May 17, 2019

Wash U Becomes Hub Of Midwest Summit To Fight Climate Change

Washington University in St. Louis will become the anchor of a regional effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop climate change.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Thursday the creation of the Midwest Collegiate Climate Summit at a press conference in downtown St. Louis. The summit, which would take place at Wash U in 2020, would involve universities, local governments, nonprofits and businesses.

It’s important for public- and private-sector institutions in the Midwest to work together to address the consequences of climate change in the region, Bloomberg said.

“The terrible flooding across the region this year just shows how serious this is and how urgent this challenge is,” Bloomberg said. “If we don’t do something, it’s going to get worse every single year.”

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/wash-u-becomes-hub-midwest-summit-fight-climate-change

May 17, 2019

Wash U Becomes Hub Of Midwest Summit To Fight Climate Change

Washington University in St. Louis will become the anchor of a regional effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop climate change.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Thursday the creation of the Midwest Collegiate Climate Summit at a press conference in downtown St. Louis. The summit, which would take place at Wash U in 2020, would involve universities, local governments, nonprofits and businesses.

It’s important for public- and private-sector institutions in the Midwest to work together to address the consequences of climate change in the region, Bloomberg said.

“The terrible flooding across the region this year just shows how serious this is and how urgent this challenge is,” Bloomberg said. “If we don’t do something, it’s going to get worse every single year.”

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/wash-u-becomes-hub-midwest-summit-fight-climate-change

May 16, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on HUMAN-CENTERED CAPITALISM

Capitalism as an economic system has led to unparalleled innovation and improvement in the human condition. Many consider it to have “won” the war of ideas against socialism, but that simplistic view ignores that there is no such thing as a pure Capitalist system. And our current version of institutional capitalism and corporatism is a relatively recent development.

Our current emphasis on corporate profits isn’t working for the vast majority of Americans. This will only be made worse by the development of automation technology and AI.

We need to move to a new form of capitalism – Human Capitalism – that’s geared towards maximizing human well-being and fulfillment. The central tenets of Human Capitalism are:

Humans are more important than money
The unit of a Human Capitalism economy is each person, not each dollar
Markets exist to serve our common goals and values

The focus of our economy should be to maximize human welfare. Sometimes this aligns with a purely capitalist approach, where different entities compete for the best ideas. But there are plenty of times when a capitalist system leads to suboptimal outcomes. Think of an airline refusing to honor your ticket because they can get more money from a customer who purchases last-minute, or a pharmaceutical company charging extortionate rates for a life-saving drug because the customers are desperate.

"We need to make the markets serve us rather than the other way around. Profit-seeking companies are organized to maximize their bottom line at every turn which will naturally lead to extreme policies and outcomes. We need government leaders who are truly laser-focused on the public interest above all else and will lead companies to act accordingly."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/human-capitalism/

May 16, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on HUMAN-CENTERED CAPITALISM

Capitalism as an economic system has led to unparalleled innovation and improvement in the human condition. Many consider it to have “won” the war of ideas against socialism, but that simplistic view ignores that there is no such thing as a pure Capitalist system. And our current version of institutional capitalism and corporatism is a relatively recent development.

Our current emphasis on corporate profits isn’t working for the vast majority of Americans. This will only be made worse by the development of automation technology and AI.

We need to move to a new form of capitalism – Human Capitalism – that’s geared towards maximizing human well-being and fulfillment. The central tenets of Human Capitalism are:

Humans are more important than money
The unit of a Human Capitalism economy is each person, not each dollar
Markets exist to serve our common goals and values

The focus of our economy should be to maximize human welfare. Sometimes this aligns with a purely capitalist approach, where different entities compete for the best ideas. But there are plenty of times when a capitalist system leads to suboptimal outcomes. Think of an airline refusing to honor your ticket because they can get more money from a customer who purchases last-minute, or a pharmaceutical company charging extortionate rates for a life-saving drug because the customers are desperate.

"We need to make the markets serve us rather than the other way around. Profit-seeking companies are organized to maximize their bottom line at every turn which will naturally lead to extreme policies and outcomes. We need government leaders who are truly laser-focused on the public interest above all else and will lead companies to act accordingly."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/human-capitalism/

May 16, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on HOLD PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE

Pharmaceutical companies have, without a doubt, improved the quality of life for Americans. However, certain companies have used the good-will developed through the industry’s advances in medicine to abuse the trust of the American public. This despite the fact that many pharmaceutical developments have come from publicly funded research that was then adopted by the industry.

Nowhere is this most apparent than in the recent opioid epidemic. Purdue Pharma has made more than $35 BILLION in revenue since releasing OxyContin in 1995. The fine of $635 MILLION for false advertising around claims of non-addictiveness and tamper-proofing is barely a slap on the wrist.

Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for the health of Americans. They have a duty to play by the rules, and those that break the rules will face repercussions through the criminal justice system.

