Tuesday, December 8th Today, for the first time in my life, I voted in a Democratic primary. I'm a registered Independent, and figured Scott Brown's nomination was safe, so I took a democratic ballot and voted for Alan Khazei, as he used to come by the house a lot in the early nineties. He is definitely one smart, nice, hard working guy. Either way, whether it's Capuano or Coakley, this was probably my last chance to vote for him, and I'm glad I did.
I'm continuing to read "Meltdown," and the one point he makes that resounds with me is that we need to take a long, hard look at the Fed, and have a real public discussion on what their role should and shouldn't be. I'll get into that in depth in tomorrow's post.
Monday, December 7th So, we're cruising on to what I hope will be the final updates for Ideas for America 1, and we're feeling pretty good about it. The first piece of good news is that a number of Boston College professors apparently wrote a really good book on American immigration policy, one that really comes up with some good answers. This is important for us, for while the chapter of IFA 1 on immigration has some important information and ideas on how to improve current policy, it lacked a complete set of suggested answers. Sure, much of it is just common sense, but I'm confident that integrating the ideas of these professors will make that chapter far more useful for everyone.
In keeping with providing not just information, but also answers, the chapter "The Declining Standard of Living" will also have specific suggestions for each of the five economic quintiles, as opposed to just explaining some aspects of their situations.
And, finally, I've become good friends with a girl who has made it her life goal to fight cervical cancer, and she runs what's known as the "Yellow Umbrella Group." She tells me that cervical cancer is the only cancer that we already have the know-how to completely wipe out, and that it's just a matter of organizing ourselves. For that reason, we're looking at ways we might use the site and site book to support her most admirable mission.
Till tomorrow, and don't forget that all ideas are welcome here, so going forward don't be shy about sharing yours. Peace.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Education, Fitness, Health Care, the Economy, Retirement, Energy
Model Language Programs Of all the points on education on this site, the most developed is the section on maximizing language programs. However, rather than simply repeat what is in Ideas for America 1, there are a few new points related to potential for students, and thoughts on implementation.
1. If the ideas outlined in chapter 1 of the "Model Language Program were effectively integrated, English language learning could be more effective, recent immigrants could be integrated into the mainstream much faster, and it might even one small, good step towards reducing the high school drop-out rate.Many of my opinions on this come from having worked in language schools first, and teaching high school second, and noting the sharp contrast in effectiveness.
2. Implementing the improvements doesn't need to cost money, it only requires will.
3. A good first step is a rewrite of the Foreign language Curriculum Frameworks.
4. Currently, there is no curriculum framework for learning English as a second language. Rather, all that exists is a straight copy of the aforementioned Foreign Language Frameworks, which could be massively improved.
5. This theme will be a part of my run for the State Senate in 2010.
Learning the Basics
As part of the effort to assure that more high school students acquire the basic knowledge of mortgage and finance, the home site offers free seminars any afternoon to high school classes in the North Shore area. Teachers that decide to do this need only contact the site owner.
Possible Questions
In the interest of defining goals, here are some possible questions to be answered.
1. What is the most useful knowledge of mortgage and finance? At the very least, the ability to understand what a mortgage is, and how much one can afford based on a given salary.
2. How can this knowledge be acquired in the schools? It could be taught in seminar form, or integrated into a math class; a number of scenarios are below.
Primary Knowledge
1. What a mortgage is and how it works.
2. The different kinds of mortages.
3. Learning to use a mortgage calculator.
4. The "Roomate Pooling" option, including the graph on page 81
Secondary Knowledge
The nature of real property, transfer of Title, types of real estate listings and contracts, forms of ownership,encumbrances, the financing Process, negotiation, types of leases, Fair Housing Laws, Federal taxes affecting real estate, and state laws and local zoning.
Possible Seminar Format
1. One Standard Fifty Minute Seminar: This is certainly a time allotment that can work well; and teachers might enjoy the break.
2. One ninety-minute double period: It's very hard to convey so much knowledge in forty-five or fifty minutes, and schools that have a double period system might have an advantage, although of course scheduling is never easy.
3. Auditorium presentations are tough, and would likely only work with presenters that are knowledgeable, good speakers.
4. Integrated in the Math Curriculum: We think this is the best way to go.
5. A semester long course, with more in-depth study of all aspects of real estate law could work well for some. That being said, it might work better as an elective.
