Ten Tips for Improving Your Company’s Sustainability Profile

Its all about the triple bottom line. Embracing the bottom line in terms of economics, environmental, and social values. Your Green offices will embrace all of these values and your boss will love you for it because in addition to making the company look good, it will save money too.

1. Work with a certified waste management company and ask them to provide you with advice for minimizing waste, and where possible gleaning some returns for your efforts. Many companies, notably Waste Management, Inc., have created special e-cycling programs for computers and electronic waste as well as

2. Buy post-consumer recycled content paper. Many of the big dogs in office supply are now offering recycled paper as an option including Staples, Office Depot, Quill, Target, as well as some of the specialty companies like Dolphin Blue, Monadnock Paper, The Green Office and others.

3. Use recyclable products in your bathrooms and kitchen areas.

4. Get an energy audit. In many cases the utility company that provides your electricity also provides programs for auditing your energy use. At the very least you can be sure that they can refer you to a professional in your area.

5. Institute programs to encourage carpooling among employees.

6. Institute programs to provide flex-time and telecommuting. Putting your company’s primary databases and working documents on the web using an intranet will allow your workers to work from any locale with broadband access. Several companies now provide low cost web-based intranet, conferencing and meeting software solutions: Webex, GoToMeeting, TalkPoint, Phase2 and others have some very affordable options.

7. Surge protectors do more than just preventing surges. If you have appliances plugged into surge protectors shutting off the surge protector or unplugging it entirely will prevent leakage that can really add up. At the very least, make it company policy to shut down computers, turn off lights and appliances after hours.

8. Look for EnergyStar rated appliances and office equipment.

9. Limit paper products in the kitchen and encourage employees to bring dishware from home.

10. Purchase renewable energy credits for your office, and offset your air travel, gas mileage and more.

Rowboats at Dusk, Newfound Lake, NH

Washday Book Benefits Project Laundry List

There's something warm and comforting about a wash line on a beautiful day. It is a timeless image that speaks to us of days gone by and days to come. It is a metaphor for our connection to the earth and our shared humanity.

"Washday" is a photographic essay that captures those moments and puts them on your coffee table. More than a conversation piece, it is an invitation to engage one another in a dialog about saving the planet and about those rare moments when a small experience - the smell of fresh sheets, the warmth of the sun, the flapping of clothes in the breeze - can serve as a joyous bridge connecting each of us to one another through a shared experience and the hope that connection can inspire.

The Artist behind Washday is Wayne D. King, an accomplished photographer. King's images are a celebration of life, blending the real and the surreal to achieve a sense of place or time that reaches beyond the moment into a dreamlike quintessentialism designed to spark an emotional response. Using digital enhancement, handcrafting, painting, and sometimes even straight photography, King takes the viewer to a place that is beyond simple truth to where truth meets passion, hope and dreams.

King holds a BS Degree in Environmental Conservation and a Masters Degree in Earth Science Education from the University of New Hampshire, Durham.

A three term former State Senator from New Hampshire, Wayne King was the 1994 Democratic nominee for Governor. King is also the founder of The Electronic Community, a group of social entrepreneurs working on social and development issues in Africa under the non-profit umbrella of the MaxImpact Institute.

A Tribute to My Friend, Michael Jackson

A beautiful tribute to a troubled and huge talent, but I can't help but think back on the work that Michael did to alleviate hunger and feel that he must be saying . . . "Hello!!! People???? IRAN needs you NOW. Celebrate Michael's gifts to the world but don't let that celebration give the Mullahs a moment of peace.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Iran Updates (VIDEO): Live-Blogging The Uprising

A Peoples Revolution in Iran Calls for A Peoples Army of Support

Obama should Encourage Citizens of the World to Unite Around Iranian Freedom, creating a movement that draws its moral authority from free people everywhere.

President Obama has taken the right measured approach in this crisis. Not because we shouldn't be speaking out for the rights of Iran's citizens and for the rightness of transparancy and integrity within a system that claims the mantle of democracy, but because in the context of this crisis, governing institutions are irrellevant - even counter-productive to the debate.

The cadre of thugs controlling Iran - by virtue of a blatantly rigged election and the brutal suppression of their own citizens exercising what should be their right to demand redress - have relinquished their moral authority to speak for the people of Iran.

There is nothing to be gained and much to be lost if President Obama gives the Mullahs in Iran a reason to hang the US around the necks of protestors. This is why even those who have cried out for support in Iran have asked for INTERNATIONAL support not US support; and most simply agree that the US government should try not to become entangled in the crisis.

On the other hand, "we the people" are under no such constraints. The people of the world have been speaking out and will continue to so do. "We the People" DO have the moral authority to weigh in, where governments may not tread.

As we weigh in on the side of the people of Iran who yearn for real freedom, let us also not miss the other lessons that we can glean from this crisis:

1. Iran has a deep well of indigenous democratic thought. If thoughtful, honest and independent leaders emerge from this crisis, now or in the near future, Iran can be a central force for good in this troubled region of the world;

2. Democratic nations could be weighing in on the Community of Nations issue. Letting those who are on the fence in Iran know that under the right circumstances Iran could truly become a leader in the struggle for a more peaceful and democratic world.

3. Democracy cannot cohabitate with Theocracy. Any nation that views itself primarily based on a religious identity - Christian, Islamic, Buddhist or otherwise - will see Democratic thought and institutions poisoned by the toxic brew of theocratic intollerance and despotism in the guise of government.
About Iranian Election
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

George Will: Right-Wing Attacks On Obama's Iran Response "Foolish Criticism" (VIDEO)

George Will has always been the "thinking person's conservative" and this commentary demonstrates why. However, for some of the neocons who have taken the position that Obama is not being forceful enough their rhetoric is far more insidious than merely "foolish", as this implies that they do not know what they are doing. I believe they know exactly what they are doing and, given the gravity of the danger to US interests inherent in their approach, it borders on sedition.



Paul Wolfewicz and his ilk are in large part responsible for the tar baby that is Iraq and now they seek to further entangle us in the quagmire of the Middle East.



