-Here's an interactive overview of the history of health care reform in America
-It may soon be illegal to have an open container of alcohol in a moving vehicle in Tennessee -- even if a passenger is holding it (yes, that means it's not illegal right now)
-The outrage over Anthem's 39% rate hike continues in CA, with the state now subpoenaing records from a number of insurers
wrap-ups of yesterday's summit from:
-The NY Times1
-The NY Times2
-The Economist
-ABC
-The White House
-Barack Obama (includes numerous video clips)
-The Washington Post
notably, all of the news sources except the Economist were mostly pessimistic about what they saw
on an unrelated note, it looks almost certain that the U.S. will win the most medals at this year's Olympics!
Required Reading
-Reaching Agreement
-Not as Dull as Expected!
-Let's Move
-Low IQ Predicts Heart Disease
-Health Plan to Begin Checking State Workers for Smoking, Obesity
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Follow the Health Care Summit
The summit is streaming live here
Want more information? Here are some running commentaries on the proceedings:
-The White House Twitter feed
-The Republican Party's live response
-CBSNews liveblog
-Chicago Tribune liveblog
-The Guardian liveblog
-NPR liveblog
-CNN liveblog
-NY Times live comments from the general population
-NY Times analysis of Obama's speech
Want more information? Here are some running commentaries on the proceedings:
-The White House Twitter feed
-The Republican Party's live response
-CBSNews liveblog
-Chicago Tribune liveblog
-The Guardian liveblog
-NPR liveblog
-CNN liveblog
-NY Times live comments from the general population
-NY Times analysis of Obama's speech
Health Care Reform Links
The day of the health care summit has finally arrived. You can learn all about it and watch it live here. Here's the letter sent to members of Congress about it. Since the House and Senate have passed two different versions of the plan, President Obama promised to put together his own plan to present at the summit as the Democrats' plan -- though the plan is much closer to the Senate version than to the House version. That plan was posted to the White House on Monday, but the White House staff says they're still waiting for Republicans to send in theirs. Meanwhile, after getting hammered for months over their socialist plan to reform health care, the White House's new strategy is to point out all the parts of their plan that were originally proposed by Republicans.
-Here's an excellent table summarizing everything that Obama has put in his plan.
-It looks unlikely that the so-called "public option" will be included in any bill passed by Congress. A number of senators have said that it doesn't have the votes to pass and, therefore, they won't be voting for it. Nate Silver says if they were honest they'd say it doesn't have the votes to pass because I'm not voting for it. Paul Krugman argues that a public option is needed because 1.) it holds down administrative costs, 2.) provides competition, and 3.) an individual mandate is necessary, but is only politically feasible if people aren't forced to buy insurance from the current private insurance companies. In another post, Krugman argues that markets simply can't cure health care.
-Recent polling finds a majority of Americans say they're opposed to the health care plan, but are in favor of most of the major parts. After reporting their opinions on these parts, a plurality supports the health care plan. The Economist breaks down these results in another excellent table here and asks what, exactly, those who support most parts of the plan but still oppose the plan actually want.
-Some think that the recent spate of astronomical insurance rate hikes might ultimately allow the health care plan to pass. The media has been reporting for years (for example, here) that medical costs are rising, but the nearly 40% increase by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield may be a focusing event that opens up a policy window.
-One main complaint among Republicans is that the current health care bill doesn't address tort reform in order to shrink the cost of medical malpractice insurance. This has prompted many Democrats to argue that medical malpractice only makes up less than 5% of medical costs -- the NY Times, partially in response writes that small ideas won't fix health care. But here's a little bit more interesting take from the Economist: one writer says that while medical malpractice lawsuits don't really occur in Europe, it's because there's a trade-off -- doctors get paid far less in exchange for less responsibility and patients get their health care paid for by the government in exchange for fewer rights to sue.
-Here's an excellent table summarizing everything that Obama has put in his plan.
-It looks unlikely that the so-called "public option" will be included in any bill passed by Congress. A number of senators have said that it doesn't have the votes to pass and, therefore, they won't be voting for it. Nate Silver says if they were honest they'd say it doesn't have the votes to pass because I'm not voting for it. Paul Krugman argues that a public option is needed because 1.) it holds down administrative costs, 2.) provides competition, and 3.) an individual mandate is necessary, but is only politically feasible if people aren't forced to buy insurance from the current private insurance companies. In another post, Krugman argues that markets simply can't cure health care.
