Archive for November, 2008

Let GM go bankrupt

Posted by Tom on November 8th, 2008

Via daringfireball.net: Philip Greenspun: ‘Let G.M. Go Bankrupt’
America seems to have an irrational soft spot for its auto industry. It’s a shame that these once-great companies have fallen so far, but the simple truth is that Ford and G.M. make ugly, inefficient cars that few people want to buy.John Gruber, daringfireball.net, 8 Nov 2008

Proposed budget reductions in public education

Posted by Tom on November 8th, 2008

Although public education was putatively held harmless during the budget cuts coming out of the recent special legislative session, the Minimum School Program (MSP) budget was reduced for fiscal year 2010 by $73,979,500. The State Board of Education was asked by the legislature to propose ways to achieve this reduction.
Friday in Board meeting, the […]

The Effects of Power

Posted by Tom on November 3rd, 2008

As part of my MBA program, I’m taking a class on teams. Last week we discussed power dynamics in groups. I found the discussion interesting as it relates to state politics.
I’ve copied my notes (which are effectively copies of the instructor’s slides) below:
Power corruptsEffects on power holders:

Self-serving attributions
Ingroup favoritism
Outgroup derogation
Creation of systems, rules, […]

Politics and 1st Graders

Posted by Tom on November 3rd, 2008

My son’s first-grade class must have been talking about politics. He came home from school last week telling us about the election they had.
He was excited to tell us he voted for “Morocco Obama.” (Apparently his name sounded cooler.)