#publicpolicy — Public Fediverse posts

Modernising Competition Policy on the International Agenda

On 7 September, the event “Modernising Merger Control for an Evolving World” was held by the Organisation for…
#Spain #ES #Europe #Europa #EU #Telefónica #ConsolidationandScale #PublicPolicy
https://www.europesays.com/spain/86876/

A quotation from Molly Ivins

   It’s tacky to start playing the blame game before the dead are even counted. It is not too soon, however, to make a point that needs to be hammered home again and again, and that is that government policies have real consequences in people’s lives.
   This is not “just politics” or blaming for political advantage. This is about the real consequences of what governments do and do not do. And about who winds up paying the price.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (2005-09-09), “Katrina and You,” Texas Observer

More about this quote: wist.info/ivins-molly/86067/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #mollyivins #katrina #HurricaneKatrina #government #policy #politics #publicpolicy

A quotation from Molly Ivins

   It’s tacky to start playing the blame game before the dead are even counted. It is not too soon, however, to make a point that needs to be hammered home again and again, and that is that government policies have real consequences in people’s lives.
   This is not “just politics” or blaming for political advantage. This is about the real consequences of what governments do and do not do. And about who winds up paying the price.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (2005-09-09), “Katrina and You,” Texas Observer

More about this quote: wist.info/ivins-molly/86067/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #mollyivins #katrina #HurricaneKatrina #government #policy #politics #publicpolicy

A quotation from Molly Ivins

   It’s tacky to start playing the blame game before the dead are even counted. It is not too soon, however, to make a point that needs to be hammered home again and again, and that is that government policies have real consequences in people’s lives.
   This is not “just politics” or blaming for political advantage. This is about the real consequences of what governments do and do not do. And about who winds up paying the price.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (2005-09-09), “Katrina and You,” Texas Observer

More about this quote: wist.info/ivins-molly/86067/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #mollyivins #katrina #HurricaneKatrina #government #policy #politics #publicpolicy

A quotation from Molly Ivins

   It’s tacky to start playing the blame game before the dead are even counted. It is not too soon, however, to make a point that needs to be hammered home again and again, and that is that government policies have real consequences in people’s lives.
   This is not “just politics” or blaming for political advantage. This is about the real consequences of what governments do and do not do. And about who winds up paying the price.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (2005-09-09), “Katrina and You,” Texas Observer

More about this quote: wist.info/ivins-molly/86067/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #mollyivins #katrina #HurricaneKatrina #government #policy #politics #publicpolicy

A quotation from Molly Ivins

   It’s tacky to start playing the blame game before the dead are even counted. It is not too soon, however, to make a point that needs to be hammered home again and again, and that is that government policies have real consequences in people’s lives.
   This is not “just politics” or blaming for political advantage. This is about the real consequences of what governments do and do not do. And about who winds up paying the price.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (2005-09-09), “Katrina and You,” Texas Observer

More about this quote: wist.info/ivins-molly/86067/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #mollyivins #katrina #HurricaneKatrina #government #policy #politics #publicpolicy

Oregon food pantries report rising need after SNAP cuts | News https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/11140/ #EconomyOfTheUnitedStates #FoodBank #LocalNews #NonstopLocal #Oregon #OregonDining #OregonFood #OregonGroceryStores #OregonRestaurants #PublicPolicy #SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram #UnitedStates #WashingtonNews

Oregon food pantries report rising need after SNAP cuts | News https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/11140/ #EconomyOfTheUnitedStates #FoodBank #LocalNews #NonstopLocal #Oregon #OregonDining #OregonFood #OregonGroceryStores #OregonRestaurants #PublicPolicy #SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram #UnitedStates #WashingtonNews

Oregon food pantries report rising need after SNAP cuts | News https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/11140/ #EconomyOfTheUnitedStates #FoodBank #LocalNews #NonstopLocal #Oregon #OregonDining #OregonFood #OregonGroceryStores #OregonRestaurants #PublicPolicy #SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram #UnitedStates #WashingtonNews

Oregon food pantries report rising need after SNAP cuts | News https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/11140/ #EconomyOfTheUnitedStates #FoodBank #LocalNews #NonstopLocal #Oregon #OregonDining #OregonFood #OregonGroceryStores #OregonRestaurants #PublicPolicy #SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram #UnitedStates #WashingtonNews

'consumers are using cleaner energy and bringing down their bills at a time when the cost of living is a constant concern...But such a massive, ungovernable influx of energy carries risks, too—the world’s power infrastructure was not designed for solar self-generation—and investment, pricing models, and even the security of supply could be affected as a result'

