Policy Forumtag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-717402005-07-16T18:59:13-05:00Policy Forum is the blog of the Oklahoma Center for Social Policy.
This blog offers news, commentary, and analysis from a progressive perspective that seeks to advance policy discourse.
Standing aside history, yelling Hurry Up --
in homage to William F. Buckley.
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice."
-- Martin Luther King Jr.
"The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of bold projects and new ideas. Rather, it will belong to those who can blend passion, reason and courage in a personal commitment to the great enterprises and ideals of American society."
-- Robert F. KennedyTypePadKeys to Job Creation tag:typepad.com,2003:post-56129562005-07-16T18:59:13-05:002005-07-16T18:59:13-05:00One of the main keys to job creation is a strong infrastructure. This infrastructure includes a capable and well trained work force obtained through a strong education system. In addition, as health care costs continue to rise, this infrastructure may...Matthew NowlinLove and Marriage......and Divorcetag:typepad.com,2003:post-56128182005-07-16T18:26:15-05:002005-07-16T18:26:15-05:00The Associated Press recently reported on same sex marriage around the world. Far from "destroying marriage" it is interesting to note that divorce, which in fact DOES destroy marriage, is lower in countries that have embraced same sex marriage then...Matthew NowlinFormer Bush Aide Who Edited Reports Is Hired by Exxon - New York Timestag:typepad.com,2003:post-52013022005-06-15T21:23:53-05:002005-06-15T21:23:53-05:00It seems fitting. Link: Former Bush Aide Who Edited Reports Is Hired by Exxon - New York Times. Philip A. Cooney, the former White House staff member who repeatedly revised government scientific reports on global warming, will go to work...Matthew NowlinBush "Cooking the Books" on Terrorismtag:typepad.com,2003:post-51326462005-06-11T20:34:45-05:002005-06-11T20:34:45-05:00From the JURIST: [JURIST] A Washington Post examination of US Department of Justice terror prosecutions to appear in the paper's Sunday edition shows very little progress in identifying and convicting terrorists since September 11, 2001. In contrast to President Bush's...Matthew NowlinThe Rich Are Getting Richer...tag:typepad.com,2003:post-50526032005-06-06T20:54:48-05:002005-06-06T20:54:48-05:00Link: Richest Are Leaving Even the Rich Far Behind - New York Times. When F. Scott Fitzgerald pronounced that the very rich "are different from you and me," Ernest Hemingway's famously dismissive response was: "Yes, they have more money." Today...Matthew NowlinAmnesty International 2005 Report tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49511052005-05-31T23:42:14-05:002005-05-31T23:42:14-05:00Below are links from the 2005 report from Amnesty International United States full reportMatthew NowlinA Major Swipe At Sweatshopstag:typepad.com,2003:post-49510032005-05-31T23:32:18-05:002005-05-31T23:32:18-05:00Now global labor monitoring may get a big leg up. Nike, Patagonia, Gap, and five other companies have joined forces with six leading anti-sweatshop groups to devise a single set of labor standards with a common factory-inspection system. The goal: to replace today's overlapping hodgepodge of approaches with something that's easier and cheaper to use -- and that might gain traction with more companies. After two years of debate, the parties quietly signed an agreement in late April to run a pilot project in several dozen Turkish factories that produce garments and other products for the eight companies.
Matthew NowlinU.S. firms said to be named in withheld Bolton documentstag:typepad.com,2003:post-49508422005-05-31T23:15:32-05:002005-05-31T23:15:32-05:00From the International Herald Tribune: Some of the information that the White House has refused to provide to Congress for its review of the nomination of John Bolton includes the names of American companies mentioned in intelligence reports on commerce...Matthew NowlinOK House and Senate Pass Tax Cutstag:typepad.com,2003:post-49507732005-05-31T23:05:44-05:002005-05-31T23:05:44-05:00The Oklahoma House passed HB1547 and the state Senate passed SB435. The major piece of HB 1547 was the reduction in the top state income tax rate. HB1547 lowers the top tax rate from 6.65% to 6.25%. An analysis by...Matthew NowlinTop court to decide Kansas death penalty lawtag:typepad.com,2003:post-49503372005-05-31T22:20:59-05:002005-05-31T22:20:59-05:00From Reuters: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Tuesday that it would hear an appeal by Kansas of a state high court ruling that struck down the state's death penalty law. The justices agreed to review a...Matthew Nowlin