There is always room for genuine disagreement on these matters, and President Obama has been criticized by those from both the left and the right, most of whom would fall into the "foolish comments" category. Not so the Neocons who once again would endanger the long term interests of the United States in order to advanced their own short term political objectives.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Supreme Leader's Gamble: Iran's Crisis Deepens

There are many lessons to be learned from the events in Iran. But one profound lesson is the toxic brew that results from mixing religion and democracy. It is not a democracy when any one religion holds authority over the government. Any group that views their country as a Christian or Moslem or Hindu or Buddist nation is a danger to the very notion of democratic republic. Iran will not truly be a democracy until the mullahs go back to the mosques.
About Middle East
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Peacock


Order this image, cards and prints.
This image is available for use in nonprofit fund raising efforts with permission of the artist. At no cost to your organization you may adopt an image(s) for your organization and receive 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.

Heroic Iranian Soldiers Stand up for Democracy & Dissent Share

Don't Assume Anything on Iran

It seems that nearly every hour some inspiring and facinating news manages to makes its way out of Iran to us. Anyone who assumes that the Iranian Military is unified will find it surprising to read this post from Nico Pitney's Blog:

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Nico's blog on Huffington Post
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

3:45 AM ET -- Journalist defies the crackdown on foreign media. Via readers John, Pejman, and Colin: the pugnacious British reporter Robert Fisk witnesses a stunning scene in which Iranian soldiers keep a group of plainclothes paramilitaries away from Mousavi supporters:

In fact at one point, Mousavi's supporters were shouting 'thank you, thank you' to the soldiers.

One woman went up to the special forces men, who normally are very brutal with Mr Mousavi's supporters, and said 'can you protect us from the Basij?' He said 'with God's help'.

It was quite extraordinary because it looked as if the military authorities in Tehran have either taken a decision not to go on supporting the very brutal militia - which is always associated with the presidency here - or individual soldiers have made up their own mind that they're tired of being associated with the kind of brutality that left seven dead yesterday - buried, by the way secretly by the police - and indeed the seven or eight students who were killed on the university campus 24 hours earlier.

Quite a lot of policeman are beginning to smile towards the demonstrators of Mr Mousavi, who are insisting there must be a new election because Mr Ahmadinejad wasn't really elected. Quite an extraordinary scene.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
end of post
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Ironing Day Adds Color to a Room


Purchase as card or print, here.

Nico Pitney Discusses Covering The Iranian Election With Rachel Maddow (VIDEO)

No matter what the outcome of the next few days in Iran, the Genie is out of the bottle in Iran and the people of the country will continue to press for changes. 20 years ago - as with the Chinese in Tiananmen Square - the government could have hidden this and gotten away with it. Today, the citizen journalist will not be kept down (Time Magazine please note: My vote for person of the Year 2009 is the citizen journalist) for all of the drawbacks to having our reporting coming from people who are in the middle of the news stories, we can't avoid the truth that without the tools of web 2.0 and the young people who are using those tools to bring the uprising to us, we would all be in the dark. The fact that the state department asked Twitter to delay maintenance work on the website speaks volumes for its value.



President Obama has handled the crisis brilliantly. Stand up for democracy and human rights - stand down on the personalities and the specifics of the uprising, lest they be tarred as puppets of the west. It's really political science 101 though some pretty high ranking US political leaders seem to have been out drinking during that class (take note Sen McCain and Rep Pence).
About Rachel Maddow
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Green Promise Seen in Switch to LED Lighting

From the NY Times

Jeffrey Sauger for The New York Times

LED streetlights in Ann Arbor, Mich., are expected to cut maintenance and electricity costs.

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL and FELICITY BARRINGER

Published: May 29, 2009

To change the bulbs in the 60-foot-high ceiling lights of Buckingham Palace’s grand stairwell, workers had to erect scaffolding and cover precious portraits of royal forebears.

This is the second in a series of articles about stopgap measures that could limit global warming. Future articles will address appliance-efficiency standards, transportation, reducing global-warming gases other than carbon dioxide and other efforts.

So when a lighting designer two years ago proposed installing light emitting diodes or LEDs, an emerging lighting technology, the royal family readily assented. The new lights, the designer said, would last more than 22 years and enormously reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions — a big plus for Prince Charles, an ardent environmentalist. Since then, the palace has installed the lighting in chandeliers and on the exterior, where illuminating the entire facade uses less electricity than running an electric teakettle.

In shifting to LED lighting, the palace is part of a small but fast-growing trend that is redefining the century-old conception of lighting, replacing energy-wasting disposable bulbs with efficient fixtures that are often semi-permanent, like those used in plumbing.

Full article

Waiting for the Stragglers

Purchase print or cards

Trail Blazers - Jane Addams: A new impulse to an old gospel

Remembering the Trail Blazers series is a series of pieces remembering and honoring those who have played an important part in "securing the blessings of liberty" for all Americans.

With more than 100 years between today and the days prior to universal public education and the many fields of social sciences, its easy to forget that a free public education and the study of social sciences required a protracted struggle to make them realities.

Jane Addams (B. September 6, 1860 – D. May 21, 1935) was a founder of the U.S. Settlement House movement, and one of the first women to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a leading figure in the Progressive era. Born into wealth and tempered by tragedy (three of her siblings died in infancy and her mother died from tuberculosis during pregnancy when Jane was just two years old.) Jane used her considerable empathy and skills to exert her influence on a world where a thirst for leaders offered opportunity and a willing public.

Originally published as 'A new impulse to an old gospel' Forum 14 (1892) pp342-356 and later in Philanthropy and Social Progress, Henry C. Adams, Editor (1893) New York: Thomas Y. Cromwell. This version is taken from Addams 1910 book: Twenty Years at Hull House, New York: Macmillan. Today this lecture is referred to by the title "The Subjective Necessity for Social Settlements"

"In a thousand voices singing the Hallelujah Chorus in Handel's "Messiah," it is possible to distinguish the leading voices, but the differences of training and cultivation between them and the voices in the chorus, are lost in the unity of purpose and in the fact that they are all human voices lifted by a high motive. This is a weak illustration of what a Settlement attempts to do. It aims, in a measure, to develop whatever of social life its neighborhood may afford, to focus and give form to that life, to bring to bear upon it the results of cultivation and training; but it receives in exchange for the music of isolated voices the volume and strength of the chorus. It is quite impossible for me to say in what proportion or degree the subjective necessity which led to the opening of Hull-House combined the three trends: first, the desire to interpret democracy in social terms; secondly, the impulse beating at the very source of our lives, urging us to aid in the race progress; and, thirdly, the Christian movement toward humanitarianism. It is difficult to analyze a living thing; the analysis is at best imperfect. Many more motives may blend with the three trends; possibly the desire for a new form of social success due to the nicety of imagination, which refuses worldly pleasures unmixed with the joys of self-sacrifice; possibly a love of approbation, so vast that it is not content with the treble clapping of delicate hands, but wishes also to hear the bass notes from toughened palms, may mingle with these."