#renewables #solar #publicPolicy #greenEnergy

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/offensively-cheap-solar-power-is-looking-up/

'consumers are using cleaner energy and bringing down their bills at a time when the cost of living is a constant concern...But such a massive, ungovernable influx of energy carries risks, too—the world’s power infrastructure was not designed for solar self-generation—and investment, pricing models, and even the security of supply could be affected as a result'

#renewables #solar #publicPolicy #greenEnergy

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/offensively-cheap-solar-power-is-looking-up/

'consumers are using cleaner energy and bringing down their bills at a time when the cost of living is a constant concern...But such a massive, ungovernable influx of energy carries risks, too—the world’s power infrastructure was not designed for solar self-generation—and investment, pricing models, and even the security of supply could be affected as a result'

#renewables #solar #publicPolicy #greenEnergy

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/offensively-cheap-solar-power-is-looking-up/

'consumers are using cleaner energy and bringing down their bills at a time when the cost of living is a constant concern...But such a massive, ungovernable influx of energy carries risks, too—the world’s power infrastructure was not designed for solar self-generation—and investment, pricing models, and even the security of supply could be affected as a result'

#renewables #solar #publicPolicy #greenEnergy

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/offensively-cheap-solar-power-is-looking-up/

'consumers are using cleaner energy and bringing down their bills at a time when the cost of living is a constant concern...But such a massive, ungovernable influx of energy carries risks, too—the world’s power infrastructure was not designed for solar self-generation—and investment, pricing models, and even the security of supply could be affected as a result'

#renewables #solar #publicPolicy #greenEnergy

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/offensively-cheap-solar-power-is-looking-up/

The Letta Report and the Single Market: More Relevant Than Ever

With its title, “Much more than a market: Empowering the Single Market to deliver a sustainable future and…
#Spain #ES #Europe #Europa #EU #Telefónica #DigitalNetworksAct #PublicPolicy
https://www.europesays.com/spain/85813/

The Letta Report and the Single Market: More Relevant Than Ever

With its title, “Much more than a market: Empowering the Single Market to deliver a sustainable future and…
#Europe #EU #DigitalNetworksAct #EuropeanUnion #publicpolicy
https://www.europesays.com/europe/138085/

RE: https://hcommons.social/@kfitz/117268980188009477

‘Any framing about what higher is or has been that misses the big public investment post-WW2 and then massive disinvestment starting in the 1980s which spirals into rising costs and student debt is disingenuous at best’

#publicPolicy #genAi #higherEd

RE: https://hcommons.social/@kfitz/117268980188009477

‘Any framing about what higher is or has been that misses the big public investment post-WW2 and then massive disinvestment starting in the 1980s which spirals into rising costs and student debt is disingenuous at best’

#publicPolicy #genAi #higherEd

RE: https://hcommons.social/@kfitz/117268980188009477

‘Any framing about what higher is or has been that misses the big public investment post-WW2 and then massive disinvestment starting in the 1980s which spirals into rising costs and student debt is disingenuous at best’

#publicPolicy #genAi #higherEd

RE: https://hcommons.social/@kfitz/117268980188009477

‘Any framing about what higher is or has been that misses the big public investment post-WW2 and then massive disinvestment starting in the 1980s which spirals into rising costs and student debt is disingenuous at best’

#publicPolicy #genAi #higherEd

RE: https://hcommons.social/@kfitz/117268980188009477

‘Any framing about what higher is or has been that misses the big public investment post-WW2 and then massive disinvestment starting in the 1980s which spirals into rising costs and student debt is disingenuous at best’

#publicPolicy #genAi #higherEd

Ageing populations are not just a social issue — they’re an economic force. Our new piece on the Silver Economy explains how demographic transition is reshaping consumption patterns and pension systems worldwide. Valuable reading for executives, policymakers and financial planners. Read the full article: https://wix.to/sBtHSnM

#PublicPolicy
#SilverEconomy
#MarketStrategy
#PensionReform
#FinancialPlanning
#DemographicTransition

More about the glyphosate controversy:

"Earlier this year, our Mother Jones investigation found that record amounts of glyphosate—the key ingredient in the herbicide Roundup—have been sprayed in California’s forests in recent years. It also exposed how key scientific studies that the Forest Service and others relied upon to say glyphosate was safe were ghost written by manufacturer Monsanto."

https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2026/08/maidu-native-groups-denounce-record-glyphosate-spraying-national-forests-california-bayer-forest-service/

#publicpolicy #monsanto

🚨 BREAKING: Prime Minister chairs a key meeting on Gilgit-Baltistan's wheat quota, focusing on ensuring timely supply and addressing the region's food requirements.