"Drug companies save lives every day. But their financial incentives may lead them to aggressively market drugs for uses beyond their original intent. We need to provide strong oversight and ensure that new medicines are used in ways that improve health and the public good. With Medicare-for-all, the government will be able to negotiate significantly lower prices on behalf of the public."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/holding-pharmaceutical-companies-accountable/

May 16, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on HOLD PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE

Pharmaceutical companies have, without a doubt, improved the quality of life for Americans. However, certain companies have used the good-will developed through the industry’s advances in medicine to abuse the trust of the American public. This despite the fact that many pharmaceutical developments have come from publicly funded research that was then adopted by the industry.

Nowhere is this most apparent than in the recent opioid epidemic. Purdue Pharma has made more than $35 BILLION in revenue since releasing OxyContin in 1995. The fine of $635 MILLION for false advertising around claims of non-addictiveness and tamper-proofing is barely a slap on the wrist.

Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for the health of Americans. They have a duty to play by the rules, and those that break the rules will face repercussions through the criminal justice system.

"Drug companies save lives every day. But their financial incentives may lead them to aggressively market drugs for uses beyond their original intent. We need to provide strong oversight and ensure that new medicines are used in ways that improve health and the public good. With Medicare-for-all, the government will be able to negotiate significantly lower prices on behalf of the public."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/holding-pharmaceutical-companies-accountable/

May 16, 2019

Inside St. Louis' First Home Built From Shipping Containers With Owners Travis And Gina Sheridan

After many months of planning and construction, the owners of a unique project in north St. Louis are now calling the completed space home. Gina and Travis Sheridan moved into their house, which is made out of nine steel shipping containers and located in the Old North neighborhood, several weeks ago.

On Wednesday’s St. Louis on the Air, the Sheridans joined guest host Ruth Ezell to discuss what went into the effort and share what they’re enjoying most about their distinctive new abode.

In addition, St. Louis Public Radio's David Kovaluk stopped by the container house earlier in the day for some photos. Listen to the conversation and get a visual tour of the place below:

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/inside-st-louis-first-home-built-shipping-containers-owners-travis-and-gina-sheridan

May 16, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on VALUE-ADDED TAX

A VAT is currently used by 160 out of 193 developed countries because it is a more efficient way of generating revenue with no loopholes. Big companies and rich people are excellent at moving things around to avoid taxes – Amazon, Google, and other companies funnel hundreds of billions in earnings overseas. A VAT makes it impossible for them to benefit from the American people and infrastructure without paying their fair share.


"Taxing income is an increasingly ineffective and inefficient way to generate revenue over time. Take a company like Amazon—it can do tens of billions in business and pay no income tax in a given period while storing its income overseas. A Value-Added Tax is much more efficient way to capture the true value of the American infrastructure and will be increasingly necessary over time as more and more work is done by software, robots and artificial intelligence. With a VAT of half the European level, we can pay for Universal Basic Income for all American adults of $1,000 per month."

Implement a Value-Added Tax at 10%, half the European level. Over time, the VAT will become more and more important to capture the value generated by automation in a way that income taxes would not.
This VAT would vary based on the good to which it’s applied, with staples having a lower rate or being excluded, and luxury goods having a higher rate.
Use the VAT revenue to pay for the Freedom Dividend of $1,000/month per adult, Universal Basic Income.

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/value-added-tax/

May 16, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on VALUE-ADDED TAX

A VAT is currently used by 160 out of 193 developed countries because it is a more efficient way of generating revenue with no loopholes. Big companies and rich people are excellent at moving things around to avoid taxes – Amazon, Google, and other companies funnel hundreds of billions in earnings overseas. A VAT makes it impossible for them to benefit from the American people and infrastructure without paying their fair share.


"Taxing income is an increasingly ineffective and inefficient way to generate revenue over time. Take a company like Amazon—it can do tens of billions in business and pay no income tax in a given period while storing its income overseas. A Value-Added Tax is much more efficient way to capture the true value of the American infrastructure and will be increasingly necessary over time as more and more work is done by software, robots and artificial intelligence. With a VAT of half the European level, we can pay for Universal Basic Income for all American adults of $1,000 per month."

Implement a Value-Added Tax at 10%, half the European level. Over time, the VAT will become more and more important to capture the value generated by automation in a way that income taxes would not.
This VAT would vary based on the good to which it’s applied, with staples having a lower rate or being excluded, and luxury goods having a higher rate.
Use the VAT revenue to pay for the Freedom Dividend of $1,000/month per adult, Universal Basic Income.

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/value-added-tax/

May 16, 2019

Urban Superintendents Want More Ways To Get Teachers In Classrooms

The teaching corps of St. Louis Public Schools is becoming older and whiter. And that concerns Superintendent Kelvin Adams.

Adams has asked the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for more flexibility and pathways to getting quality educators into classrooms. It’s something state education officials said is worth serious consideration.

Because of lower pay and higher needs among its students, SLPS has a difficult time recruiting and retaining teachers. The district has fluctuated between 60 and 80 vacancies throughout this school year.

Adams told the State Board of Education in March he’d like more flexibility in hiring teachers, including the ability to use the same so-called “80/20 rule” as charter schools. Charter schools, which are independent public schools, are allowed to use up to 20% non-certified classroom teachers. Traditional districts, such as SLPS, need to have all certified staff. Allowing traditional districts to use 80/20 would require a change of state law.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/urban-superintendents-want-more-ways-get-teachers-classrooms

Or here's a wild idea..... Pay people more!