Read this lecture in its entirety

"Longview Flowers"

Order this image as a print or card, here.

This image is available for use in nonprofit fund raising efforts with permission of the artist. At no cost to your organization you may adopt an image(s) for your organization and receive 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.

Receive regular image updates on Twitter.

Trail Blazers - Robert Kennedy in South Africa

Remembering the Trail Blazers series is a series of pieces remembering and honoring those who have played an important part in "securing the blessings of liberty" for all Americans.

Day of Affirmation Address (as delivered)
(often also referred to as the "Ripples of Hope" speech)

Among the most famous, and surely among the most substantive, speeches of the Century, Robert F. Kennedy seemed to reach across the globe with his words, speaking of the hopes and dreams as well as the ills and challenges of not only South Africa, where he had come to deliver this speech, but also of America and the planet. This is a speech that every America should be familiar with not only for its content but for the courage that it took to deliver it in the face of South Africa's Apartheid government and the US government's opposition to his trip to Johannesburg.


Robert F. Kennedy
University of Capetown
Capetown, South Africa
June 6, 1966

"Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and in the total of all these acts will be written the history of this generation. Thousands of Peace Corps volunteers are making a difference in the isolated villages and the city slums of dozens of countries. Thousands of unknown men and women in Europe resisted the occupation of the Nazis and many died, but all added to the ultimate strength and freedom of their countries. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage such as these that the belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Text of Speech

Audio of the Speech

Video Clip from the Speech


Phlox



Order card, prints and framed, digitally signed, copies of this image.

This image is available for use in nonprofit fund raising efforts with permission of the artist. At no cost to your organization you may adopt an image(s) for your organization and receive 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.

Maintaining Perspective on the Pandemic

President Obama stated that we are "concerned but not alarmed" over the developments regarding the flu pandemic. The president is calm by nature, of course, but his demeanor on this front is particularly important in order to make sure that what is a source of concern does not become an unnecessary and calamitous amendment to the economic maelstrom in which we already find ourselves.

Panic and political opportunism both threaten to exacerbate the current international economic crisis. In order for cooler heads to prevail lets all agree to help tamp down the fear by using a few of these important facts to add some perspective to discussions that we are part of over the next few months.

1. A Pandemic is a world wide epidemic. We have an annual pandemic of the flu EVERY SINGLE YEAR. The question is always how serious is the pandemic NOT whether there is one.

2. The recent name change from Swine Flu to H1N1 Virus reflects the fact that we still do not know the actual origins of the flu but we know that it is genetically composed of viruses from past flu viruses including swine flue, avian (Bird) flu, SARS and possibly some others. In any case it is not spread by eating meat of ANY Variety. Calling it a swine flu has already had a serious detrimetal effect on pork producers, who have seen orders for their product plummet.
Additionally, always looking for a way to take advantage of an international crisis to violate world trade agreements and enhance their cash flow, countries like Russia are making a cynical play to close their borders to the importation of pork and in some cases other meats.

3. On any given year more than 36,000 people die from complications of the Flu in the US alone. So far, deaths from the H1N1 Virus are fewer than 300 in Mexico where it is believed to have started.

Before its all over, it could get much worse and there is no doubt that we should continue to operate as members of the Obama adminstration have said "with an abundance of caution",

Useful links:

Mapping the outbreak
Virus is 'a mild strain'
Your questions answered
Q&A: Advice about swine flu


Nap at Tema Harbor


Purchase this image on cards or print

Hannity Waterboard Offer: Olbermann Increases The Pressure

Thomas Paine had a term for people like Sean Hannity - Sunshine Patriot.

He knows that waterboarding is torture but he doesn't have the guts to simply admit that he endorses torture so he manufactures a phony debate.

Now he has let his loose lips go just a little too far, saying that he would be willing to be waterboarded for charity. The pledges are pouring in and Sean is trying to find a way out without being exposed for the coward and sunshine patriot that he is.

He won't do it. He shouldn't - it's torture. But he'll have to do do the liar's shuffle for the next few months to avoid admitting to either his cowardice or his lies.

The only question is whether Fox will pay a price for the innanity of Hannity.
About Keith Olbermann
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Innanity of Hannity

Goose Over Stinson Lake


Purchase prints or cards

Elizabeth Warren on Foreclosure Prevention

Terry Gross Interview Elizabeth Gross for Fresh Air

Fresh Air from WHYY, March 9, 2009 · According to a report on home foreclosure issued Mar. 6, 2009 by the Congressional Oversight Panel charged with monitoring the use of bailout funds, the rate of home foreclosure is now three times its historic rate — "so large that it threatens the entire economy."

Panel chairwoman Elizabeth Warren joins Fresh Air to discuss the foreclosure problem — and what can be done about it.

This is a must listen for anyone looking to understand how we got into this problem; what the Obama plan does and does not do; and. other ideas for confronting the problem.

Listen

Open Letter to the Republican Traitors (From a Former Republican)

I understand and feel Frank Schaeffers rage. In many ways he is spot on correct with the things he says here. However, his anger dilutes the power of his message. He lowers himself to the level of a Michele Bachman or an Ann Coulter by using the same inflammatory language that has marginalized their impact on the political dialog.

I'm a former elected Democrat who lost a race for Governor in that fateful 1994 election that began the Republicans ascent to total control of the Federal Government, so I have some personal experience on these matters.