Read More: https://gtvnewshd.com/pakistan/2026/07/21/gilgit-baltistan-wheat-quota-pm-meeting/
#BreakingNews #GilgitBaltistan #Pakistan #WheatQuota #FoodSecurity #PMPakistan #PakistanNews #Government #PublicPolicy #GTVNews

🚨 BREAKING: PM Shehbaz Sharif chairs a key meeting on Gilgit-Baltistan’s wheat quota, assuring full support to address the region’s wheat needs.

Read More: https://gtvnewshd.com/pakistan/2026/07/21/gilgit-baltistan-wheat-quota-pm-meeting/
#BreakingNews #GilgitBaltistan #PMShehbazSharif #WheatQuota #FoodSecurity #Pakistan #PakistanNews #Government #PublicPolicy #GTVNews

Is Nepal Moving Toward a Socialism-Oriented Federal State or a Capitalist Economy? A Systems-Level Reflection on Nepal’s FY 2026/27 Budget

The Constitution of Nepal defines Nepal as a “socialism-oriented federal democratic republican state.” Multiple election cycles since the Maoist insurgency suggest that democracy has matured considerably. Political parties broadly operating within the republican democratic framework have consistently remained at the center of political competition. The most recent election, following the Gen-Z movement, arguably strengthened the foundations of the republican system. Political actors advocating a return to monarchy remained on the margins and failed to translate public unrest into electoral dominance. Historically, pro-monarchy sentiment tends to gain visibility when governments fail to deliver expected outcomes. The Gen-Z movement represented perhaps the strongest expression of dissatisfaction with the status quo political order. If the Nepali public genuinely favored restoration of monarchy, that election cycle would have provided an ideal opportunity for monarchy-supporting forces to emerge as a dominant political alternative. Instead, voters largely endorsed parties committed to republican democracy, reinforcing the democratic republican trajectory of the country. Yet another constitutional question remains unresolved: while Nepal appears committed to republican democracy, is it also moving toward becoming a socialism-oriented federal state? This article adopts a devil’s advocate perspective to examine whether the latest fiscal budget advances that constitutional aspiration or whether it reflects a different economic direction.

The Budget Represents a Development-State Strategy

Viewed from a systems perspective, the budget rests on a coherent developmental logic. Its central objectives are to accelerate growth through productive investment, strengthen state capacity through reform and digitization, and attract domestic, diaspora, and foreign investment. The underlying diagnosis appears reasonable. Nepal’s challenge is not merely a shortage of money but low productivity, weak state capacity, fragmented development efforts, and bureaucratic friction. The budget attempts to connect infrastructure, energy, agriculture, tourism, technology, and investment into a more integrated economic architecture. Borrowing is presented not as a tool for consumption but as an instrument for productivity-enhancing investment. From this perspective, the budget is essentially a wager on state capacity. If government institutions become more effective, projects are completed on time, corruption is reduced, and investment translates into economic growth, then higher borrowing may be justified. Many countries such as South Korea and Vietnam that successfully modernized followed versions of this strategy. The budget therefore deserves credit for attempting to move the conversation beyond annual expenditures toward a broader development framework.

Is the Budget Fundamentally a Trickle-Down Strategy?

A central question is whether the budget’s theory of change resembles a form of trickle-down economics. Much of the strategy focuses on investment promotion, infrastructure expansion, digitization, regulatory reform, business facilitation, and productivity growth. The implicit assumption appears to be that economic growth will eventually spread throughout society through employment generation, enterprise creation, and broader economic opportunities. The concern is not whether growth is desirable. The concern is whether the benefits of growth will reach marginalized populations quickly and equitably enough. Critics may reasonably ask whether the budget places greater emphasis on investors, businesses, and the middle class than on direct improvements in the economic conditions of vulnerable communities. If economic gains remain concentrated among those already positioned to benefit from investment opportunities, the constitutional aspiration of a socialism-oriented state becomes harder to reconcile with actual policy outcomes.

Do Specific Policy Choices Reflect a Capitalist Rather Than Socialism-Oriented Direction?

Several policy signals raise broader questions about the state’s economic philosophy. First, taxes imposed on education and health services are likely to be passed on to consumers unless strong regulatory mechanisms prevent it. If the objective is to increase reliance on public education and public healthcare, improving the quality and competitiveness of those services may be a more effective first step than creating additional costs within private alternatives. Second, electricity consumption thresholds before tax appear low relative to the growing electrification of modern households. As families adopt induction cooking, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other appliances, many middle-income households could exceed these thresholds. The result may unintentionally encourage continued reliance on gas, firewood, or other fossil-fuel alternatives. If the objective is to redirect electricity toward industrial use, expanding generation capacity may be more sustainable than discouraging household consumption.

