Eric's Blog

washingtonpost.com:Obama Remarks on Math, Science and Technology Education

Eric — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:23:08 EST

Obama Remarks on Math, Science and Technology Education

CQ Transcripts Wire
Monday, November 23, 2009;

...

also want to note that this is only the beginning. We're going to challenge the private sector to partner with community colleges, for example, to help train the workers of today for the jobs of tomorrow, even as we make college more affordable, so that by 2010 America once again leads the world in producing college graduates.

OBAMA: Now, I have to say to the young people who are here, we can't let students off the hook. In the end, the success of this campaign depends on them. But I believe strongly that America's young people will rise to the challenge if given the opportunity, and given a little bit of a push.

We've got to work together to create these opportunities because our future depends on them.

And I just want to mention the importance not only for students but also of parents.

You know, I was in Asia, I think, many of you are aware, for a week. And I was having lunch with the president of South Korea, President Lee. And I was interested in the education policy -- they've grown enormously over the last 40 years -- and I asked them what are the biggest challenges in your education policy.

He said, you know, "The biggest challenge that I have is that my parents are too demanding."

(LAUGHTER)

He said, "Even if somebody is dirt poor, they are insisting that their kids are getting the best education." He said, "I've had to import thousands of foreign teachers because their all insisting that Korean children have to learn English in elementary school."

That was the biggest education challenge that he had was an insistence, a demand from parents for excellence in the schools.

And the same thing was true when I went to China. And I was talking to the mayor of Shanghai, and I asked him about -- how he was doing recruiting teachers, given that they've got 25 million people in this one city.

He said, "We don't have problems recruiting teachers because teaching is so revered and the pay scales for teachers are actually comparable to doctors and other professions."

That gives you a sense of what is happening around the world. There is a hunger for knowledge, an insistence on excellence, a reverence for science and math and technology and learning. That used to be what we were about. That's what we're going to be about again.

And I have to say that this doesn't get a lot of focus. Not once was I asked about education policy during my trip by the press, and oftentimes events like this get short shrift. They're not what's debated on cable.

But this is probably going to make more of a difference in determining how well we do as a country than just about anything else that we do here. ....

www.Bill-Waddell.com:The Hollow American Economy

Eric — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:17:02 EST

The Hollow American Economy

A Clarion Call For Leadership

By Bill Waddell ~ May, 2009

...converting the United States from an exporting, value and wealth creating nation, to one careening recklessly toward bankruptcy. The purpose is to dispel some of the rationalizations for this unhealthy transformation of our economy; and it is to put both data and common sense on the table so reasonable people can engage in the critical discussion of how best to get our economy back on track. ...

As the BLS said, “an increasing share of jobs was in high-paying jobs and required college training; but most jobs that were filled paid below-average wages and did not require a college education.” They are stating the obvious. There is a finite need for doctors, lawyers and professors....

Without people making things and creating value, there is no money for the financial sector to play with....

The number of jobs in true value creation activities is a much more accurate measure of the long term health of the country....

listen to what Main Street manufacturing is telling them... There is no manufacturing voice in our government at a time when we so desperately need one.
We need a full airing in America on this very critical matter. Champions must step forward to lead an effort to honestly explore how best to stop the continuing collapse of American manufacturing.Tell the globalization experts to stay at home. They have had their say. Instead ask people like Doc Hall from Indiana University who formed the Association for Manufacturing Excellence to explain the current state of manufacturing and how we got here. He is a walking encyclopedia of the last thirty years of successes and failures. Call in Brian Maskell to explain how government mandated accounting rules are eroding manufacturing, and how the privately held companies are doing accounting in a radically different way, and managing their companies much more effectively as a result. Have Jeffery Liker explain to you the real reasons for Toyota’s manufacturing tap dance over General Motors.
Very important questions must be asked and answered: If manufacturing cannot compete with American wage rates, energy and healthcare costs and taxes, how do Pella, Wahl, Toyota and Honda and many others do so well manufacturing in the USA?...
Our business heroes are the thousands of American men and women in who roll up their sleeves and compete toe to toe every day with the best in the world, and win – .... These people are committed to theircommunities and the people with whom they work. They – not the clever financiers – are our businessheroes; and they are the key to turning our economy around and getting us back on the track we were once on. But they cannot do so without the support of the country, and we are rapidly running out of time.
http://www.bill-waddell.com/images/CLARION_CALL_MASTER.pdf

Bruce Judson re a new service, The Cost Savings Guy

Eric — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:38:42 EST

Can The Free Market Save Small Businesses and Nonprofits? Bruce Judson

Senior Faculty Fellow at the Yale School of Management; Author, "It Could Happen Here"

Posted: November 13, 2009 12:38 PM

...Earlier this week, we announced a new service, The Cost Savings Guy. For the past six months, I have been leading the development of this initiative, which I passionately believe has the potential to change the fortunes of the millions of small businesses and nonprofits that are struggling to stay afloat. ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-judson/can-the-free-market-save_b_356998.html

William Dunkelberg:"They can borrow money. They have no customers, and that's the bummer."

Eric — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:27:03 EST

William Dunkelberg is a big name in small business
Philadelphia Inquirer
A week after his Couric interview, a frightening Dunkelberg chart on small-business job cuts appeared on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. ...
www.philly.com/inquirer/hot_topics/20091111_William_Dunkelberg__the_voice_behind_the_numbers.html

www.Bloomberg.com: Obama Embrace of Wall Street Insiders Points to Politic Reforms

Eric — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:36:17 EST

Obama Embrace of Wall Street Insiders Points to Politic Reforms
By Heidi Przybyla

Nov. 19 (Bloomberg)

...

Just by being elected, even before he sets foot in the White House, Obama has changed the course of history. And starting in January, he'll have a rare chance to overhaul a financial regulatory system that failed to prevent the worst crisis in decades -- if he chooses to seize the opportunity.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aWSz2kUxdTiU&refer=home

TheStar.com: Faltering economy jeopardizes health care and job creation plans

Eric — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:18:12 EST

U.S. POLITICS TheStar.com | USElection | America's ideological rift a threat to Obama Faltering economy jeopardizes health care and job creation plans
Nov 15, 2008 04:30 AM Olivia Ward
FOReIGN AFFAIRS REPORTER

...Barack Obama had barely won the presidential election when right-wing critics fumed that he would govern from the "ideological left."

But left-wing critics wrung their hands over Obama's call for unity, saying it would compromise his mandate for change.

...

"It's what I call `yo-yo economics,'" says Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute, an adviser to the Obama campaign. "It means `you're on your own.' But Obama has shown that the notion that government is always bad and private-sector markets are always good has been deeply disproved at great cost."

...

"But whether his plans will lead to radical change, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt's Depression-era New Deal is still unclear.

...

That's unsettling to those who demand far-reaching political and economic change.

"Progressives hope that the Obama administration, like the New Deal, will respond to the current economic and financial crisis by creating institutions, especially a universal health-care system, that will change the shape of American society for generations to come," says economist Paul Krugman, in a recent New York Times column.

He warned Obama should resist the error Roosevelt made in cutting back his spending plans after his 1936 election victory, eroding gains created by his early bold plans.

http://www.thestar.com/News/USElection/article/537535

www.chron.com: Even in an economic slump, Obama can't afford to ignore education

Eric — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:49:05 EST

Eye on educationEven in an economic slump, Obama can't afford to ignore educationHouston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/6113844.html

Nov. 15, 2008, 9:19AM

...

Obama should also cling to his goal of re-creating nationally the visionary Harlem Children's Zone — a swath of Harlem in which the poorest residents are surrounded by service and educational programs, starting before birth in a class called Baby College. During his campaign, Obama proposed duplicating the project with a half-private, half-governmental project in cities including Houston. (For details, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh5QRMaa_KE).

The children's zone plan will probably have to wait until shock waves stop jolting the economy. But just as he went to that parent-teacher meeting right after election, Obama must act fast after entering office to launch the most affordable, achievable educational reforms. They are the building blocks for our children's future prosperity.

Economist.com:The Economist's poll of economists

Eric — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:21:24 EDT

The Economist's poll of economists

Examining the candidates

Oct 2nd 2008 | WASHINGTON, DC
From The Economist print edition

In our special report on the election we analyse the two candidates’ economic plans. Here, we ask professional economists to give us their views
Illustration by S. Kambayashi

AS THE financial crisis pushes the economy back to the top of voters’ concerns, Barack Obama is starting to open up a clear lead over John McCain in the opinion polls. But among those who study economics for a living, Mr Obama’s lead is much more commanding. A survey of academic economists by The Economist finds the majority—at times by overwhelming margins—believe Mr Obama has the superior economic plan, a firmer grasp of economics and will appoint better economic advisers.

Our survey is not, by any means, a scientific poll of all economists. We e-mailed a questionnaire to 683 research associates, all we could track down, of the National Bureau of Economic Research, America’s premier association of applied academic economists, though the NBER itself played no role in the survey. A total of 142 responded, of whom 46% identified themselves as Democrats, 10% as Republicans and 44% as neither. This skewed party breakdown may reflect academia’s Democratic tilt, or possibly Democrats’ greater propensity to respond. Still, even if we exclude respondents with a party identification, Mr Obama retains a strong edge—though the McCain campaign should be buoyed by the fact that 530 economists have signed a statement endorsing his plans.

Does their opinion matter? Economics is just one of the many things the next president will have to worry about; voters still seem to prefer Mr McCain on foreign policy. And even on the economy, economists may not have the same priorities as the population at large. Arguably, what a president says about economics on the campaign trail is less important than how he responds to the unexpected challenges that inevitably arise once he is in office.

Yet economists’ opinions should count for something because irrespective of any party affiliation, most of them approach policy decisions with the same basic tool kit. Their assessment of the candidates’ economic credentials and plans represents an informed judgment on how well they will handle difficult trade-offs between efficiency, equity, growth and consensus-building.

Regardless of party affiliation, our respondents generally agree the economy is in bad shape, that the election is important to the course of economic policy and that the housing and financial crisis is the most critical economic issue facing America.

The detailed responses are bad news for Mr McCain (the full data are available here). Eighty per cent of respondents and no fewer than 71% of those who do not cleave to either main party say Mr Obama has a better grasp of economics. Even among Republicans Mr Obama has the edge: 46% versus 23% say Mr Obama has the better grasp of the subject. "...

...

“John McCain has professed disdain for ‘so-called economists’, and for some the feeling has become mutual,” says Erik Brynjolfsson, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. “Obama’s team is mainstream and non-ideological but extremely talented.”

...

On our one-to-five scale, economists on average give Mr Obama’s economic programme a 3.3 and Mr McCain’s a 2.2. Mr Obama, says Jonathan Parker, a non-aligned professor at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, “is a pragmatist not an ideologue. I expect Clintonian economic policies.”

...

This is the fourth presidential election in which The Economist has surveyed economists on the candidates and their plans. Responses, anonymous except where requested, were received between September 18th and 30th. For full results see article.

The Two Million Minutes Blog:...deeper insights into education in China, India and the United States, and the challenge America faces

Eric — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:45:26 EDT

BOSTON GLOBE ARTICLE - India & the OlympicsGoing for gold in India

By Derrick Z. Jackson

Globe Columnist / August 23, 2008

...As China and the United States produce athletes in very different, yet equally obsessive ways - and as we treat college and pro athletes as demigods and allow our children to become enslaved to high school coaches and suburban soccer programs - India is producing brainpower....

___________________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.2mminutes.com/

....

Think American education standards are higher than the Third World – well why not have your 11th or 12th grade son or daughter try the Third World Challenge? After all in just a few more years the challenge will be in the marketplace for high paying jobs – might as well find out now if your son or daughter is competitive.

Sincerely,

Bob Compton
Executive Producer
Two Million Minutes

http://www.2mminutes.com/third-world-challenge.html

Trailer for film "2 million minutes":

http://www.youtube.com/user/2MillionMinutes

www.blessingwhite.com/research: New Global Report Finds Gen Y Employees Least Engaged

Eric — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:36:38 EDT

New Global Report Finds Gen Y Employees Least EngagedA global study, The State of Employee Engagement 2008 (http://www.blessingwhite.com/research), finds that Generation Y employees are the least engaged in the workplace on four continents. The new report was issued by Princeton consultants BlessingWhite (http://www.BlessingWhite.com).

The State of Employee Engagement 2008 (http://www.blessingwhite.com/research) explores workplace attitudes among three generations of employees and draws on survey responses from more than 7,500 individuals and interviews with 40 senior human resource and line managers.

The findings indicate that at least one quarter of Generation Y employees are disengaged in all key geographic regions except India. Southeast Asia reported the greatest portion of disengaged Gen Y workers with 35%.

Disengaged Employees Levels by Generation and Region:

Baby Boomers Gen X Gen Y

(1946-64) (1965-77) (1978-90)

Australia & New Zealand: 13% 24% 25%

China:* - 34% 33%

Continental Europe: 18% 20% 28%

India: 16% 12% 14%

North America: 17% 20% 25%

Southeast Asia: 16% 20% 35%

United Kingdom & Ireland: 18% 22% 30%

*There were too few survey responses for Baby Boomers in China to include.

The research suggests that the more senior the employees the more engaged they are, said BlessingWhite CEO Christopher Rice. "Around the globe, senior executives are generally more engaged than front-line managers or individual contributors. Gen Y disengagement levels may reflect, to some extent, their low seniority since more Baby Boomers would predictably hold leadership roles. Increased engagement is an expected outcome from power and position."

Another contributing factor is that younger employees often do not have a clear picture of what will make them happy, said Rice. "Often, they can't find what they're looking for because they don't have the experience to know what they want. Lack of personal clarity can also influence engagement for Gen Y, in particular."

The exception to a general picture of disengagement among Gen Y employees, explained Rice, is India, whose younger employees have higher levels of engagement compared to other regions. "This probably reflects the expanded opportunities as well as its young, fast-paced, knowledge-based economy. In fact, all generations in India are happier than employees in other regions," said Rice

"Engaged employees are not just committed or passionate or proud," said Rice. "They're enthusiastic and in gear, using their talents to make a difference in their employer's quest for sustainable success. As a rule, increased engagement results in increased productivity and performance. It's a key business issue leaders need to address, particularly in times of economic downturn and uncertainty."

Conversely, disengaged employees often feel underutilized, are the most disconnected from the organization's strategy, and may indulge in contagious negativity, warned Rice. "Left to themselves disengaged workers are likely to look for their next job, or worse collect a paycheck while complaining and not producing. If they can't be coached or encouraged to higher levels of engagement, their exit benefits everyone, including themselves."

http://www.prnewsnow.com/Public_Release/Technology/223107.html

www.theclimategroup.org: China unleashes Clean Revolution…

Eric — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:09:59 EDT

China unleashes Clean Revolution…

The Climate Group
Latest News and CommentChina unleashes Clean Revolution…

Press Release

July 31, 2008

China seizes low carbon export opportunities in clean tech race

China is already the world’s leading renewable energy producer* and is over-taking more developed economies in exploiting valuable economic opportunities, creating green-collar jobs and leading development of critical low carbon technologies, says a new report to be published by The Climate Group...

Often described as the factory of the world, 23 per cent of China’s CO2 emissions were produced in the manufacture of products for export in 2004, mainly to the developed world. However, it is precisely its ability to manufacture technology in large volumes and at competitive prices that will enable it to dominate the world’s renewable technology market. ...

• Chinese entrepreneurs are riding a low carbon wave of investment. A low carbon wave has swept up tens of thousands of Chinese companies and created some of China’s most successful business leaders. China’s six largest solar PV manufacturers had a market value of over USD$15bn in July 2008; the market for solar water heaters is worth over USD$2bn a year and is growing at 20 per cent; and the market for electric bicycles (e-bikes) is around USD$6bn. ...

www.worldwatch.org: Coal Industry Hands Out Pink Slips While Green Collar Jobs Take Off

Eric — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:07:54 EDT

Coal Industry Hands Out Pink Slips While Green Collar Jobs Take Off - Jul 10, 2008

Coal Industry Hands Out Pink Slips While Green Collar Jobs Take Off

Washington, D.C.-A transition to renewable energy sources promises significant global job gains at a time when the coal industry has been hemorrhaging jobs for years, according to the latest Vital Signs Update released by the Worldwatch Institute.

The coal, oil, and natural gas industries require steadily fewer jobs as high-cost production equipment takes the place of human capital. Many hundreds of thousands of coal mining jobs have been shed in China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and South Africa during the last two decades, sometimes in the face of expanding production. In the United States alone, coal industry employment has fallen by half in the last 20 years, despite a one-third increase in production.

"Renewables are poised to tackle our energy crisis and create millions of new jobs worldwide," according to Worldwatch Senior Researcher Michael Renner. "Meanwhile, fossil fuel jobs are increasingly becoming fossils themselves, as coal mining communities and others worry about their livelihoods."

Strong government support has allowed Germany, Spain, and Denmark to emerge as leaders in renewable energy development-and green jobs. The German government reports that the country was home to an estimated 259,000 direct and indirect jobs in the renewables sector in 2006. This figure is expected to reach 400,000-500,000 by 2020, and 710,000 by 2030. In the United States, the renewables sector employed close to 200,000 people directly and 246,000 indirectly in 2006, due mostly to leadership at the state level. China is rapidly catching up in manufacturing of solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbines and is already the dominant global force in solar hot water development.

An estimated 2.3 million people worldwide currently work either directly in renewables or indirectly in supplier industries. The solar thermal industry employs at least 624,000 people, the wind power industry 300,000, and the solar PV industry 170,000. More than 1 million people work in the biomass and biofuels sector, while small-scale hydropower employs 39,000 individuals and geothermal employs 25,000.

These figures are expected to swell substantially as private investment and government support for alternative energy sources grow. The most optimistic analyses project that global wind power employment will increase to as much as 2.1 million in 2030 and 2.8 million in 2050. Similar projections estimate that worldwide solar PV production alone could create as many as 6.3 million jobs by 2030.

"Government officials now have yet another reason to put the full weight of their support behind renewables," said Renner. "In addition to protecting our planet and phasing out an increasingly limited resource, policies that support renewable energy also support job creation."

www.peri.umass.edu:Job Opportunities for the Green Economy

Eric — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:45:08 EDT

Job Opportunities tor the Green Economy: A State-by-State Picture of Occupations that Gain from Green Investments June 2008

This new report by Robert Pollin and Jeannette Wicks-Lim provides a snapshot of the jobs are needed to build a green economy in the U.S. The report focuses on six strategies for attacking global warming: building retrofitting, mass transit, energy-efficient automobiles, wind power, solar power, and cellulosic biomass fuels.

The vast majority of jobs associated with these strategies are in the areas of employment that people already work in today, in every region and state of the country. What makes these entirely familiar occupations “green jobs” is that the people working in them are contributing their everyday labors toward building a green economy.

The report presents data on employment in Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin, including the number of people employed in the occupations affected by our six green strategies, and what the average wages are for each of these jobs. What is clear is that millions of workers—across a wide range of familiar occupations—will benefit from the project of defeating global warming and transforming the United States into a green economy.

>> Read more and download “Job Opportunities for the Green Economy”

Ernst & Young: UK households 15% worse off than 5 years ago

Eric — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:24:30 EDT

UK households 15% worse off than 5 years ago says Ernst & Young

Consumer economy on a knife-edge with worse to come

04 July 2008: Ernst & Young’s Annual Discretionary Income Study, launched today, reveals that UK consumer spending power has fallen dramatically in the face of massive price hikes in the cost of living. The average UK household is now 15 per cent worse off than it was five years ago. After tax contributions and monthly household bills, the average family now has under 20% of its gross income left over, as opposed to 28% in 2003. Furthermore, the pace of the squeeze on the consumer has accelerated rapidly over the last year – discretionary monthly spend as a proportion of gross household income fell by almost 12% in 2007/08 its fastest rate of decline in the last five years.

Jason Gordon, director of retail at Ernst & Young comments: “Many UK consumer segments are clearly feeling the pinch as big rises in household costs are far outstripping relatively modest wage inflation.”

Key Findings

Monthly discretionary income for a typical household has dropped 15% since 2003/04. The average household now has £772.79 to spend each month after total fixed monthly outgoings, compared with £909.84 in 2003/04. This represents under 20% of gross income, a figure which has declined dramatically from over 28% in 2003/04.
Fixed monthly household costs have risen by almost 45% since 2003/04. These costs now account for 53% of a typical household’s gross income compared with some 45% in 2003/04.
Average monthly mortgage payments (based on a 25 year repayment mortgage at the standard variable rate) are just under £735, a staggering 78% higher than in 2003/04, driven by higher interest rates than five years ago and a significant increase in the size of a typical mortgage.
At £193.61 per month, petrol costs for a typical household are currently 29.4% higher than the average in 2003/04 (based on a mid-sized car with annual mileage of 15,000).
Average monthly energy bills (gas and electricity combined) have risen by 110% since 2003/04 to £95.80. ...

Gordon adds: “All consumers are painfully aware of the huge hikes in petrol and utility bills but we’ve also seen some fairly hefty price increases in pension contributions and debt repayments.”

“If we go one step further and factor in food price inflation, which official figures have placed at 8.7% in the last year, it’s clear that household budgets are under enormous strain. Add in the impact of falling house prices on the consumer’s propensity to spend, and the consumer economy is undoubtedly on a knife-edge.

“Worryingly, though, the worst could be yet to come. If, as predicted, utility prices rise by as much as 40% later this year and interest rates are increased to control rising inflation, consumers and consumer facing businesses will face even bleaker times.” ...

http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/UK/Media_-_08_07_04_DC_-_UK_households_worse_off_than_5_years_ago

National Commission on Adult Literacy: Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce

Eric — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:41:54 EDT

June 27, 2008

Report urges new approach to adult education, workforce development

By DUANE M. ELLING

A new report suggests that the U.S. is losing valuable ground as a world leader in education and workforce development, and is at risk of being left behind in the global economy.

Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce http://www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org/ReachHigherAmerica/ReachHigher.pdf notes that soaring dropout rates among high school students and diminished literacy skills among adults are contributing to an increasingly ill-prepared labor market. And those deficiencies, the report asserts, are seriously undermining the nation's economic future. ...

"Reach Higher, America" points to job readiness among U.S workers as a growing concern. Many careers that offer growth potential -- such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and alternative energy -- require employees to have increased competency in reading and writing, and at least some education or training beyond high school.

However, studies show that one in three young people in this country drop out of high school before earning their diploma, while nearly 30 million adults lack basic literacy skills.

Such imbalances are challenging the ability of the nation's employers to compete in the global marketplace. And, notes Cheryl King, the current adult education and workforce development systems aren't equipped to address the problem....

She notes that there are an estimated 150 million workers ages 16 years and older in the U.S., many of whom require adult education and workforce development services. However, the combined annual capacity of federal programs in these areas, such as dislocated worker initiatives and "one-stop" career centers, is about 3 million people.

The report, says King, lays groundwork for increasing the number of individuals served to 20 million a year by 2020.

"The strength and vitality of the U.S. labor market is absolutely key to the country's economic health," she says. "And it requires that every person have opportunities to earn the skills and experiences needed to succeed in the workplace."

"Reach Higher, America" calls for policies and partnerships at both the state and federal levels that:

substantially increase the number of adults who earn high school diplomas or equivalent certifications;
improve literacy skills among workers, including those for whom English is a second language;
grow enrollment of adults in postsecondary education and job training activities, with particular focus on promising sectors of the labor market; and
help workers already in the labor market strengthen and expand their basic skills.
Specific strategies highlighted in the report include expanding local access to workforce development services via schools, libraries and nonprofit and social service organizations, as well as Web-based resources. The report points to community colleges, which provide a third of the country's adult instructional services, as "vital educational forces" that can help shape the nation's labor market.

The report also notes the importance of redefining adult education to include such topics as interpersonal communication, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. And it highlights the role of the business, philanthropic and nonprofit communities in helping the country to rethink issues of education and workforce development, and invest in new approaches to worker training and advancement....

"We're at a critical crossroads in this country," she said. "The next steps we take on these issues will determine our economic standing, both at home and around the world, for decades to come."

http://www.mott.org/recentnews/news/2008/adultliteracy.aspx

sba.gov: rapidly growing firms are responsible for most private sector employment growth

Eric — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:07:41 EDT

High-Impact Firms: Gazelles Revisited

June 2008: Zoltan Acs, William Parsons and Spencer Tracy; http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs328.pdf

This study revisits and expands upon some of the conclusions on rapidly growing firms made by the small business research pioneer, David Birch, in the 1980s. Birch found that rapidly growing firms,which he termed “gazelles,” are responsible for most employment growth. While Birch’s definition of gazelles was based on their revenue growth, this study examines firms with significant revenue growth and expanding employment. These are termed “high-impact firms” to distinguish them from gazelles. The research offers summary statistics helping to define the scope and characteristics of high impact firms. The report sheds light on several previously unanswered questions, including: What are high-impact firms before they become high-impact firms? What happens after their high-impact phase?

Overall Findings

High-impact firms are relatively old, rare and contribute to the majority of overall economic growth.

On average, they are 25 years old, they represent between 2 and 3 percent of all firms, and they account for almost all of the private sector employment and revenue growth in the economy.

Highlights

• From 2002 to 2006 there were 376,605 high impact firms in the United States. This number increased from 299,973 between 1998–2002 and was greater than the 352,114 firms in the 1994–1998 period of analysis.

• During the 1994–2006 period, firms with fewer than 20 employees represented 93.8 percent of the high-impact firms and 33.5 percent of job growth among high-impact firms, while firms with 20 to 499 employees represented 5.9 percent and 24.1 percent, respectively.

• For the three firm-size categories analyzed, the average size of high-impact firms in the 1-19 size category was 3 employees at the beginning of the period of analysis, increasing almost out of the size category to 16; for the 20-499 firm-size class it was 65 increasing to 209; and for the over-500 size class, it was 3,648 increasing to 8,041.

• The average high-impact firm is around 25 years old, but they are younger than low-impact firms.

• High-impact firms exist in all industries. While some industries have a higher percentage of these firms, they are not limited to high-technology industries.

• High-impact firms exist in almost all regions, states, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and counties.

• Low-impact firms do not grow on average.

• Nearly all job loss in the economy in each of the three time periods analyzed is attributable to low impact firms with more than 500 employees.

• Less than 3 percent of high-impact firms were born in the previous four-year period, however as firm size increases that number doubles to over 6 percent.

• In the four years after a high-impact firm undergoes its high-growth phase, only about 3 percent die. Most remain in business and exhibit at least some growth.

• The data suggest that local economic development officials would benefit from recognizing the value of cultivating high-growth firms versus trying to increase entrepreneurship overall or trying to attract relocating companies when utilizing their resources.

The full text of this report and summaries of other studies performed under contract with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy are available on the Internet at www.sba.gov/advo/research.

Excerpt from BP STATISTICAL REVIEW OF WORLD ENERGY JUNE 2008: "Germany registering the world’s largest decline in energy consumption"

Eric — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:01:29 EDT

Excerpt from Page 2 of BP STATISTICAL REVIEW OF WORLD ENERGY JUNE 2008 {with Bolding and underlining added by Eric}
ENERGY DEVELOPMENTSWorld primary energy consumption increasedby 2.4% in 2007 – down from 2.7% in 2006,but still the fifth consecutive year of above-average growth. The Asia-Pacific regionaccounted for two-thirds of global energyconsumption growth, rising by an above-average 5% even though consumption inJapan declined by 0.9%. North Americanconsumption rebounded after a weak year in 2006, rising by 1.6% – double the 10-yearaverage. Chinese growth of 7.7% was theweakest since 2002, although still above the10-year average (as was China’s economicgrowth). China again accounted for half ofglobal energy consumption growth. Indianconsumption grew by 6.8%, the third-largestvolumetric increment after China and the US.EU energy consumption declined by 2.2%,with Germany registering the world’s largest decline in energy consumption.
Energy matters Download a copy of the Statistical Review of World Energy 2008 Download (pdf, 6479KB)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Eric's Note: What can we learn from Germany?

Milken Institute: Massachusetts Maintains Lead as Nation’s Top State in Technology and Science

Eric — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:48:55 EDT

Massachusetts Maintains Lead as Nation’s Top State in Technology and Science, According to Milken Institute June 19, 2008

SAN DIEGO – Massachusetts, which just passed a $1-billion life sciences bill to invest in high-tech infrastructure and research and development over the next 10 years, is in the best position of any state to achieve high-quality economic growth thanks to its vast array of technology and science assets, a new Milken Institute study shows.

Massachusetts ranks first in the Milken Institute’s 2008 State Technology and Science Index, followed by Maryland, Colorado and California.

According to the report, regional competition for technology industries has increased since the last release of the Index in 2004. Not only are states vying with each other for human capital and resources, but countries like China and India are increasing the competition on a global level.

At the same time, the post-9/11 decrease in international graduate students and flat or decreased federal funding for research and development are applying negative pressure to states that are not making serious investments to build and retain these 21st century industries.

“States that have a vision and a plan for building and retaining high-wage jobs and viable industries are finding ways to invest in their science and technology assets,” said Ross DeVol, director of Regional Economics at the Milken Institute, and lead author of the study. “The changes in this year’s Index give a good measure of who is ahead in the increasing competition for scarce human capital and other resources needed for a successful industry.”

The states in the best position to succeed in the technology-led information age are (with 2004 rankings):

1) Massachusetts (1)
2) Maryland (4)
3) Colorado (3)
4) California (2)
5) Washington (6)
6) Virginia (5)
7) Connecticut (10)
8) Utah (9)
9) New Hampshire (12)
10) Rhode Island (11)

Massachusetts’s dominance in the rankings is related to its established strength in world-class research institutions, cutting-edge firms and its ability to leverage these assets in attracting and retaining a skilled work force. Massachusetts scores well ahead of the competition in these areas.