Republicans deserve to cook in the stew that they made, but they are not Anti-American; they are not traitors. They are misguided, unfair, uncooperative, elitist, arrogant, and deserve to spend some time in the political wilderness; But in the end, in the best interest of America, we need them to succeed in the painful process of rebuilding their party. hopefully as a more diverse, tolerant and cooperative party.

The marketplace of ideas is strongest when two strong parties compete for the hearts and minds of the American people. The current fix we are in is largely from a single six year period when the Republicans controlled everything and had carte blanche to re-caste America in the Republican image. Democrats would do well to remember this and not to create the mirror image in their zeal to take advantage of their current authority.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Lookin' for Love in all the Wrong Places

Bi-partisanship can be found in the earmarks to the budget . . . what's with that?

If President Obama wants to find an example of bi-partisanship he need only look at the authorship on the budget earmarks. Granted its the last place he wants to reference as he struggles to get the leadership of the parties to cooperate.

Ironically, the number of earmarks from Republicans is not likely to result in their support of the bill. What happened to the "good old days" when at least authorship of an earmark assured the support of the author.

So here's my suggestion. Move forward on the bill. In every instance where a member of the House or Senate has sponsored an earmark and then voted against the budget, remove the earmark in the committee of conference. This will achieve two important goals: reducing the overall budget and holding the earmarkers accountable for their earmark.

Earmarks are not necessarily good or bad by their nature, but hypocrisy is. If a member of congress thinks an earmark is important enough to place in the budget then he/she should be willing to pay the price associated with proposing it. They should not be able to place it in the budget and then vote against it.

"Our Time Comes"

Order this image on cards or prints.

This image is available for use in nonprofit fund raising efforts with permission of the artist. At no cost to your organization you may adopt an image(s) for your organization and receive 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.

What Battered Newsrooms Can Learn From Stewart's CNBC Takedown

Alas, what this well written piece reveals is that often times more good reporting takes place on the Daily Show than on any major network. Some of this can be attributed to the all too cozy relationship between advertisers and the networks. That certainly shows through loud and clear on Stewart's crushing CNBC "retrospective".

The question that emerges is how do we change this in the future? Its easy to look back and show how CNBC became a part of the problem but how do we stop it before it reaches the point of no return?

Unfortunately, I see no sign that NBC or any other major network is doing any soul searching on this matter. Without that we are doomed to a repeat performance.
About Newspapers
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Clinton Hails L.A.'s shift to LED Street Lights

Calling it a "great day in Los Angeles," former President Bill Clinton joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today in unveiling what is billed as the largest effort by a U.S. city to reduce pollution by ... Read full story from LA Daily News

If your company or Government has outdoor lighting and would like to save 80% on your costs by retrofitting with LED lighting, contact us directly for the only American made option. 603-786-9378

Obama's Secret Letter To Putin Offered Deal On Missiles

If there is one thing that might turn the Russians on the issue of Iran it is the Missile Defense system. Whether we strike a deal to scrap it, or develop it in tandem with the Russians so that they have complete access to all the technology, we should play this card to get them to work with us on Iran. I would prefer to see us not waste the money to begin with, but it would be conceivable to have a fall back that made Russia a collaborator on development of a system.

This is a brilliant strategic move by Obama. There is some buzz out there that Senator Schumer had suggested it during the Bush administration but that Bush was more interested in generating heat than light. I'm sure that Obama doesn't have any pride of authorship. What matters is getting it done.

We have a very small window for dramatically changing our relationship with Iran. It may be that we enhance the prestige of Russia by giving them the opportunity to play the role of intermediary and peacemaker. There is no time to waste.
About President Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Free Roxana Saberi

Advocates of Dialog with Iran Need to Stand Up and Be Counted

As a strong advocate of dialog with Iran, I condemn the recent arrest of Roxana Saberi, an independent journalist in Iran on charges that are clearly trumped up by the government.

Saberi was arrested after someone sold her wine and then turned her in for buying it. Common opinion in ran is that this is not an offense for which anyone is ever held, so it is clear that the government was looking to muzzle Saberi.

If Iran expects to have a dialog with the US that is based on mutual respect, they should free Ms. Saberi immediately.

President Obama should issue a statement calling for her release.

NPR Story

"The Artist"


Order this image as card or print, here.

Jindal is Toast

If Bobby Jindal was one of those "up and comers" who watched gleefully from the sidelines while Sarah Palin got skewered during the Presidential election, he got his come uppance yesterday in response to his speech Tuesday night after the President.

In what turned out to be Mr. Rogers meets Young Frankenstein, Jindal spewed all the old tire lines as if he were an amalgamation of Republican corpses dug up, spliced together and shocked to life just after Obama had finished his speech.

Where Obama treated us like Adults, able to understand nuance and to handle the bad news, Jindal treated us like children, and low IQ ones at that. In a showing that brought to mind Mr. Rogers, Jindal treated us to a bunch of silly anecdotes that made no sense, criticized actions of his own party, and then expected us to come around to his point, if we could have figured out what it was.

If Jindal has a future in the Republican party it is only because there's so few people left who believe anything they say that without him they can't even field a team. If it turns out that he made up the story about himself and the sheriff, as Keith Ohlberman suggested last night, he's toast.

"Sledders Return"

Order this image on cards, prints, here.
Would you like to use this image as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? No cost to you, just adopt the image, help spread the word about cards and prints and get 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.

The Two Documents Everyone Should Read to Better Understand the Crisis

Irrespective of the fact that this piece was without reference to the two articles cited, the fact remains that If the Bush Administration should have known the extent of the problem based on these two articles, so too should Sen Dodd and Rep Frank. It would be useful to know whether any of them, or their staffs actually read these articles and why there was no response.
About Timothy Geithner
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

McCain Confronts Obama On Marine One (VIDEO)

Its really unfair to cast the exchange between McCain and Obama on military procurement as a confrontation. To do so really reflects on the reporting more than the story.



This is a friendly exchange between the President and Sen McCain. The fact is that if we are going to get a handle on the procurement issue, we need to take every opportunity to encourage folks to work together. If every exchange is going to be characterized as a confrontation, there will be fewer exchanges and that's not good for anyone.
About Video On HuffPost
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Calling Jindal's Bluff

The Obama administration should issue guidelines about refusing any portion of the Stimulus money as a part of their transparency requirements. The guidelines should require that a Governor list the specific tranch that they will be refusing, the amount of money and percent of total stimulus funds that it represents. This way we will know if Gov. Jindal is grandstanding over 1/2 of 1 percent of the funds and accepting the other 99.5 percent.



