We used Former Vice-President Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, as an example of personal resolve and action to improve people's lives in the face of important challenges. Because it's not always easy, it may take resourcefulness and perseverance to continue the journey. And, big issues are always complex with many views. Among the views opposing adopting the 1997 Kyoto Protocols, an international treaty to reduce the world's greenhouse gas emissions, are those of the Conservative Think Tank, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.

The 25 January 2007 issue of The Economist focuses on America and climate change. It's leading article is a provocative challenge to the Bush Administration's governance, but the title of the issue is "The Greening of America."

It appears that concern about the environment is taking root in Minnesota politics, as reported on Tuesday 30 January 2007.

This course on United States Government has informed us with the knowledge and processes that are the tools citizens can use in a participatory democracy to effect change for the better.

The question now is whether we can apply this declarative and procedural knowledge ourselves. Once we articulate an issue important to us, we need to think at what level (neighborhood, community, state, or federal) the problem can be solved. [Using the Kyoto Protocol Ratification debate as an example, consider what measures might be taken at the local level, regardless whether the United States has the resolve to ratify the treaty or not.]

Over the weekend: (1) articulate an issue you care about, (2) decide on which level the problem needs to be addressed, (3) list five options available to you in a participatory democracy appropriate to resolving your issue. Of course, it might not be as "easy as that," larger issues usually have a history to them; they may seem intractable; and they may be very complex. Nevertheless, history is replete with empirical examples where one committed individual has lead an effort that results in major change.

You may even choose a non-governmental approach. Let's take the approach the Nets Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has used. Finding that the traditional approach to fighting the enormous problem of malaria in Africa was frought with setbacks (i.e., to spend enormous amounts of money find a medical solution and then work through governments to set up education and distribution programs to effect change), the Gates Foundation looked for a low-tech solution. The solution they found was simple, cheap, and effective--they gave every household enough mosquito nets for each person sleeping there. Charitable foundations and private business foundations can work alone or in tandem with the public sector to be powerful engines of change.

Let's have our eyes open on this--it's ultruism with government support because, individual contributors and businesses, alike, may get tax breaks and a favorable image as a result.

Most textbooks for high school students are designed to organize subject areas into Units, Chapters, Major Concepts, Subordinate Concepts, and detailed information. That organization provides the scholar with tremendous advantages for efficient and productive study.

In addition, textbooks offer an array of assessment tools that challenge the student whether mastery of declarative information and procedural learning has taken place.

Less Time; More Sweat: Read Aggressively

The Graupnerian Approach to mastering the acquisition of declarative and procedural knowledge from textbooks involves the following steps:

1. Preview the Chapter organization. Take one sheet of paper and divide the sheet with a vertical line. Write the Chapter Title at the top. Next, write the Section Title. Determine the number of Major Concepts. Outline each Major Concept with the important Subordiante Concepts.
2. At the top of the empty column, write the Major Idea in a box.
3. Make a cursory review of the Major and Subordinate Concepts, asking the question "what's going to be covered in this Section?"
4. Aggressively, read the Section by answering questions as you tackle one concept after another. The whole Section can be covered in 5-10 minutes. Take notes sparingly in the Empty Column.
5. Review what you have learned, topic by topic.
6. Use the Assessments at the end of the Section to Review. Consider the Main Idea, again.
7. You are ready for class.

Last evening, President George W. Bush presented his seventh State of the Union Address to the American people before a packed audience of members of Congress, the Supreme Court, the Bush Administration, the Armed Services, and special guests. [Photo Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times]


It was an historic occasion for many reasons, not the least of which was that "Madam Speaker" was spoken for the first time in U.S. history. The reference of course refers to Representative Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to hold the position of Speaker of the House, third in line to become President of the United States.


You are invited to explicate (analyze) the address with interactive features provided by The New York Times. You can find out, or example, what were the domestic and foreign policy priorities of the President's speech.

It is a tradition to afford the political opposition the opportunity to present their view to the American people after the State of the Union Address is completed. The Democrats chose Senator Jim Webb of Virginia to deliver the Response. [Photo Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times]

The 2008 Republican National Convention is set for the Twin Cities, while Denver has been selected as the venue for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Republican frontrunner Senator John McCain's campaign has Gov. Tim Pawlenty as it's co-chair, signaling the importance of Minnesota as a swing state.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, both vying for the same funding base have already announced that they are in the race to win the Democratic Party's nomination for President.
[Photo: Evan Vucci/AP]

Both candidates bring new excitement to the race for President because Senator Clinton, with 100% name recognition, and Barack Obama, with refinement and mult-culturalism, could change the face of the political establishment in the United States.

Whatever your politics, Campaign 2008 promises to offer something for everyone. It's up to you to become involved. Although U.S. Middle East Policy may be a current headliner, other critical issues are: Extending Health Care, Improving the Environment, Moving towards a Sustainable Economy, Energy Independence, Immigration, etc. And, there are always surprises: who imagined the political impacts of 9/11 or Katrina or the Muscle-Flexing of China.

President George W. Bush will address the American people Tuesday, January 23, for the sixth time in front of the government and the cameras to present The State of the Union Address. Bush faces a tough audience, including Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress.

Analysts from various political perspectives believe that Iraq, Energy Independence, and Fixing Social Security will be among the key issues that President Bush will address.

The President's address will be followed by a speech from the "loyal opposition."