“This report is great news for Massachusetts and reflects our continuing commitment to the best science and technology,” said Gov. Deval Patrick. “We know that to compete and win in a global economy we need a work force skilled in these areas.”

Maryland moved up from fourth in this year’s ranking, thanks to strong positions across the many indicators used by the Institute. In particular, the report cited an improvement in the ability to attract business into the state and new projects that link research institutions with industry to produce the most advanced products.

“With strong partnerships between the public and private sectors, and collaborative research with universities, federal and commercial partners, we have been able to create a strong technology industry in Maryland,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley. “The results of the Milken Institute study are further evidence that Maryland is highly and increasingly competitive in drawing, retaining, and growing technology-based businesses.”

Colorado held its position in third place, just under Maryland’s score. California, however, slipped from second place to fourth and, according to the report, shows signs of faltering in its efforts to capture federal funding and build its future work force. In particular, the report said the decline in “standardized test scores and a low proportion of its population with bachelor’s degrees” could significantly hamper the ability to provide a skilled work force to take advantage of its financial and industrial strength.

Several states made dramatic improvements in the update of the Index. North Dakota showed the greatest gains, moving up 14 positions to 31st. This rise is due in large part to a state initiative to develop “Centers of Excellence,” which was implemented in 2004. The state provides matching funds to universities and colleges that join the program and commit to regional development in science and technology.

Other big movers in the Index are Hawaii, up 11 spots to 28th, and Alabama, which moved up seven positions. On the other hand, Mississippi has the dubious position of being ranked 50th again and West Virginia slid from 46th to 49th place.

Because states can no longer succeed with a low-skill, low-cost economic development formula, they must compete globally on the basis of new ideas, new products and new markets, along with superior productivity growth, the report states. The future will belong to those regions that can develop a thriving technology industry in a wide variety of fast-growing fields including biotech, clean technology, nanotechnology, communications and next-generation computer applications. The Index takes an objective measure of just how prepared each state is to take advantage of these opportunities. ...

Complete rankings (including interactive tables and maps) for all fifty states are available here. The full reports are available here.

Contact
Jennifer Manfrè, Associate Director of Communications
(310) 570-4623
E-mail: jmanfre@milkeninstitute.org

About the Institute: The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, independent economic think tank whose mission is to improve the lives and economic conditions of diverse populations around the world by helping business and public policy leaders identify and implement innovative ideas for creating broad-based prosperity. It is based in Santa Monica, CA. (www.milkeninstitute.org)

http://www.mlive.com: REBRANDING MICHIGAN: Business conversations on pulling Michigan out of recession

Eric — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:45:29 EDT

REBRANDING MICHIGAN Business conversations on pulling Michigan out of recession 'Aerotropolis' plan moves forward near Metro Airport; marketing to start in 2009by Paula Gardner | Michigan Business Review Thursday May 29, 2008, 12:02 PM

Marketing for the Detroit Region Aerotropolis should start in 2009 after stakeholders complete a four-step strategy to prepare the 60,000 acres near Metro Airport for development.

The efforts will turn the corridor from Ann Arbor to Detroit into an economic engine for the state, generating 60,000 jobs, according a new study of the site.

...

According to a media release, the plan targets 13 sites comprising 10,000 acres of vacant land for the first stages of development. Over a 25-year construction period, projects in the Aerotropolis would produce $173 million per year just in building activity.

Ficano stressed during his press conference on the porch of the Grand Hotel that the Aerotropolis "is a marathon, not a sprint," with a long-term vision.

...

http://www.mlive.com/rebrandingmichigan/index.ssf/2008/05/marketing_for_the_detroit_regi.html

NewsObserver.com: Worker shortage predicted (in North Carolina)

Eric — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:15:31 EDT

Worker shortage predictedStudy: Colleges could train aliens

May 15th, 2008 by Jane Stancill, Staff Writer

The state community college system, embroiled in debate about illegal immigrants, will have to produce thousands of additional graduates each year to deal with North Carolina's looming worker shortage, a new report says.

And those employees may have to come from the state's growing immigrant population, according to a report by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research to be released today. By 2016, the state's population is expected to grow by 15 percent, and a huge wave of baby boomer retirements means community colleges will need to produce 19,000 more graduates each year -- a 75 percent increase over current numbers. ...

It also predicts North Carolina will need to tap into the rising number of legal and illegal immigrants. In the past decade, North Carolina's Asian population has increased 128 percent and the Latino population has jumped 394 percent, the center said. ...

No matter how the issue is decided, community colleges will be a big part of the solution in churning out workers for the new economy, said Scott Ralls, the system president, who reversed policy this week on admitting students in the country illegally.

At some point, if the interpretation of federal law opens college doors to them, Ralls said, then they will need to be trained and educated to be full participants in the state's economy. If not, he added, there will be more pressure on North Carolina to solve the work force shortage in other ways, such as by preventing high school and college dropouts.

"We're going to need everyone we can get," Ralls said.

Challenges ahead ...

North Carolina's economy is undergoing a radical reinvention, away from the old manufacturing empires of tobacco, textiles and furniture to pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, biotechnology, banking and financial services. The community college system has built-in impediments to responding, Coble said, including state funding that lags a year behind and anemic faculty salaries and equipment budgets.

Last fall, the center asked Ralls, who was then president of Craven Community College, to outline the challenges ahead.

Ralls calls them four brutal facts:

* More working adult students and the vanishing black male student.

* Low graduation rates and more students who need remediation.

* Predicted worker shortages and immigrants' emerging role.

* Rising enrollment combined with lagging faculty salaries and inadequate equipment.

Ralls said the system must re-energize technical education while also pumping up degree programs, early college high schools and costly health-care programs. The colleges have had to cut student support programs but also need to work harder to reach out to black men, more adult working students and first-year students in danger of dropping out.

"North Carolina needs us to do more," Ralls said, "when we are struggling just to keep pace."

For example, Ralls said, adult students -- many with families -- are now feeling the pressure of rising food bills and skyrocketing gas prices. Some have lost jobs. "During a recessionary period, that's when people need us," Ralls said.

A key to helping people into better jobs will be to expand the college's health-care programs. That costs money in faculty salaries and sophisticated equipment. ...

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1073197.html jane.stancill@newsobserver.com or (919) 956-2464

Arthur D. Little: Delivering Sustainable Performance

Eric — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:39:36 EDT

June 05, 2008: Arthur D. Little: Delivering Sustainable Performance

A new report by Arthur D. Little warns many companies’ responses to the challenge of sustainability is only skin-deep

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new report by Arthur D. Little reveals companies’ responses to the challenge of sustainability lacks rigour. It takes a closer look at the reporting of sustainable performance in many companies and the corporate strategies supporting it. Corporate behaviour is superficially induced by demands of stakeholders and customers and to fulfil the basic requirements of legislative CSR {corporate social responsibility} reporting. Arthur D. Little’s latest report, “Sustainable Performance”, argues that by continuing to focus on traditional business objectives and paying little more than lip service to environmental issues, many companies risk losing out on the opportunities presented by sustainability – not least the opportunity to run a more competitive business and attract the attention of investors who increasingly recognise environmental performance as an indicator of long-term success.

Research by Arthur D. Little shows, for example, that even Nordic-listed companies, generally perceived as having an excellent record on the environment, have failed to grasp the real opportunities presented by sustainability or to develop the strategies and reporting mechanisms needed to realise them.

According to the report, legislation, regulation and consumer demand have failed to influence corporate behaviour other than superficially. Legislation and regulations have been too laxly formulated to have the desired effect. Only where they have a direct effect on businesses’ costs do they bring about change. Similarly, consumers, while having the potential to influence through purchasing behaviour, will not generally read CSR reports or follow the business activities of the companies they buy from. They are influenced, if at all, by media reports and remain, at present, a very weak force driving corporate sustainability. And, of course, companies do not have an adequate incentive to be good corporate citizens per se; their prime objective remains to satisfy the economic interests of shareholders.

“Our research has shown that there are clear signs that a powerful force that does have the ability to effect a rapid and deep-rooted change in corporate behaviour is emerging and the international investor community now recognises that those companies that are able to derive value from sustainability will outperform their peers financially in the long run,” reflects Annette Malmberg, a Senior Manager in Arthur D. Little's Energy, Utilities, Strategy and Organisation Practice. “As a result, the economic interests of shareholders and the drivers of sustainable performance are becoming increasingly aligned. Also, sustainable performance and effective carbon management allow companies to create economic value by enabling them to demonstrate superior management skills and become more competitive by offering environmentally superior products and services.”

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080605005440&newsLang=en

The Sustainable Performance report is now available for download at: http://www.adl.com/reports.html?&no_cache=1&view=233

Excerpts from wsj.com's Obama Has Something to Prove on Economy

Eric — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:52:26 EDT

June 3, 2008, 2:45 pmObama Has Something to Prove on Economy

Sen. Barack Obama has the support of heavyweights like Warren Buffett and former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker...

Obama

The Illinois senator Tuesday effectively clinched the Democratic nomination for president, according to an Associated Press tally of convention delegates. He becomes the first African-American to secure the nomination of a major political party. ...

The Democrats’ skepticism on trade reached a crescendo ahead of the Ohio primary in March, with both candidates pledging to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement and heighten scrutiny of any new trade deals. The Illinois senator wants labor and environmental provisions included in future deals — standards that could impede negotiations with developing countries. That played well with Ohioans stung by job losses, but provoked worries among business groups that an Obama White House, coupled with larger Democratic majorities in Congress, would advance anti-trade agenda.

“Trade should work not just for some Americans, but for all Americans, not just for Wall Street, but for Main Street,” Obama said in Pennsylvania in April....

Obama, however, shares the concerns of U.S. auto makers that a pending trade deal with South Korea fails to sufficiently open the country to U.S. cars.

While a number of trade skeptics were elected to Congress in 2006, inaction on anti-trade bills this year may make it easier for Obama to tone down his rhetoric on the issue. With exports up 15.5% this year and providing one of the economy’s only bright spots, lawmakers have been less vitriolic on trade in recent months.

A move to the center will be more difficult on taxes, another area where Obama has drawn brickbats from investors. The Illinois senator has indicated he supports a boost in the capital gains and dividends tax rates from the current level of 15% to between 20% and 25%. Obama also would lift the cap on income subject to the Social Security payroll tax above the current $102,000.

Those tax increases would help pay for a host of middle-class tax breaks, including a $500-per-person or $1,000-per-family “Making Work Pay” tax credit, and a $4,000 credit for college education. Obama also says he would eliminate income taxes entirely for seniors making less than $50,000 a year.

“Change is a tax code that rewards work instead of wealth by cutting taxes for middle-class families, and senior citizens, and struggling homeowners,” Obama said last month....

Obama has collected a number of endorsements from major players in the business world. In addition to Buffett and Volcker, former Securities and Exchange Commission chairmen William Donaldson, Arthur Levitt and David Ruder are backing the Democratic nominee....

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2008/06/03/obama-has-something-to-prove-on-economy/trackback/

AP: Barack Obama's words on jobs, health care fall on appreciative Michigan ears

Eric — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:31:59 EDT

Barack Obama's words on jobs, health care fall on appreciative Michigan ears by The Associated Press

Monday June 02, 2008, 6:22 PM

TROY -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama got an enthusiastic welcome Monday from Michigan voters who appreciated his talk about the need to do more to help workers worried about losing their jobs, health care benefits and pensions.

... He said Michigan was a great place to create alternative-fueled vehicles and more into the alternative energy field.

He also promised to do more for education.

"Troy High School is one of the best schools in the country," Obama said. "I want the kids in Detroit to get the same education."

... A recent statewide poll shows Obama slightly trailing Republican rival John McCain in Michigan.

http://www.mlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/06/barack_obamas_words_on_jobs_he.html

Excerpts re Economy from Rapid City Journal and the Missoulian

Eric — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:36:30 EDT

Five minutes with Obama: Mount Rushmore, guns and abortionBy Kevin Woster, Journal staff Sunday, June 01, 2008
...

On why South Dakotans should vote for him:

"People may not agree with me 100 percent of the time. But when you look at who's got the strongest agenda to rebuild the economy, provide universal health care, help family farmers and ranchers at a time when agribusiness is taking over, who's going to have a wise and humble foreign policy that does not lead us into unnecessary wars but goes after terrorists and those who would do us harm, my hope is that after when they consider all those issues, they will see me as a good choice."

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/06/01/news/local/doc4841e72f6884b078370768.txt

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

June 1st: Obama hits the home stretch in Great Falls
By CHARLES S. JOHNSON of the Missoulian State Bureau

...

“But when John McCain says he's looked at the George Bush economic record and said we've made great progress, I'm thinking he hasn't been talking to the 260,000 people who lost their jobs since the beginning of this year, he's not talking to folks who can't pay their bills at the end of the month because their health insurance premiums have gone up and up and up. He's not talking to folks trying to fill up a gas tank, just to get to a job.

“He's not talking to folks out in Indian Country on the reservations who haven't seen any economic development all during George Bush's tenure. So you haven't seen great progress. I haven't seen great progress. I don't know what John McCain's looking at, but we can't afford seven more years or eight more years of this great progress that he's talking about.”

To help the economically battered middle- and lower-income classes, Obama pledged a $1,000 tax break to help them pay for the escalating costs of gasoline, groceries and other necessities.

Obama decried the special interests that he said are writing public policy on health care, energy and other areas in the Bush White House.

“We've got to change how Washington works,” Obama said. “It starts by pushing back against the special interests that dominate Washington.”

To help Americans attend college, Obama called for a $4,000-a-year tuition credit for every year a student commits to work in national service.

The Great Falls crowd applauded when he called for ending the war in Iraq and stepping up the fight in Afghanistan to find Osama bin Laden and other terrorists. Malmstrom Air Force Base is located in Great Falls.

Afterward, 18-year-old Jordyn Rogers of Cascade said in an interview that Obama won her support with the tuition tax credit proposal. She said she went into the speech undecided.

“I thought it was really great,” she said, adding that the proposal would help her achieve her dream of working in the health care field after studying radiology.

...

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/01/news/local/znews01.txt

February 12, 2001: ORLANDO SENTINEL: Layoffs Hit Island Hard

Eric — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:52:31 EDT

Este informe no está disponible en español.

ORLANDO SENTINEL
Layoffs Hit Island Hard
Iván Román
San Juan Bureau
February 12, 2001

...

Hoping that equal treatment with the states would bring Puerto Rico closer to their ideal, some statehooders backed former President Clinton's push to phase out Section 936 of the Internal Revenue Code. The massive tax break, which critics called "corporate welfare," allowed U.S. companies to bring billions of dollars in profits back to the mainland tax-free, balancing out relatively high labor, energy and transportation costs on the island.

When the debate over the tax break reached its peak in 1993, some 650 companies used the benefit, accounting directly or indirectly for about a third of the island's 1 million-plus jobs. But officials in Washington thought it was costing the United States $3.5 billion a year. So, to help balance the budget, Section 936 was axed in August 1996.

Since then, as Section 936 is phased out, manufacturing, which represents 44 percent of the island's gross national product, has had a net loss of more than 17,000 jobs. Reversing her predecessor's philosophy, Gov. Sila Maria Calderon is making federal tax incentives, not political status, a top priority in her lobbying efforts.

"The employment situation in Puerto Rico requires urgent action," Calderon said at a table surrounded by the island's business, financial, tourism, manufacturing and retail leaders. "We always said eliminating Section 936 was a colossal mistake. We knew we wouldn't see the effects for a few years, and we're seeing it now."

...

http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2001/vol5n07/Layoffs-en.html

www.kauffman.org: National measure of business creation by specific demographic groups

Eric — Sun, 11 May 2008 04:58:50 EDT

The Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity is a leading indicator of new business creation in the United States.

{See report at http://www.kauffman.org/pdf/KIEA_041408.pdf }

Eric's Notes:

Nationally, Montana and Oregon were in the top third of the states with the highest entrepreneurial activity rates. West Virginia had the lowest entrepreneurial activity rate.

Entrepreneurial activity rates are highest among the least-educated and most- educated groups.

Pikeville Medical Center: Coal is King: Demand worldwide has prices skyrocketing

Eric — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:03:42 EDT

Home/PMC News/

Coal is King: Demand worldwide has prices skyrocketing

By: Joshua Ball - joshua.ball@pikevillehospital.org, Managing Editor
See more articles by Joshua Ball
Published: 05/09/2008

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. – With coal prices spiking – and the demand for coal surging in overseas markets – local coal companies are experiencing tremendous growth.

And coal — taken from the mountains of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia — is fueling economies worldwide.

The National Mining Association says the value of coal exports grew by 19 percent last year to $4.1 billion. That margin is expected to grow this year.

Employment ads line newspapers across the region. Companies in eastern Kentucky have formed a partnership agreement with Big Sandy Community and Technical College to form the Kentucky Coal Academy, a collaborative effort for workforce development that trains soon-to-be miners and works with local companies to place students in particular jobs. Asimilar program – the West Virginia Coal Academy – exists at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s Logan, W.Va. campus.

...

As the demand for coal — in the U.S. and across the globe — continues to rise, it could prove difficult to maintain the role as the world’s largest producer for coal.

...

A big part of meeting the demand for coal is employee retention.

Alpha Natural Resources, based in Abingdon, Va., recently announced a $13 million retention package at its 58 mining operations, including White Flame Energy in Varney. W.Va.

As the nation’s largest supplier and exporter of Metallurgical coal (a key ingredient in steel manufacturing) and with 89 percent of its reserves high BTU coal, the company hopes that the incentive package, which averages an increase of $3 per hour, will keep a competent and experienced workforce intact during the high demand for coal.

“Today, coal finds itself squarely in the middle of our nation’s discussion on energy independence,” Alpha Natural Resources President Kevin Crutchfield said. “It’s time we readied ourselves for an exciting future.”

According to the National Mining Association, a ton of coal that sold for $44.75 a year ago is now selling for $85.50. The rising price and demand globally has an experienced workforce, with the average age of 50, seeking to redefine itself.

...

Mike Whitt, the director of the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, said in an interview earlier this year that coal provides a stimulus to the economies of the entire region. It is predicted that nine jobs are created for every coal-related job.

“We can all remember when coal was king,” he said. “While our organization continues to work with the mining industry to develop post-mine sites, we understand that the foundation of our economy is coal.”

http://www.medicalleader.org/pmc_news.html?id=2645

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Plan for a Clean Energy Future

“Well, I don't believe that climate change is just an issue that's convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. That's why I've fought successfully in the Senate to increase our investment in renewable fuels. That's why I reached across the aisle to come up with a plan to raise our fuel standards… And I didn't just give a speech about it in front of some environmental audience in California. I went to Detroit, I stood in front of a group of automakers, and I told them that when I am president, there will be no more excuses — we will help them retool their factories, but they will have to make cars that use less oil.”
— Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, October 14, 2007

... Invest in a Clean Energy Future

Invest $150 Billion over 10 Years in Clean Energy: Obama will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial-scale renewable energy, invest in low-emissions coal plants, and begin the transition to a new digital electricity grid. A principal focus of this fund will be devoted to ensuring that technologies that are developed in the U.S. are rapidly commercialized in the U.S. and deployed around the globe.

...

Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology: Obama will significantly increase the resources devoted to the commercialization and deployment of low-carbon coal technologies. Obama will consider whatever policy tools are necessary, including standards that ban new traditional coal facilities, to ensure that we move quickly to commercialize and deploy low carbon coal technology.

...

FT.com: A hardened idealist: Obama’s toughest fight

Eric — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:04:18 EDT

A hardened idealist: Obama’s toughest fight

By Edward Luce

Published: May 8 2008

...

Less in dispute is the kind of general election campaign Mr Obama would run. It would largely follow the script Mr Obama has laid out repeatedly in the primary elections over the past 16 months – with an emphasis on “changing the way business is done in Washington” in order to bring about universal healthcare, withdraw US troops from Iraq, combat global warming and revive the US economy.

In hammering home his message Mr Obama is likely to be assisted by the fact that Mr McCain is a septuagenarian who has served continuously in Washington for 24 years. He will also be aided by Mr Bush’s rock-bottom approval ratings, the parlous state of the economy and the fact that Mr McCain has a self-admitted weak grasp of economics. “If you liked George W. Bush, you’re going to love John McCain,” suggests one Washington Democrat. “America is in peril. Let us turn the page and choose the future over the past, tomorrow over yesterday and change over the status quo.”

...

The Republican campaign turns populist even as it seeks gravitas

...

Yet when John McCain (left) made a week-long tour of economically challenged communities recently, it was one of his first stops.

“The men and women of Youngstown know what it feels like to be counted out,” he said. “You know how it feels to hear that good things are happening in the American economy – they’re just not happening to you.”

Mr McCain’s presence in Youngstown provided an important hint about the kind of campaign he plans to run – particularly if Barack Obama turns out to be his opponent.

McCain advisers have paid close attention to how Hillary Clinton has exploited Mr Obama’s weakness among blue-collar, culturally conservative white voters and intend to use a similar strategy against him in the general election. ...

This explains the markedly more populist tone of Mr McCain’s economic rhetoric in recent weeks as he seeks to adapt his pro-trade, low-tax agenda to the concerns of hard-pressed working families in swing states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Mr McCain was the first candidate to propose a suspension of the federal petrol tax this summer to provide motorists with relief from soaring pump prices. He has retreated from his initial opposition to a federal bail-out for struggling homeowners.

While the Arizona senator has increased his focus on the economy, his main appeal to swing voters is likely to be on matters of character, leadership and values.

...

Despite his potential advantages, the electoral landscape remains daunting for the Republican candidate. The NBC poll showed that just 27 per cent of people have a favourable view of the party and almost three-quarters believe the country is on the wrong track. As a supporter of free trade and the war in Iraq, moreover, Mr McCain finds himself on the opposite side to most voters in two of the biggest campaign issues.

...

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c935d6e8-1d2c-11dd-82ae-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1

The Impact of the Jacobs School of Music on the State of Indiana

Eric — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:54:45 EDT

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music helps foster Indiana's economic and cultural well-being. According to a study, the Jacobs School accounts for $120 million a year in economic activity in Indiana, supporting about 900 jobs and generating $4.7 million in state and local taxes.

But the school's impact goes far beyond dollars and cents, says the study, which quantifies the ways in which the Jacobs School and its faculty, students and alumni play an essential role in the vibrancy of the state's cultural life.

"This study confirms what we at Indiana University have always known intuitively: the Jacobs School of Music is a state treasure in every sense," said IU President Michael A. McRobbie. "The Jacobs School not only attracts top student musicians from around the world to Indiana, it provides Hoosiers across the state with easy and affordable access to musical productions of a caliber and quality normally heard only in the cultural capitals of the world."

The study, titled The Impact of the Jacobs School of Music on the State of Indiana, also includes an analysis of the importance of the school in making Indiana attractive to the "creative class" that drives the 21st century knowledge economy.

Gwyn Richards, dean of the Jacobs School, said it shows the extent to which the school has fulfilled the dream of longtime IU leader Herman B Wells of bringing the best of the world's learning and culture to the people of Indiana.

"I think he would be very proud that these cultural institutions have resonated beyond even what he could have imagined," Richards said.

Sally Gaskill, an arts administrator now working at the IU Center for Postsecondary Research, managed the study which can be seen on the Web at http://www.music.indiana.edu/indianaimpact/

The Indiana Business Research Center at the IU Kelley School of Business conducted the economic analysis, employing the widely-used IMPLAN analysis tool developed by the University of Minnesota.

The IBRC analysis finds the annual impact of the Jacobs School includes $70 million in direct effects, $20 million in indirect effects and $30 million in induced effects. In terms of employment, that spending translates to direct effects of 430 jobs, indirect effects of 180 jobs and induced effects of 290 jobs. (Direct effects are those directly attributable to the school purchases, the household purchases of employees and student spending; indirect effects result from industries doing business with the school; induced effects are changes in economic activity resulting from direct and indirect effects. The 900 jobs include full-time and part-time employment.)

...

Michael Rushton, director of the arts administration program in the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs and co-editor of the Journal of Cultural Economics, contributes an analysis of the school's impact from a cultural economics perspective.

...

Citing Richard Florida's book The Rise of the Creative Class and other research, Rushton says the Jacobs School enhances Indiana's economic prospects by helping the state attract and retain smart, creative and entrepreneurial individuals.

His own research, Rushton says, finds a strong correlation between the presence of artists and musicians living in a city, the overall level of education and the likelihood of rapid income growth. "This provides some evidence of a 'virtuous circle:' landing a talented population helps attract an even greater number of talented people," he writes.

...

Source: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music

www.nytimes.com: For Indiana Voters, Talk of Change May Fall Flat

Eric — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:05:21 EDT

For Indiana Voters, Talk of Change May Fall Flat Yana Paskova for The New York Times

Kokomo, Ind., a manufacturing city of 46,000, is under a rare political spotlight as the state prepares for the May 6 primary.

By MONICA DAVEY

Published: April 24, 2008

KOKOMO, Ind. — With all the talk among the Democratic presidential hopefuls about change, they may wish to consider this as they wander Indiana: People here practically revolted a few years ago when their governor, Mitch Daniels, pushed to change to daylight saving time like most of the country.

...

Change, it seems, may not carry quite the same political magic in this state as it has elsewhere.

“We hold onto a lot of traditional values,” said Brian L. Thomas, 39, as he bought a cup of coffee along the courthouse square here on Wednesday. “Saying you’re ready to change is probably not the best or only thing you would want to say around these parts. Frankly, we want it to be like it used to be.”

Many of the two dozen voters interviewed in this central Indiana manufacturing city of 46,000 expressed queasiness over the notions of change that both Democratic candidates have proudly pledged elsewhere. Though residents bemoaned economic conditions that have taken away thousands of factory jobs and given the state the 11th-highest rate of foreclosures, they also said they worried about doing things — anything — very differently.

“What are we going to change to?” asked Ron O’Bryan, 58, a retired auto worker who said he was still trying to decide which Democrat to vote for in the May 6 primary. “You mean change to some other country’s system? What do you think they mean?”

Jeremy Lewis, a 28-year-old window washer, said simply, “Old-fashioned can be in a good way.”

As the Democratic presidential hopefuls turned to Indiana as a new battleground in the fight for the nomination, they find themselves facing a different audience in places like Kokomo, a blue-collar city in the middle of endless expanses of farms north of Indianapolis. In some ways, these are voters not so unlike those in other Rust Belt states, like Pennsylvania, but with an added dose of nostalgia and a practical, Midwestern sensibility.

“We are manufacturing workers, farmers, beer drinkers, gun owners, pickup drivers,” said Karen Lasley, 64, who was volunteering on Wednesday morning in Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s field office in Kokomo (one of 28 Mrs. Clinton has opened around the state along with Senator Barack Obama’s 22, including one just down the street). “We are full of pride for this country.”

Politically, though, ...

...

Even Greg Goodnight, the new mayor of Kokomo, ...

Mr. Goodnight and others here say the race is certain to hinge on the economy. Indiana has lost about one in six of its manufacturing jobs since 2001, and Kokomo has similarly struggled. One plant here employed 300 people not long ago, Mr. Goodnight said; today, 20 workers tend to a warehouse of products imported from other countries.

“Indiana and Kokomo are a good reflection of the rest of the country,” said Mr. Goodnight, a Democrat who once worked in a factory and whose office bookshelf includes a biography of Harry S. Truman; “Dude, Where’s My Country?” by Michael Moore; and the Bible. “Places like Kokomo cannot handle even four more years of these economic policies.”

Everyone in this town — everyone of a certain age, at least — seems to remember exactly where they were the last time a presidential primary election in this state counted for anything. Some recall skipping class or slipping out of work. The year was 1968, and the eventual winner, Robert F. Kennedy, came right through Kokomo and spoke on the courthouse square.

Amanda Cox contributed reporting from New York, and Kitty Bennett from Washington.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/us/politics/24indiana.html?hp

Center for College Affordability and Productivity: North Carolina's Higher Education System

Eric — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:47:55 EDT

New Study Questions North Carolina's Higher Education System

The Center for College Affordability and Productivity releases a new study which questions several financial aspects of North Carolina's higher education system. The study found that, despite spending millions of dollars in taxpayer money, few high school students in the state actually graduate for college and those that do face higher student loan debt than before. The report makes several recommendations and suggestions on ways to make the state's higher education system more affordable, efficient, and accountable.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 20, 2008 -- The Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP), a higher education think tank based in Washington, DC, has released a new study comprehensively examining North Carolina's higher education system, concluding that the Tar Heel state might not be getting much for its money in higher education and that the money itself is not being spent wisely.

The report, "North Carolina's Higher Education System: Success or Failure?" draws upon data from the Department of Education, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and other education sources to assess North Carolina's colleges and universities. While North Carolina spends over $7,000 per student for higher education, far above the national average, the report's findings strongly suggest that the state is still lagging on many key higher education indicators. For example:

Many schools are spending paltry amounts of money on what should be their highest priority: student instruction. While support services and academic research are important, they should not replace the core function of a college or university. Unfortunately, it seems that North Carolina's schools have forgotten about actually teaching students

Despite spending 6.7 percent of the state budget on higher education, only 18.6 percent of high school freshmen eventually earn a college degree.

As of 2006, only 25.6 percent of the state's population had obtained a bachelor's degree--below the national average of 27.2 percent and the rates of nearby states such as Virginia (32.1 percent) and Georgia (28.1 percent).

Even after accounting for increased financial aid, between 2000 and 2004 the average annual financial burden for students has increased by $760 at four-year public schools and by $1,364 at four-year private schools.

Most of the increased funding is not going to the core purpose of college: student instruction. Many schools only spend 20 to 40 percent of their revenue on instruction. Only a few community colleges spend 50 percent on this important function.

The study's authors Dr. Richard Vedder, CCAP Director, and Andrew Gillen, CCAP Director of Research, said that the report raises serious questions about North Carolina's higher education system.