6. Showing a Video: I'm not aware of what videos are out there, but simply throwing a good video in the machine might be one easy way to achieve the aim.
If done properly, this knowledge could give more students more confidence going into the world, and for some could even be a small incentive to stay in school.
Health Care
The issues in health care are awfully complicated, but for reference purposes the nine causes of the increases in prices are here for you. To deal with this issue effectively, all nine causes must be addressed. Ideas for America 1 responds to causes four and seven directly, and to the others indirectly. The serious pursuit of medical malpractice reform will address cause seven, while creation of a medical shopping database will effectively address all nine causes by enabling consumers to effectively comparison shop, thus fostering competition and keeping prices down.
1. Use of sophisticated, expensive medical equipment.
2. Ongoing proliferation of high-priced prescription drugs in combination with the
increased demand for these drugs induced by expensive, high-profile advertising campaigns.
3. Excessive and arguably unnecessary medical procedures, including duplication of tests and use of redundant technologies that yield similar medical results.
4. Rapid growth of the elderly population, which uses medical care more intensely than younger population groups.
5. Increasing number of accidents and other incidents requiring emergency medical services.
6. Labor intensiveness and earnings growth for health care professionals and executives.
7. Rising costs of malpractice insurance.
8. Administrative waste.
9. Fraud.
Source: 2007 New York Times Almanac, page 373
Fitness
1. Chapter 7 of Ideas for America 1 has a number of good principles regarding Fitness for Older Americans, which, if applied, can be very useful to older Americans looking to maintain health.
2. For those looking for a good dietary routine to follow, we recommend looking at the 3,000 calorie fixed diet on the "tools page" of ideasforamerica.org. To make it a 2,000 calorie diet, simply remove the snacks.
3. Although a boxing-style workout isn't for everyone, the time structure of it can work well in a school day or professional life. With three minute rounds and a one minute break in between, (or 30 seconds when you get in better shape)it works well when planning timewise, as it's exactly one hour.
4. A routine organized by time works well in many ways; not only can it be planned effectively, but it is effective because it involves constant, dynamic, athletic motion. This can be more effective than a cycle of weights with frequent breaks.
5. The potential of physical education and health classes in the schools to relax students and help them feel better is an area ripe for exploration, and that is also addressed in Ideas for America 1.
The Economy
The issues in the economy are serious and complicated enough that we've decided to include a small section in the 2010 updates of Ideas for America 1 on the subject. It's not a brilliant analysis, but rather allows readers to understand a few of the basics in clear and concise language.
In the meantime, it is a hope that our state and federal governments will adopt the policy of sending out annual reports to every household, and it's our belief that these could do more to create stability and prevent disaster than almost anything else. Some of the information those reports might convey is addressed below.
Annual Report Questions
What is the best possible format for state and federal government annual reports? Should every household receive them, or just a selective list? How has revenue and spending changed in the last year? How can we restore the balance between vocational and classical education? What do you think about minimum standards tests? How would you improve physical education programs without spending more money? What impact might more effective language learning materials have? Can testing for university credit ever happen? Do you support a federal balanced budget amendment? Are you in favor of simplifying the federal tax system? Is it possible to keep American manufacturing here;how? How can we best prepare inmates for release? How do you suggest helping older Americans maximize fitness benefits? Could the European Model of recreational facilities work? What are your suggestions for offsetting the increases in the costs of health care? How can we best work together to help Americans plan for retirement? What is your opinion on how we might assure the long-term health of Social Security?
Retirement
This section is just developing, but we've got a few points for you.
1. The best principle on this site is the chart on the "tools" page of the home site ideasformaerica.org, which emphasizes the principle of "flexibility of location," which is worth checking out if you haven't done so already.
2. A good mastery of the points in the chapter "Fitness for Older Americans" can serve older Americans well as they seeek to maintain functionality.
3. Many older Americans understand well how to stay fit and eat right, but a loophole in that knowledge can be how to exercise with limitations, whether they be permanent or temporary.
4. Good annual reports from our federal government can help to assure long term stablilty and maintain the Social Security system, a core source of retirement money for many Americans.
5. Retirees need to be able to effectively comparison shop for health care to keep quality up and prices down. This is something that can always be improved.
6. The recreational public facilities model outlined in Ideas for America 1 is one that could work well for many retirees to relax and stay connected to their communities.
