Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Healthcare can be defined as education also
Sometimes they say education is the paramount duty of state government. This sometimes means cutting things like the Washington Basic Health Plan for low income people to spend that money for schools. In a broader sense, access to healthcare can be seen as education also. Learning from one's healthcare provider about better diets and lifestyles. Often a trip to the doctor can be an educational experience. Sometimes people learn they have high cholesterol; for instance, so dietary and lifestyle changes can be recommended. In some cases, medication is needed, but how can one even know these things without being tested? Can be useful education indeed.
Labels:
economics,
health,
health_access,
teacherpay
Monday, April 20, 2009
Obama Chavez handshake, we still buy their oil
President Obama is getting flack from the likes of conservative talk show hosts such as Sean Hannity for being civil and shaking hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez isn't the kindest guy, but it doesn't hurt to attempt communication and civility.
Some folks think we should take a more antagonistic stance, but we are likely to just be a "paper tiger" if we take an antagonistic stance; we still buy Venezuelan oil.
As long as we're buying Chavez's oil, we're voting at the pump, so to speak.
Both Chavez and Obama are kind of over the barrel. Obama's country is dependent on the oil, Chavez's country is dependent on the money.
Being civil might as well be tried. It also gains points from other more moderate leaders in Latin America and around the world. Obama is playing to a big audience.
Being confrontational is an option, but that option looks kind of funny while we "vote at the pump" and buy their oil.
There are pictures of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein during the Regan Presidency. Rumsfeld later became our defense secretary while we went to war against Hussein during the Bush Jr. presidency.
Oil can make strange bedfellows.
I've never driven a car.
Chavez isn't the kindest guy, but it doesn't hurt to attempt communication and civility.
Some folks think we should take a more antagonistic stance, but we are likely to just be a "paper tiger" if we take an antagonistic stance; we still buy Venezuelan oil.
As long as we're buying Chavez's oil, we're voting at the pump, so to speak.
Both Chavez and Obama are kind of over the barrel. Obama's country is dependent on the oil, Chavez's country is dependent on the money.
Being civil might as well be tried. It also gains points from other more moderate leaders in Latin America and around the world. Obama is playing to a big audience.
Being confrontational is an option, but that option looks kind of funny while we "vote at the pump" and buy their oil.
There are pictures of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein during the Regan Presidency. Rumsfeld later became our defense secretary while we went to war against Hussein during the Bush Jr. presidency.
Oil can make strange bedfellows.
I've never driven a car.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Shorter school week. Shorter workweek
KUOW's April 13 show called "The Conversation" had talk about a 4 day school week. There's a proposal to allow 4 day school week in some districts here in the state of Washington.
Many of the callers seemed in favor. Is being done in parts of Colorado. Could even enhance education.
Main problem being what to do with kids on the day off when both parents are working.
Answer: 4 day workweek, in my opinion.
Here are some other tidbits I have found recently related to slowing down. Yes, I'm in favor of slowing down. Slowing at least moderately for a healthier life.
Recession can be bad news for some people, but good news for others.
City of Bellingham has been planning a repaving project on Forest Street for this summer. According to a recent Bellingham Herald, bids are coming in lower than expected for many road projects including the Forest Street repave. When contractors and materials are in less in demand, prices can come down.
Like the State Street repave of several years ago, they are also planning to go from 3 car lanes to 2 car lanes.
2 wider car lanes with a bike lane.
It's healthier.
No need to have 3 car lanes (6 lanes total with Forest going north and State coming south) It all ends up in 2 car lanes on the Boulevard anyway; within just a few blocks.
Then I remember recently chatting with a real estate agent in my favorite sauna.
He mentioned that property prices are still too high and should come down more so people can afford houses again. Lower prices might mean more real estate transactions as people will be able to afford to buy again.
In my opinion, property values have been way ahead of average wages. Declining values can hurt some people, but it wouldn't necessarily devastate the real estate industry. Realtors can still get a percent of sale.
The smaller sale that happens can be better than the bigger sale that doesn't happen.
America is still being bogged down from too much overhead, prices, land values, health care costs, interest on deficits, overpaid executives.
I don't mean to bog you down with too long of a list.
Many of the callers seemed in favor. Is being done in parts of Colorado. Could even enhance education.
Main problem being what to do with kids on the day off when both parents are working.
Answer: 4 day workweek, in my opinion.
Here are some other tidbits I have found recently related to slowing down. Yes, I'm in favor of slowing down. Slowing at least moderately for a healthier life.
Recession can be bad news for some people, but good news for others.
City of Bellingham has been planning a repaving project on Forest Street for this summer. According to a recent Bellingham Herald, bids are coming in lower than expected for many road projects including the Forest Street repave. When contractors and materials are in less in demand, prices can come down.
Like the State Street repave of several years ago, they are also planning to go from 3 car lanes to 2 car lanes.
2 wider car lanes with a bike lane.
It's healthier.
No need to have 3 car lanes (6 lanes total with Forest going north and State coming south) It all ends up in 2 car lanes on the Boulevard anyway; within just a few blocks.
Then I remember recently chatting with a real estate agent in my favorite sauna.
He mentioned that property prices are still too high and should come down more so people can afford houses again. Lower prices might mean more real estate transactions as people will be able to afford to buy again.
In my opinion, property values have been way ahead of average wages. Declining values can hurt some people, but it wouldn't necessarily devastate the real estate industry. Realtors can still get a percent of sale.
The smaller sale that happens can be better than the bigger sale that doesn't happen.
America is still being bogged down from too much overhead, prices, land values, health care costs, interest on deficits, overpaid executives.
I don't mean to bog you down with too long of a list.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Loose sluts instead of slots
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