Third, enthusiasm for data centers, AI, remote work, and digital services raises a deeper strategic question. Is Nepal building on its own long-term comparative advantages, or is it once again responding primarily to incentives created elsewhere? Nepal previously moved away from potentially transformative assets such as electric public transport systems, ropeways, and large-scale reservoir hydropower development, and  increasingly relied on labor export. The concern is not that digital industries are undesirable, but whether Nepal is repeating a pattern of chasing externally driven opportunities without a clearly articulated national development vision.

These examples create an impression that the budget may be nudging Nepal toward a model closer to contemporary market capitalism than toward the socialism-oriented framework envisioned by the constitution. Ironically, some parts of the capitalist Americas are currently witnessing renewed interest in democratic-socialist ideas and stronger social welfare policies, while Nepal appears to be emphasizing investment-led growth and market incentives.

The Real Debate may not Socialism Versus Capitalism

As the world is witnessing a renewed interest in democratic-socialist ideas and stronger social welfare, the deeper issue may not be whether Nepal is becoming socialist or capitalist country. The more important question is whether the assumptions underpinning the strategy prove correct. Several unintended consequences deserve attention. First, the key question is whether Nepal can finally convert borrowing into productive assets rather than accumulating debt without generating sufficient returns. Second, growth alone does not guarantee broad-based prosperity. The strategy assumes that gains from investment will spread through jobs, enterprise creation, and economic opportunity reaching marginalized communities. History suggests this outcome is possible but far from automatic. Third concern is about governance. The budget assumes improvements in administrative efficiency, project execution, corruption control, bureaucratic coordination, and institutional discipline. If these governance preconditions fail, borrowing could become another source of fiscal stress and public resentment rather than a catalyst for development. Fourth, the budget contains numerous concepts—corridors, processing, digitization, investment facilitation, infrastructure, tourism, and energy. Yet the overarching economic vision remains somewhat implicit. It is unclear whether these initiatives are components of a strategic coherent national development strategy or simply a collection of individually attractive policies held together by optimism rather than a clearly articulated economic vision. The assumption appears to be that combining these fragments will naturally produce prosperity, which deserves scrutiny.

The fifth concerns Nepal’s long-term development challenge. For more than four decades, billions of rupees have been invested in expanding road access into hill and mountain districts. While connectivity improved significantly, many districts continue to experience population decline as young people migrate to cities or overseas employment. Agricultural land is increasingly abandoned, wildlife pressures have intensified, and local economic opportunities remain limited. This experience suggests that infrastructure alone does not guarantee development. The more fundamental challenge may be employment generation, entrepreneurship, agricultural modernization, and innovation. A clearer budgetary focus on urban and rural entrepreneurship could potentially provide a more direct response to youth migration. Finance, training, vocational education, pilot programs, market access, digital economy initiatives, grants, loans, mentoring, and long-term support mechanisms could then function as supporting pillars around that central objective.

Finally, Nepal’s strategic location between India and China remains an underdeveloped dimension of national economic planning. The bridge-economy concept appears indirectly through investments in connectivity, energy, logistics, and regional development, but it remains insufficiently explicit. Positioning Nepal within the evolving economic geography of Asia may ultimately prove as important as any individual budget allocation.

Concluding, the budget reflects a serious attempt to accelerate growth, strengthen state capacity, and attract productive investment. Those objectives are difficult to oppose. However, important questions remain: are some policy choices moving Nepal closer to a market-capitalist model and trickle down economy than to a socialism-oriented nation; is there a sufficiently explicit economic vision connecting the many initiatives contained in the budget; can Nepal finally overcome its historic weakness in execution?The ultimate test will not be the size of the budget, the ambition of the plans, or the sophistication of the theories behind them. It will be whether the strategy creates productive employment, broad-based opportunity, stronger institutions, and a development pathway that keeps young Nepali invested in the country’s future. Efficiency can accelerate development. But democratic legitimacy, social inclusion, and long-term national purpose ultimately determine whether development becomes sustainable.

Note: This article is inspired by the article “New Team, New Budget: Nepal’s Big Development Bet [Part 1: Big Budget. Big Dreams. Big Assumptions.” published by Dr. Alok Bohora in his Substack website “Nepal Unplugged”. I was acknowledged in his successive article for contributing to the discussion. This article combines my thoughts together my synthesis of above mentioned article.