Energy
The 2010 updates of Ideas for America 1 will also include a small section on U.S. and world energy, which like other chapters, works to allow readers to see some of the basics clearly, and thereby read the articles to the left here more effectively. In the meantime, we have some of points and knowledge for you.
1. Energy is generally measured in BTU's; one BTU is approximately the amount of energy given off by one burning match.
2. In 2004, total U.S. energy production was 70.4 quadrillion BTU's.
3. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created to offset wild changes caused by the Arab oil embargo of the 1970's, and in 1977 created a reserve which permitted the storage of 580 million barrels, csupply enough for 115 days. However, that supply has dwindled to enough for 47 days.
4. Fossil fuels make up about 80% of total energy production, down from about 95% in 1970. Natual gas and coal each make up about 1/4 of the total.
5. Once considered a useless byproduct of oil well drillings (it was burned off at the site), natural gas is the primary source of heating for 50 million households.
6. The electric utilities are the greatest consumers of coal.
1. If the ideas outlined in chapter 1 of the "Model Language Program were effectively integrated, English language learning could be more effective, recent immigrants could be integrated into the mainstream much faster, and it might even one small, good step towards reducing the high school drop-out rate.Many of my opinions on this come from having worked in language schools first, and teaching high school second, and noting the sharp contrast in effectiveness.
2. Implementing the improvements doesn't need to cost money, it only requires will.
3. A good first step is a rewrite of the Foreign language Curriculum Frameworks.
4. Currently, there is no curriculum framework for learning English as a second language. Rather, all that exists is a straight copy of the aforementioned Foreign Language Frameworks, which could be massively improved.
5. This theme will be a part of my run for the State Senate in 2010.
Learning the Basics
As part of the effort to assure that more high school students acquire the basic knowledge of mortgage and finance, the home site offers free seminars any afternoon to high school classes in the North Shore area. Teachers that decide to do this need only contact the site owner.
Possible Questions
In the interest of defining goals, here are some possible questions to be answered.
1. What is the most useful knowledge of mortgage and finance? At the very least, the ability to understand what a mortgage is, and how much one can afford based on a given salary.
2. How can this knowledge be acquired in the schools? It could be taught in seminar form, or integrated into a math class; a number of scenarios are below.
Primary Knowledge
1. What a mortgage is and how it works.
2. The different kinds of mortages.
3. Learning to use a mortgage calculator.
4. The "Roomate Pooling" option, including the graph on page 81
Secondary Knowledge
The nature of real property, transfer of Title, types of real estate listings and contracts, forms of ownership,encumbrances, the financing Process, negotiation, types of leases, Fair Housing Laws, Federal taxes affecting real estate, and state laws and local zoning.
Possible Seminar Format
1. One Standard Fifty Minute Seminar: This is certainly a time allotment that can work well; and teachers might enjoy the break.
2. One ninety-minute double period: It's very hard to convey so much knowledge in forty-five or fifty minutes, and schools that have a double period system might have an advantage, although of course scheduling is never easy.
3. Auditorium presentations are tough, and would likely only work with presenters that are knowledgeable, good speakers.
4. Integrated in the Math Curriculum: We think this is the best way to go.
5. A semester long course, with more in-depth study of all aspects of real estate law could work well for some. That being said, it might work better as an elective.
6. Showing a Video: I'm not aware of what videos are out there, but simply throwing a good video in the machine might be one easy way to achieve the aim.
If done properly, this knowledge could give more students more confidence going into the world, and for some could even be a small incentive to stay in school.
Health Care
The issues in health care are awfully complicated, but for reference purposes the nine causes of the increases in prices are here for you. To deal with this issue effectively, all nine causes must be addressed. Ideas for America 1 responds to causes four and seven directly, and to the others indirectly. The serious pursuit of medical malpractice reform will address cause seven, while creation of a medical shopping database will effectively address all nine causes by enabling consumers to effectively comparison shop, thus fostering competition and keeping prices down.
1. Use of sophisticated, expensive medical equipment.
2. Ongoing proliferation of high-priced prescription drugs in combination with the
increased demand for these drugs induced by expensive, high-profile advertising campaigns.
3. Excessive and arguably unnecessary medical procedures, including duplication of tests and use of redundant technologies that yield similar medical results.