It should also require that both the Governor and the Legislature sign off on all funds so that the Governor can't just let the legislature do his dirty work. We should NOT deny relief to the citizens of the state however, just because their governor is playing politics.



Finally, in Jindal's case, I'd be curious to know if the feds have set up a system for auditing the money that has been flowing to Louisiana for hurricane relief. If Jindal is playing fast and loose with money that is suppose to be helping hurricane victims, as a means of circumventing stimulus reporting requirements he should go to the Big House not the White House.
About Stimulus Package
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Holder Opens the Door to Nuanced Dialog

No matter what your reaction was to last week's speech by US Attorney General Eric Holder one must admit that it has done one important thing that Holder surely hoped it would do. It has gotten America talking about race. This is important and healthy.

Holder has taken a page out of President Obama's book. That page says that with thoughtful leadership America is capable of tackling the big issues in thoughtful manner.

The left and right jumped on Holder's remarks about America's cowardice in discussing race. It was red meat for the extremes and gave them an opening for putting forward their own agenda's. For the rest of us, it has indeed spurred a useful dialog.

More important than these remarks - and equally important to the dialog about race - were the remarks that Holder made regarding Affirmative Action. Holder called for a healthy and nuanced discussion about affirmative action.

Tackling Affirmative Action may be Obama's "Nixon in China" moment. Moving toward a system that focuses on socio-economic based disadvantages rather than strict racial disadvantages. Whether such a discussion generated change or simply a healthy dialog, it would be another historic moment in an era that seems to have more than its share already.

"Ice Fishing on Newfound Lake"


Order this image, cards, prints, framed and unframed.

Would you like to use this image as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? No cost to you, just adopt the image, help spread the word about cards and prints and get 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.

Tirade Among the Traders - Time for Santelli to Go

Santelli Fans the Fires of Class Warfare

If CNBC wants to give Rick Santelli his own show where he can spend his time ranting in support of the bankers and wall street folks, that's just fine, but he should not be allowed to behave as he has in the guise of someone reporting the news from Wall Street.

To begin with he displayed a complete ignorance of the actual details of Obama's plan to do something about the mortgage meltdown and his tirade among the traders showed a man completely out of touch with the pain on main street.

President Obama has tried not to turn our nation's economic troubles into class warfare. It would be easy to do and completely counter productive. Santelli is fanning the embers and if the embers turn to flames, we'll all be burned.

Creating the Conditions for a Post Partisan Future

Obama's army will need to be the frontline in the battle to secure a post-partisan future and the President will need to lead by example.

Many times over the months since the election, Barack Obama has described the current economic meltdown as a nexus of crisis and opportunity. Most recently the words he has chosen to use in describing this are "Paradox and Opportunity". These terms could just as accurately be used to describe the challenge of building a post partisan atmosphere in Washington.

The President for his part will need to carefully walk the line between his role as the instigator of that revolution and the titular head of one of the chief antagonists in the drama - the Democratic Party. He must protect his Democratic flank as he reaches across the aisle to help create a third way of doing business in Washington.

Ironically, in another parallel to the economic crisis, he has to foster a revolution while maintaining the marketplace that drives the engines of ideas and innovation. Like Roosevelt, who is often said to have been the person who saved capitalism, he must - on both fronts - lead us to a place where the creative conflict that has been the hallmark of the system survives and thrives in a new era, but the bitter, snarkiness of partisanship, greed and one-upsmanship of the current environment gives way to an era of accountability, transparency and civility.

There are many who say it cannot be done. There are also many who say it should not be done because success would mean the destruction of the creative forces that shape the dynamism of the American example.

Those among us who believe that it can and should be done must avoid the pitfalls of cynicism and simplistic thinking and sloganeering if we are to succeed. We should not simply write off the concerns of those who are worried about the destruction of the marketplace of ideas. They have a legitimate concern. After all, Americans will never march in lockstep. We cherish the diversity of viewpoints in both the financial marketplace and the marketplace of ideas. Rightfully, we believe that it is the forge in which our greatness is cast.

Likewise the political parties cannot be expected to relinquish their principles, nor should they. There will be some times when the chasm separating the two parties will be so broad that nothing can bridge it. At those times civility would be an adequate substitute for bi-partisanship.


So here are a few suggestions for all of us - especially for those of us who want to see us move toward a post-partisan future.

Post-Partisan is NOT necessarily Bi-Partisan
Don't confuse "Post-Partisan" with "Bi-partisan". Post partisan presumes that we are attempting to move beyond the divisions of the rabid partisanship that has characterized the legislative process for the past 10-16 years. It refers more to a set of principles and an atmosphere of civility than to some mythical place where the same number of legislators sign on from both parties.

Bifurcate the quest for bi-partisanship and post partisan behavior.
Seek Bipartisanship in a pragmatic way. Inside the beltway it will most difficult of all. Our expectations and approach should reflect this. Don't expect elected officials from one party to embrace the ideas of the elected officials from the other party. What happens inside the Washington Beltway will, by necessity, be mostly for atmospherics. Not for show but rather to develop an air of civility. Build your important coalitions outside the Beltway. If you are going to make appointments across party lines, elected officials are just about the last place you want to look, for two important reasons, first because the partisans won't be vested in your success (see: Gregg, Judd, R-NH); second - and probably more important - these folks may understand the politics but they will rarely actually have a well balanced understanding of the issues themselves.


Look for representatives of the other party from the ranks of those who are DOING not talking and who naturally have a stake in success that is not tied to the next election. Back to Judd Gregg for a moment - since he's the Senator from my state - President Obama would have been better off to offer the Commerce position to the Republican that our Governor was going to appoint to take over for Judd in the Senate. Bonnie Newman would have been a better choice for Commerce right from the start, based on the depth of her experiences and her record of actually being able to work across party lines.


