The Plan of the President Elect: Barack Obama

This weeks featured discussion: President Elect Barack Obama has won the election based on an ideology of change. What kind of change does Barack Obama plan to implement and how does he plan to address current issues that concern the American public? Please do a little research and give us some of his key initiatives and concerns he plans to implement. Please be specific in your response and avoid generalizations

We will also be highlighting one organization every 2 weeks that has made an impact on social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their wedsite address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight: endpoverty.org

Just for fun: every week we will be uploading a portrait od a famous philospher, social scientist, political scientist, leader, teacher, economist, or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comment section. Good Luck!

Mystery Man to the left of President Elect Obama?

Congratulations Matt..you are correct this is French President Nicholas Sarkozy.
You win the bonus!!!!

Financial Melt-Down….Where’s the Change?

This weeks featured discussion: With the current melt down in global financial markets, to what extent should the federal government regulate big business? Was the bail out a good idea? and who should be responsible for costing the tax payer billions of dollars? Also, please give examples of change that need to take place within the global economic system that will deter this type of mismanagement in the future.

We will also be highlighting one organization every 2 weeks that has made an impact on social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their wedsite address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight: endpoverty.org

Just for fun: every week we will be uploading a portrait od a famous philospher, social scientist, political scientist, leader, teacher, economist, or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comment section. Good Luck!

Mystery Man?

Congratulations Victoria!!!. You are correct, the mystery man is Alan Greenspan. He was the chairman of the Federal Reserve and/or a key economic consultant to the federal government for almost 30 years!!! He has navigated our country through numerous economic hardships in the past and has recently come back on the scene to aid in the current crisis, and answer some important questions pertaining to decisions he made in the past when addressing the US economy.

Bureaucracy: Bigger then Ever. The day we all work for the Government.

This weeks featured discussion: Why is it easier to build a bureaucracy then it is to tear it down? What factors have motivated the growth of both federal and state bureaucracy in this country?

We will also be highlighting one organization every 2 weeks that has made an impact on social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their wedsite address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight: Surfrider foundation

Just for fun: every week we will be uploading a portrait od a famous philospher, social scientist, political scientist, leader, teacher, economist, or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comment section. Good Luck!

Mystery woman? Congratulations Victoria!! this is Marie Curie, famous scientist.

On receiving the Nobel Prize, Marie and Pierre Curie became very famous. Marie was a brilliant scientist. Her husband Pierre was given a professorhip and was able to start his own labratory while Marie was made the Director of Research at the Sorborne. Marie Curie intentionally refrained from patenting her work on the radium isolation process so that the scientific community could continue research unhindered. Since Pierre and Maire were unaware of the deterious effects of radiation exposure and their chronic unprotected work with radioactive substances, they had no idea what price they were paying for their research.

International Trade: Outsourcing is here…what now?

This weeks featured discussion is on International trade.

The question is: What is the best way to protect the U.S. work force from outsourcing in today’s competitive global market? How do we have to shift our thinking in order to secure jobs for the citizens of today and tomorrow?

We will also be highlighting one organization every two weeks that has made an impact in social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their website address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight is: Surfrider Foundation

Just for fun: Every week we will also be uploading a portrait of a famous philosopher, social scientist, political scientist, leader, teacher, economist or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first one to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comments section

Mystery Man?

The mystery man is Booker T. Washington

Congratulations Chelsey!!!! You win

An excellent teacher and speaker, Washington was known as “The Great Accommodator” by his critics. Being born in the generation soon after the emancipation proclamation Washington developed a system of thought that believed confrontation would lead to disaster for the outnumbered blacks. He believed that cooperation with supportive whites was the only way in the long run to overcome pervasive racism. Washington secretly contributed substantially to legal challenges of segregation and disfranchisement of blacks. In his public role, he believed he could achieve more by skillful accommodation to the social realities of the age of segregation. Washington clearly had his eyes on a better future for blacks. Through his own personal experience, Washington knew that good education was a powerful tool for individuals to collectively accomplish that better future. (wikipedia)

Constitutional Law and Judicial Activism: The Human Element, in a constitutional world of “absolutes”

This weeks featured discussion is on constitutional law.

The question is: What can we do about judicial activism and the psychological factors behind personal judgment and constitutional judgement? The human factor plays a large role in the supreme court, when do supreme court justices cross the line in terms of individual conviction and constitutional absolutes?

We will also be highlighting one organization every two weeks that has made an impact in social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their website address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight is: Youth With a Mission (YWAM)

Just for fun: Every week we will also be uploading a portrait of a famous philosopher, social scientist, political scientist or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first one to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comments section

Mystery Man?

