical Engineering world, degenerative feedback is a good thing and is essential to keeping amplifiers stable. Degenerative feedback (for those that may be wondering what it is) occurs when part of an amplifiers output is inverted and fed back as an input to the amplifier, thus degenerative (negative) feedback. In contrast, squealing loudspeakers occur when a microphone picks up the loudspeaker's output and re-amplifies it causing a regenerative (positive) feedback.
Example #2: Gridlock
Gridlock -noun
1. The stoppage of free vehicular movement in an urban area because key intersections are blocked by traffic.
2. The blocking of an intersection by vehicular traffic entering the intersection but unable to pass through it.
Another definition is : "A government, business or institution's inability to function at a normal level due either to complex or conflicting procedures within the administrative framework or to impending change in the business" (from http://dictionary.reference.com).
The media is quick to point out instances of terrible gridlock in Washington, D.C. They aren't referring to the traffic on the beltway, but to conflicts within Congress if the Senate and House are controlled by different parties, or if Congress and the White House are in different parties. Indeed, when these situations occur, it is hard to get bills through Congress, or if they make it through Congress, it may be difficult to get them signed by the President.
Thus, there is a popular belief that gridlock is a bad thing and should always be avoided. Is there a possible parallel between degenerative and gridlock? I gave an example where the use of a degenerative signal in electronics is a good thing, can a similar example be applied to gridlock?
Take gridlock in Washington, D.C. Is this a bad thing? I don't think so. In fact, bring on the gridlock! The less Washington politicians can get accomplished, the better the entire country is. If there truly is a real emergency, both Houses and the President should be able to find an acceptable solution, but other than those few real emergencies, the less they do, the less damage they inflict upon the country.
To facilitate more gridlock, perhaps we should make a few changes. As much as I dislike entertaining changes to the Constitution, I would consider an amendment that states that the House and Senate can never be controlled by the same party, and the president must come from yet a third party? Would this ensure the blissful, sought after state of nearly total paralysis in Washington? Probably not, (it seems that most politicians and lawyers are conniving, devious individuals that have a evil ability to warp or twist anything due to their lack of moral foundation) but paralysis in Washington (i.e. limited federal power) would have positive effects that easily outweigh any negatives. Washington gridlock would:
1. give the States an opportunity to reclaim power given by the Constitution, but usurped by the federal government.
2. allow citizens of this country should also reclaim all powers from both the state and federal governments and get back to the meaning of the Tenth Amendment.
3. avoid the preponderance of stupid bills that have been passed by Congress and signed by the President in the past 80 years (or more). In fact, I believe the number of positive things (in accordance with the Constitution) that have come out of Washington in the past 80 years could be counted on one hand).
Examples of congressional stupidity are the recent stimulus and health care bills. Jon M. Huntsman in his book "Winners Never Cheat" gives the following statistics:
"The First Amendment is 45 words;If the modern estimate of 275 words per page is close, the government regulations on the sale of cabbage is 97 pages. If the same ratio holds true for the Health Care bill, then there is approximately 742,500 words in this bill. Has anyone read the entire thing? Can anyone understand it?
The Lord's Prayer is 66 words;
There are 1,322 words in the Declaration of Independence,
but the government regulations on the sale of cabbage total 26,911 words."
The current administration ran on a slogan of change, Well here are some changes I can believe in:
1. The Constitution is the litmus test against which all Congressional and Executive actions are measured.
2. Congress shall be called into session for no more than two weeks per quarter. Pay for these two weeks shall be at a GS 12 step 10 rate or their current salary, which ever is less.
3. Congress shall inact no law, nor shall the President sign any law, that excludes themselves from the provision of that law.
4. Congress shall inact no law, nor shall the President sign any law, that applies only to themselves.
5. Senators and Congressmen shall serve for no more than 1 term. No congressman or senator may be elected or appointed to serve in the other branch of Congress.
6. A bill, any bill, before Congress should address one topic and one topic only. Short, sweet, to the point, no exceptions for Congress or the President, no special benefits for unions, corporations, blacks, whites, blues, or greens and eliminate all the strap-hanging riders that get added on.
7. Budgets will be balanced each year. Congress shall not be dismissed (nor paid) if the budget is not balanced, nor will the President get paid and his expense account will be frozen until the budget is balanced.
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