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Public funding alone can’t build a European Amazon. Challenges like scale, market dynamics, consumer preferences, and innovation investment make it unlikely. Tech #Ecommerce #EuropeanTech #AntiTrust #TechFunding #MarketCompetition #PublicPolicy https://www.netopia.eu/why-no-amount-of-public-money-will-buy-a-euro-amazon/

U.S. Supreme Court’s Recent Decisions – What They Mean for You

The U.S. Supreme Court has wrapped up another historic term, issuing several decisions that could affect millions of Americans. From digital privacy and voting rules to presidential authority and gun rights, the Court’s rulings have implications that reach far beyond Washington, D.C.

Whether you live in Raleigh, North Carolina, or anywhere else in the country, here’s a straightforward look at some of the Court’s most significant recent decisions and how they may impact your daily life.

Digital Privacy: Geofence Warrants Face New Constitutional Limits

One of the term’s biggest technology and privacy decisions involved geofence warrants—court orders that require companies like Google to provide location information for devices near a crime scene.

The Supreme Court ruled that accessing this type of location history is considered a search under the Fourth Amendment and must receive constitutional protections. The case was returned to lower courts for additional review rather than creating a blanket rule for every geofence warrant. (Reuters⁠)

What This Means for You

• Stronger recognition of digital privacy rights.
• Law enforcement may face stricter legal standards before obtaining broad location data.
• Smartphone users could receive greater constitutional protection over their location history.

Presidential Power Over Federal Agencies

In another closely watched case, the Court expanded presidential authority by allowing the President greater power to remove members of certain independent federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The ruling overturned a major precedent that had been in place since 1935. (Reuters⁠)

What This Means for You

Potential long-term effects could include:

• Changes in how independent federal agencies operate.
• Different approaches to consumer protection and business regulation depending on the administration in power.
• Increased presidential influence over parts of the federal government.

Mail-In Ballots

The Supreme Court upheld laws allowing states to count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day as long as they were postmarked on or before Election Day. The decision affects voting procedures in multiple states that already use similar rules. (The Guardian⁠)

What This Means for You

• Voters in states with these laws may continue to have mailed ballots counted if they meet state deadlines.
• Election officials will continue following their state’s existing ballot-counting rules unless state legislatures change them.

Gun Rights Continue to Expand

The Court issued decisions that broaden protections under the Second Amendment, including striking down certain restrictions on carrying firearms on private property open to the public and limiting enforcement of one federal firearm prohibition. The rulings also signal that the Court may hear additional firearm-related cases in future terms. (Reuters⁠)

What This Means for You

• Some state and local firearm restrictions may face additional legal challenges.
• Future Supreme Court decisions could further shape gun laws nationwide.
• State firearm regulations may continue evolving through litigation.

Why These Decisions Matter

Supreme Court decisions often become the law of the land, influencing:

• Personal privacy
• Voting and elections
• Consumer protections
• Government authority
• Criminal investigations
• Constitutional rights

Many of these rulings will continue to be interpreted by lower courts, meaning their full impact may not be known for months or even years.

How Could North Carolina Residents Be Affected?

For people across Raleigh and North Carolina, these decisions may influence:

• Privacy protections involving smartphones and digital technology.
• Future election procedures and voting policies.
• Consumer protections enforced by federal agencies.
• Firearm regulations challenged in federal courts.
• Future legal cases involving constitutional rights.

While some rulings take effect immediately, others simply establish legal standards that lower courts and lawmakers will apply over time.

Staying Informed

Supreme Court decisions often shape American life in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. From the apps you use on your phone to how elections are conducted and how federal agencies operate, the Court’s opinions can have lasting consequences for individuals, businesses, and local communities.

DoRaleigh.com will continue covering major legal, government, and public policy developments that matter to residents throughout Raleigh, Wake County, and the Triangle, helping explain what national decisions mean at the local level.

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Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro | DoRaleigh.com

Universities need new ways to assess learning in the age of AI
#AI #GenAI #HigherEducation #Universities #Education #AcademicIntegrity #StudentSuccess #Teaching #Learning #EdTech #Canada #Education #FutureOfWork #Research #DigitalLearning #PublicPolicy
https://the-14.com/universities-need-new-ways-to-assess-learning-in-the-age-of-ai/

School Kits, Big Impact: Inside El Salvador’s Quiet Education Push

Dear Cherubs, there’s something oddly powerful about a cardboard box that doesn’t contain chaos, delivery delays, or “please assemble yourself” furniture instructions. In El Salvador, it contains something far rarer: opportunity, neatly folded and mildly creased.