"The objective data raises many important questions. Where exactly is all of the money going? It's clear that the majority of students are not graduating college. The students that do graduate are doing so with even greater debt loads, despite increased subsidies from the state," Vedder and Gillen said.

The researchers also lambasted North Carolina colleges for straying from their core mission of student instruction.

"Many schools are spending paltry amounts of money on what should be their highest priority: student instruction. While support services and academic research are important, they should not replace the core function of a college or university. Unfortunately, it seems that North Carolina's schools have forgotten about actually teaching students," Vedder and Gillen added.

The authors strongly suggest that North Carolina's higher education leaders, government officials, and business community should join together and examine ways to improve the state higher education system.

"Instead of just lavishing more taxpayer subsidies on North Carolina's universities, we should take a step back and analyze what has gone wrong. We need to concentrate on fundamental reforms that will make North Carolina's colleges and universities more affordable, accountable, and efficient. Simply forking over more taxpayer dollars will not magically solve any of the problems we outline in this report," Vedder and Gillen added.

The report can be downloaded from the CCAP website at: www.collegeaffordability.net. A printed version of the report can be obtained by calling CCAP offices at 202-375-7831.

Dr. Vedder and Mr. Gillen are also available for media interviews about this report and its findings. To schedule an interview, please contact CCAP at 202-375-7831.

Widener Releases Elder Pennsylvanian Survey

Eric — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:48:13 EDT

Widener Releases Elder Pennsylvanian Survey

According to data from the 2000 US Census Pennsylvania's population ranks among the second oldest in the United States behind Florida. Widener University, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, recently released "The Widener Elder Pennsylvanian Survey," aimed at investigating the outlook of this demographic. The survey talked to baby boomers and centenarians about their attitudes toward their futures, work, wealth, and health issues. Overall, Pennsylvanians are very worried about health care expenses destroying their retirement nest eggs. In fact, 67 percent of respondents fear they will spend all of their savings on health care. Other key findings indicate Pennsylvania boomers are concerned about the following:

• Greater anxiety over medical benefits than their elders faced.
• Living longer and retiring later, also expecting more flexibility in the workplace.
• Emotional and financial dimensions that factor into the decision to retire.
• Increased personal responsibility in planning their retirement outcomes.

...

http://www.widener.edu/admissions/news/news_story.asp?iNewsID=461&strBack=%2FDefault.asp

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Eric's Note

Obama '08; Economy http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/ : Work/Family Balance:

Expand Flexible Work Arrangements: Obama will create a program to inform businesses about the benefits of flexible work schedules; help businesses create flexible work opportunities; and increase federal incentives for telecommuting. Obama will also make the federal government a model employer in terms of adopting flexible work schedules and permitting employees to request flexible arrangements.

www.brookings.edu:An Economic Plan for the Commonwealth: Unleashing the Assets of Metropolitan Pennsylvania

Eric — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:39:45 EDT

An Economic Plan for the Commonwealth: Unleashing the Assets of Metropolitan Pennsylvania

Bruce Katz, Vice President and Director, Metropolitan Policy Program
Amy Liu, Deputy Director, Metropolitan Policy Program

The Brookings Institution

March 31, 2008 — In Pennsylvania, the next major presidential primary state, concerns about the economy loom large as global competition, economic restructuring, and an aging workforce threaten the state’s ability to prosper. A true economic agenda for the state must speak to the core assets of Pennsylvania’s economy and where these assets are located: the state’s many small and large metropolitan areas. In short, this brief finds that:

To help Pennsylvania prosper, federal leaders must leverage four key assets that matter today—innovation, human capital, infrastructure, and quality places. These assets help increase the productivity of firms and workers, boost the incomes of families and workers, and can help the state and nation grow in more fiscally and environmentally responsible ways.
These four assets are highly concentrated in the state’s economic engines, its metropolitan areas. There are 16 metro areas in the Commonwealth, ranging from Philadelphia, the most populous, to Williamsport, the smallest. The top six metropolitan areas alone generate the bulk of the state’s innovation (80 percent of all patenting), contain the majority of the state’s educated workforce (77 percent of all adults with a bachelors degree), and serve as the state’s transport hubs. Thanks to these assets, the six metro areas generate 80 percent of the state’s economic output even though they house 68 percent of its population.
Despite these assets, Pennsylvania’s metro areas have yet to achieve their full economic potential. For instance, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh enjoy strengths in innovation, but they both struggle to convert their research investments into commercial products and real jobs. The Scranton metro area is emerging as a satellite of the New York City region, but it’s hampered by the absence of frequent and reliable transportation connections and inadequate broadband coverage.
Federal leaders must advance an economic agenda that empowers states and metro areas to leverage their assets and help the nation prosper. To that end, they should establish a single federal entity that works with industry, states, and metro areas to ensure that innovation results in jobs and helps businesses small and large modernize. The federal government should strengthen access and success through the entire education pipeline. They should overhaul and create a 21st century transportation system. And they should use housing policy to support quality, mixed-income communities rather than perpetuating distressed neighborhoods with few school and job options.

http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2008/0331_pennsylvania_katz_liu.aspx

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Eric's Note:

Obama, as President, and his team would appear to be best suited to working with Governor Rendell and his team in unleashing the assets of Metropolitan Pennsylvania

www.keystoneresearch.org: Income Inequality Grew in Pennsylvania and Most States over Past Two Decades

Eric — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:00:52 EDT

Wednesday, April 9th

Income Inequality Grew in Pennsylvania and Most States over Past Two Decades

Middle- and Low-Income Families Have Made Few Gains since the Late 1990s, and Things Could Get Worse, Economist Says

Senators Clinton, Obama, and McCain need to show that they recognize the problem of growing economic inequality. They also need to offer solutions powerful enough to reverse current trends and to create a 21st century economy in which a rising tide once again lifts all boats.

The scale of the inequality problem in America is approaching that of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Are these candidates offering solutions on the scale of the New Deal?

Stephen Herzenberg
KRC executive director

The income gap between the richest and poorest families, and between rich and middle-income families, grew significantly in most states, including Pennsylvania, over the past two decades, according to a study released today by the Keystone Research Center in Harrisburg and KRC’s national partners, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute.

Since the late 1990s, the report shows, the average income of the poorest fifth of Pennsylvania families decreased by $1,281, from $20,241 to $18,960. Over the same period, the average incomes of the middle fifth and the richest fifth of families were unchanged. The only income group to experience substantial income gains since the late 1990s was the richest 5% of families, who saw their incomes increase by $25,674, from 190,541 to $216,216.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Eric's note:

See Senator's Obama's Plan for the Economy http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/

http://freightteamsters.blogspot.com: Jobs, Economy and Trade Focus of Teamsters' Convoy For Change

Eric — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:07:04 EDT

Tuesday, April 08, 2008 Jobs, Economy and Trade Focus of Teamsters' Convoy For Change

Hoffa Meets With Workers in Eastern Pennsylvania

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa kicked off the union's three-day "Working Class Convoy For Change" by meeting with workers in Eastern Pennsylvania to discuss how to keep good jobs in the state and why the Teamsters are against free trade agreements that hurt the U.S. economy.

Hoffa also spoke on other issues affecting America's working families, including how the policies of Sen. Barack Obama could greatly benefit workers. The Teamsters have endorsed Obama, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president.

Hoffa said he was greatly concerned that just last month, nearly 3,000 people lost their jobs in Pennsylvania, more than any other state, according to the Economic Policy Institute. And since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect, companies in Pennsylvania had shut down 1,583 plants, offices and warehouses.

...

Workers spoke to Hoffa about their top priorities for this election.

"My number one issue is the economy and the war -- we need to bring those boys back home," said Grace Fadarishan, who has worked at Ocean Logistics for 31 years and has been a Teamster since 1976. "But we need jobs too. We need jobs in America. They should not be shipped overseas."

UPS driver Michael Kovaleski in Scranton said his top issues this election are security.

"My security, my family's security. Financial security, job security, physical security," Kovaleski said. "I have two young boys and the most important thing is their futures and the way things are going -- the economy, what's going on in the world -- we need a change."

Posted by 1Teamster at 11:45 PM

Pennsylvania: The Economy

Eric — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:43:03 EDT

David Ignatius: Pennsylvania can roll with changes

Presidential candidates' pessimism is a mistake in this former Rust Belt state that is now a hotbed of new industries

By David Ignatius
Washington Post Writers Group
Saturday, March 29, 2008

ALLENTOWN, Pa. --

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/mar/29/david-ignatius-pennsylvania-can-roll-with/

Contact David Ignatius at davidignatius@washpost.com.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Of fair efforts & tall tales

By Colin McNickle
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, March 30, 2008

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/mcnickle/s_559661.html

Colin McNickle is the Trib's director of editorial pages. Ring him at 412-320-7836. E-mail him at: cmcnickle@tribweb.com.

www.philly.com/inquirer: Philadelphia gets poor marks on being 'green'

Eric — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:16:51 EDT

Philadelphia gets poor marks on being 'green'

By Sandy Bauers

Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted on Wed, Mar. 12, 2008

Philadelphia does a poor job when it comes to green building, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council said yesterday in a report that outlines steps for improvement.

The advocacy group identified numerous barriers to green construction in the city, the greatest being a "lack of political will and strong leadership at the top levels of city government."

Among other impediments were an outdated zoning code and what Sandy Wiggins, author of the 21-page report, called a "not-my-job mentality" among employees of the city, which he said has no department "that is a champion of the environment."

The report, based on a year of research, suggested dozens of solutions, from establishing a cabinet-level sustainability position to requiring that all municipal buildings go green to their very rooftops - roofs constructed as mini-gardens that insulate the building below rather than made of traditional materials.

It also recommended a "green concierge" service to walk projects through city departmental approvals, and a revision of parking requirements to encourage "car-reduction strategies."

"We're at a great moment of change," said Patrick Starr, regional vice president of the PEC, a nonprofit that has advocated greening the region's buildings and landscapes. Starr introduced the report on the 24th floor of the Cira Centre, where SCA Americas has built one of the city's greenest office spaces, awash in daylight.

A receptive Mayor Nutter promised to study the report on the drive back to City Hall in his hybrid car.

"You have our collective commitment that we will follow the strategies and techniques you have laid out here," he said.

Nutter also renewed his pledge to create an office of sustainability. "It is a commitment that will be kept."

The PEC and a range of other organizations and businesses began researching how to make development in the city greener after realizing that Philadelphia fell far behind some other urban areas in a 2006 ranking by SustainLane, an independent company that issued a sustainability report card on the nation's 50 largest cities.

As of January, Washington led the nation with 172 projects certified by a U.S. Green Building Council rating system known as LEED, for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Even Grand Rapids, Mich., with 63 projects, topped Philadelphia's 42.

"It's a cute little city. I love it," Starr said of Grand Rapids. "But when they're beating us on this, that really irks me."

The new report noted that buildings offer great potential for change. Nearly half the greenhouse-gas emissions that contribute to global warming come from constructing and operating buildings, the report said, and they account for 76 percent of all energy consumption in the United States.

The report detailed financial incentives to building green, maintaining that such strategies have, on average, a 20-to-1 return on investment. ...

...

Contact staff writer Sandy Bauers at 215-854-5147 or sbauers@phillynews.com.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/daily/20080312_Philadelphia_gets_poor_marks_on_being_green.html

Impacts on 2.4 Million PA Households: Nearly $1 in $4 of Income Goes to Buy Energy

Eric — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:53:53 EDT

Nearly $1 in $4 of Income Goes to Buy Energy

New Study Reveals Impacts on 2.4 Million PA Households

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- It is not just the poorest
households who are struggling to pay their energy bills or who are affected
by government energy policies, says Americans for Balanced Energy Choices
(ABEC).

A new study(1) reveals individuals and families making less than
$50,000 per year will pay 22 percent of their after-tax income for energy,
double the burden of just a decade ago. That means 2.4 million households
in Pennsylvania are using nearly $1 of every $4 in net earnings for energy,
with energy costs now approaching the proportion for housing.

Poorest families suffer the most, using more than half (54 percent) of
their after-tax income for transportation and personal energy, such as home
heating and lighting. It is only when families earn more than $50,000 a
year that energy purchases become a manageable part of the family budget,
dropping to just 9 percent of after-tax income.

Energy prices have increased almost 19 percent in the past year.(2) To
compound the household budget problem, food prices have gone up more in the
past year than they have in nearly 20 years, including an 18 percent
increase in milk prices and a more than 30 percent hike in egg prices. (2)

"Part of the inflation in food costs is being attributed to
encouragement of ethanol as an alternative fuel, which may be helping drive
up prices for animal feed and some foods consumed by people," notes Joe
Lucas, ABEC executive director. "This is an example of how energy policy
can affect other parts of our economy and the family budget."

"That's why ABEC is fighting to keep coal a part of the mix of our
energy resources. It is much more affordable as a source of electricity
compared to natural gas or oil, which can cost much more to produce each
kilowatt hour of electrical power."

Since 2001 the increases in the costs of fuels for electricity are:
-- 201 percent for oil
-- 80 percent for natural gas
-- 48 percent for coal

In Pennsylvania, more than half of the electricity (56 percent) is coal
generated, compared to the national average of 50 percent, helping keep the
state's average price of electricity per kilowatt hour at less than the
national average.

For consumers, the increases in the costs of their energy sources since
2001 have been:

-- 166 percent for heating oil
-- 123 percent for gasoline
-- 44 percent for natural gas
-- 27 percent for electricity

"As we work for energy independence and environmental improvements, we
should remember that electricity, produced mainly from domestic coal --
including coal from Pennsylvania -- has offered the most stable price over
the past decade," Lucas noted.

"One can only imagine what would happen to electricity prices and the
total energy cost burden if ill-considered public policy drives unnecessary
inflation in the cost of coal."

ABEC is crossing the nation, taking its message to urban, rural and
suburban areas, that coal needs to remain one of our energy fuels to keep
energy as affordable as possible for homes and businesses.

ABEC supports cleaner and more efficient coal technologies, with Lucas
pointing out that the industry has reduced emissions by a third even though
coal use has doubled during the past 30 years.

Americans for Balanced Energy Choices is a non-profit, non-partisan
group that promotes a dialogue with community leaders across the nation to
discuss balancing America's growing demand for electricity with the need to
protect the environment. ABEC counts more than 150,000 members nationwide,
with 9,000 living in Pennsylvania. Because of its prominence in the
nation's energy mix, electricity from coal is a major focus of the
dialogue. The Web site is http://www.americaspower.org.

(1) $100 Oil Crushes American Family Budgets, March 2008 To see a full

copy of the report, go to http://www.americaspower.org.

(2) United States Department of Agriculture, Consumer Price Index

SOURCE Americans for Balanced Energy Choices

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link to this page:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-24-2008/0004778994&EDATE=

Four Dems, seeking party's nod for state treasurer, focus on economic opportunity

Eric — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:32:18 EDT

Four Dems seek party's nod for state treasurer
Sunday, March 23, 2008; Posted: 04:23 AM

Mar 22, 2008 (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- NO MATCHES FOUND. | news | PowerRating | PR Charts -- Four Democrats from central and eastern Pennsylvania are vying for their party's nomination for state treasurer, the only contested row office race in the April 22 primary

Squaring off are John F. Cordisco of Bucks County; Dennis Morrison-Wesley of Harrisburg; Robert McCord of Montgomery County; and Jennifer Mann, a state representative from Allentown.

The winner will face Republican Tom Ellis, a bond lawyer and former Montgomery County commissioner who is running unopposed next month.

The treasurer is responsible for investing the tax revenues, paying bills and ensuring checks are issued to state employees. The department has a budget of nearly $60 million a year and a staff of about 520 people. The treasurer's salary is $141,560.

Treasurer Robin L. Wiessmann was appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell to complete the term of Robert P. Casey Jr., who resigned after winning election to the U.S. Senate. At the time of her appointment, Wiessmann agreed not to seek a four-year term.

Cordisco, 53, said one of his goals would be "to change the way government does business" by increasing transparency in the office.

"We need to make public all data concerning Pennsylvania private equity and venture capital investments," said the lawyer and former legislator, who would post investment information on an Internet site.

He also hopes to help create jobs through stock purchases of Pennsylvania companies. Solid performing investments provide money for economic development.

Morrison-Wesley, 58, believes he is qualified for the post because of his background as a financial adviser.

"The office of state treasurer ... has never had a candidate with a financial background," said Morrison-Wesley, an investment adviser. "It's time for an expert in investments to take over. As treasurer, it will be my responsibility to have good returns on state investments, not just stock returns.

"Now is the time to take the power of the state purse and use it to revitalize the economies of our cities and our farm areas," said Morrison-Wesley, who worked 10 years as an accountant, three years with the IRS and four years with major brokerage firms.

Mann, 38, who has been a state representative for the past 10 years, said her decision to run was driven by the fact that "far too often, only wealthy bankers and political insiders profit from the office.

"I will invest in companies that offer health care coverage to their employees, promote public education and create jobs so that all Pennsylvanians can benefit from this office," she said.

Mann touts accomplishments in the Legislature that include expansion of the senior citizen prescription drug program, health insurance programs for children and greater support for education and job creation initiatives.

McCord, 49, promised to "use his energy and experience to help create jobs, grow the state economy and stop wasteful spending in Harrisburg."

McCord said as a businessman -- "not a politician" -- he has managed more than a billion dollars in assets and raised money for start-up companies that have created more than 2,000 jobs statewide. He spent a decade in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in budget and regulatory issues while working for a number of lawmakers, including Al Gore.

.....

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1235299/

www.HispanicTips.com: Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Give Keynote Address at 2008 U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Awards Dinner

Eric — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:52:41 EST

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) today announced that the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi will deliver the keynote address at the 2008 USHCC Legislative Conference Awards Dinner. Themed “Hispanic Business: Shaping Tomorrow’s Policy,” the Legislative Conference is the nation’s leading legislative forum for the Hispanic business community and will take place in Washington DC, March 11 – 13.

“It is an honor to join the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at their annual Legislative Awards Dinner. The USHCC is a valued partner working with Hispanic businesses across the country, and a powerful advocate for Hispanic families. Democrats in Congress have worked with USHCC to pass landmark legislation that give Hispanic businesses the tools and capital they need to succeed,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Legislative Awards Dinner will draw Hispanic entrepreneurs and Chamber leaders from across the nation, as well as key representatives from Corporate America and top-level members of Congress and the Administration. Along with Speaker Pelosi’s address, the event will also feature the 2008 USHCC Awards presented to a distinguished group of elected officials who have championed and advanced Hispanic entrepreneurship.

“We could not be more honored to have Speaker Pelosi as our keynote speaker,” said David C. Lizárraga, USHCC Board Chairman. “We are privileged to have such an exemplary national leader stand shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the entire Hispanic business community. Speaker Pelosi continues to lead our country toward realizing the American Dream of homeownership and entrepreneurship by passing laws that provide access to capital for all Americans. Her continued work with the USHCC has proven that, under her leadership, the growing Hispanic business community will continue to advance and contribute to the prosperity of our nation.”

As the keynote speaker for this year’s USHCC Legislative Conference Awards Dinner, Speaker Pelosi joins an illustrious group of past keynoters including Sen. Mel Martinez, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, and United States Surgeon General Richard Carmona. .

Speaker Pelosi made U.S. history by becoming the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives. As the highest-ranking elected woman in American history, she is second only to the Vice President in the line of presidential succession.

The Legislative Conference brings together the nation’s top business owners, Chamber representatives, opinion leaders and key governmental and administration officials for a three-day forum to address the most pressing legislative concerns of the nation’s largest and fastest growing business segment—Hispanic entrepreneurs. Expanding hemispheric relations and trade, telecommunications, energy efficiency, and federal procurement opportunities are among the key issues that will receive top billing at this year’s Legislative Conference.

For a complete list of major events at the 2008 USHCC Legislative Conference, or for more news on the lineup of speakers and dignitaries, special events and registration information, visit http://www.ushcc.com, the interactive source for all Legislative Conference information.

...

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of more than 2.5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate more than $388 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia and Uruguay.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Keeping America’s Promise
Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
Janesville General Motors Assembly Plant

February 13th, 2008

...

So today, I’m laying out a comprehensive agenda to reclaim our dream and restore our prosperity. It’s an agenda that focuses on three broad economic challenges that the next President must address – the current housing crisis; the cost crisis facing the middle-class and those struggling to join it; and the need to create millions of good jobs right here in America– jobs that can’t be outsourced and won’t disappear.

...

For our economy, our safety, and our workers, we have to rebuild America. I’m proposing a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that will invest $60 billion over ten years. This investment will multiply into almost half a trillion dollars of additional infrastructure spending and generate nearly two million new jobs – many of them in the construction industry that’s been hard hit by this housing crisis. The repairs will be determined not by politics, but by what will maximize our safety and homeland security; what will keep our environment clean and our economy strong. And we’ll fund this bank by ending this war in Iraq. It’s time to stop spending billions of dollars a week trying to put Iraq back together and start spending the money on putting America back together instead.

It’s also time to look to the future and figure out how to make trade work for American workers. I won’t stand here and tell you that we can – or should – stop free trade. We can’t stop every job from going overseas. But I also won’t stand here and accept an America where we do nothing to help American workers who have lost jobs and opportunities because of these trade agreements. And that’s a position of mine that doesn’t change based on who I’m talking to or the election I’m running in.

You know, in the years after her husband signed NAFTA, Senator Clinton would go around talking about how great it was and how many benefits it would bring. Now that she’s running for President, she says we need a time-out on trade. No one knows when this time-out will end. Maybe after the election.

I don’t know about a time-out, but I do know this – when I am President, I will not sign another trade agreement unless it has protections for our environment and protections for American workers. And I’ll pass the Patriot Employer Act that I’ve been fighting for ever since I ran for the Senate – we will end the tax breaks for companies who ship our jobs overseas, and we will give those breaks to companies who create good jobs with decent wages right here in America.

I believe that we can create millions of those jobs around a clean, renewable energy future....

...

In the end, this economic agenda won’t just require new money. It will require a new spirit of cooperation and innovation on behalf of the American people. We will have to learn more, and study more, and work harder. We’ll be called upon to take part in shared sacrifice and shared prosperity. And we’ll have to remind ourselves that we rise and fall as one nation; that a country in which only a few prosper is antithetical to our ideals and our democracy; and that those of us who have benefited greatly from the blessings of this country have a solemn obligation to open the doors of opportunity, not just for our children, but to all of America’s children.

...

http://www.cecsearch.com: Getting Financing for Your Business

Eric — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:19:27 EST

Getting Financing for Your Business

February 13th, 2008 by Chief Executive Restaurant Recruiter

Article Title: Getting Financing for Your Business
Author Byline: Liz Handlin
Author Website: http://ultimate-resumes.blogspot.com

Earlier this week I attended a breakfast seminar hosted by Leadership Austin called “Planting Seeds, Growing Strong Entrepreneurs” which featured Laura Kilcrease, Managing Director of Triton Ventures, and Andrew Martinez, President of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Thom Singer moderated the program. The program was lively and informative and one of the gems I picked up has to do with obtaining capital as an entrepreneur.

Many of my clients have been or will be entrepreneurs at one time or another and access to capital is an issue that entrepreneurs think about constantly.

Laura Kilcrease is a founder of Austin Technology Council, the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas, and she is the Managing Director of Triton Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in spinout and startup technology companies whose products give them a defensible position in large and growing markets. So, Laura certainly qualifies as an expert in financing for entrepreneurial ventures. One comment that she made at the seminar really stuck with me. Ms. Kilcrease said that there are stages to getting financing and that those stages are a chain. From an economic perspective, if any of the links in the chain fall apart (run out of capital, make bad loans), it becomes more difficult for business owners to get financing.

If you are an entrepreneur who needs capital to get started, following are the steps in the investment capital chain that you should expect to work your way through on your way to building your business.

FFF (Family, Friends, and Fools)
This is the first stage of financing in which an entrepreneur obtains relatively small amounts of money from friends, family, and “fools” (I think that term is meant humorously) to start a business. The FFF stage is high risk because you, the entrepreneur, probably have little or no experience in building a business so your investors may have very well thrown away their investment capital.Tip: Be aware of SEC regulations that govern investments.

If all goes well after the FFF stage of financing, you will have paid back your investors and the business will be growing. However, your business may not be stable enough, large enough, or have been in business long enough to qualify for a low interest bank loan. So, what’s an entrepreneur to do? Look for Angel Investors.

Angel Investor
An Angel Investor is an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for shares of stock in the company or ownership equity. Some angel investors organize themselves into angel networks or angel groups to share research and pool their investment capital. Angel Investors, like FFF’s, are taking a risk by investing in an entrepreneur so the terms of the deal may be very high interest or may result in the Angel owning a large part of the business.

A company that is still growing after wisely using the Angel capital may need even more money to take the business to the next step. Maybe your company needs to invest in new technologies or a new building which costs more than Angel investors are willing to contribute. But, the company may still not qualify for bank loans. What now? Polish up your business plan and call on a Venture Capital Firm.

Venture Capital (VC)
Venture capital is a type of private equity capital typically provided by professional outside investors to new, growth businesses. Funding is generally made as cash in exchange for shares in the invested company. A venture capital fund is a pooled investment vehicle that primarily invests the financial capital of third-party investors in enterprises that are too risky for the standard capital markets or bank loans. Venture capital can also include managerial and technical expertise. Most venture capital comes from a group of wealthy investors, investment banks and other financial institutions that pool such investments or partnerships. This form of raising capital is popular among new companies, or ventures, with limited operating history, who cannot obtain a bank loan.

The downside for entrepreneurs is that venture capitalists usually get a say in company decisions, in addition to owning a portion of the equity. Venture Capitalists are a little like loan sharks in that they are making high risk loans so they expect a hefty ROI and they expect to get continuous feedback about the business. They may even insert their own hand-picked executives into your company to keep an eye on their investment. Further, if you don’t perform the way your investors expect, you could lose your entire business to the VC firm.

If you have gotten this far your business is probably large and profitable thanks to the combined efforts of you, your financiers, and the management team that you and the VC firm put in place. At this stage your VC investors will want to get their money + profit back so you either need to buy them out or, if you want to continue to grow the business either for sale or IPO, there are a couple more steps to go. The business probably qualifies for bank financing so if the company needs an infusion of cash a bank is a good way to go because they will charge much less interest than a VC firm will.

Debt Financing (Loan from a Bank)
At this point, bankers may be courting you for your business. If not, bring your business plan to a reputable commercial banker and get a loan to take your business to the next level of growth and profitability.

Ready to get rich? An IPO is the way to go. Contact an investment bank about taking your company public. You may want to stick around as part of the management team and continue to run your company. In fact, the bank may insist on that. On the other hand, some CEOs take their companies public and then retire to enjoy the good life.

Initial Public Offering (IPO)
An IPO, also referred to simply as a "public offering," is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. IPOs are often issued by smaller, younger companies seeking capital to expand, but can also be done by large privately-owned companies looking to become publicly traded. In an IPO, the issuer may obtain the assistance of an investment bank, which helps it determine what type of security to issue (common or preferred), best offering price and time to bring it to market.

So there you have it, the steps to getting financing as you grow your business. Not all steps apply to every business. If you want to own your own small or home-based business and you don’t plan to grow the enterprise beyond a certain point then you probably won’t need to move all the way through the financing chain.

But if you are thinking if founding the next Microsoft or Apple you need to know who to approach about investing money in your venture and you need to know what they will expect you to have accomplished before you make the request. Good luck!

Tip: If you would like to start your own business but aren’t sure where to start try contacting your local Chamber of Commerce to what workshops, mentoring, or other help is available

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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Plan to Strengthen the Economy

“I believe that America’s free market has been the engine of America’s great progress. It’s created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It’s led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”
— Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007

Barack Obama's Plan

...

Support Small Businesses

There are approximately 25.8 million businesses in the United States and 99.7 percent of all employers are small businesses. Barack Obama will help these businesses by cutting their health care costs, improving their access to capital and investing in innovation and development.

Fix our Health Care Crisis for Small Businesses: Nearly 47 million Americans have no health coverage today. Skyrocketing health care costs are making it increasingly difficult for employers, particularly small businesses, to provide health insurance to their employees. Barack Obama’s health care plan will help small businesses that want to cover their employees by letting small firms buy into a new low-cost, high-quality national health plan similar to the one offered to members of Congress. For small businesses, having a single employee with catastrophic expenditures can make insurance unaffordable to all of the workers in the firm. The Obama plan would reimburse employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold if they use the savings to reduce the cost of workers’ premiums. It is estimated that Obama’s health plan will save businesses $140 billion annually in insurance premiums.

Reduce the Self-Employment Tax: Obama’s “Making Work Pay” tax credit will also provide relief to self-employed small business owners who struggle to pay both the employee and employer portion of the payroll tax. The tax credit offsets some of this self-employment tax.

Eliminate Capital Gains Taxation on Start-Up Businesses: Obama will also eliminate the capital gains taxation of start-up businesses to encourage innovation and job creation. These provisions, combined with reducing the self-employment tax for small business measures, will ensure that the corporate tax code is not only fair, but also promotes continued economic growth and innovation.

Expand Loan Programs for Small Businesses: Access to capital is a top concern among small business owners. Barack Obama cosponsored the bipartisan Small Business Lending Reauthorization and Improvements Act. This bill expands the Small Business Administration’s loan and micro-loan programs which provide start-up and long-term financing that small firms cannot receive through normal channels. Obama will work to help more entrepreneurs get loans, expand the network of lenders, and simplify the loan approval process.

...

Create a Climate that Promotes Business Innovation

Promote a Regulatory Environment that Enhances Competitiveness: It is important that the U.S. have a robust regulatory system that protects consumers and investors without preventing legal and appropriate entrepreneurial activity. Obama will make sure regulation properly addresses these issues.

