John-in-KC

Lisa, One of my comments to my co-workers has been and continues to be that the people of the United States are not sacrificing for the current wars. The burden has fallen on far too few. So I will agree violently with you that Bush deserves a schwacking for that. The American people need to have some skin in the game. Far too many of them think lining up for a funeral of a fallen warrior is skin in the game. Forgive me, but if I go further this will be a full-scale OT rant.

Lisa, I've been guilty of driving tired coming home from evening events at sons' university. It's "only" a two hour drive. I need to quit being a hero, and putting in somewhere, even if it's for 4-5 hours.

What E92 and OGE said. Split the troop.

Our minds run faster than ever, and too many of us do not get the proper rest we need/deserve.

OK, I'll amend, Lisa... I'll write those checks, and I'll keep paying my taxes, but then the US Government has to operate like I do: One dollar in, one dollar out. Fair?

I think I'd write that check for myself and my son as well... Too bad...

There are still Dallas Cowboys fans?

I've seen more than one Pack have a Webelos Den, with Weeb 1s and Weeb 2s in it... Takes some planning, but it can be done

Merlyn, This is in issues and politics. Read the header. We're allowed broader latitude. NJCubScouter, This Commission is not congressional. It was appointed by the President. It happens on his watch, it's his.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

The only thing I see out of all this is the amount of time I don't work for my own good is going UP. I think it's now May before the sum total of my tax inputs totals out for the year... (income, F&S, property, sales, gas)... I do wonder what the 2d order consequences will be for eliminating the mortgage deduction? We do have to figure out something: Our Chinese bankers do not have infinite patience.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Just one cite. Y'all can googlenews the rest: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/11/the_fiscal_commission_reports.html Two highlights: - Say goodbye to the mortgage interest deduction if this becomes enacted legislation. - If you're a youngster now, start thinking about your life in the workforce until you are age 70. Let the flaying begin... Other links to other commentaries welcome.

I've had a lot of ideas, some I've even posted here. GWD ... bingo. If there's a single system, Medicare either is the system or is co-opted into the system. But I digress. My ideas: 1) Pharaceuticals: Why is ramipiril (generic of Altace ) $53 for a months supply at a major chain drugstore? Let's start by lowering the risk to R&D and manufacturing: - When a med enters small scale human clinical trials, the manufacturer can write off (deduct) 1/2 the R&D costs for that med to that point. - When a med enters large scale human clinical trials, the manufacturer can deduct the remaining R&D costs for that med to that point. - When a med is approved for use by the FDA, the manufacturer receives an income tax credit for the value of R&D costs, less the deduction already taken. - What's this do? Rewards successful meds getting to market, and lowers the costs to produce the first commercial batch. 2) Licensure in the healing arts is a privilege, not a right: - There are 2080 manhours in the 40 hour week manyear. - Licensed folk in the healing arts, as a condition of licensure give a tithe (10%) of that man-year as chartitable medicine, pharmacy, etc ... - The tithe does not depend on the persons' employment status (two of the docs at the clinic I use are job-sharing, each being a half time employee). The license comes with a mandatory donation. - This applies to docs, nurses, pharmacists, radiology techs, psychologists ... anyone licensed by a State healing arts board. 3) Like Eagle92, I'm an advocate of loser pays, but I have a twist: - The State must hold a preliminary hearing within 60 days of the filing. The standard is the same: Is there probable cause? If yes, let the evidence collecting go full-tilt. If there is not, the case ends immediately. This is a protection to the poor person who has a valid case. Beavah, forgive me, but your profession has its full share of ambulance chasers even now. The industry of money associated with prevention/avoidance/restitution for malpractice has to be reigned in, so the practicioners can lower their costs of doing business. Finally, incentivize preventive health care: - Annual physicals, dental exams, and eye exams are a tax credit for a US Treasury set retail cost. - Health savings accounts guaranteed by the US Treasury, and earn a guaranteed minimum rate of return. Mandatory participation. - Health insurance covers bigger things. It's all a pipe dream, sadly. Too many special interests with too much money. Cue Don Quixote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

The one caution in going back to GBB training packages is the unit has to revisit many, if not most, of the individual fieldcraft skills. Some are no longer best practices in the backcountry, others are indeed medically bad practice (tourniquet, anyone?).