Across the country, thousands of children have been receiving full school kits—uniforms, shoes, books, stationery, backpacks, and in some cases digital devices—aimed at reducing the everyday friction that keeps education just out of reach. According to UNICEF, such school supply initiatives are widely used in developing education systems to improve attendance and reduce dropout rates, especially among lower-income families.

THE BOX THAT CHANGED THE MORNING ROUTINE

On paper, it sounds simple: give kids the tools they need for school. In practice, it’s a quiet reshaping of daily life. No scrambling for notebooks. No “borrow a pen again?” conversations. Just a child getting ready for school without the background noise of scarcity.

The initiative has been associated with government-led education support programs in El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele’s administration, which has prioritised visible social interventions alongside broader security reforms. As noted by thisclaimer.com in its coverage of public welfare initiatives, such programs often carry a dual effect: practical support for families and a strong symbolic message about inclusion.

One widely shared moment showed a young girl opening her kit and reacting with visible excitement. Not because it was luxurious, but because it was enough. And sometimes, enough is revolutionary in its own quiet, inconvenient way.

DIGNITY, BUT MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Here’s the uncomfortable part: school supplies shouldn’t feel like a headline. They should feel like background noise. Yet in many regions, they still function as a financial barrier disguised as a shopping list.

Critics of large-scale distribution programs often point out logistical challenges and long-term sustainability questions. Fair. But supporters argue that immediate access matters more than theoretical perfection when children are currently sitting in classrooms without basic tools.

And there’s a dry irony here: we live in a world where high-tech solutions for education are debated in conference rooms, while the simplest fix—actually giving kids what they need to learn—still qualifies as a policy achievement.

The emotional centre of this story isn’t political branding or viral clips. It’s a child seeing possibility packaged in a backpack and not having to translate it into something else to understand it.

Whether one views these initiatives as transformative policy or practical optics, the result on the ground is hard to ignore: fewer barriers between a child and a classroom.

And maybe that’s the real headline nobody prints loudly enough: sometimes progress doesn’t arrive as disruption. Sometimes it just arrives on time.

Sources list:
UNICEF — https://www.unicef.org/
World Bank Education Overview — https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/education
Government of El Salvador — https://www.presidencia.gob.sv/
BBC News Education Coverage — https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cp7r8vgl2lgt

A quotation from Adlai Stevenson

The government must be the trustee for the little man because no one else will be. The powerful can usually help themselves — and frequently do.

Adlai Stevenson (1900–1965) American diplomat, statesman
Speech (1955-10-29), “The Crisis in Agriculture,” Democratic Rally, Duluth, Minnesota

More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-adlai-ewin…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #adlaistevenson #commonman #commonpeople #generalwelfare #government #hoipolloi #littleguy #littlepeople #power #powerful #publicpolicy #selfaggrandizement #trustee #populism

A quotation from Mark Twain

Laws are coldly reasoned out and established upon what the lawmakers believe to be a basis of right. But customs are not. Customs are not enacted, they grow gradually up, imperceptibly and unconsciously, like an oak from its seed. In the fullness of their strength they can stand up straight in front of a world of argument and reasoning and yield not an inch.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Essay (1906), “The Gorky Incident,” Letters from the Earth (c. 1909; pub. 1962) [ed. DeVoto (1939)]

More about this quote: wist.info/twain-mark/84113/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #marktwain #twain #thegorkyincident #custom #irrationality #law #morality #penalty #publicopinion #publicpolicy #punishment #rationality #scandal #socialconventions #taboo #tradition #transgression

How to keep plant-based foods on the table now that Veganuary is over
#Food #PlantBased #SustainableFood #PublicPolicy #Hospitals #HealthyEating #FoodSystems #ClimateAction #InstitutionalChange #Nutrition #Universities #LowCarbon #Sustainability #Veganuary
https://the-14.com/how-to-keep-plant-based-foods-on-the-table-now-that-veganuary-is-over/

How to keep plant-based foods on the table now that Veganuary is over
#Food #PlantBased #SustainableFood #PublicPolicy #Hospitals #HealthyEating #FoodSystems #ClimateAction #InstitutionalChange #Nutrition #Universities #LowCarbon #Sustainability #Veganuary
https://the-14.com/how-to-keep-plant-based-foods-on-the-table-now-that-veganuary-is-over/

How to keep plant-based foods on the table now that Veganuary is over
#Food #PlantBased #SustainableFood #PublicPolicy #Hospitals #HealthyEating #FoodSystems #ClimateAction #InstitutionalChange #Nutrition #Universities #LowCarbon #Sustainability #Veganuary
https://the-14.com/how-to-keep-plant-based-foods-on-the-table-now-that-veganuary-is-over/