-Recent polling finds a majority of Americans say they're opposed to the health care plan, but are in favor of most of the major parts. After reporting their opinions on these parts, a plurality supports the health care plan. The Economist breaks down these results in another excellent table here and asks what, exactly, those who support most parts of the plan but still oppose the plan actually want.
-Some think that the recent spate of astronomical insurance rate hikes might ultimately allow the health care plan to pass. The media has been reporting for years (for example, here) that medical costs are rising, but the nearly 40% increase by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield may be a focusing event that opens up a policy window.
-One main complaint among Republicans is that the current health care bill doesn't address tort reform in order to shrink the cost of medical malpractice insurance. This has prompted many Democrats to argue that medical malpractice only makes up less than 5% of medical costs -- the NY Times, partially in response writes that small ideas won't fix health care. But here's a little bit more interesting take from the Economist: one writer says that while medical malpractice lawsuits don't really occur in Europe, it's because there's a trade-off -- doctors get paid far less in exchange for less responsibility and patients get their health care paid for by the government in exchange for fewer rights to sue.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Health Links
America is the fattest country in the developed world, TIME briefly runs down five main causes of the obesity epidemic.
Solutions to the problem abound:
-a panel of experts debate various efforts to effectively label junk food
-a large swath of LA has put a moratorium on the construction of new fast food restaurants exceptions were made for "'fast-food casual' restaurants, such as Subway or Pastagina, that do not have heat lamps or drive-through windows and that prepare fresh food to order"
-Nashville's public health chief continues the crusade for labeling on restaurant menus, but the TN legislature is making it awfully difficult for him. Does menu labeling work? Studies have found that patrons at Starbucks moderately reduced their calorie consumption after menu labeling, while patrons at fast food restaurants did not.
-In the same vein, the FDA may increase serving sizes so that labels more accurately reflect how much people eat
-NYC wants to limit salt intake and is starting with voluntary restrictions . . . you might be surprised which foods have the most salt. But we're not quite sure exactly how excess salt consumption affects people
-A book hot off the presses details how school lunches manage to "promote obesity and hunger at the same time" . . . which is part of the reason the "Naked Chef" (Jamie Oliver) wants to bring healthful lunches to schoolchildren across the country
-Due to spiraling health care costs, businesses are getting in on the game too: check out Whole Foods' employee discount program
-here's one crazy idea: scales built into bus stops . . . and a few more crazy ideas
-random tidbits: some contrasting billboards send contradicting messages
-oh, and to top it all off . . . the shape of hot dogs makes them dangerous for kids
Solutions to the problem abound:
-a panel of experts debate various efforts to effectively label junk food
-a large swath of LA has put a moratorium on the construction of new fast food restaurants exceptions were made for "'fast-food casual' restaurants, such as Subway or Pastagina, that do not have heat lamps or drive-through windows and that prepare fresh food to order"
-Nashville's public health chief continues the crusade for labeling on restaurant menus, but the TN legislature is making it awfully difficult for him. Does menu labeling work? Studies have found that patrons at Starbucks moderately reduced their calorie consumption after menu labeling, while patrons at fast food restaurants did not.
-In the same vein, the FDA may increase serving sizes so that labels more accurately reflect how much people eat
-NYC wants to limit salt intake and is starting with voluntary restrictions . . . you might be surprised which foods have the most salt. But we're not quite sure exactly how excess salt consumption affects people
-A book hot off the presses details how school lunches manage to "promote obesity and hunger at the same time" . . . which is part of the reason the "Naked Chef" (Jamie Oliver) wants to bring healthful lunches to schoolchildren across the country
-Due to spiraling health care costs, businesses are getting in on the game too: check out Whole Foods' employee discount program
-here's one crazy idea: scales built into bus stops . . . and a few more crazy ideas
-random tidbits: some contrasting billboards send contradicting messages
-oh, and to top it all off . . . the shape of hot dogs makes them dangerous for kids
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Politics Links: The Return of Ron Paul
-The Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) held it's annual conference this week in Washington. The highlight of the conference is the Presidential straw poll (read the results, it will only take a couple minute and they're really interesting). The surprise winner of the straw poll . . . none other than TX Congressman Ron Paul. 48% of voters reported that they were students and 54% said they were aged 18-25 . . . so it's possible that Paul is far more popular among young voters than among older voters.