Using your iPod touch again, eh, E92? I have the same problem...

In addition to being retired from the Armed Forces, I am an IT professional. I use powerpoint. I DESPISE POWERPOINT

Don't do this in a classroom. Get in the bloody field. Do it on a camping weekend. Ask your outgoing SPL to be their patrol leader for the weekend (as well as the Troop QM). Build the course content into the separate patrol meetings leading up to the camping weekend. If at all possible, find a copy of the old unit "Junior Leader Training" package was TLT's predecessor. Use that instead. AND STAY THE !@#$ !@#$ @#%& &^%$# away from powerpoint! Keep it simple, make it fun. It applies to Boy Scouting as well at times.

Moose, Would you care to come to my District and find the volunteers to handle a test out? How many of us are doing 2-3-4-5 Scouting jobs already? Sorry, ma'am, but sometimes prioritizing the resources available is part of the package, and yes, part of the problem too...

This year we added 5 more boys to the den and it was discided by myself, the cubmaster and the Charter Rep to split the den. Feedback is a gift. I did not see anything in your post where CM/CC/DL got the parents together when leadership identified the problem. Communication helps! Communication ahead of the problem, not announcements of "we've solved the problem for you, and here's what you need to do." No, the person who needs to be communicating now is the COR. As Scoutfish recommended, get the parents and the kids together for a meeting. Take the kids offline and give them good program and fun. Meanwhile, bring the COR on stage, and let him be the heavy. Will some of the parents walk? Probably. Be gracious about it, and help them if they choose to transition to a new unit. BTW, ScoutNut is right about the standard of Cub Scouting, even in the New Delivery Method era. If you decide to have a strength of wastewater streams contest about who signs for Bobby Bear, leadership will lose.

CP, Considering the problems Atlanta Area Council had a few years back, I'd not be surprised if your Exec Board decided to add a YP component to Den Chief training. Please, could you see what info is out on the Council website?

ScoutNut, Yes. All Direct Contact leaders. http://www.hoac-bsa.org/Libraries/Training_Documents/TRN_Registered_Leader_Training_Initiative_2009.sflb.ashx Our Executive Board has not given us relief from this mandate.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

"The thing that's driving training just seems to be legal CMA not any demonstrated program benefit for the kids." CONCUR!

I am in one of the test-bed Councils. This year, it is all direct contact leaders who must be trained to their registered position: - DL, ADL, CM, ACM in Cubs - ASM, SM in Boys ??? in Varsity - Advisor, Associate Advisor in Venturing It has been a year and a half long effort to beg, cajole, jostle, encourage, manipulate... veteran leaders to take the Kool-Aide training and be on-board. We even pre-empted normal curriculum at University of Scouting with a massive basic training weekend. Well, the hammer finally came out at recharter packet pick-up: Charters will not be issued if direct contact leaders are in position and untrained. As folks like WAKWIB, who's a local friend in addition to being on this board will tell you, our Council is pretty good. We are pretty well there. For those of you for whom this rock is coming, my one piece of advice is eat the elephant one bite at a time ... prep over the long haul, and be incessant about advertising the standard. As far as the refresher courses and test-outs go ... like so many Councils, the same cast of certifiable committed volunteers is doing 3-4 Scouting jobs. For those options to happen, other volunteers are going to have to step up and help out. (This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

There are a plethora of training awards for Scouters. Our job is to serve the youth. "Thank you" should be one of the very biggest awards ... especially when it's from a young person.

E92, Except the Armed Forces. Trust me. We paid SS.

Gern, Allow me to clarify. LBJ moved the monies form the Trust Fund into the General Fund, and placed IOUs (not even Treasury notes) in the Trust Fund. That was bad policy then, and is the basis for my claim that SS has become a Ponzi scheme. If our inputs were actually set aside and doing something ... even being the basis of Treasuries or Ginnie Maes, I'd be OK. IOUs? I do not think we are OK, in a policy or in an actuarial sense.