How to keep plant-based foods on the table now that Veganuary is over
#Food #PlantBased #SustainableFood #PublicPolicy #Hospitals #HealthyEating #FoodSystems #ClimateAction #InstitutionalChange #Nutrition #Universities #LowCarbon #Sustainability #Veganuary
https://the-14.com/how-to-keep-plant-based-foods-on-the-table-now-that-veganuary-is-over/

How to keep plant-based foods on the table now that Veganuary is over
#Food #PlantBased #SustainableFood #PublicPolicy #Hospitals #HealthyEating #FoodSystems #ClimateAction #InstitutionalChange #Nutrition #Universities #LowCarbon #Sustainability #Veganuary
https://the-14.com/how-to-keep-plant-based-foods-on-the-table-now-that-veganuary-is-over/

Benanav vs Morozov on the Political Economy of AI. Now, this will definitely be quite a read...!

"Choosing among available paths may widen or contract the field of possibilities. Some futures are rendered easier to realize; others are effectively foreclosed; and people’s understandings of what matters shift as they move forward in time—much as in Morozov’s own account of technological worldmaking. The difference is that, in my framework, this process is understood from the outset as political because it unfolds under conditions of scarcity that force collective choice among rival futures.

What is puzzling about Morozov’s critique is that this political core disappears from view. A framework designed to organize conflict over investment—to make trade-offs visible, contestable, and binding when not everything can be pursued at once—is recast as a system of administrative closure that would prematurely discipline experimentation. His analysis is not simply a misunderstanding of my proposed framework but a reversal of its intent: It reads an account meant to politicize worldmaking as an attempt to suppress it."

https://www.theideasletter.org/essay/a-real-political-economy-of-technology/

#AI #GenerativeAI #PoliticalEconomy #Democratization #PublicPolicy #Municipalism #GreenTransition #Communitarianism

Benanav vs Morozov on the Political Economy of AI. Now, this will definitely be quite a read...!

"Choosing among available paths may widen or contract the field of possibilities. Some futures are rendered easier to realize; others are effectively foreclosed; and people’s understandings of what matters shift as they move forward in time—much as in Morozov’s own account of technological worldmaking. The difference is that, in my framework, this process is understood from the outset as political because it unfolds under conditions of scarcity that force collective choice among rival futures.

What is puzzling about Morozov’s critique is that this political core disappears from view. A framework designed to organize conflict over investment—to make trade-offs visible, contestable, and binding when not everything can be pursued at once—is recast as a system of administrative closure that would prematurely discipline experimentation. His analysis is not simply a misunderstanding of my proposed framework but a reversal of its intent: It reads an account meant to politicize worldmaking as an attempt to suppress it."

https://www.theideasletter.org/essay/a-real-political-economy-of-technology/

#AI #GenerativeAI #PoliticalEconomy #Democratization #PublicPolicy #Municipalism #GreenTransition #Communitarianism

Benanav vs Morozov on the Political Economy of AI. Now, this will definitely be quite a read...!

"Choosing among available paths may widen or contract the field of possibilities. Some futures are rendered easier to realize; others are effectively foreclosed; and people’s understandings of what matters shift as they move forward in time—much as in Morozov’s own account of technological worldmaking. The difference is that, in my framework, this process is understood from the outset as political because it unfolds under conditions of scarcity that force collective choice among rival futures.

What is puzzling about Morozov’s critique is that this political core disappears from view. A framework designed to organize conflict over investment—to make trade-offs visible, contestable, and binding when not everything can be pursued at once—is recast as a system of administrative closure that would prematurely discipline experimentation. His analysis is not simply a misunderstanding of my proposed framework but a reversal of its intent: It reads an account meant to politicize worldmaking as an attempt to suppress it."

https://www.theideasletter.org/essay/a-real-political-economy-of-technology/

#AI #GenerativeAI #PoliticalEconomy #Democratization #PublicPolicy #Municipalism #GreenTransition #Communitarianism

Benanav vs Morozov on the Political Economy of AI. Now, this will definitely be quite a read...!

"Choosing among available paths may widen or contract the field of possibilities. Some futures are rendered easier to realize; others are effectively foreclosed; and people’s understandings of what matters shift as they move forward in time—much as in Morozov’s own account of technological worldmaking. The difference is that, in my framework, this process is understood from the outset as political because it unfolds under conditions of scarcity that force collective choice among rival futures.