Ensure Competitive Markets: Barack Obama believes we need a business and regulatory landscape in which entrepreneurs and small businesses can thrive, start-ups can launch, and all enterprises can compete effectively – while investors and consumers are protected against bad actors that cross the line. Obama supports the principles behind Sarbanes-Oxley reforms and believes compliance should not be overly burdensome for smaller firms and start-ups. He believes that, because of the importance of competition to our economy, the government has a crucial role to play in ensuring competitive markets.

...

http://www.elpasotimes.com: Candidate underlines key Hispanic issues

Eric — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:51:08 EST

Candidate underlines key Hispanic issuesBy Gustavo Reveles Acosta / El Paso TimesArticle Launched: 02/12/2008 11:58:07 PM MST

...

Kathleen Staudt, a political science professor at UTEP, said that while immigration is a top priority for Hispanics, voters in El Paso are complex and focus on more than just one issue. "These are voters that are talking about education, about health care, about the economy," she said. "Not all Hispanics think alike, and ultimately there are issues that affect these families more immediately than immigration."

...

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Plan to Strengthen the Economy

“I believe that America’s free market has been the engine of America’s great progress. It’s created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It’s led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”
— Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007

Barack Obama's Plan

As president, Barack Obama will implement a 21st century economic agenda to help ensure that America can compete in a global economy, and ensure the middle class is thriving and growing. He will increase investments in infrastructure, energy independence, education, and research and development; modernize and simplify our tax code so it provides greater opportunity and relief to more Americans; and implement trade policies that benefit American workers and increase the export of American goods.

...

Strengthen America’s Workforce

Expand Early Childhood Education: Research shows that half of low-income children start school up to two years behind their peers in preschool skills and that these early achievement gaps continue throughout elementary school. Obama has been a champion of early childhood education since his years in the Illinois legislature, where he led the effort to create the Illinois Early Learning Council. Obama has introduced a comprehensive “Zero to Five” plan to provide critical supports to young children and their parents by investing $10 billion per year to create: Early Learning Challenge Grants to stimulate and help fund state “zero to five” efforts; quadruple the number of eligible children for Early Head Start and increase Head Start funding and improve quality for both; work to ensure all children have access to pre-school; provide affordable and high-quality child care that will promote child development and ease the burden on working families; and create a Presidential Early Learning Council to increase collaboration and program coordination across federal, state, and local levels.

Improve Our Schools: From the moment our children step into a classroom, the single most important factor in determining their achievement is their teacher. Barack Obama values teachers and the central role that they play in education. He will work to ensure competent, effective teachers in schools that are organized for success. Obama’s K-12 plan will expand service scholarships to recruit and prepare teachers who commit to working in underserved districts. To support teachers, Obama will foster ongoing improvements in teacher education, provide mentoring for beginning teachers, create incentives for shared planning and learning time for teachers. To retain teachers, Obama will support career pathways that provide ongoing professional development and reward accomplished teachers for their expertise. This Career Ladder initiative will help eliminate teacher shortages in hard-to-staff areas and subjects, improve teacher retention rates, strengthen teacher preparation programs, improve professional development, and better utilize and reward accomplished teachers.

Produce More Math and Science Graduates: Barack Obama believes we must strengthen math and science education to help develop a skilled workforce and promote innovation. Obama will work to increase our annual number of science and engineering graduates, encourage undergraduates studying math and sciences to pursue graduate studies, and work to increase the representation of minorities and women in the science and technology talent pipeline, tapping the diversity of America to meet the increasing demand for a skilled workforce.

For more information on Barack Obama’s education plan

...

Support Small Businesses

Fix our Health Care Crisis for Small Businesses: Nearly 47 million Americans have no health coverage today. Skyrocketing health care costs are making it increasingly difficult for employers, particularly small businesses, to provide health insurance to their employees. Barack Obama’s health care plan will help small businesses that want to cover their employees by letting small firms buy into a new low-cost, high-quality national health plan similar to the one offered to members of Congress. For small businesses, having a single employee with catastrophic expenditures can make insurance unaffordable to all of the workers in the firm. The Obama plan would reimburse employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold if they use the savings to reduce the cost of workers’ premiums. It is estimated that Obama’s health plan will save businesses $140 billion annually in insurance premiums.

...

http://www.sharonherald.com: Auctioneer to face Rep. Brooks in fall

Eric — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:44:03 EST

Published February 12, 2008 08:53 pm

Auctioneer to face Rep. Brooks in fall

By Matt Snyder
Herald Staff Writer

17th DISTRICT —

Donald “Duke” Whiting spent Tuesday afternoon stranded on Interstate 80 on his return trip from Harrisburg, where he met a last-minute filing deadline to run for state office.

Whiting slid 476 signatures into the Harrisburg office of the Pennsylvania Department of State just in time to become a Democratic contender for the 17th District seat held by Republican state Rep. Michele Brooks, Jamestown.

“We took a little initiative and we left early this morning, got down there in good time and it really was a good thing we did,” he said.

He answered questions while stranded on the interstate, where traffic had slowed to a crawl by afternoon. He said if he had waited, he would have been stuck in traffic the other way and never made it to Harrisburg in time.

Whiting said he’s running because of his political concerns, mainly over health care and high property taxes.

The 33-year-old New Wilmington auctioneer said as a small business owner he pays for his own health care and hears concerns from his fixed-income grandparents about expensive drug costs. He said broader health care coverage, particularly for children, was one big goal.

“I deal with the public in my auction business,” he said. “I’m out there, I see the kinds of things people are dealing with.”

Whiting changed his registration from Republican to Democrat for his run, a move that will save him a primary campaign and allow him to challenge Mrs. Brooks in the general election.

“I think there’s a wave of change in Pennsylvania, and I just wanted to be a part of it,” he said. “It’s not anything personal against Michele. There’s a change coming.”

Whiting said he always considered himself a moderate who voted for common-sense candidates and not down party lines.

Mrs. Brooks did not return a message left on her cell phone Tuesday evening.

The signatures on Whiting’s petition to run against Mrs. Brooks can be challenged until next week. If the petition passes muster, he will become an official candidate.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Plan to Strengthen the Economy

“I believe that America’s free market has been the engine of America’s great progress. It’s created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It’s led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”
— Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007

Barack Obama's Plan

...

Support Small Businesses

...

Barack Obama's Plan to Provide Universal Health Care Access

Fix Our Health Care Crisis: Nearly 47 million Americans lack health coverage today. In addition to the social costs of worse health, the health care crisis makes many American firms less competitive in global markets, and exacerbates our nation's long-term fiscal imbalances. Barack Obama is committed to signing universal health legislation by the end of his first term in office that ensures all Americans have high-quality, affordable health care. His plan will save a typical American family up to $2,500 a year by providing affordable, comprehensive, and portable health coverage for every American and modernizing the U.S. health care system to contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality of patient care. For more information on Barack Obama’s health care plan.

...

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com: National defense spending helps local company grow

Eric — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:29:45 EST

Posted February 7, 2008

National defense spending helps local company grow

By Mark Multer
Wausau Daily Herald
mmulter@wdhprint.com

Federal dollars being spent to protect our nation and its troops on the ground are creating jobs here in north central Wisconsin.

Clover Industries of Wausau on Wednesday announced it has received final approval of a $3.25 million defense contract to support research and development of two technologies for the U.S. military.

The contract was one of two awarded to the small manufacturer, which designs and builds hydraulic cylinders and integrated cylinder systems. Together, the contracts total about $8.25 million, said Mike Priebe, company president.

The company is developing advanced technology to facilitate the automated set-up and tear-down of the Army's mobile command posts and is studying the feasibility of possible improvements to the Army's 10-meter mobile communications antennas, Priebe said.

"They were quite interested in our technology and engineering capabilities," said Priebe, whose company is developing prototypes of the mobile command equipment, which will need to stand up to harsh environments. "Ultimately, they want to move forward with full production reasonably soon."

The projects will require a minimum of 14 high-paying jobs, specifically mechanical, electrical and software engineers, he said.

The company, then known as Clover Hydraulics and Engineering Co., had 13 employees when Priebe purchased it in 2005. It quickly outgrew its original facility in Deerbrook near Antigo and now employs 72 workers, primarily at its 57,000-square-foot facility in the Wausau West Business and Industrial Park.

"In the last couple months, we've hired eight engineers focused on this, and we're looking to hire six more," Priebe said. "We've been on a pretty rapid growth path for a couple years, which doesn't show any sign of subsiding, at least for the near future."

...

The $3.25 million contract was included in the 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill and was secured in part through the efforts of Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

"Congressman Obey was a tremendous help in ensuring that the military had the funds it needs to work with us on these defense projects," Priebe said. "He's been an ongoing supporter of Clover, and the area, for many years."

Said Obey: "Hopefully, this funding will help make life a little easier for our troops and keep those good jobs here in the region."

WTAP.com: Cordray Speaks On Small Businesses

Eric — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:12:56 EST

The city of Marietta has a lot to offer in the small business market. That's exactly why Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray chose the pioneer city for his first stop among many across Ohio.

"We want to make sure the money we have for this program is being spread around the state and in particular, I'd like to see some of it come to Southeastern Ohio. My father's from Southeastern Ohio and it's important to me that this region participates in all of what we available in state government," says Cordray.

What they have to offer is an interest rate reduction program that Cordray has re-launched and re-tooled, it's now called "Grow Now" and it offers low interest money for small businesses looking to branch out.

"We have low interest money available for small businesses that are going to create and grow jobs. It's a program that's existed for 25 years, and it fell into disuse, which I felt was unfortunate. It helps small businesses grow which creates the bulk of jobs in Ohio and we've had trouble creating jobs in the past 10 years," says Cordray.

Cordray also voiced his opinion on the taxing of smaller businesses and local business owner, Bob Kirkbride, liked what Cordray had to say.

"The tax cuts he was talking about are very important because Ohio is a heavily taxed state now and we need to get that tax burden down. He seems committed to doing that, his loan program, the linked deposit program will help small businesses, very important," says Kirkbride.

Important for area business owners and even more significant for Southeast Ohio.

Eligible small businesses interested in the "Grow Now" program must have fewer than 150 employees and be exclusively in Ohio.

Applications are available at www.GrowNow.ohio.go

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Plan to Strengthen the Economy

“I believe that America’s free market has been the engine of America’s great progress. It’s created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It’s led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”
— Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007

Barack Obama's Plan

Support Small Businesses

...

Expand Loan Programs for Small Businesses: Access to capital is a top concern among small business owners. Barack Obama cosponsored the bipartisan Small Business Lending Reauthorization and Improvements Act. This bill expands the Small Business Administration’s loan and micro-loan programs which provide start-up and long-term financing that small firms cannot receive through normal channels. Obama will work to help more entrepreneurs get loans, expand the network of lenders, and simplify the loan approval process.

....

Obama field organizer wins in Eastern Washington and prepares for her next assignment

Eric — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:33:15 EST

Our thanks to Obama staffer, Pendry Haines, and her team of staff (Randy, Camron, Derek and Daniel) and volunteers. Pendry arrived here alone (via Iowa and Nevada) at 9pm, Friday, January 25th, and led us to a decisive victory in the Eastern Washington caucuses on February 9th.

Pendry, we wish you every success in your next assignment.

http://www.thebulletin.us: College No Prerequisite For Lucrative Jobs

Eric — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:39:05 EST

Columnists & CommentaryCollege No Prerequisite For Lucrative Jobs By: Phyllis Schlafly, For The Bulletin01/02/2008

U.S. News & World Report, which has made a name for itself by ranking and announcing the best colleges every year, is now ranking and listing the best careers for young people. A comparison of the latest lists shows a shocking disconnect and makes for dispiriting holiday reading.

While the price of a college education has skyrocketed far faster than inflation, many careers for which colleges prepare their graduates are disappearing. U.S. News' Best Careers guide concludes that "college grads might want to consider blue-collar careers" because bachelor's degree holders "are having trouble finding jobs that require college-graduate skills."

Incredibly, U.S. News is telling college graduates to look for jobs that do not require a college diploma. Among the 31 best opportunities for 2008 are the careers of firefighter, hairstylist, cosmetologist, locksmith and security system technician.

Where did the higher-skill jobs go? Both large and small companies are "quietly increasing off-shoring efforts."

Ten years ago we were told we really didn't need manufacturing because it can be done more cheaply elsewhere, that autoworkers and others should move to information age jobs. But now the information jobs are moving offshore, too, as well as marketing research and even many varieties of innovation.

The flight overseas includes professional as well as low-wage jobs, with engineering jobs offshored to India and China. Thousands of bright Asian engineers are willing to work for a fraction of U.S. wages, which is why Boeing just signed a 10-year, $1-billion-a-year deal with a government-run company in India.

Society has been telling high school students that college is the ticket to get a life, and politicians are pandering to parents' desire for their children to be better educated and so have a higher standard of living. Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) wants the taxpayers to guarantee every kid a college education, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney says more education is the means for Americans to compete in a global economy.

But it doesn't make sense for parents to mortgage their homes, or for students to saddle themselves with long-term debt, in order to pay overpriced college tuition to prepare for jobs that no longer exist. Tuition at public universities has risen an unprecedented 51 percent over the past five years.

President George W. Bush calls the loss of U.S. jobs "the pinch some of you folks are feeling." I guess his words are designed to show his "compassionate conservatism," but the reality is far more than a pinch.

U.S. News offers this advice for the nerds who still spend five to six years earning an engineering degree despite increasingly grim prospects of a well-paid engineering career: "Look for government work." Or maybe you can be an "off-shoring manager" and be part of the process of shipping your fellow graduates' jobs overseas.

A Duke University spokesman said that 40 percent of Duke's engineering graduates cannot get engineering jobs. A Duke University publication suggests that the best prospect for good engineering jobs is for the U.S. government to start another major project like going to the moon.

U.S. News warns us that "government is becoming an employer of choice." Corporations are getting leaner, but government can continue to pay good salaries, with lots of vacation days, sick leave, health insurance and retirement benefits, because government rakes in more tax revenue in good times and can raise taxes in bad times; and if the Democrats win in 2008, we can expect government to expand even more.

Presidential candidates have gotten the message from grass-roots Americans that we want our borders closed to illegal immigrants. Headlines now proclaim "Immigration Moves to Front and Center of GOP Race" and "GOP Candidates Hold Fast on Immigration at Debate."

But Republican Party candidates haven't yet gotten the message that jobs are just as big a gut issue as immigration. The Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey conducted Dec. 14-17 reports that, by 58 percent to 28 percent, Americans believe globalization is bad because it subjects U.S. companies and employees to unfair competition and cheap labor.

Where are the limited-government fiscal conservatives when we need them to refute the notion that the best an engineering graduate can hope for is a job with the government? Are fiscal conservatives too busy chanting the failed mantra of "free trade" even though it has resulted in millions of good U.S. jobs being shipped overseas?

When are we going to call a halt to the way globalism is destroying U.S. jobs by foreign currency manipulation, theft of our intellectual property, shipping us poisonous seafood and toys and unfair trade agreements that allow foreign subsidies (through the so-called Value Added Tax) to massively discriminate against U.S. producers and workers?

Phyllis Schlafly is a lawyer, conservative political analyst and the author of the newly revised and expanded Supremacists.

Boston.com: Massachusetts a top US economic competitor

Eric — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:32:44 EST

Reports: Mass. a top US economic competitor

But others contend slow job growth in state clouds outlook

By Robert Gavin Globe Staff

December 19, 2007

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/12/19/reports_mass_a_top_us_economic_competitor/

Massachusetts ranks as the one of the most economically competitive states in the nation, buoyed by innovation, entrepreneurship, and an educated and skilled workforce, a new study concludes.

The study, released today by the Beacon Hill Institute, a think tank at Suffolk University, ranks Massachusetts second only to Utah in the attributes that create and sustain high levels of income for residents. It follows another study, by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a Washington think tank, that measures states' abilities to compete in a dynamic, innovation-driven global economy and ranks Massachusetts first.

These rankings paint a far different picture of conditions and prospects in Massachusetts than other studies that have painted a bleaker outlook, framed by the state's painfully slow job growth. Recently, a report by the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth, or MassInc, found that only Michigan, battered by a sinking auto industry, has a worse job creation record since 2001.

But the authors of these latest studies argue job creation by itself is not necessarily the best indicator of economic health. Income is a better measure, giving a sense of the quality and quantity of jobs, they said. For example, Nevada leads the nation in job growth, but much of it comes from lower-paying service jobs in casinos, hotels, and restaurants.

"I wouldn't want to build an economy around that," said Robert D. Atkinson, the president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. "What you want to have is a long-term sustainable economy with high wages and income growth, and I'd rather be Massachusetts than Nevada."

Nevada ranks 27th in the foundation's New Economy index and 28th in the Beacon Hill State Competitiveness index.

Kofi Jones, spokeswoman for the state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, said these studies show Governor Deval L. Patrick "is committed to and supports building an innovative, competitive, and creative environment throughout the Commonwealth which moves at the speed of business." Patrick, she said, has pursued a variety of policies aimed at keeping the state innovative and competitive, including a $1 billion initiative to boost the state's biotechnology sector.

...

Massachusetts ranks third among states in per capita income, behind Connecticut and New Jersey.

...

The Beacon Hill study looks at a variety of factors to assess a state's competitiveness, from patents to venture capital to the percent of fourth-grade students that are proficient or better in math. Massachusetts scores at or near the top in several categories, including venture capital, patents, scientists and engineers in the workforce, high-speed Internet connections, and fourth-grade math students.

...

Andrew Sum, the author of the MassInc study detailing the state's poor job creation, ...

"What does it mean to be competitive when you're not capturing jobs?" said Sum, director of Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies. "We do have desirable jobs, and we do have the best educated workforce, but we're not able to generate enough of those jobs to keep people here."

Theoretically, income and job growth should go hand in hand, said Edward Glaeser, a Harvard University economics professor. But the state's tight housing supply and subsequent high housing costs break the link.

This lack of housing keeps out workers who might otherwise be attracted to higher wages in Massachusetts, he said. Ultimately, jobs only increase if the population grows. "The number of jobs is pretty much connected to the number of people," Glaeser said. "If there's no new housing, there's no new bodies."

Robert Gavin can be reached at rgavin@globe.com

The Washington Times: Radio hosts take fight over aliens to Iowa

Eric — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:29:42 EST

The Washington Times: Radio hosts take fight over aliens to Iowa

By Brian DeBose
December 23, 2007

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071223/NATION/853291937/1001

Civil rights leaders in Iowa are decrying a radio initiative by the Federation for American Immigration Reform to speak directly with Iowa voters next week about immigration, calling it anti-immigrant and condemning it as fear-mongering.

"We will not stand quietly by as FAIR pushes its divisive and intolerant message from Iowa," said Alicia Claypool, chairwoman of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. "It is a dangerous message — one aimed at taking the immigration debate to the extreme in a manner that threatens our core American values. FAIR's approach to this issue is nothing less than poisonous."

The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and Action Fund recently petitioned thousands of Iowans and obtained signatures in support of immigrants being "treated with dignity during the debate on immigration."

...

The talk-show hosts' commentary will be bolstered by the release of a new report done by FAIR showing rapidly escalating costs in mandatory medical expenses, education and other services resulting from illegal immigration in Iowa.

The report will also include new polling data in the state showing that support for sensible immigration enforcement without granting amnesty to illegal aliens has widespread support among Iowans.

...

Without challenging any of FAIR's research, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and Action Fund painted FAIR as racists and cited the Chicago-based Center for New Community and the Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Poverty Law Center, who say FAIR has deep ties to the nation's white-supremacist movement. It notes that the organization accepted more than $1.2 million from the Pioneer Fund, a group that has been described as a white-supremacist foundation.

"There is bitter irony in this hateful message spread during Christmas week," said Connie Ryan Terrell, executive director of the alliance. "Immigrants in this country work hard in often difficult conditions, and yet these anti-immigrant forces want to make them scapegoats for all that's wrong. To flood the airwaves with a fear-based message against immigrants is unacceptable and unwelcome in Iowa."

Economic Policy Institute: Updated CBO data reveal unprecedented increase in inequality

Eric — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:14:07 EST

December 13, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #239

Updated CBO data reveal unprecedented increase in inequality

by Jared Bernstein

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib239

Earlier this week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) updated its authoritative data series on household incomes (1979-2005). The new data—highly regarded as a particularly complete source of information on this important topic—reveal a sharp increase in income inequality over the past few years. In fact, the increase in income inequality (both pre- and post-tax) as measured by the change in the shares of income going to different income classes, was greater from 2003 to 2005 than over any other two-year period covered by the CBO data. Over these years, an amazing $400 billion in pre-tax dollars was shifted from the bottom 95% of households to those in the top 5% (all income data in this report are inflation adjusted and in 2005 dollars). In other words, had income shares not shifted as they did, the income of each of the 109 million households in the bottom 95% would have been $3,660 higher in 2005.

...

Conclusion

The CBO data reveal the severe depth of our inequality problem. Though overall tax reductions during this period have meant slightly faster post-tax income growth for households in each income group, it has made little difference to the overall picture of inequality and has even exacerbated unequal outcomes over this period.

The problem is particularly stark in recent years. Before the current problems in housing and financial markets developed, the overall economy grew solidly over this recovery, with notably strong productivity growth. As the CBO data reveal, aggregate household income grew $1.1 trillion in the 2003-05 period (see appendix table). But these gains have failed to flow broadly throughout the income scale, and the extent of their concentration at the top of the income scale is historically unique. Just under two-thirds (63%) of the gain in household income from 2003 to 2005 went to just 5% of the nation’s wealthiest households.

Such concentration of income is unsustainable in a democratic society. The distribution mechanisms that have historically worked to ensure much more equitable outcomes appear to be wholly inoperative. Fixing them must be at the heart of any serious economic policy discussion.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/about

When was EPI established, and why?
EPI was established in 1986 to broaden the discussion about economic policy to include the interests of low- and middle-income workers. Today, with global competition expanding, wage inequality rising, and the methods and nature of work changing in fundamental ways, it is as crucial as ever that people who work for a living have a voice in the economic debate.

Agri News: Farmers' health care coverage

Eric — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:42:52 EST

Business news and notes

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Report finds issues with farmers' health care coverage

{http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/298026304891106.bsp}

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Farmers and ranchers spend more money on health insurance than most Americans, a new report has found.

Farm and ranch families spent an average of $7,247 on health insurance in 2006, according to The Access Project, a research organization at Brandeis University in Boston, which conducted the survey.

The report, released last week, found that one in four producers have financial problems because of the cost of health insurance. ...

The researchers' sample included more than 2,000 farmers and ranchers in North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota. ...

The Economist: Money and effort aren't enough to impart the skills and knowledge needed in a cut-throat world

Eric — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:36:44 EST

Education

The race is not always to the richest

Dec 6th 2007
From The Economist print edition

Money and effort aren't enough to impart the skills and knowledge needed in a cut-throat world

SPOOKED by the effects of globalisation on their low-skilled citizens, rich countries have been pouring money and political energy into education. In the United States, it has been proclaimed that no child will be left behind. Whether this programme, launched by George Bush in 2002, has raised standards will be a big issue in the 2008 presidential election. Next year Britain will introduce ambitious new qualifications, combining academic and vocational study. For the industrial countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), average spending on primary and secondary schooling rose by almost two-fifths in real terms between 1995 and 2004.

Oddly, this has had little measurable effect. The latest report from the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment shows average attainment staying largely flat. This tome, just published, compares the reading, mathematical and scientific progress of 400,000 15-year-olds in the 30 OECD countries and 27 others, covering 87% of the world economy. Its predecessors in 2000 and 2003 focused on reading and maths respectively. This time science took centre stage.

At the top are some old stars: Finland as usual did best for all-round excellence, followed by South Korea (which did best in reading) and Hong Kong; Canada and Taiwan were strong but slightly patchier, followed by Australia and Japan. At the bottom, Mexico, still the weakest performer in the OECD, showed gains in maths; Chile did best in Latin America.

There is bad news for the United States: average performance was poor by world standards. Its schools serve strong students only moderately well, and do downright poorly with the large numbers of weak students. A quarter of 15-year-olds do not even reach basic levels of scientific competence (against an OECD average of a fifth). According to Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's head of education research, Americans are only now realising the scale of the task they face. Some individual states would welcome a separate assessment.

...

..., making Poles the poster children for the proposition that early “tracking”—allocating pupils to different sorts of schools or programmes—hurts weak ones without benefiting the rest. “We have learnt that you can really make a change by bringing weaker performers into more demanding streams,” says Barbara Ischinger, the OECD's director of education.

Letting schools run themselves seems to boost a country's position in this high-stakes international tournament: giving school principals the power to control budgets, set incentives and decide whom to hire and how much to pay them. Publishing school results helps, too. More important than either, though, are high-quality teachers: a common factor among all the best performers is that teachers are drawn from the top ranks of graduates.

Another common theme is that rising educational tides seem to lift all boats. In general—the United States and Britain may be exceptions—countries do well either by children of all abilities, or by none. Those where many do well are also those where few fall behind. A new feature in this year's study is an attempt to work out how differences between schools, as opposed to differences within them, determine performance (see chart). Variation between schools is big in Germany (to be expected, as most schools select children on ground of ability). But results also vary in some countries (like Japan) with nominally comprehensive systems. In top-performing Finland, by contrast, the differences between schools are nearly trivial.

And what can be done to ensure that budding scientists blossom? Give them teachers with excellent qualifications in science, spend plenty of time on the subject and engage their enthusiasm with after-school clubs, events and competitions, says the report. One does not need to understand string theory to grasp this, but doing the first two is hard. All science graduates, and physics graduates in particular, have a head start in other high-paid fields, such as financial services. And school curriculums are under constant pressure from meddlesome governments.

...

www.mcclatchydc.com: Issues: You say terrorism; I say economy

Eric — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:03:47 EST

Election 2008

Issues: You say terrorism; I say economy

By Steven Thomma | McClatchy Newspapers

Posted on Sunday, December 9, 2007

WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have dramatically different views of the nation's priorities, according to a new McClatchy-MSNBC poll. The fact that the two parties' bases don't even agree on which issues matter most may help to explain why the people they send to Washington have such a hard time agreeing on anything.

While pollsters didn't offer each side all the same choices, Democrats and Republicans in all three states differed widely when asked about the same issues. Voters were asked to identify which issue they felt was the most important.

Some of the disparities:

NATIONAL SECURITY OR TERRORISM

In Iowa, it's last on the Democrats' list, cited by just 1 percent, and first on the Republican list, mentioned by 31 percent.

In New Hampshire, it's the top priority for 2 percent of Democrats and 25 percent of Republicans.

In South Carolina, it's tops for 6 percent of Democrats but 25 percent of Republicans.

IRAQ

In Iowa, 24 percent of Democrats call it the biggest issue facing the country, but only 7 percent of Republicans do.

In New Hampshire, it's number one for 35 percent of Democrats and 7 percent of Republicans.

In South Carolina, it's the first priority for 19 percent of Democrats and 6 percent of Republicans.

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

In Iowa, 28 percent of Democrats but just 8 percent of Republicans call it the top issue.

In New Hampshire, it's the top priority for 18 percent of Democrats, but also for 17 percent of Republicans.

In South Carolina, it's the top issue for 24 percent of Democrats and 15 percent of Republicans.

COMPLETE POLL RESULTS

Download the surveys in PDF format:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/election2008/story/22827.html

boston.com: Presidential race shifts toward domestic issues:Economy, taxes supplant war talk

Eric — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:22:48 EST

Presidential race shifts toward domestic issues
Economy, taxes supplant war talk
December 8, 2007

Once expected to be a stark referendum on the Iraq war and national security, the presidential campaign in both parties has been turning more toward domestic concerns, from illegal immigration and taxes among Republicans, to healthcare and Social Security among Democrats.

...

Recent news has also put a greater focus on the economy and fears of a recession. The weakness of the dollar compared with other currencies coupled with the nationwide slowdown in the real estate market, have struck chords with voters that the broader economic numbers - still showing strong growth - have not.

...

In New Hampshire, voters ..stressed, in interviews, their desire for a president who can grapple with healthcare and economic insecurity.

...

"We've learned over the years that what we see in Iraq today does not necessarily correlate with what we'll see tomorrow," said Fowler, of Dartmouth. "And Iran - and particularly its president - is always in a position to provoke us."

"The Economy, Stupid"

Eric — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 02:45:18 EST

Health care and the presidential race

Arguing over the cure

Dec 6th 2007 | WASHINGTON, DC
From The Economist print edition

Reforming America's health-care system is a thorny election issue

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10254622

...Health care, along with the economy in general, immigration and the whole alarming nexus of war, terror and security is, according to pretty much every poll, one of the issues that American voters consider most important....

www.fraserinstitute.org: U.S. States Best at Encouraging Entrepreneurs and Small Business Start Ups

Eric — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:46:18 EST

Dec 06, 2007 06:00 ET
The Fraser Institute: U.S. States Best at Encouraging Entrepreneurs and Small Business Start Ups; Atlantic Canada the Worst
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 6, 2007) - The United States is more successful than Canada at encouraging entrepreneurs and the creation of new businesses, according to a new study released today by independent research organization The Fraser Institute.

Nevada had the highest net small business creation rate at 5.2 per cent, followed by Florida (4.7 per cent) and Utah (4.5 per cent). They are followed in order by Idaho, Montana, Virginia, Georgia, Missouri, Arizona, and Delaware, which shows a diverse geographic pattern of entrepreneurial success across the United States.

.
.
.

"Small and entrepreneurial businesses are key to creating new jobs, innovation and ultimately economic prosperity. Consequently, states or provinces with a high level of new business creation are going to have more dynamic and faster growing economies," said Jason Clemens, Resident Scholar with The Fraser Institute and co-author of Measuring Business Creation in Canada and the United States.

The peer-reviewed study finds that most new business creation occurs in the smallest firms, those with less than 10 employees.