In short: build bi-partisanship where parties have a stake in the success of the outcomes. In other words, work directly with the folks who are outside the beltway where the message of bi-partisanship isn't a foriegn concept and force feed bi-partisanship to the folks inside the beltway.



Create Post-Partisan Centrist Coalitions
This is one of those places where the Obama supporters will need to take the lead and recognize that the President has a duality of interest that encumbers his ability to act in a completely free manner on this front.

One of the great ironies of the current situation is that the success of the Democrats during the last two elections has made "moderate" republicans an endangered species in the House and threatens to do the same in the Senate.


Obama was unable to form a bi-partisan coalition on the stimulus bill because the centrists within the Republican party's elected ranks have been "killed off" during two elections that became referrenda on the Bush Presidency and the irrelevancy of the Republican brand.


At a time when our President would like to reach out, he looks over and realizes that all the folks to whom he could have reached out lost to Democrats in the last election or the proceeding one. Sometimes their replacement is a Democrat even more conservative than the Republican they replaced. In truth, the President would - in many cases - have been better off with a moderate Republican occupying that seat, but the obligation of the party is to win with a Democrat. Herein lies the rub. We need a political force that works to create or strengthen the middle . . . a force not beholden to either the Democrats or the Republicans.



Keep Taking the Case to the People
Ronald Reagan did it effectively and Barack Obama figured out very quickly that he should take a page out of Reagan's book. The people, collectively, are a whole lot smarter than most politicians and pundits give them credit for. Don't talk down to them, tell them the truth and give them the good and the bad and you will be rewarded for it.




"S-Curve in Green"



Order this image as a print or card.

Crash of Flight 3407 Stills Vital Voices

The crash of Flight 3407 on the evening of February 12, 2009 has stilled 50 voices, all of them important, all of them loved. Four of those voices are among the many who have used their lives in areas that have affected me personally.

For those who, like myself, find themselves inexorably drawn to the joy and tragedy of the African experience, the death of Dr. Alison Des Forges is a terrible blow. Des Forges was a leading authority on the Rwanda genocide and has been a Senior Advisor to, and board member of, the world's foremost human right organization, Human Rights Watch, for nearly twenty years. Dr. Des Forges' example and wisdom have served to help us to better understand the triumphs and failing of the human condition and to see broadly the complexities of relationships between countries and ethnic groups.



Beverly Eckert was a picture of strength and dignity after the loss of her beloved husband in the tragedy of 9-11. She was the hammer of justice in her refusal to quietly accept the less-than-adequate response of the US government after the tragedy. Eckert became an amateur lobbyist and a tireless advocate for accountability and a justice that did not tarnish the moral authority of the United States. She spoke out against the human rights abuses perpetrated in the names of the 9-11 victims and right up until the day she died she had thrown herself into this new role. She was fond of explaining that her preference would have been for her husband to return home on that fateful day and her mission was now to make sure that other husbands would.

Alison Des Forges and Beverly Eckert were accidental heroes, drawn into the caldron of heroism by events not choice, but who embraced their roles with humor and humility. They will be missed by those who knew them and thousands more who simply admired their ideals and work and drew strength from their example.

Jazz Musicians Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett were also on board the flight, headed for a gig with Chuck Mangione in Buffalo. For anyone who has listened to the "Live in Central Park" CD by Simon and Garfunkle, the name Gerry Niewood will be familiar, Art Gunfunkle introduces Niewood during the live album

Gerry Niewood

Coleman Mellett was a regular band member of Chuck Mangione's band and was married to the daughter of jazz legend Dizzie Gillespie.

Coleman Mellett

"Among the Lupines on the Jefferson Highlands"



Order this image on cards or prints, here.

Would you like to use this image as a fund raising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? Follow this link to learn more.

A Novel Approach: Using Unemployment Benefits as a Means for Stimulus

Very interesting concept. Add the ability for folks to take a lump sum payment to start their own business and you have the working of a very entrepreneurial approach.
About Stimulus Package
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

NPR Tells Fox News: Please Don't Associate Juan Williams With Us

For Fox to say that they were just trying to be helpful to NPR by mentioning Juan William's association is just disengenuous. They mention it because it gives them credibility by associating their brand with that of NPR. If the Juan Williams who appears from time to time on NPR were the same Juan Williams who show's up on Fox New, I would have no problem with that. However, its clear that when Juan Williams is on Fox he has marching orders to play the "Fox way". Its really too bad. Williams clearly has no idea how much damage he does to his own brand when he seems to schill for whoever happens to be paying for his time.
About Video On HuffPost
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Senator King Touts Reinvestment Side of the Stimulus on Political Chowder

Former Senator Wayne King, now President of Moosewood Communications, appeared this week on Political Chowder with Arnie Arnesen where he placed a heavy emphasis on the Reinvestment side of the Stimulus plan, particularly enhancing our position with respect to green energy and green jobs.

Watch Political Chowder.

Leahy Embraces Truth and Reconciliation Commission

As first suggested in this Blog on January 13, the idea for a "Truth and Reconciliation"panel at the congressional level has been embraced by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont. The idea for the panel, announced yesterday morning by Leahy's office came up at President Obama's first televised news conference last night.

As predicted, Professor Jonathan Turley trashed this notion tonight on Keith Ohlberman's "Countdown". However, I'd remind Professor Turley that Bishop Tutu was called a "traitor" for his role in creating the process in South Africa that ultimately turned out to be a major factor in helping to heal the country and move it beyond the dark days of Apartheid.

While I am pleased to have the idea gain momentum, I would be negligent if I did not mention that it will be necessary to give some latitude to the folks at CIA and other agencies who acted on behalf of their superiors. It would be a real mistake if this process ended up focusing only on low level people who were following the orders of superiors who insured them that they were acting on the authority of the SecDef or the President and Vice President.

"A Golden Moment"



Order this image as a card or print.

Would you like to use this image as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? Follow this link to learn more.

Express the Grays, Mr. President

President Obama must trust the American people to see the gray areas of the challenge ahead.

The three weeks since Barack Obama became President of the United States have been a roller coaster for the President and the American people.

On Monday evening he will address the American people in a televised news conference, the next in an ongoing series of "most important addresses" that the President faces.

