How to be a Big Citizen

Social entrepreneur Alan Khazei is no stranger to community involvement. He is the co-founder of City Year, and the founder and CEO of Be the Change--both of which are nonprofit organizations committed to encouraging civic participation, while raising awareness about issues like poverty and education in America. Now Khazei has written his first book, entitled Big Citizenship, which is a straightforward invitation to readers to get out and get active in their communities, and across the nation. Indeed, with the subtitle of "How Pragmatic Idealism can Bring out the Best in America", Khazei encourages Americans to imagine ideals that surround citizenship, and to "be the change" they want to see. The book's central message echoes the famous words of John F. Kennedy: "one person can make a difference and every person should try."

Click below to read more about Alan Khazei and the book:

http://www.bigcitizenship.us/

Gas Suspension: Work halted in Faisalabad industries

The work has stopped in Industries of the city due to a forty-eight hour gas suspension by Sui-Gas department. Sui-gas department suspended gas for two days to all industries according to load management plan. Also, industrialists of the city have decided to close their industries only for a day.
To read the full article, click here: www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/15-Nov-2010/Gas-suspension--Work-halted-in-Faisalabad-industris.

Education Key to national progress, says Pakistan's Prime Minister"

On Thursday, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan explained that the education is the key for the national progress and prosperity. He went on to explain that education is a means to prevent the generation from falling into the hands of terrorists and extremists. He also said that education remained a priority area of the government and the present government has enhanced budgetary allocations for the sector with the objective to enhance literacy rate in the country.

To read the full article, click here: www.thepost.com.pk/Ba_ShortNewsT.aspx?fbshortid=5710&bcatid=14&bstatus=Current&fcatid=14&fstatus=Current

‘Present achievement’

The Pakistann's prime minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the enhancement of economic activities and access of Pakistani’s products to the European Markets is an important achievement of the present government. He said that the implementation on the policy of trade, instead of foreign aid, will promote Pakistan’s exports and enhance economic activities in the country.

To read the full article, click here: http://www.radio.gov.pk/cms/news_detail.asp?news_id=927

Media urged to promote literacy in society -- Pakistan

On Saturday, one of the UNESCO specialist said that the role of the media should be now changed to promote new ideas for educating the children of the country and he was addressing a forum for the promotion of literacy in Pakistan at a local hotel. The specialist said that the government of Pakistan was internationally committed to achieve the education for all goals but the governments had been decreasing the education budget instead of increasing it. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\11\14\story_14-11-2010_pg13_4

Three Laborers Electrocuted in Lahore, Pakistan

On Saturday, eight people, including a woman, were killed in various incidents in the provincial capital. In one incident, three laborers were electrocuted to death while others received severe burns while erecting a wedding tent. In the second incident, two people, including a woman, were crushed to death by a speeding van in the jurisdiction of Kahna police. And another man was knocked down by a speeding car and two unidentified drug addicts were found dead in the area of Bhati Gate police.

To read the full article, clich here: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\11\14\story_14-11-2010_pg13_2

"The Transformer"

Foreign Policy has recently published a revealing interview with Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. Gates is the first Secretary of Defense to retain the position despite the election of a new president with a different party affiliation than the president who appointed the Defense Secretary. Gates is also the only Presidential Cabinet member to be in both Bush’s and Obama’s cabinet. Gates is credited with many accomplishments, including saving $330 billion in cutting 31 defense programs and altering how the U.S. went about envisioning the endgame in Afghanistan. Rather than maintaining the hope of perusing the Herculean task of establishing a stable democracy in Afghanistan with the potential consequence of the U.S. being seen as an “occupier”, Gates’ ambition was to stabilize Afghanistan so that their own security forces were equipped to continue and win the war. Gates, who before being asked by President Obama to remain in his position, made it clear that he would not be remaining in Washington, has proven to be a force of transformation.

To read the full Foreign Policy Article, click here: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/16/the_transformer?page=0,0

Money Isn't Everything

A recent NEWSWEEK article analyzed why self-financed campaigns typically don't fair well in elections, despite their abundant cash advantage. While self-financed candidates are lining up to run in higher numbers, it turns out that traditional forms of fundraising can foster more votes on election day. The Civic Initiative is proud to say that Professor Ray La Raja, of the Political Science Department of UMASS Amherst, shared his insights with the well-known newsmag:

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/17/why-self-financed-candidates-flop.html

"Obama Pointedly Questioned by Students in India"

President Obama is currently in India, his first stop on his trip in Asia. Here, Obama met with a group of Indian college students from St. Xavier’s, who asked him difficult questions. In answering questions regarding Pakistan and the term “jihad”, Obama chose his words carefully, crafting a diplomatic answer.