.
.
.

"In recent years, governments have recognized the importance of small businesses and have begun instituting policies to encourage small business development and entrepreneurship," Clemens said.

"A province with a negative rate of new business creation clearly has not enacted the correct type of policies to encourage business or improve its economy."

.
.
.

"Business creation is one of the most important measures of entrepreneurial activity. It not only represents the commercialization of ideas, but it also indicates dynamism in an economy," Clemens said.

"Canada lags behind the United States in net business creation. The challenge for Canada is to develop policies that will encourage entrepreneurial activity and help Canadians keep pace with business growth in the United States."

The Fraser Institute is an independent research and educational organization with offices in Calgary, Montreal, Tampa, Toronto, and Vancouver. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org.

http://www.economy.com: Aftershock: Housing in the Wake of the Mortgage Meltdown

Eric — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:10:36 EST

Aftershock: Housing in the Wake of the Mortgage MeltdownA special study incorporating Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes

SUMMARY

Aftershock: Housing in the Wake of the Mortgage Meltdown analyzes the house-price outlook for the nation and the nation's 381 metropolitan areas using Fiserv Lending Solutions' Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes—widely regarded as the most accurate measure of house price appreciation available.

http://www.economy.com/home/products/special-study-series/2007/december/aftershock/default.asp?src=homepage

Key questions to be adressed in this special study include:

What is the outlook for national, regional and metro house prices?
When will housing markets hit bottom and what will the shape of their recoveries look like?
What are the key weights on housing markets? How and why do they differ by region?
Which regions are likely to suffer more severe and/or protracted house price declines?
What are the spillover effects of declining house prices on the broader economy?
Can policymakers mitigate the severity of the coming house price declines?

Excerpts from Executive Summary

Forecast Summary

The current housing recession is expected to run through early 2009 and will ultimately be severe enough to be characterized as a housing crash. Home sales are expected to hit bottom in early 2008, declining by over 40% from their peak, housing starts will reach their nadir in mid-2008, falling by 55%, and house prices are expected to decline by 12% through early 2009. After accounting for the plethora of non-price discounts home sellers are offering to buyers, effective house-price declines peak to trough will total well over 15%.

Awash in Inventory

The housing market’s most fundamental problem is it is awash in unsold inventory. ... This is far and away the highest level of excess inventory in the post-World War II period.

Subprime Financial Shock

Subprime financial shock. ...

Where's the Bottom

Where’s the bottom? The outlook for the housing market thus appears very daunting. The mountain of housing inventory will only clear sufficiently for the market to find a bottom if homebuilders significantly further curtail construction, and thus new supply, and for home sellers to slash their prices to restore affordability and stimulate housing demand. ...

Threat

...While financial institutions have begun to recognize these losses, as is evident from the recent string of billion dollar writedowns, they have fallen well-short of what they ultimately will have to realize.

Circumspect Consumers

...The wealth effect postulates that changes in household wealth measurably impact household spending. If household wealth is rising (falling), then households will spend more (less) out of their current income, and thus save less (more). The idea behind the wealth effect is simply that as households become wealthier they do not need to save as much today to be prepared for their future financial needs. ...

Engaged Policymakers

The most significant upside risk to the housing outlook is that policymakers appear fully engaged in stanching the financial turmoil and ensuring that the economy avoids recession. The Federal Reserve has aggressively lowered interest rates in recent weeks and Congress and the administration are working to aid the hard-pressed mortgage market. More help will be needed, but policymakers appear ready to provide whatever is necessary.

http://www.economy.com/home/products/special-study-series/2007/december/aftershock/default.asp?src=homepage

Demos and Brandeis University: Two out of three middle class families on shaky financial ground

Eric — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 03:34:40 EST

Two out of three middle class families on shaky financial ground
Released on November 28, 2007
Landmark study based on new "Middle Class Security Index" developed by Demos and Brandeis University

Waltham, MA--Fewer than one in three middle-class families in America is financially secure, and the remaining majority are either borderline or at high risk of falling out of the middle class altogether, according to a new study published this week by Demos and the Institute for Assets and Social Policy (IASP) at Brandeis University.

By a Thread: The New Experience of America's Middle Class is the first comprehensive report to measure economic stability across the American middle class. Based on national government data, By a Thread is the first in a series of reports and briefing papers that will utilize the new "Middle Class Security Index" developed by the non-partisan policy center Demos and IASP/Brandeis.

This Index measures the financial security of the middle class by rating household stability across five core economic factors: assets, educational achievement, housing costs, budget, and healthcare. Based on how a family ranked in each of these factors, they were defined as financially "secure", "borderline" or "at risk".

"Much like a common cholesterol test that shows whether someone's cardiovascular health is at risk, the Middle Class Security Index shows that financial health eludes the majority of the American middle class," said Thomas M. Shapiro, Director of the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis and one of the co-authors of the report. "It also points to specific areas--like lack of assets--that inhibit financial security."

The Middle Class Security Index shows worrying trends:

Only 31 percent of families who would be considered middle-class by income are financially secure.

One in four middle-class families match the profile for being at high risk of slipping out of the middle class altogether.

More than half of middle-class families have no net financial assets whatsoever.

Middle-class families have median debt of $3,500 and at least half of them have no assets.

Only 13 percent of middle-class families are secure in their asset levels--meaning that they have enough to cover most of their living expenses for nine months should their regular income cease; 79 percent are "at risk" in this category, meaning they could not cover the majority of their expenses for even three months. Another 9 percent are "borderline."

Twenty-one percent of middle-class families have less than $100 per week ($5,000 per year) remaining after meeting essential living expenses. These families are living from paycheck to paycheck with very little margin of security

The participants of a press conference to launch the report commented on these findings:

"If we look back at the public investments of the mid-twentieth century--the GI Bill, federal home loan guarantees, better funding for public education and college--we see that they were geared at two key benchmarks on the way to the middle-class: assets and education," said Henry Cisneros, Chairman of CityView and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. "But the Middle Class Security Index provides a real measurement of where we are after years of seeing those investments whittled away. American families are at risk of falling out of the middle class and never getting back in, and many of those who were excluded from the initial public investment--Latinos and African Americans--are among those with the greatest vulnerability. It's time for a new public investment to stabilize the household economy and build the future middle class."

"The By a Thread report findings mirror a reality of today's unstable economy: the nation's mortgage lending crisis is threatening the fabric of the urban communities that we revitalized by providing economic opportunity for more than 30 years. The ramifications of foreclosures on property values, municipal costs, crime, and consumer credit extends beyond the middle class and the neighborhoods most widely impacted by irresponsible lending practices," said Jean Pogge, Executive Vice President, Consumer and Community Banking for ShoreBank.

"Workers in America are suffering a now generation-long stagnation of wages and rising insecurity," said Ron Blackwell, Chief Economist at AFL-CIO. "By a Thread provides a unique metric for the resulting stress on middle class living standards and outlines bold policies to create an economy that works for all."

The Middle Class Security Index findings reported in By a Thread spotlight the strengths and vulnerabilities of the middle class by identifying barriers to financial security and offering solutions that would enable the broad majority of American families to enjoy a stable middle-class life. The report recommends a set of policies that will help open access to, and strengthen, America's middle class. Legislative proposals cover a range of important issues affecting American households, including asset building and debt reduction, making higher education more accessible and affordable, and addressing the healthcare crisis.

"The Index is the launching point for a range of new work that will examine economic stability in America's middle class," said Jennifer Wheary, Senior Fellow at Demos and report co-author. "In the coming months we'll be adding new reports that illuminate middle-class stability by age, race, and income--several of the key demographic factors that will inform future public policy investments."

The Middle Class Security Index will be updated biennially, with accompanying reports, as new national data become available.

A PDF version of By a Thread is available for download at demos.org or iasp.brandeis.edu. To order a hard copy or to arrange an interview with one of the authors, please see contact information above.

Contact: Laura Gardner, 781-736-4204, gardner@brandeis.edu

www.boston.com: More nations pass US in reading skills

Eric — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:52:29 EST

The Nation's Mayors to Bring Metro/Urban Agenda to Iowa

Eric — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:45:22 EST

For Immediate Release Contact: Elena Temple (202) 309-4906

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 etemple@umayors.org

Lina Garcia (202) 341-6113

lgarcia@usmayors.org

THE NATION’S MAYORS TO BRING URBAN AGENDA TO IOWA
Des Moines, IA – For the first time ever, the nation’s mayors will travel to Iowa on December 1st for both the Heartland Presidential Candidate Forum and the Brown & Black Presidential Forum to stress to Presidential Candidates how important city issues are to the country and a growing number of Americans. With over 85 of people in the United States living in our nation’s cities and metro areas, mayors clearly understand how urban issues impact everyday Americans and are calling on candidates to focus on these issues.

Mayors are convinced that despite their geographic location, cities large and small across over the country are plagued by the same challenges including access to healthcare, job creation, affordable housing, immigration, crime and illegal guns, failing public schools and climate protection. The mayors’ Ten Point Legislative Plan, Strong Cities, Strong Families, for a Strong America, is the Conference’s legislative agenda that highlightspriorities for cities and urban areas (www.usmayors.org to see Plan).

“For the first time in our history, The United States Conference of Mayors is bringing a bipartisan group of mayors to the Iowa Caucuses. We believe that the issues of Iowa and the city of Des Moines are the same issues that face mayors around the country each and every day. We support Mayor Cownie and the other Iowa mayors as we present to the next President of the United States the challenges and opportunities before us,” said U.S. Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran.

WHO: Trenton, NJ Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, USCM President
Des Moines, IA Mayor T.M. Franklin Cownie, Host
Miami, FL Mayor Manny Diaz, USCM Vice President
Los Angeles, CA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Oklahoma City, OK Mayor Mick Cornett
Mary Campos & Wayne Ford, Co-Founders - Brown & Black Presidential Forum
(bbpresforum.org)
WHAT: The Nation’s Mayors React Following Heartland Presidential Candidate Forum
and Prior to the Brown & Black Forum: Will Speak to Urban Issues Impacting
America’s Cities
WHEN: Saturday, December 1, 2007
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (CST)
WHERE: HyVee Hall – Corridor Outside Hall C
730 3rd Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.

Goldman Sachs: US Hispanization

Eric — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:28:16 EST

US Hispanization: Long/short strategies

October 23, 2007

http://www2.goldmansachs.com/insight/research/reports/report44.html

www.kauffman.org: Young People Want to Be Their Own Boss to Realize Their Ideas

Eric — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:29:23 EST

Young People Want to Be Their Own Boss to Realize Their Ideas

Using their skills and abilities also tops the reasons youth want to run their own business someday, Kauffman Foundation study shows. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation commissioned Harris Interactive® to conduct a survey of 2,438 U.S. young people ages 8 to 21 about entrepreneurship.

The results reveal that youth want to be their own boss to make their ideas a reality.

• Four in 10 young people have or would like to start their own business someday. In addition, Harris Interactive’s 2007 YouthPulseSM revealed that more than one-quarter (27 percent) of 8- to 21-year-olds would like to start a big company. But nearly as many did not close the door to entrepreneurship—37 percent said they were just unsure about it.

• Those who want to have their own business say their top reasons are to use their skills and abilities (92 percent), build something for their future (89 percent), be their own boss (87 percent), see their ideas realized (81 percent) and earn lots of money (85 percent).

• Thirty-seven percent of young people want to invent something if given the opportunity.

• Overall, 63 percent of the 8- to 21-year-olds agree that, if they work hard, they have the ability to successfully start their own business.

• One-quarter (26 percent) of all young people agree that starting a business is much more desirable than other career opportunities they might have.

• Nearly six in 10 (59 percent) 8- to 21-year-olds know someone who has started his or her own business.

• More than half (55 percent) of today’s young people feel that individuals help a lot to make their community a better place, with 32 percent attributing their community betterment to small businesses. Twenty-two percent think big business helps a lot to make the community better and 19 percent think that the government does.

• Thirty-one percent want to give a significant amount of money to charity as an adult.

...

http://www.kauffman.org/pdf/KF_Harris_Poll_Fact%20Sheet.pdf

www.laptop.org: It’s not a laptop project. It’s an education project.

Eric — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:14:26 EST

It’s not a laptop project. It’s an education project.

In 2002, MIT Professor Nicholas Negroponte experienced first-hand how connected laptops transformed the lives of children and their families in a remote Cambodian village. A seed was planted: If every child in the world had access to a computer, what potential could be unlocked? What problems could be solved? These questions eventually led to the foundation of One Laptop per Child, and the creation of the XO laptop.

OLPC’s mission is to provide a means for learning, self-expression, and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education. While children are by nature eager for knowledge, many countries have insufficient resources to devote to education—sometimes less than $20 per year per child (compared to an average of $7,500 in the United States). By giving children their very own connected XO laptop, we are giving them a window to the outside world, access to vast amounts of information, a way to connect with each other, and a springboard into their future. And we’re also helping these countries develop an essential resource—educated, empowered children.

For more information about OLPC’s mission, visit www.laptop.org.

Give One Get One.

From now through December 31, 2007, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. This is the first time the revolutionary XO laptop has been made available to the general public. For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible (your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be receiving).

For all U.S. donors who participate in the Give One Get One program, T-Mobile is offering one year of complimentary HotSpot access. Find out more.

Please be aware that we will make every effort to deliver the XO laptops by the holidays, but quantities are limited. Early purchasers have the best chance of receiving their XO laptops in time for the holidays, but we cannot guarantee timing.

Please review our terms and conditions.

A real world laptop for real world change. The XO laptop.

Many years and an infinite amount of sweat equity went into the creation of the XO laptop. Designed collaboratively by experts from academia and industry, the XO is the product of the very best thinking about technology and learning. It was designed with the real world in mind, considering everything from extreme environmental conditions such as high heat and humidity, to technological issues such as local-language support. As a result, the XO laptop is extremely durable, brilliantly functional, energy-efficient, responsive, and fun. Come take a look.

Explore the XO

The XO laptop is the size of a textbook and weighs about three pounds. Thanks to its flexible design and “transformer" hinge, it can easily configure from a standard laptop to an e-book reader and a hand-held video game player. Everything is scaled to fit a child, from the integrated handle to the sealed, rubberized keyboard.

The XO laptop has built-in functionality for still and video photography, voice recording, and game playing.

Along with offering superior connective capabilities, the XO laptop can work with a wide range of external devices.

Keyboard

The XO laptop features a sealed, rubberized keyboard that was built specifically for harsh weather conditions, making it resilient to water, dust, and dirt. It’s scaled to accommodate child-sized hands and has a lighter touch than normal keyboards.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Eric's note:

This evening, I listened to Mr Lamb interview Prof. Negroponte on C-Span. Prof. Negroponte recommended that Bush 43, before leaving office, donate one computer to every child in Iraq and Afghanistan.

www.boston.com: Iowa's primacy pays off in dollars and influence

Eric — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:32:57 EST

Iowa's primacy pays off in dollars and influence

By Michael Kranish

Globe Staff / November 25, 2007

WASHINGTON - Iowa, whose first-in-the-nation caucus is vital for politicians who want to be president, has reaped a windfall of federal spending in recent years, collecting billions of dollars in subsidies for ethanol production and a disproportionate share of federal funding, according to a review of government records.

Although it ranks 30th among the states in population, Iowa was slated to receive the seventh-highest amount of earmarked money - $37 million - in a congressional appropriations bill passed earlier this month. President Bush vetoed the bill on the grounds that it was filled with wasteful spending. Separately, Iowa has been awarded $50 million in taxpayer funds for a controversial project called Earthpark, an indoor rain forest to be constructed in the middle of the farm belt, contingent on collecting an identical amount in local funds.

Meanwhile, a new study on ethanol production by the Cato Institute says that Iowa gets a $2 billion benefit annually as a result of subsidies and trade barriers for the fuel, which is made from corn, Iowa's largest crop.

Critics say the subsidies are wasteful be cause it takes too much energy to create ethanol and that there won't be enough of the gas substitute to reduce dependence on foreign oil. But most of the presidential candidates have pledged during their campaigns in Iowa that they will maintain and even increase the subsidies.

"There are sacrosanct Iowa-oriented policies . . . because of presidential politics," said Stephen Ellis, vice president of the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense, which studies earmarks.

"Anybody who wants to be in the White House has got to have an extensive familiarity with Iowa, which helps it get more attention and funding."

By contrast, New Hampshire, which has joined Iowa in fighting to maintain its early status in the presidential selection process, has not fared nearly as well. New Hampshire, which is 41st in population, ranked 39th in earmarks in the recent appropriations bill, even though the state's senior senator, Judd Gregg, is a member of the appropriations committee and thus in a strong position to designate more funds for the Granite State.

Indeed, when all federal spending is tallied, Iowa got back $1.10 in federal funds for every tax dollar it sent to Washington in 2005. By comparison, New Hampshire got back only 71 cents per dollar, according to the study by the Taxpayer Foundation, a nonpartisan group that analyzes federal spending.

Iowa's success is a result of a combination of factors. The state's two senators have used their seniority on key committees to win support for earmarked projects such as Earthpark. Analysts say that Iowa's first-caucus status has been crucial in winning support for ethanol subsidies because so many presidential candidates back the idea. At the same time, many presidential candidates are eager to embrace projects suggested by Iowa politicians in order to win favor in the state.Continued...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/25/iowas_primacy_pays_off_in_dollars_and_influence/?page=2

www.telegraph.co.uk: Has the letdown of the Bush years left the average Joe Schmoe yearning for the Clintons?

Eric — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 01:17:06 EST

America hates Hillary Clinton and Co By Toby Harnden Last Updated: 1:47am GMT 25/11/2007

Page 1 of 2

They call it flyover country. These are the parts of the United States that the pundits and prognosticators of American politics see just occasionally - and usually from several thousand feet. It is a land where people shop at Wal-Mart, eat at Dairy Queen, work two jobs to make ends meet and have a Bible at home. They can decide on their vote with the help of talk radio, cable television and the internet - or from a combination of rumour, scraps of hard information and gut feeling.

Iowa and New Hampshire are the early-voting states into which the east-coast campaign "bubble" bounces every four years. They provide the stage for the opening acts. But it is in flyover country where the 2008 presidential election will be won and lost.

"There's less hustle and bustle here than on the coasts and a different outlook on life," said Marla Russ, a secretary and part-time policewoman at a football game in Weatherford, Oklahoma. "There's pride in the land and trust for each other. Things are still done on a handshake."

So is Hillary Clinton the "polarising" figure we hear so much of in the media? Can only a Democrat win in 2008? Is America ready to elect its first female or black president? Has the letdown of the Bush years left the average Joe Schmoe yearning for the Clintons?

With a year to go before the country votes for its 44th president, The Daily Telegraph embarked on its "Crossing America" project to find out. The answers that Julian Simmonds, photographer and videographer, and I got were often surprising. They provide little comfort for Mrs Clinton but not much more for any other politician. Although few people have no opinion about the 2008 candidates, the election has yet to grip the American imagination. And for most, their final decision remains a long way away.

Travelling principally by road in between hops by air, we reported as we went along, posting video, text and photographs on the Telegraph website each night. Our odyssey was enhanced by the emails and blog comments we received from Americans suggesting routes, berating us for skipping over their town or promising to show us a slice of true American life if we stopped down their way.

"Try small-town restaurants, country stores, truck stops and outside houses of worship after services," advised MyTelegraph's racefan. "You will be intrigued to discover that people can think for themselves."

Saulflieder urged: "Follow Highway 61 along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border and experience this wonderful drive that Dylan devoted one of his best albums to. Duluth, Minnesota, is a must-stop if you want to meet." Sadly, we could not get everywhere, but we were able to pursue several readers' tips.

We set out from Portland, Maine, on the north-east coast of New England on a diagonal route to the California port of San Diego in the south-west. The return leg started in the Seattle suburbs of the Pacific north-west and ended at the Atlantic on a beach in Florida, America's most south-eastern state.

In between, we stopped at places such as Wooster, an Ohio town hit by the wave of house foreclosures, Hannibal on the Missouri banks of the Mississippi and El Dorado (pronounced with a "ray" rather than a "rah" in the middle), an oil-boom town in the Kansas flatlands of Middle America.

We spoke to a megachurch minister in Washington state, new citizens in California, a cowboy doctor in Wyoming, a Kentucky country singer in Nashville and believers in UFOs in a dusty New Mexico town. Some interviews were arranged, but most discussions flowed from impromptu encounters in diners, parking lots, bars and shopping malls.

Mrs Clinton might be the frontrunner in the polls, but almost everywhere we went people questioned her candidacy. Many stated bluntly that they did not want a woman in charge. "It's a man's world," said Hugh Laflin, 62, a Kansas truck driver. "Would a Middle East sheikh talk to a lady president?" A Vietnam veteran in Arizona and a Florida gun-shop owner were among those who made crude jokes about America "going to war every 30 days" under a female president.

We never brought up Bill Clinton's sexual dalliances, but many ordinary Americans did. "She couldn't keep her own home together, so how can we trust her to manage America?" asked Micki Martinson, a housewife in Somerset, Pennsylvania.

While we found many people who hated Mrs Clinton, those who loved her were few and far between. Certainly, many said they would vote for her, but the reasons cited tended to be her status as the top Democrat, the fact that she was battle-tested against Republicans and - for some women - the fact that she would be the first female president.

Page 2

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/24/wamerica124.xml&page=2

Co-published by the ILO: How microfinance institutions can finance lasting social change

Eric — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:10:37 EST

An estimated US$4 billion is invested annually in microfinance around the world. But while microfinance institutions must have strong business models in order to survive, they face the challenge of making profits while creating lasting social change. A new study (Note 1) co-published by the ILO provides practitioners and policy makers with guidance on how to deal with the issue of balancing business and poverty reduction by defining criteria for supporting microfinance institutions. ILO Online spoke with Bernd Balkenhol, the editor of “Microfinance and Public Policy”.

21 November 2007

ILO Online: Public institutions, commercial banks, NGOs…microfinance institutions are quite diverse and difficult to compare – what do they have in common?

Bernd Balkenhol: The first challenge was to make sense of the diversity of institutions with different kinds of customers, processes, and organizational cultures. But one strand cuts through all organizations: the importance of efficiency – the ability to use scarce resources to most effectively reach thousands of customers, deliver quality services, and close the biggest gaps between the supply and demand of basic financial products for the poor. In microfinance, efficiency means using the least amount of inputs – particularly staff time and capital – to produce the greatest number of loans, reach under-banked clients, and deliver a range of valued services.

Our study found four different patterns of financial and social performance: the first group of MFIs is markedly inefficient – both in terms of social and financial performance – compared to what is being achieved by other institutions similar in location, legal form, delivery techniques, subsidies received and staff structure. The second category serves many poor households, but is weak on financial measures. The third category does well on profitability, but less well in terms of social impact. And the fourth category performs well in both respects. In the extremes, there are institutions that manage to reach very poor and remote households and still break even, while others cater to a better-off clientele, enjoy a relative monopoly and fail to do well financially.

ILO Online: How can the efficiency of microfinance institutions be measured?

Bernd Balkenhol: Efficiency in microfinance can be measured by different ratios: the most commonly used measure relates the operating expenses to the outstanding loan portfolio; others relate total operating cost to the number of borrowers, or the number of clients to the number of loan officers; less frequently used measures of efficiency are the share of loan officers to total staff, loan officer salaries compared to the minimum wage or the average processing time per loan.

In fact, institutions can operate with greatly varying degrees of efficiency. A 2005 survey of 365 leading institutions, for example, shows that on average lenders spent roughly 25 cents in operating expenses for every dollar of outstanding loans, but the measure ranged from under five cents for the most to over 40 cents for the less “efficient” lenders. Similarly, the average number of borrowers per staff member of the microfinance institution (another productivity measure) ranged from less than a hundred to more than 500 borrowers.

ILO Online: Is there a recipe for efficiency?

Bernd Balkenhol: There’s no magic recipe, one needs to bear in mind that context matters critically for performance, it’s not just a question of good or bad management. However, a starting point is to better understand the drivers of efficiency: average loan balances, salary costs and staff productivity. Given the cost functions in finance it always pays to go for larger loans; the downside is that one may lose the original clientele and move up-market into a less poor segment of the market. The second driver of operating expenses is staff costs. These vary enormously between countries as a result of the scarcity of qualified loan officers. Even the third determinant of operating expenses is sometimes difficult to manage: in rural and peri-urban areas it is a challenge for a loan officer to cater to 250-400 clients.

In part, managers of microfinance institutions must deal with the markets they are in, and have to take the nature of regulation and the structure of costs and wages as given constraints. Managers also have discretion; they can improve incentive contracts for loan officers, modify loan delivery techniques (e.g. choose between individual versus group transactions), adjust collateral requirements, choose combinations with non-financial services, and develop strategic partnerships with local groups and associations.

ILO Online: Is efficiency a guarantee for self-sustainability?

Bernd Balkenhol: What we learnt in analyzing the data was that efficiency does not necessarily translate into profitability, but moreover, that the successful outreach to the poor should not be used as an excuse for inefficiency. Inefficiency limits the scale of outreach and the quality of services, again leading to lost possibilities. Efficiency is a necessary but insufficient condition for full financial sustainability, there is space for public policy. Focusing on efficiency helps donors see that some institutions operate efficiently but fail to break even due to local market conditions (particularly high wage costs and low population density) or due to a strategic decision not to raise interest rates and other fees.

Patient public policy support can be justified, as long as institutions can demonstrate their cost-effective contributions to poverty reduction. Donors, though, still need to make sure that their support does not displace other service suppliers, private or public, or inhibit the microfinance institution from further innovation. We argue for a fundamental reform of subsidies in microfinance, built on longer-term, stable “performance-based contracts” between governments/donors and microfinance institutions that are geared towards efficiency targets for which managers can be held accountable.

Note 1 - Microfinance and Public Policy - Outreach, performance and efficiency, edited by Bernd Bakenhol, International Labour Office, Geneva, 2007, ISBN 978-92-2-119347-0. To order your copy, please visit: http://www.ilo.org/publns.

Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP): "Over Invested and Over Priced: American Higher Education Today"

Eric — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 04:01:29 EST

New Study Outlines 12 Reasons for Soaring College Costs
Higher education think tank releases new report (PDF) on why college costs continue to rise and questions whether we are "over-investing" in higher education

Washington, D.C. -- November 19, 2007

Today, the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP), a higher education think tank based in Washington, DC, released a new study outlining 12 reasons for soaring college tuition and questioning whether the government is spending too much money on higher education as a whole.

The report, "Over Invested and Over Priced: American Higher Education Today" offers a fresh perspective on the financial problems plaguing America's colleges and universities and urges government bodies to adopt reforms consistent with free-market principles. The study is authored by Dr. Richard Vedder, director of CCAP, who served as a member of the Secretary of Education's National Commission on the Future of Higher Education.

"As our new report outlines, most of what is wrong with higher education today can be boiled down to 12 reasons. It is imperative that we address these 12 problems if we want to truly make college more affordable for students and families and less of a burden for taxpayers," Vedder said.

The report questions common conventional wisdom about higher education such as that colleges and universities benefit the economy and that more government spending on higher education lowers tuition.

"From our regression results, it seems that the conventional wisdom might be wrong. Our data shows that the more states spend on higher education, the lower the growth in personal income per capita in future time periods," Vedder said. "What's more, where is this extra government money going? Our research indicates that a large portion of incremental state university spending goes for frills that do little to promote either education or economic growth. Colleges and universities spend the money on fancy recreation facilities, larger university bureaucracies, and higher salaries for personnel, not lowering tuition for the average student."

In his report, Vedder urges colleges and universities as well as government bodies supporting higher education to introduce more market-oriented reforms. "The academy needs market reforms like those that are commonplace in the private sector. Enacting some of the basic reforms that I discuss in this report will help slow down the outrageous rise in college tuition, make colleges more accountable to students and families, and ease their over-reliance on government funding," Vedder said. The report can be downloaded from the CCAP website at: http://www.collegeaffordability.net/CCAP_Report.pdf. A printed version of the report can also be obtained by calling CCAP offices at 202-375-7831.

American Institutes for Research: “More than a century ago Louis Pasteur revealed the secret to invention and innovation when he said ‘chance favors the prepared mind’

Eric — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:12:42 EST

More AIR News

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Novermber 14, 2007

Contact:
Larry McQuillan, 202-503-5119

8th Graders in Most U.S. States Performing Better in Math and Science than Students in Most Foreign Countries

Students in Highest Achieving U.S. States Rank Significantly Below
Students in Highest Achieving Countries

First Ever Comprehensive State-by-State Comparison of
U.S. Students’ Math and Science Proficiency Versus International Students

Washington, D.C. – Students in most U.S. states are performing as well as or better than most students in foreign countries in math and science, but the highest achieving states are still significantly below the highest achieving countries, according to a new study by the American Institutes for Research (AIR).

The first-of-its-kind report provides a comparison of the mathematics and science skills of 8th-grade students in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Department of Defense schools with those of their counterparts around the world. The report provides international benchmarks to help states see how their students are doing within an international context.

“If you think of states and nations as in a race to prepare the future generation of workers, scholars and citizens to be competent and competitive in a technologically complex world, then the states are in the middle of the pack,” said Dr. Gary Phillips, a chief scientist at AIR and author of the report. “The bad news is that even our best performing states are running far behind the highest performing countries.”

Dr. Phillips, who is nationally known for his expertise in large-scale assessments and complex surveys, served as the acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education from 1999 - 2002.

The report, “Chance Favors the Prepared Mind: Mathematics and Science Indicators for Comparing States and Nations,” classifies student performance levels as: Basic, which indicates a partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge; Proficient, solid academic performance; and Advanced, which shows superior performance.

In mathematics, students in 49 states and the District of Columbia are behind their counterparts in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Students in Massachusetts are on a par with Japanese students, but trail the other four nations. In science, students in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin trail only students in Singapore and Taiwan, while performing equal or better than students in the other 45 countries surveyed.