4. Rapid growth of the elderly population, which uses medical care more intensely than younger population groups.
5. Increasing number of accidents and other incidents requiring emergency medical services.
6. Labor intensiveness and earnings growth for health care professionals and executives.
7. Rising costs of malpractice insurance.
8. Administrative waste.
9. Fraud.
Source: 2007 New York Times Almanac, page 373
Fitness
1. Chapter 7 of Ideas for America 1 has a number of good principles regarding Fitness for Older Americans, which, if applied, can be very useful to older Americans looking to maintain health.
2. For those looking for a good dietary routine to follow, we recommend looking at the 3,000 calorie fixed diet on the "tools page" of ideasforamerica.org. To make it a 2,000 calorie diet, simply remove the snacks.
3. Although a boxing-style workout isn't for everyone, the time structure of it can work well in a school day or professional life. With three minute rounds and a one minute break in between, (or 30 seconds when you get in better shape)it works well when planning timewise, as it's exactly one hour.
4. A routine organized by time works well in many ways; not only can it be planned effectively, but it is effective because it involves constant, dynamic, athletic motion. This can be more effective than a cycle of weights with frequent breaks.
5. The potential of physical education and health classes in the schools to relax students and help them feel better is an area ripe for exploration, and that is also addressed in Ideas for America 1.
The Economy
The issues in the economy are serious and complicated enough that we've decided to include a small section in the 2010 updates of Ideas for America 1 on the subject. It's not a brilliant analysis, but rather allows readers to understand a few of the basics in clear and concise language.
In the meantime, it is a hope that our state and federal governments will adopt the policy of sending out annual reports to every household, and it's our belief that these could do more to create stability and prevent disaster than almost anything else. Some of the information those reports might convey is addressed below.
Annual Report Questions
What is the best possible format for state and federal government annual reports? Should every household receive them, or just a selective list? How has revenue and spending changed in the last year? How can we restore the balance between vocational and classical education? What do you think about minimum standards tests? How would you improve physical education programs without spending more money? What impact might more effective language learning materials have? Can testing for university credit ever happen? Do you support a federal balanced budget amendment? Are you in favor of simplifying the federal tax system? Is it possible to keep American manufacturing here;how? How can we best prepare inmates for release? How do you suggest helping older Americans maximize fitness benefits? Could the European Model of recreational facilities work? What are your suggestions for offsetting the increases in the costs of health care? How can we best work together to help Americans plan for retirement? What is your opinion on how we might assure the long-term health of Social Security?
Retirement
This section is just developing, but we've got a few points for you.
1. The best principle on this site is the chart on the "tools" page of the home site ideasformaerica.org, which emphasizes the principle of "flexibility of location," which is worth checking out if you haven't done so already.
2. A good mastery of the points in the chapter "Fitness for Older Americans" can serve older Americans well as they seeek to maintain functionality.
3. Many older Americans understand well how to stay fit and eat right, but a loophole in that knowledge can be how to exercise with limitations, whether they be permanent or temporary.
4. Good annual reports from our federal government can help to assure long term stablilty and maintain the Social Security system, a core source of retirement money for many Americans.
5. Retirees need to be able to effectively comparison shop for health care to keep quality up and prices down. This is something that can always be improved.
6. The recreational public facilities model outlined in Ideas for America 1 is one that could work well for many retirees to relax and stay connected to their communities.
Energy
The 2010 updates of Ideas for America 1 will also include a small section on U.S. and world energy, which like other chapters, works to allow readers to see some of the basics clearly, and thereby read the articles to the left here more effectively. In the meantime, we have some of points and knowledge for you.
1. Energy is generally measured in BTU's; one BTU is approximately the amount of energy given off by one burning match.
2. In 2004, total U.S. energy production was 70.4 quadrillion BTU's.
3. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created to offset wild changes caused by the Arab oil embargo of the 1970's, and in 1977 created a reserve which permitted the storage of 580 million barrels, csupply enough for 115 days. However, that supply has dwindled to enough for 47 days.
4. Fossil fuels make up about 80% of total energy production, down from about 95% in 1970. Natual gas and coal each make up about 1/4 of the total.
5. Once considered a useless byproduct of oil well drillings (it was burned off at the site), natural gas is the primary source of heating for 50 million households.
6. The electric utilities are the greatest consumers of coal.
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