Understandably, the pundits are all in the "what he needs to say" mode. So here's my take on this: 1. Be strong, be calm and be optimistic but frank, 2. Express the urgency of immediate action; 3. restate the goals of that action; and, 4. most important, speak directly to the American people in a manner that recognizes the grays - not just the black and white's upon which the partisans and the media seemed to have focused.

As he did with his remarkable speech on race. President Obama should trust the good judgement of the American people to see the problem in all its complexity and ask for their prayers and support as he works to get both sides to be both more humble in their approach and more bold in their implementation. In short - to paraphrase Lincoln - to ask both sides to stop acting as if God were on their side and quickly craft a humble concensus, hoping and praying that we are on God's side.

In an interesting piece on Politico.com yesterday, Elizabeth Sherman, of the Tractenburg School of Public Policy at GW University gave a simple, but compelling, response to the question of "what to say" by reminding the President to stay on message with a restatement of the need to move beyond partisanship and the specific goals of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 package.

In other words, remind them that we are not red states and blue states but the United States and then speak frankly about the goals of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

1. Targeted tax cuts and investment spending to get the private sector working again and renewing confidence in the system;
2. Strategic short and longer-term investments to fund infrastructure and to invest in our competitiveness in the new green economy as we emerge from the recession;
3. Proving a safety net for those hardest hit by, (and often least responsible for) the economic meltdown.

Sherman is right on target with this advice, but it will fall short if the President does not then use it to do an end run around the Congress and the media straight to the American people with a plea for their help in setting a new tone with expanded expectations.

He can start by reminding the American people that changing the landscape in Washington is not going to be easy - that it will only happen with their support. One only need look at the actions of the major players in the past few weeks to see how difficult it will be.

With some wordsmithing, he can both highlight the problem and secure the support of the American people. He can - for example - demonstrate how he tried to reach across the aisle during the past week only to have the Republicans seek unfair advantage by insisting on their package and crying partisanship when they got less than 100% of their demands. He can show strength by taking a Reaganesque approach to the Republicans, a "trust but verify" approach that expects cooperation and hits back when cooperation is not given or disingenuous. Just as Reagan firmly held the Soviets to his expectations, so too will Obama hold the Republicans to his - rewarding them when they live up to their promises and pushing back when they don't -
always vowing to continue to press for a post partisan approach.

Obama can start by forgiving the partisans and the press for their transgressions of the past two weeks:

Forgive the Democrats who, heady from their victory on election day, have failed to see that the election results were not an endorsement of the Democratic party, but a clarion call for a new way.

Forgive the Republicans for their transgressions by pointing out that they are understandably confused and without direction. Their ideas have suffered from the rejection of the American people after eight years of national experimentation and they are struggling to find a voice that makes them relevant in an era of diversity and global competitiveness.

Forgive the media for finding conflict more newsworthy (and profitable) than concensus and for the understandable difficulty of finding simple ways to report on complex problems.

Ask for the help of the American people in the immediate problem of taking action on the recession and in the longer-term challenge of creating higher expectations for a post-partisan future.


"Lincoln Memorial at Night"


Order this image as a print or poster.

Would you like to use this image as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? Follow this link to learn more.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Post Partisanship

Changing the way Washington does business won't be easy or quick.

A funny thing happened on the way to a post-partisan Washington. The Democratic House decided it didn't need to be post-partisan because it had the votes and the Republicans decided that they could play all the worst partisan games with the stimulus and Barack Obama would not be able to fight back without seeming to go back on his promise.

It seems that President Obama is going to have to revise his approach to creating a post partisan American government. I suggest that he take a page or two out of Ronald Reagan's play book. The one that says "The Soviets: Trust but Verify".

I suggest this because the Republicans are acting very much like the Soviets of old.

Sure, they have an old tyme ideology that provides plenty of cover on their anti-spending dogma and just like the Soviet leaders with their dachas and expense accounts they never worry about whether their message is consistent with their example.

More disturbing, however, is the way in which the Republicans have mimicked those wiley Soviets by demanding concession after concession and then acting as if President Obama's expectations that his election should give him some control over the agenda was an about face on his promise to reach across the aisle.

Like the Soviets, they have figured that they can have the best of both worlds. They can line the pockets of their friends and still vote against the final bill. If the Stimulus bill works, they can claim that their tax cuts were what created all the jobs; and, if their tax cuts have crowded out the strategic investments needed for the measure to actually succeed, they can crow about how they were right to vote against it.

It almost makes one long for the good old days of bitter partisanship.

President Obama will need to develop a response for this kind of behavior or they will continue to run that play like a prison football team from The Longest Yard. That's where the Ronald Reagan approach might come in handy.

1. Regularly warn the American people that they can't be trusted and point out their behavior each time they engage in it.
2. Play the partisan in response to their shenanigans, using humor works well.
3. Raise the stakes suffiently so that there is an incentive for real and honest post partisan behavior.

In short, institute a policy of Mutually Assured Destruction for playing the slime card.

The polls show that the American people see what the Republicans are doing here. Yes, there is some damage to the President's agenda but, according to just released national polling, the minute that President Obama began to fight back the American people came down on his side. It won't be long before the Republicans find - as the Soviets did - that the price of their gamesmanship may just be a lot higher than they thought.

A Peek at a McCain Presidency

McCain Shows the Wisdom of the American People's Choice

Yesterday, John McCain gave the American people a rare glimpse at the fate they were spared by their election of Barack Obama. McCain rolled out an alternative "stimulus" plan that was nothing more than a ratty old copy of the Bush playbook that has gotten us into this mess to begin with.

Fortunately, neither Congress, nor the American people were buying it - or even paying much attention for that matter.

There will surely be time for John McCain to show that he has not had his principles completely hijacked by the Sarah Palin wing of the Republican Party, but this is not an auspicious beginning for the Senator who's legacy already took a serious hit over the past year.

"Fawn at Welton Falls"


Order this image as a card print or poster, here.

Would you like to use this image as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? Follow this link to learn more.

An Economist Mind with a Mother's Intuition

One of the best blogs out there when it comes to understanding the current economic crisis and the efforts to do something about it is the Economist Mom, edited by Diane Lim Rogers of the Concord Coalition.