“More than a century ago Louis Pasteur revealed the secret to invention and innovation when he said ‘chance favors the prepared mind’. The take away message from this report is that the United States is loosing the race to prepare the minds of the future generation,” said Dr. Phillips.

Students in the District of Columbia had the lowest U.S. performance in mathematics (they did not participate in the science test). In math, the average D.C. student is at the Below Basic level, putting them behind students in 29 countries and ahead of those in 14 countries. In science, nine states are at the Below Basic level: Florida, Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Alabama, Hawaii, California and Mississippi.

“The report shows the United States needs to substantially increase the scientific and mathematical competency of the general adult population so citizens can better understand and address many of the world’s most pressing problems,” said Dr. Phillips.

The AIR study describes state and international education indicators for mathematics and science using state data collected by the 2005 and 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and international data collected by the 2003 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in grade 8.

Data from the two studies were reanalyzed and expressed in the same metric through statistical linking. By expressing both assessments in the same metric, states within the United States can use TIMSS results as international benchmarks to monitor progress over time.

The report suggests the United States needs more people working in the scientific disciplines in order to better compete in the global economic environment.

Other findings include:

At the national level, several Asian countries generally outperform the United States in both math and science.
In both mathematics and science, the United States is generally comparable to other English-speaking nations and to European countries, while many African and Middle Eastern countries perform significantly below the United States.
The highest performing countries are the same ones that grant the largest proportion of college degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
In mathematics, only five countries reach the Proficient level of achievement: Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Twenty-two countries are at the Basic level (including the U.S.) and 19 counties are Below Basic.

In science, only two countries are at the Proficient level: Singapore and Taiwan. Twenty countries are at the Basic level (including the U.S.) and 24 countries are Below Basic.

The full report can be downloaded here.

About AIR

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is an independent, nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research on important social issues and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education, and workforce productivity.

###

American Institutes for Research | 1000 Thomas Jefferson, NW | Washington, D.C. 20007

CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE: 1.8 MILLION VETERANS LACK HEALTH COVERAGE

Eric — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:55:18 EST

NEWS FROM CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE

October 30, 2007

1.8 MILLION VETERANS LACK HEALTH COVERAGE

Harvard Medical School Researchers at Cambridge Health Alliance Find Sharp Increase in Uninsured Veterans Since 2000: Nearly 6 Million Uninsured Americans are Veterans or Families of Veterans

Cambridge, MA……Of the 47 million uninsured Americans, one in every eight (12.2 percent) is a veteran or member of a veteran's household, according to a study by physicians from Cambridge Health Alliance who are also Harvard Medical School researchers. The study is published in the December, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. 1.8 million Veterans (12.7 percent of non-elderly veterans) were uninsured in 2004, up 290,000 since 2000, the study found. An additional 3.8 million members of their households were also uninsured and ineligible for VA care.

The study is based on detailed analyses of government surveys released between 1988 and 2005. Veterans were only classified as uninsured if they neither had health insurance nor received ongoing care at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals or clinics. A preliminary review by the study’s authors of 2006 data released last month (while this study was in press) shows little change in the number of uninsured veterans since 2004.

“Like other uninsured Americans, most uninsured vets are working people – too poor to afford private coverage but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or means-tested VA care,” said Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a physician at Cambridge Health Alliance and an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Woolhandler testified before Congress about the problem earlier this year. “As a result, veterans and their family members delay or forgo needed health care every day in the U.S.,” said Woolhandler.

Other findings of the study include:

The number of uninsured veterans has increased by 290,000 since 2000, when 9.9% of non-elderly veterans were uninsured, a figure which rose to 12.7% in 2004.
Of the 1.768 million uninsured, 645,628 were Vietnam-era veterans while 1,105,891 were veterans who served during “other eras” (including the Iraq and Gulf Wars)
Of uninsured veterans, 56.5% were older than 44.
Uninsured veterans had as much trouble getting medical care as other uninsured Americans. 26.5% of uninsured veterans reported that they had failed to get needed care due to costs; 31.2% had delayed care due to costs; 49.1% had not seen a doctor within the past year; and two-thirds failed to receive preventive care
Nearly two-thirds of uninsured veterans were employed.

Many uninsured veterans are barred from VA care because of a Department of Veterans Affairs order in early 2003 that halted enrollment of most middle income veterans. Others are unable to obtain VA care due to waiting lists at some VA facilities, unaffordable co-payments for VA specialty care, or the lack of VA facilities in their communities.

“The number of uninsured vets has skyrocketed since 2000, and eligibility has been cut, barring hundreds of thousands of veterans from care,” said Dr. David Himmelstein, lead author of the study, a physician at Cambridge Health Alliance, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard. “We need a solution that works for veterans, their families, and all Americans – single payer national health insurance,” he said.

“I see uninsured vets in my clinic every week,” said Dr. Jeffrey Scavron, a former Navy Physician in Springfield, Massachusetts. “In many cases, they’re too sick to work, but not yet sick enough for full disability which would qualify them for Medicare. Only the government can put men and woman into military service and only the government can guarantee that they are covered after they serve.

Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is an innovative, award-winning health system that provides high quality care in Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Malden, Revere, and the surrounding Metro-North communities in Massachusetts. It is a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and includes three hospitals, more than 20 primary care practices, the Cambridge Public Health Department, and the Network Health plan. With this unique model, CHA is able to offer the finest health services, a diverse working environment, and a premier training experience for those interested in community-based medicine. For more information: http://www.challiance.org/

Himmelstein, DU, Lasser KE, McCormick D, Bor DH, Boyd JW, and Woolhandler S. “Lack of Health Insurance Coverage Among U.S. Veterans from 1987 to 2004” American Journal of Public Health, December 2007 will be available on-line at www.ajph.org/first_look.shtml.

Economist Austan Goolsbee represents Obama in debate

Eric — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:34:35 EST

http://www.nabe.com/Economic Debate 2008

The top presidential campaign economists met on November 9 at the National Press Club in a debate sponsored by NABE. Watch the debate through streaming video at C-Span

http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100
Nat'l Assn. of Business Economics Presidential Advisors Debate
The National Association of Business Economics holds a debate with economic advisors to a number of presidential candidates. Participants include Gene Sperling, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), & Doug Holtz-Eakin Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), as well as advisors to Giuliani, Edwards, Obama & Romney.
11/9/2007: WASHINGTON, DC: 1 hr. 44 min.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Eric's Note: Worth listening to for the various positions on economic issues, although HRC's economist seemed a little wordy.

Southern Education Foundation: Lingering Challenges in Southern Education

Eric — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:50:34 EST

Southern Education Foundation
www.southerneducation.org

Financial Aid for Low-Income Students: Lingering Challenges in Southern Education (126 kb) Steve Suitts

Despite two decades of national education reform, often led by Southern governors, Southern states constitute the section of the United States where the nation fails most in advancing educational success for poor and minority students. It is where states remain farthest from the goal of increasing college-going rates, especially for poor, African-American and Latino students. While most Southern states now match or exceed the national average in high school graduation rates, the Deep South states have the nation’s lowest percentages of students and adults receiving BA degrees, including degrees in engineering, math and sciences. Poor and minority students in Southern states also have among the nation’s smallest chances to participate or succeed in college.

For full report, go to http://www.sefatl.org/pdf/Financial%20Aid-Challenges%20-%20downloadable.pdf

See excerpts below:-

...

Poor and minority students in Southern states also have among the nation's smallest chances to participate or succeed in college.

...

For instance, SEF has estimated in South Carolina and Arkansas that a student attending 12 years of school in a high-poverty or high African American district will receive an education worth $1 million to $1.5 million less than the education of a child attending a wealthier school district. (See SEF's reports, Miles to Go South Carolina and Miles to Go Arkansas.)

...

Too often in the public mind of the South, a high school diploma continues to have the currency it had 30 years ago --- as a certificate for livable wages. Yet, as analysts like Tom Mortenson and David Ellwood have plainly documented, only those families headed by individuals with a college education over the last 25 years have had actual gains in income. States with the higher percentages of college graduates generally have the higher per capita incomes.

...

Equally disturbing, the Southern states as a whole have not yet come to understand fully that fairness has a new imperative. Equity is not only morally right; it is a necessity in education for the sake of an entire state's future economic and social growth. Today in most Southern states, students who are receiving the least support and have the largest needs --- the South's poor, African American, and Latino students --- are a virtual majority of the student population in grades K-12. In 10 years, these groups of students will be a clear majority of the South's students --- and most of the South's future work force. Unlike the days of the South's old regional economy that could grow on unskilled, cheap labor, there is no way for most Southern states in the new global economy to have the necessary, educated work force, future economic prosperity, and amicable social relations if they fail to educate adequately a majority of their students. It simply cannot be done as the global economy of the 21st century expands.

...

Make www.BarackObama.com even better - more bandwidth to cope with explosive growth

Eric — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:49:51 EST

Post from Pieces of a Supporter's Mind: The Campaign's Website Must Be Adjusted to Accommodate Its Explosive GrowthBy "Athena" - Nov 3rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm EDT Also listed in: Atheists for Obama | Open Letter To Obama Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content Tags: Blogs, Speeches, TV Ads, video, Web site Rate this Post:
(What is this?)

Dear HQ: Let me share with you a proposal I just posted on the main blog. This website is getting HUGE and, IMO, its features must be improved to reflect that growth. Here are a few suggestions. We are growing like wildfire and we have to get organized:

--Add bandwidth. This is the only website that I have trouble with consistently in the form of "cannot find server" messages or freezing of the screens. This, despite my excellent high-speed connection.
--Add a search engine. This website is getting huge!
--Have campaign staffers and volunteers offer their own live feeds of events such as speeches so that we don't have to wait for the MSM to use them. We not only want the speech but, also, the crowd's reaction.
--Introduce more features in the text such as spell check, bold, italics, etc....
--Add a feature that enables us to cut and paste text or images from Word, Exel, etc... or other websites into our own blogposts.
--Change the script! Those of us with myopia AND astigmatism AND a lazy eye need some help and understanding. Is this Arial 10 pt.? A bit too small. Times New Roman, Garmond or Arial at 11-12 pts. would be much easier to both read and edit. I am not joking when I say that you could attract more seniors tis way. As for me and other lifelong bats, we would be more likely to read the long posts.
--Increase the size of the text in the comment title to at LEAST 12 pts., so that people are more readily aware of what the person wants to say.
--Create a video-specific archive of MAIN speeches
--A video archive of television ads
--An archive of morning clips, organized by news outlet or subject matter or date.

It is my fear that if changes like these are not made quickly, the website will be unmanageable once the p;rimary season kicks in and millions begin to visit www.barackobama.com every day.

Any more ideas about how we can improve a poster's and a visitor's experience on the site?
Reader Comments

More Suggestions | Report to Admin Reply By Cathy Yesterday at 6:11 pm EDT

I would like to see blogs posted under such topics as healthcare, environment, iraq, civil rights, etc. We should try to separate true blogs from just conversations. The conversations and spontaneous discussions could be held in an open thread forum - perhaps even by topic.

Right now, it is difficult to sift through well written opinion pieces and quick comments without respect to topic. I think we could better share our ideas with more organization.

I would like a "tech help" section. For example, I don't know how to post a blog in the Environmentalists for Obama group. I know I can comment, but that is limited.

Another problem is multiple posting of the same entry - I don't know how this happens.

Many people's home pages are very slow loading due to the number of groups or friends they have. Re: More Suggestions | Report to Admin Reply By "Athena" Yesterday at 10:03 pm EDT

Cathy: great suggestions!

Make MyBO even better | Report to Admin Reply By Eric Today at 12:49 am EDT

Dear Athena and Cathy,

Thank you for opening up this discussion with concrete recommended improvements to make MyBo even better.

"Add bandwidth. This is the only website that I have trouble with consistently in the form of "cannot find server" messages or freezing of the screens. This, despite my excellent high-speed connection."

This is, by far, the site's most annoying feature: it greatly hinders productivity. In particular, I immediately began using the phone system, but after the first 16 calls and losing the screen, time after time, in the middle of a discussion with an Obama supporter, I gave up. Fortunately, the Obama supporters were very pleasant and patient. However, I was willing to do 16 local calls a day and more on the weekend.

All posts should be available for all to review, but some could be separate from issue related posts:-

"multiple posting of the same entry" - Please limit these to one posting or place the copies in a multiple posting section.

Swiftboat attempts with themes, such as madrassa, muslim, the flag, lapel pin,etc. and blatantly offensive posts by, for example, Minneapolis Dan in suitably labelled sections.

Thanking you,

Eric

copy dailykos a little bit | Report to Admin Reply By Desert Rat Dan 27 minutes ago

by having some featured bloggers, discussions on a daily basis (issued based), at least one "open thread" per day for any conversation. Have new comments highlighted or something so one doesn't have to read through a lot of the same stuff twice.

and oh yeah, much more bandwidth! It gets frustrating when pages load real slow or when posts get lost.

Other than that, this is still the website that I am on the most and will continue to be.

Environmental News Network: Bill Clinton: "Green" economy offers great rewards

Eric — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:19:20 EST

Environmental News Network

From: Reuters
Published November 2, 2007 08:02 AM

Bill Clinton: "Green" economy offers great rewards

{ For full text, see http://www.enn.com/business/article/24220}

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The shift to a green economy is the biggest economic opportunity facing the United States since the military buildup to World War Two, former President Bill Clinton said on Thursday.

Addressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Summit, Clinton said initiatives to combat global warming, such as the retrofit of old buildings and switching to more fuel-efficient cars, would create jobs and boost wages.

...

Al Gore, Clinton's vice president, shared this year's Nobel Peace Prize with the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for raising awareness of global warming.

NACA/Countrywide proposed standard on restructuring subprime (and some of the other unaffordable) loans to allow borrowers to retain their homes

Eric — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:29:55 EDT

Congressional Committee chaired by Barney Franks then Gwen Moore today on C-Span 1: I listened to/watched a small part of the presentation by a panel including to NACA's Bruce Marks (a lawmaker jokingly described him as "cantankerous", but justifiably so, a necessary characteristic for what he is doing) and Countrywide Financial Corp's Sandor Samuels, Executive Managing Director.

Marks emphasized that the NACA/Countrywide should be the national standard for ensuring many homeowners, with unaffordable home mortgages, can stay in their homes. He mentioned a checklist, lawmakers should look at when interviewing others with plans to help troubled borrowers:

Interest rate reduced from ? to ?

How many have you done?

Not intentions, not process

End result: A payment, affordable to the borrower

Iowa's attorney general, Tom Miller, NeighborWorks America's CEO, Ken WAde, and a Hope Now representative were also on the panel. Tom Miller quoted President Reagan, "Trust but Verify".

Below is an earlier NACA/Countrywide press release: Countrywide and NACA Announce Groundbreaking Initiative to Help Borrowers Preserve Homeownership
Washington, DC (October 24, 2007) -- Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE:CFC) and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) announce a joint initiative aimed at their common goal of preserving homeownership. NACA will assist Countrywide borrowers facing financial difficulties in communities across the country to identify solutions to help them save their homes.

Representatives of NACA and Countrywide, as well as several borrowers receiving help through this program, will comment on the new initiative at a news conference on Wednesday, October 24, at 2:00 pm in the Edward R. Murrow Room of the National Press Club.

While there is a lot of talk about the at-risk homeowners, NACA and Countrywide have met and developed an effective solution for some borrowers facing a crisis. Under this program, homeowners have a “waterfall” of options, from a payment plan, to modification, to refinancing and finally to restructuring. Homeowners will be able to achieve a mortgage program that provides a payment they can afford over the long-term.

The agreement leverages Countrywide’s market leading home retention programs and NACA’s unique model for counseling borrowers. The program is based on NACA’s comprehensive Home Save approach that includes individual counseling and development of a documented Affordability Budget. NACA will work with Countrywide borrowers who come to NACA for assistance to develop the most effective plan to save their homes, then submit the plan to Countrywide for approval and implementation.

“NACA’s Home Save approach provides unprecedented options to working people at risk of foreclosure.” states NACA CEO Bruce Marks. “The Countrywide agreement has already had a huge impact with homeowners having their loans restructured to as low as five percent.”

“Both Countrywide and NACA want to make homeownership a reality and homeownership preservation a priority,” said Sandor Samuels, Executive Managing Director of Countrywide. “NACA’s methodical approach to counseling and family budgeting will be invaluable to Countrywide borrowers who are struggling to keep their homes.”

Homeowners like Darrell Beringer agree. “I was about to lose my house because I couldn’t pay the higher interest rate,” he said. “The arrangement between NACA and Countrywide allows us to stay in our home and in the community that we call our own.”

Currently, Countrywide has 2,700 home retention specialists who work directly with borrowers, and works closely with dozens of borrower counseling organizations. The NACA agreement will enable Countrywide to leverage additional resources of NACA’s 33 local offices across the country to help more of its borrowers remain in their homes.

“In my discussions with executives at Countrywide, it became very apparent that they are serious about home preservation,” said Bruce Marks, Chief Executive Officer, Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America. “I hope that this groundbreaking alliance between NACA and Countrywide will provide a framework for other lenders around the country to help their customers maintain their dream of homeownership .”

The struggle for many lenders has been communicating with the borrower. Although Countrywide contacts borrowers via telephone and mail, many borrowers avoid speaking with their lender. Working with nonprofit counseling agencies such as NACA provides borrowers an alternative form of assistance.

Key policymakers, including Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chair Chris Dodd (D-CT) and House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank (D-MA), have called for these kinds of alliances and cooperative efforts to find solutions that keep as many people as possible in their homes.

Borrowers seeking foreclosure prevention tools and resources can:

Visit Countrywide's H.O.M.E. (Home Ownership Mortgage Education) web site at www.HomeByCountrywide.com or call 1-800-866-6650.
Visit NACA at www.naca.com or call 1-888-302-NACA.

About Countrywide Financial
Founded in 1969, Countrywide Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services provider and a member of the S&P 500, Forbes 2000 and Fortune 500. Through its family of companies, Countrywide originates, purchases, securitizes, sells, and services prime and nonprime loans; provides loan closing services such as credit reports, appraisals and flood determinations; offers banking services which include depository and home loan products; conducts fixed income securities underwriting and trading activities; provides property, life and casualty insurance; and manages a captive mortgage reinsurance company. For more information about the Company, visit Countrywide's website at www.countrywide.com.

About the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (www.naca.com)
NACA, a national non-profit community advocacy and homeownership organization established in 1988, has been the lead organization in the fight to identify, expose, and oppose predatory lending and exploitive lending practices. NACA first exposed Fleet Bank’s lending abuses in 1991, followed by numerous other campaigns against companies that victimize low- and moderate-income people pursuing the dream of homeownership.

NACA provides one mortgage which is the best in the country requiring no downpayment, no closing costs, no points, no fees, no perfect credit at a below interest rate currently 5.375% 30 year fixed. NACA has $10 Billion committed to this mortgage with more than 30 offices across the country providing working people and an unmatched program and national model for doing mortgage lending the right way. NACA’s program and advocacy have been featured in the national and local media nationwide. In April 2007, in response to the subprime lending crisis, NACA committed One Billion dollars to refinance homeowners out of their unaffordable loans, constituting the largest commitment to homeowners to date.

New Economist: Who's on top?

Eric — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:29:05 EDT

New EconomistNew economic research, data, events and analysis from a London-based economistThursday, November 01, 2007

Who's on top?

...Even economies have their own such lists. ...

One can of course argue with the components and weighting of the various indices, which are by their nature somewhat arbitrary. Nonetheless, despite very different methodologies, the same handful of countries crop up time and time again

The general conclusion, as a previous post on this topic argued, is that three groups typically do well:

* the Nordic economies, particularly the smaller economies of Denmark and Finland;

* the Anglo-saxon economies - the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand;

* the Asian city-states of Singapore and Hong Kong.

So too does Switzerland.

These are clearly very different economic models, showing that in the path to economic prosperity 'one size fits all' just isn't true. Second, most of these countries have relatively 'free' markets and light regulatory regimes. Third, the relative success of the Nordic economies show that low tax rates are not a necessary pre-requisite. Fourth, in Europe smaller countries seem to do better than the larger ones.

FAIR: We’re Not Running Out of Workers!

Eric — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 23:29:32 EDT

October 2007
FAIR's Immigration Report

We’re Not Running Out of Workers!

To listen to President Bush, congressional backers of the guest worker amnesty bill, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, without a massive new infusion of low wage foreign labor, the U.S. economy is in serious danger of grinding to a halt. Normally, the business press has echoed the contention that there is a labor shortage in the United States. However, Business Week magazine departed from that orthodoxy in a story that makes much the same argument that FAIR has made for years: The problem is not a dearth of workers, but rather a reluctance on the part of many employers to offer attractive wages, working conditions and benefits.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, if “discouraged” workers, i.e. those who have given up looking for work, are added to those officially classified as unemployed, the United States has an available pool of 9.1 million workers to draw on. That unutilized labor force would more than offset the number of illegal aliens currently working in the United States. According to David Rosenberg, an economist with Merrill Lynch, “When employers say that there’s a worker shortage, what they really mean is they can’t get enough workers at the price they want to pay…” That sentiment is echoed by Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute. “I can’t sign on to the idea that there are jobs people won’t do at any price.”

These are precisely the arguments that FAIR has made in response to calls to flood the labor market with more low-wage foreign workers, including in our publication “Immigration and Rising Income Inequality,” originally published in 2004 and updated this year. The report is available online at www.fairus.org. Slowing immigration and cracking down on the employment of illegal immigrants not only makes for good social policy, but even many economists are now acknowledging that it makes good business sense as well.

Immigration Up, Wages Down
In areas of the country that have been experiencing large scale immigration over a long period of time, it is hard to get an accurate read on how the phenomenon affects American workers. South Carolina, where large scale immigration has only occurred recently, provides an interesting case study. According to a new study by the University of South Carolina, wages in the state fell 3.1 percent between 2000 and 2005 as immigrants flooded into the labor market. The impact was especially pronounced in sectors of the labor market with the highest concentrations of immigrant workers. Wages in construction fell 5 percent during this period.

10/07

Richard Florida, Tim Gulden and Charlotta Mellander: The Rise of the Mega-Region

Eric — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:56:40 EDT

October 2007
Richard Florida and colleagues Tim Gulden and Charlotta Mellander have just published a new report, "The Rise of the Mega-Region." They use a new measure they call Light-based Regional Product to rank the world's top 40 mega-regions: Greater Tokyo is the world's top mega-region. Boston-Washington and Chicago-Pittsburgh rank second and third.
For full text of report, go to http://creativeclass.typepad.com/thecreativityexchange/files/florida_gulden_mellander_megaregions.pdf
Conclusions

We have examined the rise of global mega-regions. Initially identified, by

Gottman, mega-regions are natural economic units, arising as metropolitan regions

become increasingly integrated with one another. Previous research has documented

existence of mega-regions in specific countries like the United States or continents

like Europe. Until now, research has been regionally specific and cross regional

comparisons were limited by the absence of systematic definitions and comparable

global data. We have begun to address this by identifying a consistent set of global

mega-regions using satellite imagery of the nighttime light emissions for the globe.

We then use these light-footprints, combined with other data, to estimate population,

innovation and scientific discoveries, along with economic activity, for each of them.

Our findings indicate that mega-regions are a considerable economic force

globally. The world’s 40 largest mega-regions, those which produce in excess of

$100 billion in LRP, account cover only a tiny fraction of the habitable surface of the

earth, and are home to less than 18% of the world’s population, yet, they are

responsible for 66% of global economic activity and about 85% of technological and

scientific innovation. Mega-regions not only define the economies of the advanced

nations but play a central role in emerging economies as well. Our findings suggest

that it makes little sense to think of the growth of India and China as a national

phenomenon but rather as mega-regional one.

Furthermore, our research suggests that geography and location matter a great

deal to economic development. While it has become a commonplace to argue that

advances in transport and communication technology have allowed the world to

become “flat” (Friedman, 2005), the reality is that both economic activity and

innovation remain greatly concentrated. Thus the great paradox of our time: at the

same moment that technology enables the geographic spread of economic activity,

economic activity continues to cluster and concentrate around this mega-regional unit.

The reasons for this are beyond the scope of this paper but revolve around the human

capital externalities initially identified by Jacobs (1969) and codified into economic

theory by Lucas (1988). Developing deeper understanding of the role of these human

capital externalities in the formation, growth and function of mega-regions is an

important task of future research.

Iowa State University's Technology, Globalization, and Culture lecture series: Dr. Newt Gingrich (mentions Senator Hillary Clinton three times)

Eric — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 03:34:55 EDT

October 26th, 2007 Iowa State University Technology, Globalization, and Culture lecture series

Newt continually emphasizes which world works and which world fails. Newt discusses our need to be on the cutting edge of the global renaissance in education - listen at http://tigre.eng.iastate.edu/ME484/ME484_L20.mov .

Newt stresses loving the game you're playing, being in the zone and loving what you're doing.Newt envisages an explosion of creativity worldwide.

Newt mentions the ever-increasing decay rate of knowledge. To keep up-to-date, wake up every morning and scan the entire planet for new discoveries.

Adopt the Think-Act-Plan empirical approach to problems by allowing non-academics/non-bureaucrats to also deal with issues, such as landing on Mars, inventing a hydrogen powered car, the visa sysem, etc. Regarding achieving manned flight, he contrasts the success of the Wright Brothers with the failure of the Smithsonian.

Touts his upcoming book "Contract with the Earth", i.e., "Green Conservatism". Emphasizes the the use of market forces and the overlap between Economy, Environment and National Security.

"Country is fed up with a Red vs Blue automatic partisanship". Newt wants to work across party lines on pragmatic solutions: Stresses his collaboration with Senator Clinton - mentions "Senator Clinton" twice and "Hillary" once in this speech - .

Envisages, absent a catastrophe, the elimination of poverty worldwide, a relatively prosperous and relatively safe world. Newt concludes that by following his advice we could be the leading country on the planet a century from now.

The Iowa Policy Project :Oct. 25, 2007 Documenting the Undocumented, Undocumented Immigrants Pay Iowa Taxes

Eric — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 01:18:37 EDT

The Iowa Policy Project executive summary

October 2007 Undocumented Immigrants in Iowa Estimated Tax Contributions and Fiscal Impact

By Beth Pearson and Michael F. Sheehan

www.IowaPolicyProject.org

...

Summary of Findings

As a group, undocumented immigrant families pay less in state taxes than do their legal counterparts in Iowa; however, even an undocumented family sending home remittances and paying no state income taxes will pay more than $1,300 into the state coffers each year. Undocumented immigrants in Iowa pay an aggregate amount of between $40 million and $62 million in state and local property, sales and excise, and income taxes every year. Importantly, despite tax payments that are approximately 80 percent of the taxes paid by legally documented families with comparable incomes, undocumented immigrant families are eligible for far fewer state and federal services than are documented residents in Iowa.

Conclusions

Studies estimating the cost of services used by undocumented immigrants should also take into account the taxes that these immigrants pay. Comparisons between the fiscal impacts of undocumented immigrants and documented state residents will be more accurate if they include these tax estimates, compare undocumented immigrants to a documented family of similar income characteristics, and consider how the cost of each family's accessed services is dependent on eligibility criteria for these services.

www.milkeninstitute.org.:The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease on SOUTH CAROLINA

Eric — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:49:58 EDT

The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease on SOUTH CAROLINA

2006 Population

4,321,249

Current Toll on South Carolina TODAY

Over 2.5 million cases of seven common chronic diseases — cancers, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, mental

disorders, and pulmonary conditions — were reported in South Carolina in 2003. These conditions shorten lives, reduce

quality of life, and create considerable burden for caregivers.

...

And while the human cost is enormous, the economic cost also is great. The cost of treating these conditions — without

even taking into consideration the many secondary health problems they cause — totaled $4.0 billion in 2003. These conditions

also reduce productivity at the workplace, as ill employees and their caregivers are often forced either to miss work days

(absenteeism) or to show up but not perform well (presenteeism). The impact of lost workdays and lower employee productivity

resulted in an annual economic loss in South Carolina of $16.8 billion in 2003

...

Two Paths, Two Choices—Chronic Disease in South Carolina TOMORROW

On our current path, South Carolina will experience a dramatic increase in chronic disease in the next 20 years. But there isan alternative path. By making reasonable improvements in preventing and managing chronic disease, we can avoid 660,000

cases of chronic conditions in 2023.

...

Reasonable improvements in preventing and managing chronic disease could reduce future economic costs of

disease in South Carolina sharply, by 27% ($19.3 billion) in 2023. $15.3 billion of this would come from gains in productivity, and

$4.1 billion would come from reduced treatment spending.

....

And the impact on economic output compounds over time.

These improvements in health will increase investments in human

and physical capital, driving additional economic growth a generation

from now. By 2050, reasonable disease prevention and management

efforts could add $66 billion to the state’s economic output, a boost

of 18%.

...

From: DeVol, Ross, and Armen Bedroussian, An Unhealthy America: The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease, Milken Institute, October 2007.

Report prepared with support from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Report available at www.milkeninstitute.org.

Allison Churilla, the Carsey Institute,University of New Hampshire : The State of Working New Hampshire 2007

Eric — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:39:29 EDT

For New Hampshire Workers, High Growth In Productivity But Only Moderate Growth In Wages And Jobs

University of New Hampshire

A new Carsey brief on “The State of Working New Hampshire 2007” finds that while workers in the state fared better than the rest of the region and the nation in 2006, wage growth has not kept pace with the rising cost of living and job losses in manufacturing continue to reflect a transforming economy.

www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/

Summary

Relative to the nation and other states in the region, New

Hampshire workers continue to fare well on many measures

of economic well-being. But it is clear that New Hampshire

workers have not benefited to the same extent they did

during the economic expansion of the mid-1990s. Labor

force participation remains high in the state, but participation

rates continue to decline. Workers’ wages continue to

rise, yet wage growth is not keeping pace with rising living

expenses. New Hampshire workers cope with rising housing

costs and, for some, an inability to meet basic living expenses.