-Tom Schaller writes that we shouldn't be surprised at the result. For the past year, he says, plenty of evidence has "connected the Tea Party movement to residual Ron Paulites. When is the national media going to finally make these connections? Instead . . . these movement activists and their ideas are often discussed without much mention of their connections to Beck or Paul. Beck earns his share of attention, granted. But there is almost no recognition whatsoever of the true origins of this conservative backlash. The movement is instead covered as if it is the somehow the byproduct and wind in the sails of national Republicans like Michael Steele, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, when in fact it is operating wholly independently of any or all of them."
-While CPAC provided more evidence that centrists have lost control of the Republican party, Evan Bayh took to the NY Times to explain why he resigned. The main problem, he says, is excessive partisanship . . . while many would agree with that point, fewer would agree with his solutions for the problem.
-Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, The Economist asks "Is America Ungovernable?"
-Tom Schaller writes that we shouldn't be surprised at the result. For the past year, he says, plenty of evidence has "connected the Tea Party movement to residual Ron Paulites. When is the national media going to finally make these connections? Instead . . . these movement activists and their ideas are often discussed without much mention of their connections to Beck or Paul. Beck earns his share of attention, granted. But there is almost no recognition whatsoever of the true origins of this conservative backlash. The movement is instead covered as if it is the somehow the byproduct and wind in the sails of national Republicans like Michael Steele, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, when in fact it is operating wholly independently of any or all of them."
-While CPAC provided more evidence that centrists have lost control of the Republican party, Evan Bayh took to the NY Times to explain why he resigned. The main problem, he says, is excessive partisanship . . . while many would agree with that point, fewer would agree with his solutions for the problem.
-Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, The Economist asks "Is America Ungovernable?"
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Even More Economic Links
-Ben Bernanke is making plans for the Fed's role in the economy post-recession and post-stimulus
-Nate Silver asks whether the Democrats are completely incompetent at selling their economic reforms.
-The NY Times asks what it would take to get members of both parties to come together and work toward reducing our national debt
-James Kwak examines "budget sense and nonsense"
-David Brooks writes that the social response to the economic crisis is unformed and may require reforming masculinity
-The stock market has surged recently in response to more positive reports from housing and other sectors
Required Reading:
Obama, GOP debate success of stimulus at one-year mark
Judging Stimulus by Job Date Reveals Success
Mix Message
Ryan to the Rescue?
-Nate Silver asks whether the Democrats are completely incompetent at selling their economic reforms.
-The NY Times asks what it would take to get members of both parties to come together and work toward reducing our national debt
-James Kwak examines "budget sense and nonsense"
-David Brooks writes that the social response to the economic crisis is unformed and may require reforming masculinity
-The stock market has surged recently in response to more positive reports from housing and other sectors
Required Reading:
Obama, GOP debate success of stimulus at one-year mark
Judging Stimulus by Job Date Reveals Success
Mix Message
Ryan to the Rescue?
Transportation Options Links
-Detroit built a 13 stop "people mover" train downtown about 20 years ago and never expanded the line. Since the city is strapped for cash, a number of wealthy individuals have stepped up and provided seed money to begin construction of a rail line into the suburbs
-San Francisco anticipates a large number of people buying Chevy Volts, Nissan Leafs, and other electric cars in the near future. They're gearing up for the influx by, among other things, requiring that new buildings provide places to charge electric cars. This incredibly informative article is a highly recommended read.
-CNN points out that high-speed rail is likely skipping your town -- at least for now. The recent $8 billion in grants are only directed toward two truly high-speed rail projects (in CA and FL). Experts estimate that building a nationwide network could cost as much as $500 billion.
-San Francisco anticipates a large number of people buying Chevy Volts, Nissan Leafs, and other electric cars in the near future. They're gearing up for the influx by, among other things, requiring that new buildings provide places to charge electric cars. This incredibly informative article is a highly recommended read.
-CNN points out that high-speed rail is likely skipping your town -- at least for now. The recent $8 billion in grants are only directed toward two truly high-speed rail projects (in CA and FL). Experts estimate that building a nationwide network could cost as much as $500 billion.