What is puzzling about Morozov’s critique is that this political core disappears from view. A framework designed to organize conflict over investment—to make trade-offs visible, contestable, and binding when not everything can be pursued at once—is recast as a system of administrative closure that would prematurely discipline experimentation. His analysis is not simply a misunderstanding of my proposed framework but a reversal of its intent: It reads an account meant to politicize worldmaking as an attempt to suppress it."

https://www.theideasletter.org/essay/a-real-political-economy-of-technology/

#AI #GenerativeAI #PoliticalEconomy #Democratization #PublicPolicy #Municipalism #GreenTransition #Communitarianism

Benanav vs Morozov on the Political Economy of AI. Now, this will definitely be quite a read...!

"Choosing among available paths may widen or contract the field of possibilities. Some futures are rendered easier to realize; others are effectively foreclosed; and people’s understandings of what matters shift as they move forward in time—much as in Morozov’s own account of technological worldmaking. The difference is that, in my framework, this process is understood from the outset as political because it unfolds under conditions of scarcity that force collective choice among rival futures.

What is puzzling about Morozov’s critique is that this political core disappears from view. A framework designed to organize conflict over investment—to make trade-offs visible, contestable, and binding when not everything can be pursued at once—is recast as a system of administrative closure that would prematurely discipline experimentation. His analysis is not simply a misunderstanding of my proposed framework but a reversal of its intent: It reads an account meant to politicize worldmaking as an attempt to suppress it."

https://www.theideasletter.org/essay/a-real-political-economy-of-technology/

#AI #GenerativeAI #PoliticalEconomy #Democratization #PublicPolicy #Municipalism #GreenTransition #Communitarianism

Home ownership is a false promise in Canada
#Canada #Housing #HomeOwnership #Renters #Economy #HousingCrisis #Inequality #PublicPolicy #UrbanStudies #Montreal #Quebec #AffordableHousing #TenantsRights #HousingJustice #SocialPolicy #RealEstate #Property
https://the-14.com/home-ownership-is-a-false-promise-in-canada/

Why Canada needs better data on strikes, unions and other labour issues
#Canada #LabourRelations #Unions #Strikes #Business #WorkplaceConflict #PublicPolicy #StatisticsCanada #Labour #LabourData #TradeUnions #WorkersRights #Unionization #LabourUnions
https://the-14.com/why-canada-needs-better-data-on-strikes-unions-and-other-labour-issues/

दिल्ली में दिवाली‑के‑बाद छठ पूजा की तैयारियाँ, छठ पूजा पर भी सियासत तेज़।

https://aliyesha.com/sub/articles/news/display/nd_politics_chhath_pooja_2025

#delhi #newdelhi #india #news #press #Chhath #Chhath2025 #Festivals #CulturalHeritage #UrbanPlanning #PoliticalDebate #YamunaRiver #Yamuna #CommunityEvents #HeritagePreservation #PublicPolicy #BJP #AAP

Enjoy tracker free reading with us. #privacy #privacymatters

What does it really mean to build a career in #SocialJustice?

From #MacroSocialWork and #CommunityOrganizing to #PublicPolicy and #LegalAdvocacy, there’s no single road to systemic change. Each path offers unique trade-offs in impact, access, and sustainability.

My latest article breaks down the four most effective professional routes to drive justice at scale, and helps you find the one that aligns with your values.

https://themacrolens.com/2025/10/22/career-in-social-justice/

#SystemsChange #SocialWork #Nonprofit #Advocacy

AI use by UK justice system risks papering over the cracks caused by years of underfunding
#Tech #AI #JusticeSystem #UKPolitics #LegalTech #AccessToJustice #CourtReform #AIethics #Underfunding #HumanRights #DigitalJustice #PublicPolicy
https://the-14.com/ai-use-by-uk-justice-system-risks-papering-over-the-cracks-caused-by-years-of-underfunding/

📢 Nov-Dec 2024 Recap:

Thrilled to have served as an #InvitedProfessor at the @SGHWarsaw, delivering #PhD #Doctoral #Courses on #AI #PublicPolicy #TechnoPolitics #DigitalRights

Grateful for this impactful experience! 🙌

#DigitalInnovation #Warsaw

https://www.igorcalzada.com/invited-keynote-speaker-in-warsa-poland-on-28-and-29th-november-2024-at-warsaw-school-of-economics-sgh/ @anthropology @economics @politicalscience @politicaltheory @geography

After productive day with non-stop #keynote and #lectureship in #Warsaw at @SGHWarsaw getting ready for contributing tomorrow to the Conference after #AcademicCollaboration meeting with Dean of #PhD School #Research too #AcademicSky #AI4SI #AI #Doctoral #PhD #Economics #SocialSciences #PublicPolicy

https://www.sgh.waw.pl/knop/en/conferences-and-seminars-organized-by-the-institute-of-enterprise