Finally, job growth remains positive, but growth is slow

compared to the economic recovery of the 1990s.

Labor force trends in New Hampshire are largely positive,

suggesting that a large portion of workers and their

families are faring well in this economic recovery. But New

Hampshire workers—especially workers with lower levels of

education and workers in particular industries—are being

hit by the jobless recovery that characterizes the period since

2001. Careful consideration is necessary to ensure that New

Hampshire workers who contribute to the growing economy

are seeing corresponding wage benefits

Author

Allison Churilla is a Policy Fellow at the Carsey Institute

and a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Sociology at the

University of New Hampshire (allison.churilla@unh.edu).

ACORN foreclosure study shows losses to cities could exceed $25 billion

Eric — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:49:18 EDT

ACORN foreclosure study shows losses to cities could exceed $25 billion

As many as 2 million families are expected to face foreclosure due to the subprime lending crisis.

ACORN's Oct. 23 report “Foreclosure Exposure 2: The Cost to our Cities and Neighborhoods” analyzes data from private and federal sources to predict the real economic impact of foreclosures on 96 metropolitan areas if financial institutions and governments do not act immediately to minimize the damage. As the foreclosure crisis widens, property owners, local governments, lenders and investors alike stand to lose more than $25 billion. View reports on any of 96 metropolitan areas.

Using data available under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and estimates provided by the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee and other sources, ACORN’s study shows the real costs communities incur when high foreclosure rates spawn derelict buildings and depress residential and commercial....

[more]

Robert Pollin and Heidi Garrett-Peltier: The U.S. Employment Effects of Military and Domestic Spending Priorities

Eric — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 02:46:56 EDT

THE U.S . EMPLOYMENT EFFECTS OF MILITARY AND DOMESTIC SPENDING PRIORITIES October 2007

Robert Pollin and Heidi Garrett-Peltier

Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institute

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

October 2007

For full report, see http://www.peri.umass.edu/fileadmin/pdf/other_publication_types/PERI_IPS_WAND_study.pdf

Conclusion

The U.S. government now operates with a military budget of nearly $600 billion per year. This is a 66 percent increase (in real dollars) relative to the level of spending in 2000. It amounts to 4.4 percent of GDP. An expenditure level of this magnitude will necessarily have a major impact in establishing the country's policy priorities and overall economic trajectory.

We have shown what are the employment effects of spending on the military in contrast with five domestic spending categories. Specifically, we have shown that spending on personal consumption, health care, education, mass transit, and construction for home weatherization and infrastructure repair all create more jobs per $1 billon in expenditures relative to military spending.

It is true that jobs generated by military spending tend to pay relatively well, which is part of the reason that fewer jobs are created per dollar of expenditure than through alternative spending targets. However, we have also seen that $1 billion in spending on education, on average, generates more than twice the number of jobs as does military spending, and higher-paying jobs. Spending on health care, mass transit, and home weatherization/infrastructure creates jobs at a lower average level of pay than military spending. But these three spending targets do create substantially more jobs than military spending, with an overall level of pay, combining all workers' paychecks and benefits, higher than the military. Moreover, a substantial majority of the jobs generated through a health care, mass transit or construction expansion pay more than $32,000 per year, our rough threshold for a minimally decent income level. The majority of jobs pay between $32,000 - $64,000, a rough middle-income pay range. Health care, mass transit, weatherization, and infrastructure repair are all also high priority areas for social spending. More spending in these areas could be combined with improving the average level of pay, while still creating more jobs per dollar of expenditure than the military.

Increased personal consumption resulting from tax cuts is the only alternative spending target that we examined that is inferior to military spending along two dimensions--both the average pay and the total amount of compensation per $1 billion in expenditures are lower. There is also no reason why expanding personal consumption expenditures--particularly of the already affluent, whose level of expenditures have risen sharply since the early 1990s--should be considered as a primary focus of social policy.

Overall then, there is a great deal at stake as policy makers and voters establish public policy spending priorities. As we have seen, by addressing social needs in the areas of health care, education, education, mass transit, home weatherization and infrastructure repairs, we would also create more jobs and, depending on the specifics of how such a reallocation is pursued, both an overall higher level of compensation for working people in the U.S. and a better average quality of jobs.

The Authors

Robert Pollin is Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at U Mass Amherst. Heidi Garrett-Peltier is an Economics Ph.D. student and Research Assistant at PERI.

Ohio.com: Teaching Arabic, Chinese and Spanish to children as young as preschoolers is part of a blueprint created by business, education and government leaders to boost the state's economy.

Eric — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:01:41 EDT

Economic plan suggests teaching foreign languages to preschoolers

Published on Monday Oct 22, 2007

For full text see http://www.ohio.com/news/ap?articleID=164111&c=y

Teaching Arabic, Chinese and Spanish to children as young as preschoolers is part of a blueprint created by business, education and government leaders to boost the state's economy.

Federal officials have put $333,333 behind the pilot program in the hope that Ohio will set a national example of the benefits of having residents interested in other languages and cultures. Oregon and Texas also were selected for the effort, which is backed by the U.S. departments of commerce, defense and labor.

The plan, called the "Ohio Language Roadmap for the 21st Century," lists things the state can do to better compete globally, more warmly welcome foreigners with limited English skills and strengthen state and national ...

The pilot program calls for:

_ Expanding foreign-language training _ from pre-kindergarten to adult-education classes _ in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. ...

Small Business Administration (SBA): SBA CHIEF ROLLS OUT INNER CITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVES WASHINGTON

Eric — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:34:32 EDT

NEWS RELEASE PRESS OFFICE Release Date: October 18, 2007 Contact: Christine Mangi (202) 205-6948 Advisory Number: 07-70 Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news/

SBA CHIEF ROLLS OUT INNER CITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVES

WASHINGTON – Today Steve Preston, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced a new initiative to boost entrepreneurship in 10 American inner cities as the latest component of its strategy to advance entrepreneurship in underserved markets. The Agency will partner with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City to develop a program to support the financial and developmental needs of emerging inner city companies. The design and city selection process will begin shortly, with implementation expected early next year.

“SBA is increasing outreach to areas historically challenged by high levels of unemployment and poverty,” said Preston. “We believe bolstering entrepreneurial success in these areas will generate new jobs, attract investment, and provide a more sustainable economic base in distressed areas.

” Preston also said SBA intends to modify its Community Express loan program so that it is simpler for lenders and borrowers to use and focused more on underserved markets. This program, which has the highest minority participation of any SBA lending product, involves a cooperative effort between SBA lenders and development resource partners to focus the agency’s financial and technical assistance on distressed communities.

According to SBA’s Office of Advocacy, small businesses are the greatest source of net new employment in inner cities and account for 80 percent of total employment. However, the job growth rate in inner cities lags behind the rest of metropolitan areas (State of Inner City Economies: Small Businesses in the Inner City,” Oct. 2005).

As part of a broader initiative on underserved markets announced last month, the agency is working to accelerate entrepreneurship in inner cities and rural areas through new and improved SBA programs and activities that fall into four main tracks:

• Improving entrepreneurial literacy and technical assistance in inner city communities;
• Providing more advanced financial and developmental assistance to emerging growth companies in inner city communities; • Enabling access to capital across underserved communities; • Improving access to government contracting opportunities.
(---MORE---)
Page 2/Underserved Markets

In addition to today’s announcements, Preston recently unveiled Rural Lender Advantage, a simpler loan approval process designed to spur economic growth in America’s rural communities. Part of the agency’s popular 7(a) loan program, Rural Lender Advantage encourages smaller, rural lenders to partner with SBA by requiring less paperwork, offering services online, and providing greater lender support. It will begin in six states, but the agency expects to expand it nationwide.

Earlier this month, the agency also announced a partnership with Operation HOPE, Inc. in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood to provide training, counseling and business education to budding entrepreneurs. Counselors from SBA’s established resource partners in New York will work at the center on a rotating basis.

The SBA has many resources to help entrepreneurs and small business owners in underserved markets, such as Small Business Training Network online, the HUBZone program, SBA’s network of Small Business Development Centers, Womens’ Business Centers and SCORE Chapters. Information on these programs can be found on SBA’s website, www.sba.gov. # # #
_____________________________________________________________________

Eric's Note
See also Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative

Overview

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the SBA's Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses.

Eligible military community members include:

Veterans
Service-disabled veterans
Active-duty service members eligible for the military's Transition Assistance Program
Reservists and National Guard members
Current spouses of any of the above
The widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service or of a service-connected disability
The SBA and its resource partners are focusing additional efforts on counseling and training to augment this loan initiative.
www.sba.gov

ACCION: Need for access to capital in underserved communities

Eric — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:09:03 EDT

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO & President Michael L. Barrera Joins
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Bernanke and U.S. Treasurer Anna Cabral at U.S.
Summit on Microfinance

Summit highlights the need for access to capital in underserved communities and hosted by ACCION Texas in

San Antonio, TX, November 6-7

Washington, DC--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--October 18, 2007--ACCION Texas Founder and President Janie

Barrera announced today that Michael L. Barrera, the CEO and President of the United States Hispanic Chamber

of Commerce (USHCC), will be speaking at ACCION Texas’s upcoming “Summit on Microfinance in the U.S.”

in San Antonio, Texas on November 6-7.

The summit will bring together nationally recognized experts to discuss the ability of microenterprise to create

and maintain wealth for low-income families and communities. Participants include Federal Reserve Chairman

Ben Bernanke as the keynote speaker, U.S. Treasurer Anna Cabral; Robert Annibale, Citigroup’s global director

of microfinance; Mark Pinsky, president and CEO of Opportunity Finance Network; and Lynda de la Viña, dean

of the College of Business at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

“Access to capital for Hispanic-owned small businesses has long been known to serve as a catalyst for job growth

and new job creation throughout the country,” said Michael L. Barrera, USHCC President and CEO. “As

Hispanic businesses grow, they must have access to the same venture capital and procurement opportunities

allotted to their majority counterparts. USHCC supports programs and policies that increase and secure access to

both capital and government procurement, and we are proud to partner with ACCION Texas to discuss ways to

expand the impact of microfinance in the Hispanic business community.”

With the awarding of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank for their work

in developing countries, the U.S. has sought to adopt the microfinance model in traditionally underserved and

impoverished communities. Speakers will address the need for access to capital in underserved communities, and

the importance of microenterprise in creating and retaining wealth and assets for low income families and

communities in the U.S. They will also focuses on the impact of microcredit and its contribution to the economic

stability and self sufficiency of families and communities across the nation.

“We are extremely pleased to address the summit with U.S. Treasurer Cabral and Federal Reserve Chairman

Bernanke,” said Barrera. “Treasurer Cabral recognizes the role of the nation’s community development financial

institutions in empowering Americans from all walks of life, and the Federal Reserve Chairman is an expert and

scholar on monetary policy and macroeconomics. The USHCC is proud to join them in addressing the needs of

Hispanic businesses in their efforts to achieve the American Dream of financial independence and economic

empowerment.”

Hispanic businesses are among the fastest growing segments of the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Census,

Page 1 / 2

there are currently more than two million Hispanic-owned businesses in the US, which collectively generate more

than $350 billion in revenue annually. Hispanic-owned firms in the United States are expected to grow 55 percent

to 3.2 million in the next six years, with total revenues surging 70 percent to more than $465 billion. As of 2006,

there are approximately 856,000+ firms owned by Latinas employing over 400,000 people and generating nearly

$67 billion in sales.

For more information about the U.S. Summit on Microfinance, log on to http://www.acciontexas.org.

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic

entrepreneurs and represents the interests of more than two million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United

States, which earn more than $350 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local

Hispanic chambers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Fore more information, press only:

Noemi Perez for USHCC, (202) 715-0485

Erica Baca for USHCC, (202) 715-0483

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information about the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of

Commerce, please visit the USHCC Web page at http://www.ushcc.com/about on USHCC’s information pages.

Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of release, but may since have changed. For

additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact USHCC’s Communications Team or other appropriate

contacts listed at http://www.ushcc.com/contact.html.

Contact:

Noemi Perez for USHCC

(202) 715-0485

Erica Baca for USHCC

(202) 715-0483

Page 2 / 2

California Budget Project: Making Ends Meet: How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Family in California?

Eric — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:47:20 EDT

A new report estimates the costs of housing, food, and other necessities for California families. The study finds that families need to earn incomes that are much higher than the federal poverty line to afford to make ends meet.

...

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RAISE A FAMILY?

(page 5 of 26)

In order to support a modest standard of living, this report

estimates that:

• A single adult needs an annual income of $28,336,

equivalent to an hourly wage of $13.62. Regional

estimates range from $23,815 to $30,262 ($11.45 to

$14.55 per hour).

• A single-parent family needs an annual income of

$59,732, equivalent to an hourly wage of $28.72. Regional

estimates range from $49,672 to $65,864 ($23.88 to

$31.67 per hour).

• A two-parent family with one employed parent needs an

annual income of $50,383, equivalent to an hourly wage

of $24.22. Regional estimates range from $44,448 to

$54,815 ($21.37 to $26.35 per hour).

• A family with two working parents needs an annual income

of $72,343, equivalent to each parent working full-time for

an hourly wage of $17.39. Regional estimates range from

$62,624 to $77,069 ($15.05 to $18.53 per hour for each

parent).

The hourly wage needed to earn the basic family budget for

families with children is two to four times the state’s minimum

wage ($7.50 per hour).3 The hourly wage required by single

parents and the employed parent in a two-parent family with

one working parent also exceeds the 2006 median hourly wage

($17.42) for California workers – the hourly wage earned by

the worker exactly at the middle of the earnings distribution

(Table 1). Moreover, the hourly wage standard estimated in this

report assumes full-time employment for 40 hours per week,

52 weeks per year and does not allow for any unpaid days off

during a year. Part-time or part-year workers would need higher

hourly wages to earn the same annual income. A single parent

must earn almost as much as the two working parents in order

to pay for child care, while realizing only modest savings for

food, health care, and other household expenses. On the other

hand, a two-parent family in which only one parent works can

live on less, since one parent can stay home with the children.

It is important to note what is not included in the basic family

budget. For example, these estimates assume that families

rent, rather than own, their homes and live in housing that

many would consider overcrowded for a three- or four-person

household. For many families, homeownership remains a

dream, particularly in many of California’s urban communities,

which are among the most costly housing markets in the

country. The basic family budgets assume that families use

home-based child care, rather than more expensive centerbased

care, and that health coverage is purchased privately

with no assistance from an employer. Finally, these estimates

allow very little to no room for savings toward retirement or a

child’s college education.

Table 1: How Do Basic Family Budgets Compare? {Table 1 at

http://www.cbp.org/index.html}

Many Californians support their families on less than the

standard estimated in this report. Some can live on less because

they receive health coverage from their jobs or are able to leave

their children with family or friends while at work, or because

they cut costs to make ends meet. Others, including many

working families, rely on public programs such as food stamps,

subsidized child care, Medi-Cal, or Healthy Families in order to

make ends meet; others rely on private charities or go into debt

because their incomes are insufficient to pay for basic needs.

The CBP’s basic family budget provides an estimate of the

income needed to meet basic needs without assistance.

Conclusion

This report illustrates the difficulties that families face in meeting

basic living expenses. The basic family budgets presented in this

report all require incomes much higher than those provided by

minimum wage work and, in many cases, more than the median

wage. The disparity between the wages available from work and

the cost of raising a family provides an important foundation for

policy deliberations. Public policies can help families move toward

self-sufficiency by boosting incomes or by providing help with

access to necessities, such as child care and health coverage.

Public policies also can target public dollars, such as job training

and economic development programs, toward higher-wage

jobs and industries that pay their workers a suffi cient income to

make ends meet.

http://www.cbp.org/index.html

October 2007

A Publication of the California Budget Project

THE FUTURIST: the editors' top 10 forecasts from Outlook 2008

Eric — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:51:41 EDT

A magazine of forecasts, trends, and ideas about the future.

Each year since 1985, the editors of THE FUTURIST have selected the most thought-provoking ideas and forecasts appearing in the magazine. Over the years, Outlook has spotlighted the emergence of such epochal developments as the Internet, virtual reality, and the end of the Cold War.

Here are the editors' top 10 forecasts from Outlook 2008:

1. The world will have a billion millionaires by 2025. Globalization and technological innovation are driving this increased prosperity. But challenges to prosperity will also become more acute, such as water shortages that will affect two-thirds of world population by 2025. --James Canton, author of "The Extreme Future," reviewed in THE FUTURIST May-June 2007, p. 54

2. Fashion will go wired as technologies and tastes converge to revolutionize the textile industry. Researchers in smart fabrics and intelligent textiles (SFIT) are working with the fashion industry to bring us color-changing or perfume-emitting jeans, wristwatches that work as digital wallets, and running shoes like the Nike +iPod that watch where you're going (possibly allowing others to do the same). Powering these gizmos remains a key obstacle. But industry watchers estimate that a $400 million market for SFIT is already in place and predict that smart fabrics could revitalize the U.S. and European textile industry. --Patrick Tucker, "Smart Fashion," Sep-Oct 2007, p. 68

3. The threat of another cold war with China, Russia, or both could replace terrorism as the chief foreign-policy concern of the United States. Scenarios for what a war with China or Russia would look like make the clashes and wars in which the United States is now involved seem insignificant. The power of radical jihadists is trivial compared with Soviet missile capabilities, for instance. The focus of U.S. foreign policy should thus be on preventing an engagement among Great Powers. --Edward N. Luttwak, "Preserving Balance among the Great Powers," Nov-Dec 2006, p. 26

4. Counterfeiting of currency will proliferate, driving the move toward a cashless society. Sophisticated new optical scanning technologies could, in the next five years, be a boon for currency counterfeiters, so societies are increasingly putting aside their privacy fears about going cashless. Meanwhile, cashless technologies are improving, making them far easier and safer to use. --Allen H. Kupetz, "Our Cashless Future," May-June 2007, p. 37

5. The earth is on the verge of a significant extinction event. The twenty-first century could witness a biodiversity collapse 100 to 1,000 times greater than any previous extinction since the dawn of humanity, according to the World Resources Institute. Protecting biodiversity in a time of increased resource consumption, overpopulation, and environmental degradation will require continued sacrifice on the part of local, often impoverished communities. Experts contend that incorporating local communities' economic interests into conservation plans will be essential to species protection in the next century. --World Trends & Forecasts, Nov-Dec 2006, p. 6

6. Water will be in the twenty-first century what oil was in the twentieth century. Global fresh water shortages and drought conditions are spreading in both the developed and developing world. In response, the dry state of California is building 13 desalination plants that could provide 10%-20% of the state's water in the next two decades. Desalination will become more mainstream by 2020. --William E. Halal, "Technology's Promise: Highlights from the TechCast Project," Nov-Dec, p. 44

7. World population by 2050 may grow larger than previously expected, due in part to healthier, longer-living people. Slower than expected declines of fertility in developing countries and increasing longevity in richer countries are contributing to a higher rate of population growth. As a result, the UN has increased its forecast for global population from 9.1 billion people by 2050 to 9.2 billion. --World Trends & Forecasts, Sep-Oct 2007, p. 10

8. The number of Africans imperiled by floods will grow 70-fold by 2080. The rapid urbanization taking place throughout much of Africa makes flooding particularly dangerous, altering the natural flow of water and cutting off escape routes. If global sea levels rise by the predicted 38 cm by 2080, the number of Africans affected by floods will grow from 1 million to 70 million. --World Trends & Forecasts, July-Aug 2007, p. 7

9. Rising prices for natural resources could lead to a full-scale rush to develop the Arctic. Not just oil and natural gas, but also the Arctic's supplies of nickel, copper, zinc, coal, freshwater, forests, and of course fish are highly coveted by the global economy. Whether the Arctic states tighten control over these commodities or find equitable and sustainable ways to share them will be a major political challenge in the decades ahead. --Lawson W. Brigham, "Thinking about the Arctic's Future: Scenarios for 2040," Sep-Oct 2007, p. 27

10. More decisions will be made by nonhuman entities. Electronically enabled teams in networks, robots with artificial intelligence, and other noncarbon life-forms will make financial, health, educational, and even political decisions for us. Reason: Technologies are increasing the complexity of our lives and human workers' competency is not keeping pace well enough to avoid disasters due to human error. --Arnold Brown, "'Not with a Bang': Civilization's Accelerating Challenge," Sep-Oct 2007, p. 38

All of these forecasts plus dozens more were included in the report that scanned the best writing and research from THE FUTURIST magazine over the course of the previous year. The Society hopes this report, covering developments in business and economics, demography, energy, the environment, health and medicine, resources, society and values, and technology, will assist its readers in preparing for the challenges and opportunities in 2008 and beyond.

http://www.wfs.org/Nov-Dec%20Files/FuturcontND07.htm

Battelle: ANNUAL GLOBAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) REPORT REVEALS GROWING EQUALIZATION OF R&D ACTIVITY, REDUCTION OF U.S. DOMINANCE

Eric — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:49:46 EDT

October 3, 2007
ANNUAL GLOBAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) REPORT REVEALS GROWING EQUALIZATION OF R&D ACTIVITY, REDUCTION OF U.S. DOMINANCE

Outsourcing and offshoring trends growing in significance

Columbus, OH - R&D is becoming a truly global enterprise with all sectors moving within the not-too-distant future to a near-equal distribution of effort, funds and activity—as opposed to the domination the U.S. has held onto for the past 50 years.

The trend is revealed in the annual Battelle-R&D Magazine report released today. The report goes beyond a simple analysis of R&D expenditures and investments, peering into the underlying structure of the global R&D enterprise.

The U.S. will continue to dominate for up to the next 10 years or so, but after that decade activity is likely to be split into thirds with North America, the European Union (EU) and Asia - dominated by China and India - holding approximately equal shares.

In addition, outsourcing and off-shoring of R&D is becoming increasingly prevalent among all players in the R&D enterprise, with the U.S. leading the trend. Close on the heels though are the EU and Asia, increasingly offshoring R&D to the U.S. in order to be in a better position to enhance their market shares. At the same time, the U.S. enterprise is also benefiting from the continued in-sourcing of R&D.

“Given the history of the past 20 years, there is every reason to believe that the globalization of R&D will continue to grow, and that the competition for research funds will become more intense,” said Jules Duga, a senior researcher at Battelle and world-renowned expert on R&D trends.

...

Where are the government priorities?

Throughout the countries covered by the OECD statistics (which exclude China and India) almost all governments provide support to higher education, basic research, industrial technology, human health and agriculture. However, the priorities shift from one country to another.
Major thrust areas were rated by 27 individual governments with the UK, US, and France indicating defense as the highest priority. Surprisingly, the field of energy research received only one reference as a priority item (from Poland), and in fact was found to be at the bottom of the list of five priority R&D concentrations for the 27 countries.

The Battelle-R&D Magazine Global R&D Report contains more in-depth information about trends in individual countries including detailed data, tables, and charts. The full report will be printed in the September issue of R&D Magazine.

Reprints are available by contacting Battelle’s Jean Hayward at (614) 424-7039 or at haywardj@battelle.org. An electronic copy of the report can be obtained at this link:

http://battelle.org/ASSETS/298066B841EC4E3099ACC75AB4A8915B/RD79GlobalReport%20(2).pdf

Battelle provides solutions to some of the world's most important challenges through its three global businesses: National Security, Energy Science and Technology, and Health and Life Sciences. Battelle is the world's largest independent research and development organization with technology contributions that find their way into hundreds of commercial products each year. Conducting $3.8 billion in global R&D annually, Battelle oversees 20,000 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including five national laboratories Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Headquartered in Columbus , Ohio, and established in 1929 as a non-profit charitable trust, Battelle focuses on societal and economic impact and actively supports and promotes science and math education.

For more information, visit www.battelle.org or contact National Media Relations Manager Katy Delaney at (410) 306-8638 or at delaneyk@battelle.org

The Rebel Yell: ONE to hold campus (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) presidential forum

Eric — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:18:30 EDT

The Rebel Yell News ONE to hold campus presidential forum

By Michael Lyle, Features Editor

Published on October 11, 2007

In order to take a stand against poverty, students have taken a stand beside the ONE campaign in hopes of making a difference on campus and around the world.

Through a series of events, the campaign looks to break into the lives of students.

The first event, promoted by the Pi Sigma Alpha and the ONE Vote campaign, is to take place at campus on Oct. 15 in Student Union Room 208 Michael McCurry, former press secretary for President Clinton, will hold a panel discussing the issue of extreme poverty. At the panel, representatives from presidential candidates will talk about their particular candidate and where they stand in the fight to eliminate poverty.

They will discuss issues such as AIDS and malaria prevention, clean water and sanitation, maternal and child health care, debt cancellation, orphans and housing, all of which are issues addressed by the ONE campaign.

Ten million children die from preventable diseases each year, according to the ONE website. Matt Higginson, director of the ONE Vote campaign in Nevada, is promoting ONE on campus to challenge and encourage students to become aware of these facts and become active against global poverty.

Higginson has met with CSUN President Adriel Espinoza and Liberal Arts Senator and president of the political science fraternity Phi Sigma Alpha Rebecca Hoffer, and has talked to them about bringing the ONE campus challenge to UNLV.

“We are trying to get the message out,” Higginson said.

The challenge allows colleges to compete with one another in raising awareness and putting on events.

“I hope students find a cause to get involved in something that a makes a difference,” Hoffer said.

Hoffer also said this is an opportunity to be apart of a global initiative. Along with the chance to combat the belief that students are apathetic, students will be able to compete with other universities. Hoffer and Espinoza are responding to the challenge to beat UNR.

Higginson connected with Pi Sigma Alpha proposing the idea of creating an organization dedicated to promoting ONE and ONE Vote initiatives.

Higginson said he hopes to see this organization turn into a student led initiative on a grassroots level.

“Hopefully this event, on Monday, will recruit more members,” Higginson said.

Espinoza and Hoffer are excited to see the outcome of the event. They are looking forward to hearing candidates come together, despite political affiliations, and discuss pressing global topics.

“It is a win-win situation,” Espinoza said. “It is a global issue that everyone can take part in.”

...

________________________________________________________________________________________

ABOUT ONE

ONE is Americans of all beliefs and every walk of life - united as ONE - to help make poverty history. We are a campaign of over 2.4 million people and growing from all 50 states and over 100 of America's most well-known and respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. As ONE, we are raising public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in the world's poorest countries. As ONE, we are asking our leaders to do more to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE believes that allocating more of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world's poorest countries

http://www.one.org/about/

Economist.com Free Exchange : (Income Inequality) Explanations matter

Eric — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:40:38 EDT

October 12 th

15:00 GMT +00:00

Explanations matterPosted by: Free Exchange | Washington, DC MATTHEW YGLESIAS posts some sobering new figures on economic inequality, courtesy of Greg Ip, who adds that, "The IRS data go back only to 1986, but academic research suggests the rich last had this high a share of total income in the 1920s." Mr Yglesias then follows up with a second post, noting that:

[O]ne thing that bugs me about the way liberals often approach these issues is a tendency to get bogged down into picayune controversies about exactly why inequality has exploded. Was it the skill-biased technological change? Were CEOs underpaid in the past? Can we blame globalization? In truth, while these are all interesting questions, in terms of politics and policy they take a back seat to debates over remedies which often lack a tight relationship to the debates over causes...

If the costs to the non-rich of higher taxes on the rich would be small (as I believe), then higher taxes on the rich to provide more benefits to the non-rich makes sense irrespective of why inequality has grown so much whereas if the costs would be high then it doesn't make sense -- again, completely apart from the causal issue.

I understand what Mr Yglesias is saying, but I think we need to be very careful when considering policies that distribute money from high earners to low earners simply because the high earners make a lot of money and the low earners do not. Income paid to labour is a price, and prices carry important information about the state of the labour market. When we blunt the effect of these price signals, we reduce the extent to which market participants respond to the market's incentives.

Understanding the causes of inequality will help policy makers to craft more effective remedies for failures within markets. If wage polarisation is due, as many suspect, to a shortage in the supply of highly educated labourers, and if labourers can't respond to this incentive due to failures of the educational system or credit constraints, then that suggests some very specific policy proposals. If, on the other hand, growing inequality is due largely to declines in worker bargaining power, then the policy route we choose might be much different.

We also want to be careful to address inequality in ways that minimise constraints on growth. Rather than increasing taxes on things we want, like high incomes, to subsidise things we don't want, like low incomes, we may wish to tax things we don't want, like carbon or congestion or tobacco use, to subsidise things we do want, like high savings rates or healthy children.

Of course, it could be the case that what we really don't want is inequality. Certainly there are arguments to be made that inequality in and of itself can damage growth, that it can be self-reinforcing, and that morally we are compelled to make sure the benefits of growth are shared more equally. It still seems logical to want to understand the underlying causes of inequality, if only to reduce the long-term cost of mitigating it. If we don't address the economic forces pushing income poles apart, the fiscal burden of redistribution will only increase, harming everyone in the process.

http://www.economist.com/debate/freeexchange/

Jonathan Greenblatt: The Best Recipe for Ending Poverty is Homemade

Eric — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:51:30 EDT

The Huffington Post Jonathan Greenblatt The Best Recipe for Ending Poverty is Homemade

Posted October 11, 2007 | 08:00 AM (EST)

Alleviating poverty remains a core issue on the global agenda--rightfully so--but serious consideration should be invested in new approaches. The long-tested methods familiar to government and donors simply have not proven themselves up to the challenge.

