12 - 1 - 2015


Student Issues

1 Disadvantaged students from US, France, Turkey, Kurdish areas, Kashmir, Myanmar

2 a.General issues; e.g. Ways to express or vent frustrations or stress

   b.Creating good opportunities for talented students (and their families)

3 Promoting creative thinking for new ideas; new actions

4 Capable and talented students themselves taking lead in initiating creative projects such as:

   a.Simple, inexpensive, non-competitive, relaxing native games or sports

   b.Inexpensive, low-maintenance, participatory, children's museums and libraries in a RELAXED

      atmosphere of fun and learning

      For remote communities: smaller, "portable extensions" of these two projects

   c.Simple, informative, "Lecture series", Field trips and hiking   

   d.Students helping students: seniors helping juniors; help to the needy etc.

5 Comments or guidance by the parents, teachers, community organizers, experts etc.

6 (Wherever possible, with minimum guidance, interested students can be encouraged to think and

   comment about some of the existing ideas or projects and ways to improve upon them)

11 - 14 - 15

Citizen Dialog - Jobs

Is there a need for a "Citizen Dialog" for the following issues?:
(Has the public been complacent and indifferent about such basic questions, thus turning a blind eye to its own interests?)

Ideas and Actions:

i  Unemployed veterans
ii Educated unemployed

(Also...)

Workplace experience:

No appreciation or recognition
No challenges
No opportunities

Your own thoughts and solutions
As well as your
recommendations for appropriate experts*;enthusiasts;volunteers etc for this work

(*What do you think about their contribution in finding creative solutions for such difficult issues?)

** To meet people personally is an important part of this plan.

11-9-2015
  

PARALLEL GOVERNMENT

All across the globe, in spite of some "good apples" (!), governments function poorly.

So what do we do? How if we form a voluntary, ancillary, "PARALLEL GOVERNMENT" to
"encourage" the formal ELECTED GOVERNMENT to be more efficient and accountable?

Let us start with one or two basic steps:

1. Prepare a list of current ideas, projects or actions that are unproductive, wasteful or outright self-serving. This list will expand as people keep adding their observations and suggestions--especially derived from their own practical day to day experience.

This will naturally lead to discussions at various levels. That, in turn, will surely lead to some form
of action. Eventually, various "liaison committees" can be created as a part of this democratic process.

Apart from exercising one's vote on election days, every citizen should participate actively--and regularly--in this form of a living, breathing, grass-roots Parallel (Shadow) Government. As already mentioned, such an activist "government" can benefit substantially from the education, experience and talent of every individual citizen. Ultimately, it should become a regular part of any democratic system.

2. Through such an organization, at every level, we should work jointly with the elected as well the appointed officials of the formal elected government. Out of this ongoing cooperation will emerge more and more pragmatic plans for the common good. They can easily replace current inadequate or inefficient plans and projects. Don't you feel that this is the right way for a wise society to function?

This is the type of government where people talk heart to heart and work hand in hand.It can be a system of government which can leave long-lasting footprints in the sands of time! (Big words?!) The situation is serious. Irrespective of our various affiliations or loyalties, we should come together for our common good. If we all work together, we can transform this Utopian dream into a practical reality. In a way, isn't this a wonderful strategy to start a revolution? Are you ready to join such a revolution?

(Incidentally, the voters are likely to reject, at the polls, those who obstruct this process. This is a
simple way to "replace the bad apples with good apples"!)

.....................................................................................................................

Within the broad framework of the People's Parallel Government outlined above, would you like to
share your thoughts on unemployment, jobs for veterans, workplace frustrations.....? (post:11-14-15)

 5 - 13 - 15

Bottom Line - Poverty Line

We will really appreciate any information or suggestions about single mothers and their children. We would like to know directly from the active mothers as well as teenage youth success and failure of various assistance and "guardianship" programs. Do you know of any dynamic, compassionate community volunteers devoting their time for this work? Can you put us in touch with them?



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