Monday, February 15, 2010
More Economic Links
-Nate Silver points out that most Americans are pretty far off when they guess how our federal government spends our tax dollars
-A recent study by Northeastern economists finds that individuals from lower-income households are much more likely to be unemployed (see chart below). The Economist wonders whether Democrats or Republicans will be able to connect better with the unemployed blue collar workers.
-Two Op-Ed columnists from the NY Times offer differing opinions on how Obama should approach the next year. Conservative columnist David Brooks says that Obama was elected because people wanted a post-partisan leader, not because people wanted his Democratic agenda. He argues that Obama should aim for incremental change and show Americans that their country is governable. Liberal columnist Paul Krugman, on the other hand, is sick of the Republicans taking dishonest stances on fiscal issues, particularly medicare, and thinks it's time for Obama to take charge.
The one thing on which both agree? Republicans are being hypocritical. Brooks writes that Obama:
could continue to champion his fiscal commission. Republicans are being completely hypocritical on this, unwilling to embrace an idea they once supported because it might lead to tax increases. If he really put aside the publicity gimmicks, he could illustrate the difference between responsible government and the permanent campaign.
Krugman is more strident, concluding that:
The bottom line, then, is that the crusade against health reform has relied, crucially, on utter hypocrisy: Republicans who hate Medicare, tried to slash Medicare in the past, and still aim to dismantle the program over time, have been scoring political points by denouncing proposals for modest cost savings — savings that are substantially smaller than the spending cuts buried in their own proposals.
And if Democrats don’t get their act together and push the almost-completed reform across the goal line, this breathtaking act of staggering hypocrisy will succeed.
Both essentially agree that Republicans' about-face on various issues is politically savvy. As Brooks acknowledges, "Right now, the Republicans have no political incentive to deal on anything".
-On a completely different note, here's an interesting projection of the number of medals each country will win in the current Olympics
-A recent study by Northeastern economists finds that individuals from lower-income households are much more likely to be unemployed (see chart below). The Economist wonders whether Democrats or Republicans will be able to connect better with the unemployed blue collar workers.
-Two Op-Ed columnists from the NY Times offer differing opinions on how Obama should approach the next year. Conservative columnist David Brooks says that Obama was elected because people wanted a post-partisan leader, not because people wanted his Democratic agenda. He argues that Obama should aim for incremental change and show Americans that their country is governable. Liberal columnist Paul Krugman, on the other hand, is sick of the Republicans taking dishonest stances on fiscal issues, particularly medicare, and thinks it's time for Obama to take charge.
The one thing on which both agree? Republicans are being hypocritical. Brooks writes that Obama:
could continue to champion his fiscal commission. Republicans are being completely hypocritical on this, unwilling to embrace an idea they once supported because it might lead to tax increases. If he really put aside the publicity gimmicks, he could illustrate the difference between responsible government and the permanent campaign.
Krugman is more strident, concluding that:
The bottom line, then, is that the crusade against health reform has relied, crucially, on utter hypocrisy: Republicans who hate Medicare, tried to slash Medicare in the past, and still aim to dismantle the program over time, have been scoring political points by denouncing proposals for modest cost savings — savings that are substantially smaller than the spending cuts buried in their own proposals.
And if Democrats don’t get their act together and push the almost-completed reform across the goal line, this breathtaking act of staggering hypocrisy will succeed.
Both essentially agree that Republicans' about-face on various issues is politically savvy. As Brooks acknowledges, "Right now, the Republicans have no political incentive to deal on anything".
-On a completely different note, here's an interesting projection of the number of medals each country will win in the current Olympics
Friday, February 12, 2010
Links to Explore
-This week's Economist/YouGov poll finds that 59% of Americans don't know how many votes it takes to end a filibuster in the Senate. A number of other interesting findings are discussed as well.
-The Tennessean examines whether adding ethanol to gasoline also has some negative effects. Evidence is mostly anecdotal right now, but a more definitive study should be out within the next year.
-Kentucky became the first state to adopt math and reading standards developed by a national group.
-A number of people assume (or want to assume) that the recent snowstorms disprove global warming. Climate scientists point out both that weather always varies and that their models predict wider variations in weather as a result of climate change -- including more snowstorms.
