Friday, March 28, 2014
Schedule for 2014Q2
Here is an outline of the themes that will be covered in the second quarter of 2014. Just like last quarter, we will announce the specific topic for the week's meeting on the blog
Local Government
Thursday, Apr. 3, 2014, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)
While the Federal government seems to be in perpetual deadlock, real progress is being made at the local level, especially in large cities. Here is a TED Talk by Ben Barber, which suggests that some global problems are better solved by cooperating cities.
At an even more local level, there is a movement to enable cooperating citizens to fix the problems of their neighborhoods. Here is a TED Talk by Jennifer Pahlka which shows how free Open Source technology is being used to help local government.
------- Update 4/3/14 -------------
Links to the other videos shown at the meeting:
Lecture by Benjamin R. Barber "If mayors ruled the world?"
Catherine Bracy: Why good hackers make good citizens
While the Federal government seems to be in perpetual deadlock, real progress is being made at the local level, especially in large cities. Here is a TED Talk by Ben Barber, which suggests that some global problems are better solved by cooperating cities.
At an even more local level, there is a movement to enable cooperating citizens to fix the problems of their neighborhoods. Here is a TED Talk by Jennifer Pahlka which shows how free Open Source technology is being used to help local government.
------- Update 4/3/14 -------------
Links to the other videos shown at the meeting:
Lecture by Benjamin R. Barber "If mayors ruled the world?"
Catherine Bracy: Why good hackers make good citizens
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Why Do They Vote Against Their Own Best Interest
Thursday, Mar. 27, 2014, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)
Even with all the money spent on political ads, it seems to be a mystery why so many of the working poor vote against their own best interest. In his book, Deer Hunting with Jesus, Joe Bageant explains that they are trapped in ignorance. They don't even realize what is their own best interest. Bageant was raised in that culture but was able to escape and is now a self proclaimed socialist. Yet he tells the story from the view of the people he grew up with. Here is an interview he gave about the book.
Even with all the money spent on political ads, it seems to be a mystery why so many of the working poor vote against their own best interest. In his book, Deer Hunting with Jesus, Joe Bageant explains that they are trapped in ignorance. They don't even realize what is their own best interest. Bageant was raised in that culture but was able to escape and is now a self proclaimed socialist. Yet he tells the story from the view of the people he grew up with. Here is an interview he gave about the book.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Campaign Finance
Thursday, Mar. 20, 2014, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)
We will continue our discussion on democracy in crisis. Last week the issue of campaign finance, made more serious by Citizens United, was raised.
Here is a TED Talk by Lawrence Lessig which makes the case that campaign finance reform is the single most important issue. A longer version of this talk can be found HERE. The talk was based on Lessig's book Republic Lost.
We will continue our discussion on democracy in crisis. Last week the issue of campaign finance, made more serious by Citizens United, was raised.
Here is a TED Talk by Lawrence Lessig which makes the case that campaign finance reform is the single most important issue. A longer version of this talk can be found HERE. The talk was based on Lessig's book Republic Lost.
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