While some trumpet the great strides that the world has made toward achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which range from halting the spread of HIV/AIDS to providing universal primary education by 2015, others cast serious doubt on our progress. The MDGs certainly are a useful blueprint for healthier societies. However, we need to shift focus from marginal improvements to world altering results. If we hope to explode the paradigm, we need new strategies that are not anchored in tired old ideas.

Jonathan Greenblatt in Ethiopia

First, we should demolish the mythology around top-down, aid-driven programs as the elixir for global poverty. Quite simply, the classic premise of "aid" to poor nations has failed. While the original intentions were admirable, the Bretton Woods system has proven woefully inadequate in uplifting the poor. The World Bank continues to perform some important work, but it also has squandered tens of billions of dollars and often cemented ineffective policies and corrupt regimes in Africa and Asia. The International Monetary Fund has imposed its draconian, belt tightening policies on developing countries in a manner not so different from electro-shock therapy. Despite the utility of aid, it is insufficient to rescue the billions of human beings caught in the flytrap of dire poverty.

These institutions have a wide set of critics who often point admiringly to the market and big business-driven trade as a better answer. However, "trade" per se is not the solution. Global trading deals and regional economic groupings like ASEAN and Mercosur have driven down tariffs and facilitated cross-border commerce. Widespread market liberalization and privatization efforts have ushered capitalism into once closed economies. While these trends have improved trade and investment flows, the largest beneficiaries typically have been multinational corporations. These large entities discover new consumers and rich profits but there is insufficient trickle-down relief to the bottom billions. Because of the resulting inequities, a global backlash has erupted. It is a movement that speaks to massive grassroots economic frustration. Even a wide range of the establishment elite acknowledge that trade is important but alone cannot unlock the gates of prosperity for those most in need.

It is time to move beyond these flawed constructs and find inspiration in a new generation of solutions. We need to shift beyond "aid" or "trade" and focus on "home-made" - locally developed, enterprise-driven approaches to economic opportunity. Rather than always emphasizing the top-down centralized programs, we should shift direction to embrace bottoms-up, decentralized models of development. In fact, a shift already is underway, one that is empowering the four billion people living on less than $4 per day. And it's happening with minimal assistance from bureaucrats in Brussels or Washington, already initiating a reevaluation about long-standing symbols of aid and trade.

Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus is a much deserved success story. Decades ago, the economist postulated that, given the chance, the "unbankable" poor in rural Bangladesh would repay small loans and that microcredit could serve as a viable business model. Today, organizations like Accion and Unitus stand at his side, enabling the growth of the 500-million person microfinance economy that is creating new opportunities for some of the poorest communities on the planet.

Yunus is not alone in his approach. Bangladesh-based BRAC has brought livelihoods to 100 million people since its founding in 1972. Ashoka has supported change-making entrepreneurs across the world. More recently, HealthStore has introduced affordable and much needed medication via clinics in Kenya. Kickstart has helped to develop appropriate technologies that provide clean water and increased irrigation capabilities to the rural poor in Tanzania and Mali. These organizations might not fit snugly into the classic categories of "for-profit" or "non-profit," yet they are transitioning millions of families from subservience to sustainability through job creation and income generation. These are the trends that we should encourage and accelerate, yet only a small number of organizations truly celebrate these achievements. That must change.

In a time when candidates vie for our attention with carefully contrived sound bites and corporate leaders pledge their commitments to social responsibility, a thoughtful discussion about how to uplift the poor is long overdue. Elected leadership and captains of industry in the West should learn from mavericks in the South to avoid past mistakes and blaze a better future. In short, we need more Grameen Banks and less World Banks or Citibanks. We need to suppress our tendency for micro-management and adopt approaches that engage the extraordinary entrepreneurial talent already thriving in the developing world.

Imagine if Western institutions encouraged developing countries not to focus solely on monetary policies, but rather on commercial frameworks that facilitated local entrepreneurship, such as easing the bureaucratic impediments to business incorporation. What if we promoted models of risk taking, such as promoting property rights so that home owners could convert their homes into risk capital to finance new ventures? What if we worked to catalyze the evolution of free but fair markets by celebrating businesses that support labor with compensation beyond wages, such as training and health care?

It is essential that our leaders look more closely at the realities and opportunities in the Global South. While we should not simply forego aid and trade, homemade solutions must become part of the equation. National governments and global bodies should adopt policies that foster the extraordinary entrepreneurial talent present in the developing world. With a soft-touch approach that builds markets and empowers communities, we may not achieve every MDG by 2015, but we might just lay the foundation for a more prosperous future.

Jonathan Greenblatt is the co-founder of Ethos Water and a senior advisor to the X PRIZE Foundation, helping to design a global competition focused on entrepreneurial solutions to poverty.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Eric's Note: In the USA we also have organizations that seek to realize economic opportunities overlooked by the mainstream in order to create (living wage) jobs and self-employment opportunities. Many of these organizations are members of AEO (Association for Enterprise Opportunity), OFN (Opportunity Finance Network) or CDVCA (Community Development Venture Capital Alliance).

CEPR: Tens of Millions of Families with Low-Wage Workers Fall Into Gap Left by Employers and Government

Eric — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:43:27 EDT

Tens of Millions of Families with Low-Wage Workers Fall Into Gap Left by Employers and Government

Nearly 41 million people in working families cannot afford basics like health care, housing, or child care, even with public work supports.

For Immediate Release: October 10, 2007

Contact: Alan Barber, (202) 293-5380, x115

Washington, DC--Low wages, inadequate benefits, and limited work supports leave one-in-five people (nearly 41 million) in working families struggling to make ends meet. According to a study released today by the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC, and the Center for Social Policy at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

According to the report, many workers are in jobs that do not provide health insurance or enough earnings to cover basic expenditures but earn too much to qualify for work supports such as Medicaid and Food Stamps.

While common to higher-wage workers, employment-based benefits, like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off, are not available to most low- and many moderate-wage workers. Public work supports, however, can help fill in these gaps.

"We no longer live in a world where having a job means you're automatically able to make ends meet," according to Heather Boushey, co-author of the report. "Our work support policies need to be updated to support the millions of families with earners in bad jobs."

After examining federal and state policies across nine states and the District of Columbia, the researchers found that families who were able to take advantage of government-provided work supports were able to close nearly half (44 percent) of the gap between their earnings and a safe and decent standard of living.

Across the same states, however, more than one-in-five of those living in low-income, but working families, were not eligible for any government-provided work supports.

The findings come from an in-depth examination of eligibility for six work supports-child care assistance, Earned Income Tax Credit, Food Stamps, housing assistance (public housing and Section 8), Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families—and who uses them.

The study analyzed federal and state policies in Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia. A low-income family has income below a basic family budget, which is equal to the cost of purchasing a safe and decent standard of living at market prices within the family's locality. The family types included are households comprised of one or two adults and zero to three children under the age of 13. These family types make up approximately 75 percent of the US population.

This new data is being released as Congress tries to expand SCHIP to families with income above 200% of the poverty threshold. The data released today show that the current eligibility rules leave over half of low-income families ineligible for this work support.

"These findings suggest that universal heath care reform would make a significant impact in the budgets of millions of Americans," said Randy Albelda, co-author of the report." And given the recent focus on health care by the 2008 presidential candidates, there is a great opportunity to help bridge the gaps for these families."

The study, Bridging the Gaps: A Picture of How Work Supports Work for Working Families, was co-authored by the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the Center for Social Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston in collaboration with partners in ten states. ...

The research was funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Ford Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Meyer Foundation, Moriah Fund and the Stoneman Family Foundation.

Bridging the Gaps (BTG) is a multi-state intensive research and outreach project intended to provide a full picture of public work supports in the United States.
The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people’s lives.
The Center for Social Policy (CSP) is an applied research and technical assistance center within the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Bob Burnett: It's the Economy, Stupid

Eric — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:08:33 EDT

The Huffington Post

Bob Burnett: It's the Economy, Stupid

Posted October 9, 2007 | 08:46 AM (EST)

During Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, a sign in Clinton's campaign headquarters reminded the candidate "the economy, stupid." The same sign would work for the Democrats' 2008 presidential candidate. After Iraq and healthcare, Americans see the economy as the number three problem facing the United States. In fact, they rate economic problems in the aggregate almost as highly as they do Iraq.

Over the course of the Bush administration, Americans have become increasingly pessimistic about the economy. In the latest Gallup poll 69 percent of respondents described current economic conditions as fair or poor. (In January 2001, only 33 percent were pessimistic.) In the same poll 71 percent saw economic conditions "getting worse."

The Gallup Poll lists a number of reasons why Americans are pessimistic about the economy. The top 10 are healthcare, "lack of money/low wages," housing costs, energy costs, debt, "retirement savings," "college expenses," cost of living, taxes, and unemployment. The Gallup researchers asked respondents what should be to solve these problems: "Americans say maintaining the availability of good jobs is the No. 1 thing they would recommend to improve the economy." That's an important finding because Republicans don't talk about creating good jobs, but rather the necessity to cut taxes.

Perspectives on President Bush's handling of the economy differ by political affiliation: "Among Republicans, 69 percent approve of the way Bush is handling the economy...Among Democrats, 84 percent disapprove... Among independents, 61 percent disapprove."

Whether Americans view the U.S. economy as getting better or worse depends upon where their position in the economic pecking order. If the respondent is at or near the top, things are getting better. The latest reports indicate that America's rich are getting richer. In 2006 the average CEO was paid $14.78 million. However, during this same period the minimum wage was $5.15 per hour, which meant the average CEO made more in 90 minutes than the minimum wage worker made in a year. Moreover, since 2000 the number of severely poor has grown more than any other segment of the population -- to 16 million people. For most Americans things are getter worse.

When reporters ask the average American household -- earning $48,021 per year -- about the economy, they hear comments such as: "We're working harder but not getting ahead." "There's no safety net; if one of us gets sick or laid off, we'll lose everything." "We're afraid our kids won't have as good as a life as we've had."

Nonetheless, GOP presidential hopefuls don't say much about the economy or jobs, except to lobby for more tax cuts. Rudy Giuliani "would lower taxes, make permanent President Bush's tax cuts and eliminate inheritance taxes." The former mayor of New York believes in supply-side economics and, therefore, expects tax cuts to generate jobs. Senator John McCain has a similar position: no new taxes and pray the economy will take care of jobs. Former Senator Fred Thompson and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney echo these sentiments.

In contrast, the Democratic Presidential hopefuls address the need for good jobs. Senator Hillary Clinton said, "Let's make sure the people who work hard every day can actually support their families and save for the future." Senator Barack Obama stated, "It's time to turn the page for all those Americans who want nothing more than to have a job that can pay the bills and raise a family... Let's put the jobless back to work in transitional jobs that can give them a paycheck and a sense of pride. Let's help our workers advance with job training and lifelong education." And former Senator John Edwards observed, "Some willing workers cannot find jobs without skills, experience, or references. We know that innovative programs can help these workers. And we know -- because we have seen it work -- that the government can create short-term jobs to serve as stepping-stones..."

There's an obvious difference between the Republican and Democratic approaches to job creation: the GOP presidential hopefuls trust an unencumbered economy to do it, while the Democratic contenders want some sort of jobs program. These different perspectives may be due to basic philosophy: Republicans don't believe in government programs and Democrats do. However, some observers offer a more troubling explanation.

A recent book by Jonathan Chait, The Big Con, argues the hard core of the Republican Party believes in plutocracy rather than democracy. Chait contends the driving purpose of the GOP is to service business interests and the rich. Therefore, Republicans lobby for tax cuts because those disproportionately benefit the rich and powerful. They oppose jobs programs because they're against government programs, in principle, and their wealthy constituents don't want to pay for them. Chait says the GOP leadership has a narrow, selfish view of the economy: it should benefit the Republican elite.

Like Iraq and healthcare, there are stark differences in Democratic and Republican economic philosophy. So clear that most independent voters understand these differences. That's a good omen for the Democrats so long as they remember, "It's the economy, stupid."

Trickle-Up Economics: New Report Reveals Staggering Global Wealth Concentration

Eric — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:32:56 EDT

AlterNet

Corporate Accountability and Workplace

Trickle-Up Economics: New Report Reveals Staggering Global Wealth Concentration By Sam Pizzigati, Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality. Posted October 8, 2007.

A new business study on global household wealth documents how the world's wealth is continuing to concentrate in the pockets of the awesomely affluent.

The world's non-wealthy households haven't done so well over the last half-dozen years, says a new report released last week by a major global business consulting company.

From 2001 through 2006, reports the Boston Consulting Group, the non-wealthy of the world -- those households holding less than $100,000 in financial assets -- saw the total value of their assets slightly decline.

Over those same years, the consulting group's new Global Wealth 2007 documents, total world wealth actually increased, up a brisk 7.5 percent just last year alone

So where did all that new wealth end up? At the top. So far this century, the 16.5 percent of global households with at least $100,000 to invest have seen their assets soar 64 percent in value, to $84.5 trillion.

A huge chunk of that wealth has settled in the portfolios of millionaire households, those families with at least $1 million in "assets under management" -- a wealth scorecard calculation that excludes personal residences as well as jewelry, artwork, and other luxury collectibles.

These millionaire households, just 0.7 percent of the globe's total households, now hold over a third of the world's wealth. Where will you find these millionaire households? Nearly half hail from North America, with about a quarter from Europe.

The data for the new Boston Consulting Group report come from 62 countries that represent over 96 percent of global GDP. The authors also surveyed 111 wealth managers, who together oversee client accounts worth $9.9 trillion.

The newly released Boston Consulting Group figures match up fairly consistently with global wealth stats released this past June by researchers with Merrill Lynch and Capgemini. That study counted, world-wide, 9.5 million "high net worth individuals" with over $1 million in financial assets.

The Boston Consulting Group, using a different survey methodology, places the global millionaire total at 9.6 million.

Managing the assets of these wealthy, the new Boston Consulting Group report finds, can be an enormously lucrative line of work. The 111 wealth managers BCG surveyed boasted an astounding "median pretax profit margin” of 34.7 percent.

...

Sam Pizzigati is the editor of the online weekly Too Much, and an associate fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/64693/

'Made in India' rising to challenge China: report

Eric — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:33:11 EDT

Agence France-Presse (AFP) 'Made in India' rising to challenge China: report 21 hours ago NEW DELHI (AFP) -- "Made in India" could be the next big economic story with the country challenging China's position as the leading global manufacturing hub within five years, says a new report.

...

But "there's a very keen interest in moving more manufacturing to India," said Roy Lenders, vice president at Capgemini Consulting Services and the report's author.

...

The lead factor driving India's new manufacturing popularity is price, he said. Some of the main manufacturing sites in China are becoming too pricey.

Chinese manufacturing wages are 250 to 350 dollars a month whereas they average 100 to 200 dollars per month or lower in Thailand and other parts of Asia. In India factory jobs start at 60 dollars a month.

...

"India is building like hell, improving its infrastructure, so a lot of suppliers would like to be there," said Lenders.

CEOs worried by new generation of managers

Eric — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:19:52 EDT

Management-Issues:
CEOs worried by new generation of managers
05 Oct 2007

Many American chief executives are looking over their shoulders at the generation of managers coming up below them and not liking what they see.

A shortage of good quality, talented managers is becoming a growing concern for American CEOs, with many particularly worried about who is going to take over from them when it comes to passing on the reins, a new report has suggested.

A study of 769 global CEOs from 40 countries by the Conference Board found that finding qualified managerial talent and management succession had become the dominant people issues for American CEOs, replacing the cost of healthcare.

...

"These executives are also becoming increasingly aware of the crucial role that people play in growing their companies."

After ranking seventh last year, the challenge of employee healthcare benefit costs slipped out of the U.S. top 10 this year, the survey said.

Its lower ranking as a concern was most likely because of a slowing in the rising cost of employee premiums and successful moves by employers to contain the costs of their programmes, it suggested.

This is despite the fact that latest U.S research from consultancy Towers Perrin has calculated that on average American companies will be spending the $9,312 per employee on healthcare costs next year, up 7 per cent on this year.

Nevertheless, the cost of employee healthcare benefits still ranks much higher for U.S CEOs (16th) than it did for CEOs in Asia (where it tied for 69th place) or Europe (71st place), the Conference Board research has pointed out.

...

Obama's Curious Economic Adviser

Eric — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:45:01 EDT

October 04, 2007 Obama's Curious Economic Adviser By George Will

CHICAGO -- In his curriculum vitae, Austan Goolsbee lists as his "other interests" -- other than teaching at the University of Chicago -- two activities: triathlons and improv comedy. Evidently he is a masochist with a sense of humor, so he is suited to participate in presidential politics, which he is doing as an adviser to Barack Obama.

Before they met in person, Obama, running for the Senate in 2004, asked Goolsbee a perplexing question. Obama's opponent, Alan Keyes, an African- American imported from Maryland by Illinois' shambolic Republican Party, had been asked whether he believed in reparations for slavery. Keyes said perhaps America could do what Rome did -- exempt descendants of former slaves from taxes for two generations. Obama asked Goolsbee how much that might cost. Goolsbee's two answers were: Hard to say. And: Trillions.

Goolsbee graduated from Yale and earned his doctorate from MIT before coming to the University of Chicago's business school, which gave to public life a giant of conservatism, George Shultz. The university's economics department has been adorned by the likes of Milton Friedman, George Stigler and Gary Becker, each a Nobel laureate, each a conservative by virtue of his inclination to expect more utility from markets than from government interventions therein.

Is Goolsbee dismayed about widening income inequality? Yes, but with a nuanced understanding. The stagnation of middle- and working-class incomes, and the anxiety this has generated, is, he says, a most pressing problem, but policymakers must be mindful about trying to address its root cause, which Goolsbee says is "radically increased returns to skill."

In 1980, people with college degrees made on average 30 percent more than those with only high school diplomas. That disparity has widened to 70 percent. In the same year, the average earnings of people with advanced degrees were 50 percent more than those with only high school diplomas; today it is more than 100 percent.

The market is shouting, "Stay in school!" and Goolsbee's conservative colleagues at Chicago say a high tax rate on high earners is "a tax on going to college." Conservatives say: Don't tax something unless you are willing to have less of it. But Goolsbee says: Conservatives often exaggerate the behavioral response to increased tax rates. The solution is to invest more in education, which will raise wages, reduce inequality and move toward equilibrium. The GI bill was, he says, so prolific in stimulating investment in "human capital" -- particularly, college education -- that for a while the return on it went down relative to high school.

"Globalization" means free trade and various deregulations that supposedly put downward pressure on American wages because of imports from low-wage countries. Goolsbee, however, says globalization is responsible for "a small fraction" of today's income disparities. He says "60 to 70 percent of the economy faces virtually no international competition." America's 18.5 million government employees have little to fear from free trade; neither do auto mechanics, dentists and many others.

Goolsbee's rough estimate is that technology -- meaning all that the phrase "information economy" denotes -- accounts for more than 80 percent of the increase in earnings disparities, whereas trade accounts for much less than 20 percent. This is something congressional Democrats need to hear from a Democratic economist as they resist trade agreements with South Korea and such minor economic powers as Peru, Panama and Colombia.

As regards China, Goolsbee -- who favors a tougher approach, especially through the World Trade Organization -- notes that all imports are only 16.7 percent of the U.S. economy and imports from China are a small portion of all imports. Those from China amount to 2.2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Mexico, he says, is genuinely stressed by China, whose exported products "overlap" with nearly two-thirds of Mexico's. China's exports overlap with 5 percent to 10 percent of America's economy. Rising imports from China predominantly replace those from other lower-skilled countries. Were China to be pressured into revaluing its currency in isolation, Goolsbee says, America would not start making the kind of toys it has been importing from China -- America would import toys from Vietnam.

Economics is the only academic discipline that in recent decades has moved in the direction that America and much of the world has moved, to the right. Goolsbee no doubt has lots of dubious ideas -- he is, after all, a Democrat -- about how government can creatively fiddle with the market's allocation of wealth and opportunity. But he seems to be the sort of person -- amiable, empirical and reasonable -- you would want at the elbow of a Democratic president, if such there must be.

georgewill@washpost.com

Republicans Grow Skeptical On Free Trade

Eric — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:12:02 EDT

PAGE ONE

Republicans Grow Skeptical On Free Trade By JOHN HARWOOD October 4, 2007; Page A1 WASHINGTON -- By a nearly two-to-one margin, Republican voters believe free trade is bad for the U.S. economy, a shift in opinion that mirrors Democratic views and suggests trade deals could face high hurdles under a new president.

...

The sign of broadening resistance to globalization came in a new Wall Street Journal-NBC News Poll that showed a fraying of Republican Party orthodoxy on the economy. While 60% of respondents said they want the next president and Congress to continue cutting taxes, 32% said it's time for some tax increases on the wealthiest Americans to reduce the budget deficit and pay for health care.

Six in 10 Republicans in the poll agreed with a statement that free trade has been bad for the U.S. and said they would agree with a Republican candidate who favored tougher regulations to limit foreign imports. That represents a challenge for Republican candidates who generally echo Mr. Bush's calls for continued trade expansion, and reflects a substantial shift in sentiment from eight years ago.

"It's a lot harder to sell the free-trade message to Republicans," said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse, who conducts the Journal/NBC poll with Democratic counterpart Peter Hart. The poll comes ahead of the Oct. 9 Republican presidential debate in Michigan sponsored by the Journal and the CNBC and MSNBC television networks.

The leading Republican candidates are still trying to promote free trade. "Our philosophy has to be not how many protectionist measures can we put in place, but how do we invent new things to sell" abroad, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said in a recent interview. "That's the view of the future. What [protectionists] are trying to do is lock in the inadequacies of the past."

Such a stance is sure to face a challenge in the 2008 general election. Though President Bill Clinton famously steered the Democratic Party toward a less-protectionist bent and promoted the North American Free Trade Agreement, his wife and the current Democratic front-runner, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has adopted more skeptical rhetoric. Mrs. Clinton has come out against a U.S. trade deal with South Korea.

Other leading Democrats have been harshly critical of trade expansion, pleasing their party's labor-union backers. In a March 2007 WSJ/NBC poll, before recent scandals involving tainted imports, 54% of Democratic voters said free-trade agreements have hurt the U.S., compared with 21% who said they have helped.

While rank-and-file Democrats have long blasted the impact of trade on American jobs, slipping support among Republicans represents a fresh warning sign for free-market conservatives and American companies such as manufacturers and financial firms that benefit from markets opening abroad.

With voters provoked for years by such figures as Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot, "there's been a steady erosion in Republican support for free trade," says former Rep. Vin Weber, now an adviser to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

One fresh indication of the party's ideological crosswinds: Presidential candidate Ron Paul of Texas, who opposes the Iraq war and calls free-trade deals "a threat to our independence as a nation," announced yesterday that he raised $5 million in third-quarter donations. That nearly matches what one-time front-runner John McCain is expected to report.

...

A clear majority of Republicans want more tax cuts, but among Republicans who identify themselves as moderate or liberal -- about one-third of the party's primary voters -- a 48% plurality favored some tax increase to fund health care and other priorities.

...

John Pirtle, a 40-year-old Defense Department employee in Grand Rapids, Mich., said he drifted toward the Republican Party in large part because of his opposition to abortion, but doesn't agree with the free-trade views of leading candidates.

"We're seeing a lot of jobs farmed out," said Mr. Pirtle, whose father works for General Motors Corp. Rankled by reports of safety problems with Chinese imports, he added, "The stuff we are getting, looking at all the recalls, to be quite honest, it's junk."

...

Economic advisers to Republican presidential hopefuls acknowledge the safety scandals have made defending free trade more difficult. "Americans are right to be angered at companies that take shortcuts" in importing goods, said Larry Lindsey, once the top economic aide in the Bush White House and now an adviser to Mr. Thompson's presidential bid. "The next president has to promote free trade by playing hardball, and to be seen doing so.

" In the Republican campaign so far, elevating populist trade concerns has been left to the long shots. "The most important thing a president needs to do is to make it clear that we're not going to continue to see jobs shipped overseas....and then watch as a CEO takes a $100 million bonus," Mr. Huckabee said at a debate earlier this year. "If Republicans don't stop it, we don't deserve to win in 2008."

Write to John Harwood at john.harwood@wsj.com

Eric's Blog

washingtonpost.com:Obama Remarks on Math, Science and Technology Education

www.Bill-Waddell.com:The Hollow American Economy

Bruce Judson re a new service, The Cost Savings Guy

William Dunkelberg:"They can borrow money. They have no customers, and that's the bummer."

www.Bloomberg.com: Obama Embrace of Wall Street Insiders Points to Politic Reforms

TheStar.com: Faltering economy jeopardizes health care and job creation plans

www.chron.com: Even in an economic slump, Obama can't afford to ignore education

Economist.com:The Economist's poll of economists

The Two Million Minutes Blog:...deeper insights into education in China, India and the United States, and the challenge America faces

Recommended reading regarding Obama '08 and the economy

www.blessingwhite.com/research: New Global Report Finds Gen Y Employees Least Engaged

www.theclimategroup.org: China unleashes Clean Revolution…

www.worldwatch.org: Coal Industry Hands Out Pink Slips While Green Collar Jobs Take Off

www.peri.umass.edu:Job Opportunities for the Green Economy

Ernst & Young: UK households 15% worse off than 5 years ago

National Commission on Adult Literacy: Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce

sba.gov: rapidly growing firms are responsible for most private sector employment growth

Excerpt from BP STATISTICAL REVIEW OF WORLD ENERGY JUNE 2008: "Germany registering the world’s largest decline in energy consumption"

Milken Institute: Massachusetts Maintains Lead as Nation’s Top State in Technology and Science

http://www.mlive.com: REBRANDING MICHIGAN: Business conversations on pulling Michigan out of recession

NewsObserver.com: Worker shortage predicted (in North Carolina)

Arthur D. Little: Delivering Sustainable Performance

Excerpts from wsj.com's Obama Has Something to Prove on Economy

AP: Barack Obama's words on jobs, health care fall on appreciative Michigan ears

Excerpts re Economy from Rapid City Journal and the Missoulian

February 12, 2001: ORLANDO SENTINEL: Layoffs Hit Island Hard

www.kauffman.org: National measure of business creation by specific demographic groups

Pikeville Medical Center: Coal is King: Demand worldwide has prices skyrocketing

FT.com: A hardened idealist: Obama’s toughest fight

The Impact of the Jacobs School of Music on the State of Indiana

www.nytimes.com: For Indiana Voters, Talk of Change May Fall Flat

Center for College Affordability and Productivity: North Carolina's Higher Education System

Widener Releases Elder Pennsylvanian Survey

www.brookings.edu:An Economic Plan for the Commonwealth: Unleashing the Assets of Metropolitan Pennsylvania

www.keystoneresearch.org: Income Inequality Grew in Pennsylvania and Most States over Past Two Decades

http://freightteamsters.blogspot.com: Jobs, Economy and Trade Focus of Teamsters' Convoy For Change

Pennsylvania: The Economy

www.philly.com/inquirer: Philadelphia gets poor marks on being 'green'

Impacts on 2.4 Million PA Households: Nearly $1 in $4 of Income Goes to Buy Energy

Four Dems, seeking party's nod for state treasurer, focus on economic opportunity

www.HispanicTips.com: Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Give Keynote Address at 2008 U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Awards Dinner

http://www.cecsearch.com: Getting Financing for Your Business

http://www.elpasotimes.com: Candidate underlines key Hispanic issues

http://www.sharonherald.com: Auctioneer to face Rep. Brooks in fall

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com: National defense spending helps local company grow

WTAP.com: Cordray Speaks On Small Businesses

Obama field organizer wins in Eastern Washington and prepares for her next assignment

http://www.thebulletin.us: College No Prerequisite For Lucrative Jobs

Boston.com: Massachusetts a top US economic competitor

The Washington Times: Radio hosts take fight over aliens to Iowa

Economic Policy Institute: Updated CBO data reveal unprecedented increase in inequality

Agri News: Farmers' health care coverage

The Economist: Money and effort aren't enough to impart the skills and knowledge needed in a cut-throat world

www.mcclatchydc.com: Issues: You say terrorism; I say economy

boston.com: Presidential race shifts toward domestic issues:Economy, taxes supplant war talk

"The Economy, Stupid"

www.fraserinstitute.org: U.S. States Best at Encouraging Entrepreneurs and Small Business Start Ups

http://www.economy.com: Aftershock: Housing in the Wake of the Mortgage Meltdown

Demos and Brandeis University: Two out of three middle class families on shaky financial ground

www.boston.com: More nations pass US in reading skills

The Nation's Mayors to Bring Metro/Urban Agenda to Iowa

Goldman Sachs: US Hispanization

www.kauffman.org: Young People Want to Be Their Own Boss to Realize Their Ideas

www.laptop.org: It’s not a laptop project. It’s an education project.

www.boston.com: Iowa's primacy pays off in dollars and influence

www.telegraph.co.uk: Has the letdown of the Bush years left the average Joe Schmoe yearning for the Clintons?

Co-published by the ILO: How microfinance institutions can finance lasting social change

Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP): "Over Invested and Over Priced: American Higher Education Today"

American Institutes for Research: “More than a century ago Louis Pasteur revealed the secret to invention and innovation when he said ‘chance favors the prepared mind’

CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE: 1.8 MILLION VETERANS LACK HEALTH COVERAGE

Economist Austan Goolsbee represents Obama in debate

Southern Education Foundation: Lingering Challenges in Southern Education

Make www.BarackObama.com even better - more bandwidth to cope with explosive growth

Environmental News Network: Bill Clinton: "Green" economy offers great rewards

NACA/Countrywide proposed standard on restructuring subprime (and some of the other unaffordable) loans to allow borrowers to retain their homes

New Economist: Who's on top?

FAIR: We’re Not Running Out of Workers!

Richard Florida, Tim Gulden and Charlotta Mellander: The Rise of the Mega-Region

Iowa State University's Technology, Globalization, and Culture lecture series: Dr. Newt Gingrich (mentions Senator Hillary Clinton three times)