-The Tennessean examines whether adding ethanol to gasoline also has some negative effects. Evidence is mostly anecdotal right now, but a more definitive study should be out within the next year.
-Kentucky became the first state to adopt math and reading standards developed by a national group.
-A number of people assume (or want to assume) that the recent snowstorms disprove global warming. Climate scientists point out both that weather always varies and that their models predict wider variations in weather as a result of climate change -- including more snowstorms.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Interactive Budget Displays and Games
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Economic Links
-A writer from CATO, a Libertarian think tank, says he hates Obama's policies but that pinning the 2009 deficit on him is factually incorrect since his programs accounted for only about 4% of the budget (contains some good graphs).
-The Atlantic writes that even though the Great Recession appears to be over we may now be entering a new era of high joblessness, which could have dire consequences for recent and soon-to-be college grads.
-FiveThirtyEight has an excellent breakdown of the recent unemployment numbers
The Economist writes that Obama is spending even more on Defense than his predecessors
-The Atlantic writes that even though the Great Recession appears to be over we may now be entering a new era of high joblessness, which could have dire consequences for recent and soon-to-be college grads.
-FiveThirtyEight has an excellent breakdown of the recent unemployment numbers
The Economist writes that Obama is spending even more on Defense than his predecessors
Monday, February 8, 2010
Even More Environmental Links
-Here's a fascinating presentation on one man's plan for society to adopt the electric car. Perhaps most notably, he calls for a network of locations where depleted batteries can be exchanged for fully charged ones (as opposed to finding somewhere to charge them).
-The latest consensus was that sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean would disappear in about the year 2100. After a two-year study involving 370 scientists from 27 countries, the new estimate is that it will be gone by 2030 (see graph below).
-Here's a textbook example of NIMBYism in action: Obama and many others are supporting a wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts, but local residents don't want the windmills to spoil their view.
-Here's a blurb about the graph we discussed in class (not the hockey stick graph, the one displaying cost-effectiveness of various changes). The author is not happy that Obama is pushing for "clean coal" and biofuels -- two of the less cost-efficient reforms.
-The latest consensus was that sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean would disappear in about the year 2100. After a two-year study involving 370 scientists from 27 countries, the new estimate is that it will be gone by 2030 (see graph below).
-Here's a textbook example of NIMBYism in action: Obama and many others are supporting a wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts, but local residents don't want the windmills to spoil their view.
-Here's a blurb about the graph we discussed in class (not the hockey stick graph, the one displaying cost-effectiveness of various changes). The author is not happy that Obama is pushing for "clean coal" and biofuels -- two of the less cost-efficient reforms.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Links 2-6-10
-In case you missed it, the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7% in January -- but the statistic is computed in such a way that it might not really be a good thing
-A coalition of liberal and conservative thinkers and pundits are pushing for the creation of "Question Time," an event similar to those held in the UK when the Prime Minister takes open questions from Parliament. Many are hoping that an open forum for communication might help break the partisan gridlock in Washington.
-The National Tea Party Convention is under way at Opryland. So far both the opening speaker, Tom Tancredo, and the conference organizer, Judson Phillips, agree that Obama is a "socialist". The Spokesman for the group, however, has tried to distance the group from those statements.
-Speaking to a group of Democrats, President Obama pledged not to back down on healthcare or financial reform. No word on his stance on Waxman-Markey.
-A coalition of liberal and conservative thinkers and pundits are pushing for the creation of "Question Time," an event similar to those held in the UK when the Prime Minister takes open questions from Parliament. Many are hoping that an open forum for communication might help break the partisan gridlock in Washington.
-The National Tea Party Convention is under way at Opryland. So far both the opening speaker, Tom Tancredo, and the conference organizer, Judson Phillips, agree that Obama is a "socialist". The Spokesman for the group, however, has tried to distance the group from those statements.
-Speaking to a group of Democrats, President Obama pledged not to back down on healthcare or financial reform. No word on his stance on Waxman-Markey.
Friday, February 5, 2010
More Environment Links 2-5-10
-The US govt is planning to reduce its own energy use
-A trio of Congresspeople (including two Democrats) have introduced legislation to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases; it advances a number of other policies that will help their agricultural districts as well.
-Here's a cool way to cut your energy usage: new "melting drywall" with small beads of wax in it has cut cooling costs by 20% in a trial.
