http://map150.org Citizens League's Minnesota Anniversary Project Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:40:06 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en MAP 150 has truly required a leap of faith. I repeatedly find skepticism everywhere--(subject of my next post). But if you haven't checked out Students Speak Out or Property Tax Facts lately, you should. You'll see firsthand the power of involving citizens. We have many new members on ... http://map150.org/archives/151 Annie Wood is one of the student contributors to MAP 150's Students Speak Out. Annie is part of a filmmaking group, TVbyGIRLS. Recently, she teamed with an older adult and filmed their experience. I asked Annie what she learned. And for those who think students don't ... http://map150.org/archives/122 My faith in "citizens"-- regular people-- keeps growing. Sean and I made a presentation about MAP 150 to the Minnesota Public Health Association, where one woman very insightfully commented: "Experts think about systems, people think about outcomes. Experts talk about the health care system, people talk abouyt health. ... http://map150.org/archives/121 http://map150.org/archives/120 In yesterday's New York Times, Gary Bass, associate professor at Princeton, reviews a book by economist Bryan Caplan. Caplan argues that voters are "biased, irrational, manipulable and plain ignorant." Bass writes: "Of all the people who deserve blame for the debacle in Iraq, don't forget the American public...the two sides (doves ... http://map150.org/archives/118 The New York Times carried a story today that's a sad, sad reminder of what's wrong with our public school systems. In Little Rock, which bore the shame of the nation as it refused to integrate its schools, a new also ugly battle has broken out. Its black ... http://map150.org/archives/115 I confess: I'm an American Idol fan. It's not that I like the music or the celebrity hoo-ha. Rather, each week a group of young adults put their hearts and souls on the line. A waitress from a small town. A backup singer who never ... http://map150.org/archives/114 So many of our public decision-making processes are broken. And the public knows it. Here's a recent sampling. The bad. People in Zambia are on the verge of starvation…in massive numbers. It's not that there isn't enough readily available food. There is. It was grown ... http://map150.org/archives/113 Last Tuesday I was in a car accident in Minneapolis. It wasn't my fault, and it wasn't serious, but it was interesting. It happened next to Bob's Java Hut in Minneapolis-- my car was parked there at the stop sign in the picture. I went in to buy a ... http://map150.org/archives/107 It's late...nearing 2 a.m. I'm wide awake thinking of how MAP 150 is sweeping along. I'm just riding the current; it's amazing who you meet. A few weeks ago I spoke with Anthony Williams co-author of Wikinomics. He starts his book with this true story. A gold ... http://map150.org/archives/106