Obama will be in India for three days and will then travel to Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. His trip is an economic mission that also hopes to strengthen ties with democracies in Asia.

To read the full New York Times article, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/world/asia/08prexy.html?_r=1&ref=politics

"What Effect did Health-Care Reform Have on Election"

While repealing the health care legislation recently passed is a major priority among some leading Republicans, it does not appear that this was a motivating factor among voters.
To read an article about this, click here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/07/AR2010110705311.html

Election Insight 2010

Check out this comprehensive insight on the 2010 midterms:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/59739992/Election-Insight

"Poll: Voters Less Pessimistic than 2008, but Unhappier than 2006"

Is this election much different from other elections, as many Tea Party members may claim? In short, no. Compare Obama’s approval rating numbers to those of Clinton’s in 1994. Currently, 45% of voters approve of Obama’s performance, while 54% disapprove. Clinton’s numbers were nearly the same, with 44% approving and 52% disapproving. Compare this to President Bush’s numbers in 2006 (43% approval, 57% disapproval), and the image is clear: voter’s opinion of the presidential action is no better or worse than in other mid-term election years.
What was on voters' minds when they cast their ballot? The economy, with 62% of voters naming it the most important issue. Second on voter’s mind was healthcare, at 19%. With the economy being the number one issue, who did the voters blame for America’s economic position? Thirty-five percent blame Wall St, 29% blame Bush, and 24% blame President Obama. Thus, while most Americans agree that the economy is the area that needs to be most focused on right now, they do not agree on the cause of the economic situation.
To read more about who voted and what motivated and influenced their decisions, click here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/03/election.poll.wrap/index.html?hpt=C2.

"Election 2010: Polls Show More Voters Consider Themselves Conservative"

The election results and exit polls reveal that conservatives are on the rise. Nationally, the electorate is 9% more conservative than it was on in 2006. However, one explanation for this is that those who are discontent voted, while more moderate voters did not head to the polls this year, and are thus unrepresented.
To read the full Washington Post article, click here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/03/AR2010110305474.html?hpid=topnews.

"Restive Voters Divide Power in Congress as G.O.P. Surges to Control of House"

Republicans made the largest sweep of House races since 1948, securing the majority in picking up at least 60 seats. A sign of voter discontent, the parties have both agreed to endeavor to work together. However, a major point of contention is Obama’s health care law. Representative Boehner, likely to replace Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, has vowed dismantling the health care reform to be his top priority, while Democrats are sure to protect it. Also up for contentious debate is the Bush-era tax cuts, which are about to expire.
Ms. Pelosi has credited the Democrats with taking action on behalf of the middle class to create jobs and save the country from economic catastrophe. However, Republicans point to the election result as evidence that Americans do not approve of that actions that have been taken.
To read the full New York Times article, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/us/politics/04elect.html?ref=politics.

Election Day

I just voted, which is always a feel good exercise. I am "post-cynical" which means that I was cynical, but have moved beyond it to observe that often, a Cigar is indeed a Cigar. Elections are not ruling class farces nor are they scheduled revolutions, but they do give the country, nationally and locally defined, a chance to express their opinions. Some of those opinions are crazy but we hope the system makes it easy enough for the crazy to talk; but challenging to pass legislation.

Massachusetts has a series of very close elections and has the remote chance of electing three statewide Republicans - Governor, Auditor, and Treasurer. I am going to venture a prediction that they will win two of the three.

What is surprising to me is the magnitude of the Republican lead nationally, and the long running voter discontent.

So I thought I would make some predictions -- no links -- I have been reading election commentary for two days now and pretty much everything has been said. So what follows is a random series of disconnected observations.

-NO ONE predicted that the R's would take over the House just two-years after the Obama election. I said at the time the election was over-interpreted. People were not happy with Bush; the Republicans had been in charge for a while and they wanted a change. Obama was that change. They didn't vote for an ideology.

-Two things were very important in that election. The US elected an African-American President. This now sounds like such a trite observation, but it was historic. Secondly, young voters trended heavily democrat which may have generational effects. Watch who they vote for in this election.

-However, the "youth vote" was also over-interpreted. They made up 18% of the electorate. They made up 17% four years earlier.

-There are a lot of prominent women running on the Republican ticket and they have been treated terribly by the media. "Crazy" and "Whore" are just some of the words used by opponents to describe them. This isn't a defense of Sharron Angle (or to suggest that some candidates do have irrational views -- poorly defended) but why does this kind of double standard go so unnoticed?

-The country is still fairly politicized -- turnout will be high -- but it will be a different group. My guess is that it will tilt older and angrier -- and young people will not make up 18% of the final vote.