“I FOUND THE MYSTERY MAN!! the mystery man is Adam Smith and hes a scottish moral philosopher and pioneer of political economics . He died july 17, 1790.”      Congratulations Jennifer!!!!   As for the significance of the Hint: He developed an economic model called “The Invisible Hand” which is taught in most economic classes today.

Domestic Social Responsibility: What do we owe to ourselves?

This weeks featured discussion is on sustainability: what are some ideas that could be implemented in order to promote sustainability within our local domestic economy? Thought: When dealing domestically within our own country how do we move forward in a positive way toward social responsibility and equality?

We will also be highlighting one organization every two weeks that has made an impact in social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their website address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight is: Youth With a Mission (YWAM)

Just for fun: Every week we will also be uploading a portrait of a famous philosopher, social scientist, political scientist or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first one to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comments section

Mystery Man?

“THE MYSTERY MAN IS…………Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke….haha thats the first time i ever guessed a mystery man.”  Sofia class of 2008

nice work sofia.

Christian also guessed right so you win too!!!!!!

Global Political sustainability: conflict resolution how?

This weeks featured discussion is on sustainability: what are some ideas that could be implemented in order to promote sustainability within the modern global economy? Thought: When dealing with different cultures how do we move forward in a positive way toward social responsibility and equality within a myriad of different belief systems?

We will also be highlighting one organization every two weeks that has made an impact in social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their website address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight is: Sierra Club

Just for fun: Every week we will also be uploading a portrait of a famous philosopher, social scientist, political scientist or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first one to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comments section

Mystery Man?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Bethany you are correct.  The mystery man is pervez musharraf the resigned president of pakistan.

Sustainability and Hawaii: Becoming Self Sufficient.

This weeks featured discussion is on sustainability: what are some ideas that could be implemented in order to promote sustainability within the modern economy? Thought: If capitalism is dependent on continual growth we will soon run out of resources, is there a way to promote capitalism and sustainability at the same time? i.e efficiency and sufficiency

We will also be highlighting one organization every two weeks that has made an impact in social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their website address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight is: Sierra Club

Mystery Man?

Guess who this….and win!!!

Congratulations Bea-Clare you win!!!

The person in the picture is Mikheil Saakashvilli, President of Georgia whose country was recently invaded by Russia. Recent developments have Russia pulling out of Georgia but it sure was a scary week in that region of the world.

Sustainability: Sufficiency vs. Efficiency

This weeks featured discussion is on sustainability: what are some ideas that could be implemented in order to promote sustainability within the modern economy? Thought: If capitalism is dependent on continual growth we will soon run out of resources, is there a way to promote capitalism and sustainability at the same time? i.e efficiency and sufficiency

We will also be highlighting one organization every two weeks that has made an impact in social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their website address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight is: Ryan’s Well

Next week’s spotlight: Kiva (micro-finance for the under-privileged)

Thanks to a friend of mine named Duda for bringing this micro-finance organization to our attention; excellent model.

Just for fun: Every two weeks we will also be uploading a portrait of a famous philosopher, social scientist, political scientist or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first one to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comments section

Here’s a new mystery woman:

Mystery Woman is: Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and assumed a role as an advocate for civil rights. After her husband’s death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an internationally prominent author and speaker for the New Deal Coalition. She worked to enhance the status of working women, although she opposed the Equal Rights Ammendment because she believed it would adversely affect women.

Last week’s winner: Brittani

Sustainability: Fundamental social change

This weeks featured discussion is on sustainability: what are some ideas that could be implemented in order to promote sustainability within the modern economy? Thought: If capitalism is dependent on continual growth we will soon run out of resources, is there a way to promote capitalism and sustainability at the same time? i.e efficiency and sufficiency

We will also be highlighting one organization every two weeks that has made an impact in social change around the world. If you would like to nominate a group feel free to post a comment including their website address. Check our blogroll for a quick link.

This weeks organizational spotlight is: Ryan’s Well

Next week’s spotlight: Kiva (micro-finance for the under-privileged)

Thanks to Michael Ivy for bringing this organization to our attention. It’s a good work.

Just for fun: Every two weeks we will also be uploading a portrait of a famous philosopher, social scientist, political scientist or psychologist in the author’s avatar section. See if you can be the first one to identify the picture. Please post your response in the comments section

Guess this mystery man: alright here’s a hint…….American revolution, but he’s not American

Correct Brittani wins !!!!…….

It’s Lafayette Born: September 6, 1757 Died: May 20, 1834. He was a French military officer and former aristocrat who participated in both the American and French revolutions.