Lim Rogers declares the blog as the place . . . “where analytical rigor meets a mother’s intuition”–where honest math and sound economics is communicated in a way that makes common sense and is relevant to our daily lives. The issues they discuss span a wide and unusual range as suggested by the blog’s title–from “do deficits matter?” (yes) to “can I get my family life in perfect order?” (no, she can't). Lim Rogers says that "among the broader policy issues there will be a particular focus on the economics of fiscal responsibility, with the hope that this blog will be part of a newly effective, “grassroots” movement involving ordinary American parents and grandparents, encouraging our policymakers to “do the right (fiscal) thing” for the sake of our children and grandchildren.

I'm a big fan of Lim Rogers, but if there is a criticism that I would make of the over-arching theme of the blog it is that by relying on a "mother's intuition" to generate the common sense side of the blog, Lim Roger's sometimes falls short on understanding the strategic choices that need to be made in order to find that sweet spot where fiscal responsibility and a mother's intuition meet meet effectiveness of effort.

A recent case in point was Lim Roger's (vocal) appearance tonight on NPR's Marketplace. Unlike so many other commentators, Lim Roger's understood that the bill being considered by Congress right now has two key components: stimulus and competitiveness. She gave a concise and clear explanation of the two components that should be framed and placed right in frot of every pundit in the country so that they understand it as well. However, on her Blog she seems to make the case that we can afford to wait on the parts of the package that will take longer to get into the economy but will position the US to be competitive in the global economy. This is where she's wrong and a bit of common sense and mother's intuition will go a long way toward understanding why.

If you think that the partisanship and posturing over the current bill is bad - just wait until we are another trillion dollars in the hole. Even the most far sighted folks will be wringing their hands about spending the money needed to achieve the goal of creating a "smart grid" or bringing some other sustainable technologies to market. In fact, I would make the case that if we had to choose between immediate stimulus and investments that will ensure our competitiveness for the future, that we should endure the hardship of short term for the promise of the long term.

When the crisis of 9-11 generated international goodwill that could have been turned into an opportunity to unite the world in an all out effort to end our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels, President Bush told us all to go shopping and he missed the most powerful teachable moment in recent history. Woe unto us if President Obama is equally shortsighted.

If we sacrifice what is important for what is urgent, we will emerge from this recession as a second rate economic power without the will or the courage to take the action that will be necessary to make us competitive for the long-run.


"Deep Roots" Poster and Card

Quote under the photo:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by frost.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Order this image as card, prints, poster, here
Would you like to use this image as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? Follow this link to learn more.

Bill Bradley - A Logical Choice

"The number one principle of the New American Story is that Country comes before Party. When there is a choice between them, a patriot chooses Country." - Senator Bill Bradley

If there are two books that belong together on a bookshelf labeled "Ideas and Ideals" they are Barack Obama's "Audacity of Hope" and Bill Brdley's "New American Story". Both express the necessity for citizens to rise up and compel the political establishment to change the way in which it does business.

That's the first reason why Bill Bradley is the logical choice to head up the department of Health and Human Services and to take the point position on National Healthcare.

The second is that Bradley has all of the assets of Tom Daschle and few, if any, of the liabilities. Well respected by both Democrats and Republicans; Bradley knows how to "work the Hill" and he knows the challenges that lie ahead.

Bradley's depth of understanding and knowledge on Health Care Reform is well known. It was his principle issue in the Democratic nomination process of the 2000 election and Bradley's view was comprehensive and pragmatic.

Furthermore, and this is what separates Bradley from others like Howard Dean, he has the temperment for the job. If there is one aspect of Bill Bradley that more closely mirrors his connection with Barack Obama on political philosophy, it is his temperment. Bradley's cool headedness is a perfect fit for "no-drama Obama".

It may just turn out to be a stroke of good luck that President Obama has been asked to revisit the appointment of HHS Secretary, although it surely can't feel that way at the moment. After all, by the time we are through getting the country out of this recession, getting Americans to think big again on Healthcare is going to be very tough indeed.

"The Peacock"




Order this image on cards, prints, or posters, here.

Would you like to use this image as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? Follow this link to learn more.

The Gregg Appointment

The appointment of Judd Gregg to the position of Commerce Secretary is a first rate choice by the President. Judd Gregg has been intimately involved in developing the budget and providing oversight for the Department of Commerce for many years. He knows how the department works and he knows how to make things happen.

Furthermore, among US Senators, no one has a better understanding of the severity of the economic crisis facing this nation. Judd Gregg was the choice of his Republican leader to represent Republicans in the difficult days following the announcement by the Treasury secretary that we were in meltdown territory.

Despite the looney ramblings of Michelle Malkin in her blog and the critics on both sides, President Obama meant it when he asked us to step beyond partisanship and Judd Gregg values Country over Party. Thats a good starting point for what will be the very difficult days ahead.


"Mr. Lincoln's Legacy"


Order cards, prints, posters, here.

Would you like to use this image as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? Follow this link to learn more.

Understanding Why It Happened

There's no end in sight on the financial crisis, but that has not kept several foundations from supporting efforts to understand how the crisis came about and ensure that it does not happen again. In the meantime, they also serve as a touchstone to the more immediate issues surrounding the crisis. We suggest that you bookmark the sites and return to them regularly to keep up with our understanding and future trends.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has provided three grants totaling $1.7 million to:

• The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania;
• The National Bureau of Economic Research; and.
• The Brookings Institution

Each has received funds to study the ongoing financial market crisis and to improve public understanding of economics and finance.

The Sloan foundation made an additional $1 million grant to the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer for a series of reports on the crisis, with the same goal of improving the public’s economic and financial literacy.

Wharton's Website provides timely analysis and insight into the origins of the financial crisis, how it's affecting our economy, and what we can expect for the future. Check this page frequently as news posts and information will be added regularly. Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

"National Bureau of Economic Research is the nation's leading economic research organization and posts working papers, data, and other resources for business professionals, public policy makers.

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad goals:

• Strengthen American democracy;
• Foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and
• Secure a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.

"A Sea of Boys"

Order cards, prints, posters of this image, here.

Would you like to use this image, or another, as a fundraising instrument for your nonprofit organization or school? Follow this link to learn more.