-Voter anger is old. This is the third "historic throw the bums out" election in a row. This says not that Obama was wrong -- or the Tea Party on the right track -- but that NO ONE has found a governing formula to address what people are really concerned about.

-Speaking of "governing" if the Republicans, under the influence of Tea, try to repeal Health Care or amend the Constitution or impeach Obama they will prove themselves fools. Obama lost a lot of ground talking about Health Care, an issue that people don't care about all that much, instead of jobs, an issue they do. Republicans appear poised to do the same in reverse. My bet, health care stays but it won't advance much.

-What do Americans want? Well, they don't want the same thing which is a part of the problem. Generally though, an economic based, populist message might work. Obama swung and missed big by not going after bonuses -- his chance to really play the populist card. Some snorting from the Wall Street Journal is surely worth showing some sensitivity to the perception (reality?) that big guys got a better deal. Obama has also done a surprisingly poor job selling his accomplishments. I mentioned health care is here to stay. I will go further -- within the next ten years it will become very popular -- it is a permanent feature of our landscape now -- although it will change and grow in fits and starts.

-Democrats over and underestimate the Tea Party at the same time. The overestimate its unity, but they underestimate the power of the lower taxes/small government/fear of government message to Americans. They simply don't have the power to understand it. The Tea Party will eventually become disappointed (see "no constitutional amendments" and "health care stays" and will lose steam; probably going back to the Republican party or staying at home.

-Republicans underestimate the extent to which a genuine SMALL message is out there. They are way to tight with Corporations and, really, wedded to big government (especially the military) but a lot of the Tea party isn't thrilled with the military, big business, or big government.

-I'm at a loss as to where social issues are in the electorate. My gut feeling is that gay marriage is rapidly becoming a non-issue; gays in the military has been pushed to the podium, but will only give a short speech. Abortion is probably a permanent presence on the stage -- but after that -- what is a social issue anymore? What are "traditional family values" and who is attacking them? Are Republicans going to repeal divorce? Make adultery punishable by stoning? Forbid teen sex? Picking on Christine O'Donnell isn't fair, she has already (probably) cost the R's a senate seat, but should we really keep our hands off the economy -- and ourselves? Republicans have been promising stuff to the Moral Right for years and only throwing the occasional prayer their way. When are they going to figure that out?

-Republicans are going to pick up a lot of seats. I'm guessing 60-65. There is "balance" and "anger" losses. Balance losses -- just getting seats back where they belong after the last two Democratic blow-outs -- are around 30-40. After that it is anger. But it is anti-system anger; not anti-democratic. The democrats just got caught sitting in the "system chair" in our game of musical pissed off.

-I liked this quote -- which goes to show the danger of running against Washington, while trying to get there:

“Part of what’s happened is we’ve had three election cycles where we’ve convinced people that the system sucks,” Democratic consultant Dave Beattie said Monday. “And they truly believe that the system sucks. So we’ve succeeded in convincing people of that, and now we have to live with their anger at being in a political system that sucks.”

-Here is what some folks were saying two years ago. Rothenberg is about right. The New Republic may be, someday, in some world.


Rothenberg:

New Republic:

Every election encourages talk about the bigger picture. What is the bigger picture? More to come on that soon.

"Democrats Pin Hopes on Turnout Effort"

While much of the money in Republican campaigns has be spent on political ads, Democrats have spent it on encouraging voter turn-out. A weakness for the Republican Tea Party candidates is that many are newcomers. This may prove favorable for Democrats. To read how four competitive states are orchestrating Democratic voter mobilization, click here: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/democrats-pin-hopes-on-turnout-effort/?ref=politics.

"Boehner Offers G.O.P. for 2010 Version of Change"

Pelosi’s most likely challenger to position as Speaker of the House is Representative Boehner, of Ohio. He has been campaigning in his home state this past weekend, critiquing President Obama, the Democrats, and predicting a big Republican win on Tuesday. To read the full New York Times article, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/us/politics/01boehner.html?pagewanted=2&hp

“Pelosi’s National Popularity Plummets as Election Looms”

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, has reached her lowest popularity level since being in office. Four years ago, 17% reported having a “strongly” favorable view of Pelosi; 19% reported having a “strongly” unfavorable view of her. Now, only 12% report have “strongly” favorable view of her, while those who hold a “strongly” unfavorable view has more than doubled to 41%. Pelosi is not popular among centrist independents, with 61% viewing her unfavorably.

She is still popular in her district, and is likely to be re-elected. However, her position as Speaker of the House, may not be so secure. Republicans are specifically targeting her in negative add, and due to her unpopularity, democratic candidates are reluctant to be associated or seen with her.

To read the full Washington Post article, click here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/01/AR2010110102259.html