-Expanded plans for nuclear energy is good news for some US companies, but they're increasingly losing out on bids to build plants in foreign countries
Required Reading:
-Ill Omens for Senate Climate Change Legislation
-San Fran's Ambitious Downtown Transit Plans
-Obama's Budget Axes Oil and Gas Subsidies
-U.S. Makes Play to Catch Up on High-Speed Rail
-High Hopes for Clean-Energy Jobs
-A trio of Congresspeople (including two Democrats) have introduced legislation to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases; it advances a number of other policies that will help their agricultural districts as well.
-Here's a cool way to cut your energy usage: new "melting drywall" with small beads of wax in it has cut cooling costs by 20% in a trial.
-Expanded plans for nuclear energy is good news for some US companies, but they're increasingly losing out on bids to build plants in foreign countries
Required Reading:
-Ill Omens for Senate Climate Change Legislation
-San Fran's Ambitious Downtown Transit Plans
-Obama's Budget Axes Oil and Gas Subsidies
-U.S. Makes Play to Catch Up on High-Speed Rail
-High Hopes for Clean-Energy Jobs
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Budget Links
-President Obama introduced the new budget yesterday.
-The Atlantic breaks down the winners and losers
-So does Politico
-here's a cool interactive graphic of the amounts that go to all different categories of expenditures
-The NY Times thinks that the mounting debt will shift America's place in the world and, eventually, shift our political climate
-Jon Stewart talks with White House Economist Austan Goolsbee, on "the day the budget drops." Goolsbee says some of the criticism of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has been unfair and that we have no choice but to run a deficit until we get out of the recession.
-The Atlantic breaks down the winners and losers
-So does Politico
-here's a cool interactive graphic of the amounts that go to all different categories of expenditures
-The NY Times thinks that the mounting debt will shift America's place in the world and, eventually, shift our political climate
-Jon Stewart talks with White House Economist Austan Goolsbee, on "the day the budget drops." Goolsbee says some of the criticism of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has been unfair and that we have no choice but to run a deficit until we get out of the recession.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Environment Links 2-1-10
-Obama's budget scraps subsidies of fossil fuels
-55 countries have set new 2020 carbon goals since the Copenhagen Summit
-The fastest growing form of transportation? The electric bike
-In the past, the Tennessee Valley Authority has had a spotty environmental record (take, for example, their construction project that threatened to send the Snail Darter to extinction (p. 73-74)). But they recently partnered with the state to attract a solar energy company to Knoxville
-55 countries have set new 2020 carbon goals since the Copenhagen Summit
-The fastest growing form of transportation? The electric bike
-In the past, the Tennessee Valley Authority has had a spotty environmental record (take, for example, their construction project that threatened to send the Snail Darter to extinction (p. 73-74)). But they recently partnered with the state to attract a solar energy company to Knoxville
Links 2-1-10
-The National Tea Party Convention starts this Thursday here in Nashville. Sarah Palin will be the keynote speaker.
-After a bevy of studies finding negative effects from abstinence-only sex education, a new study of 6th and 7th grade African-American students finds that fewer students in the class focused on telling kids to wait until they were ready to have sex became sexually active over the next two years than those enrolled in other classes.
-Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called up the Mayor New Orleans to explain why he said that Hurricane Katrina was "the best thing that happened to the education system" in the city. He emphasized the influx of new schools and teachers since Katrina and acknowledged that he understood the devastation that had taken place.
-The Atlantic breaks down the proposed changes to NCLB with a list of five ways that Obama's budget will change education policy
-newgeography argues that Obama is losing popularity b/c he's prioritizing urban areas over suburban ones
-After a bevy of studies finding negative effects from abstinence-only sex education, a new study of 6th and 7th grade African-American students finds that fewer students in the class focused on telling kids to wait until they were ready to have sex became sexually active over the next two years than those enrolled in other classes.
-Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called up the Mayor New Orleans to explain why he said that Hurricane Katrina was "the best thing that happened to the education system" in the city. He emphasized the influx of new schools and teachers since Katrina and acknowledged that he understood the devastation that had taken place.
-The Atlantic breaks down the proposed changes to NCLB with a list of five ways that Obama's budget will change education policy
-newgeography argues that Obama is losing popularity b/c he's prioritizing urban areas over suburban ones
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