by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Linda Seltzer [courtesy of Blog for America]

The issue of climate change often arrives at a standstill because the proposed "solutions" always seem futuristic and unassured.  But there are things our society could do right now, with the technology we already have, to drmatically reduce air pollution:

(1) Telecommuting and flextime.  Every days the roads in the East and West Coasts are clogged with gridlock traffic, just because employees do not have telecommuting and flexible hours.  Just allowing employees to set a shifted schedule after the rush hour is over would ease the congestion and pollution.  The argument that enployees have to be together all day long is hogwash.  There are many jobs that could be done on shifted schedules or with some work completed at home.

(2) Support for a single lifestyle.  Paul Erlich has been speaking out about overpopulation and the hunger across the world that results from it.  Not everyone has to have a child.  Many people have children just to have them as a support system in old age.  If we had elder care alternatives, people could make the choice not to have children unless they really want to.  Right now we consider it to be a cultural anomaly not to have children.  However, the environment is at the point where some people can choose to devote their lives to other interests.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Mayor Gavin Newsom gave his state of the City address yesterday. ABC7 story here. You can download his powerpoint here (PDF), read the text, or watch the speech (windows media) here. Very multimedia, huh? Well, unless you have a Mac.

But, from the speech, you have a wide range of subjects covered. He was optimistic about the economy and jobs, but acknowledged the problems with transportation and public safety. So, what do you think of this speech?

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Fabiola Inzunza

As a witness to the diverse struggles, achievements, and potential of undocumented students, and as a student advocate who worked tirelessly on this campaign this year, I was disheartened upon hearing the veto message from the Governor's Office this past weekend regarding Senate Bill 1, the California Dream Act.

As a leader of a student organization that works closely with undocumented students and their supporters, each day I see the great need for a bill like the California Dream Act. Low-income undocumented students who have impressive GPAs must juggle multiple jobs in order to pay the $2,500 price of tuition every ten weeks, they must also endure long commutes from distant cities because they cannot find affordable housing near their campus, they are forced to turn away research opportunities, private scholarships, more quarters in school,..

In short, Thousands of students across the state were looking for Governor Schwarzenegger to increase their chances of achieving their educational dreams.

by Michael Hays [courtesy of Blog for America]

Most Americans know our health care system is broken.

The looming fight in the presidential races – and eventually within Congress – is destined to come down to two things: how to pay for a universal, single-payer system, AND, how to defend the merits of such a policy against right wing smear jobs/fear campaigns.

Remember “Hillary Care?” Does the term “socialized medicine” make your ears red and blood pressure rise?

In “Don’t Think of an Elephant!” George Lakoff spells out the conservative mind-set on health care. “It is the responsibility of parents to take care of their children. To the extent that they cannot, they are not living up to their individual responsibility. No one has the responsibility of doing other people’s jobs for them. Thus prenatal care, post-natal care, health care for children, and care for the aged and infirm are matters of individual responsibility. They (health care matters) are not the responsibility of taxpayers.”

Could this be what President Bush really wanted to say to reporters when he recently threatened to veto the expansion of state-funded health insurance for children(S-CHIP)?

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]