May 21 email update

Dear All,

Here is the final update email for our conference on Saturday. Things are looking great and we're thrilled that such an exciting group will be coming together for the event. Please take a few minutes to read this email carefully.

1. Location of conference

Included on this link is most of the information that you could want on how to get to St. Catherine's College:

http://www.caths.cam.ac.uk/help/maps/index.html

Once you get to the College go through the Porter's Lodge into the main court. The Ramsden room is in the back left hand corner. The room will be on your left. If you have any trouble finding it the Porter can direct you.

2. Schedule:

12:00 - 12:10: Check-in

12:10 - 1:00: Introduction

1:00 - 2:00: First discussion

2:00 - 2:30: Break with coffee, tea, and biscuits

2:30 - 3:30: Second discussion

3:30 - 4:00: Collectively wrap-up policy thoughts

4:00 - 4:30: Second break

4:30 - 5:15: Dan Kilduff and Shaunna Thomas (plus Q & A)

5:15 - 6:00: Keynote address - Matthew Taylor (plus Q & A)

7:00: Dinner at Bombay Indian Restaurant

8:30: Slug and Lettuce (pub)

A few notes regarding the schedule:

a. Please arrive having already eaten lunch.

b. We can't bring food into the conference space, but there is a sandwich shop right next door where we can go between discussions.

c. Dinner is a set menu for ten pounds. We're subsidizing half of the dinner, but please bring exactly five pounds.

d. Unfortunately, Cassandra Butts, one of the speakers who was planning to come, will not be able to join us. She is sad to miss it but was called by the Obama campaign at the last minute to be in Chicago this weekend.

3. Dress code = business casual

4. Travel reimbursements

We have a limited amount of money set aside for travel reimbursements. If you need to be reimbursed let us know asap and definitely before Friday. If you let us know that you need to be reimbursed we will give you ten pounds upon you giving us your bus or train receipt when you check in at the beginning of the day.

5. Our cell phone numbers if you're having trouble finding us. Rob: 07942454176; Tyler: 07912652923; Kate: 07882219744

6. Discussion groups

Follow this link to find out what two discussions you're going to be involved with:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pkd2LLc26DQjEh4tSq-iuQw

7. Readings

Depending on what two groups you're in, please arrive at the conference on Saturday having read the appropriate articles:

Education

Definitely read the following articles:

Some info regarding the national mood for education reform (should be taken with a grain of salt - note source):

http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/9223826.html

How do we make/attract/retain great teachers:

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1713174,00.html

Voice of a teacher's union:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/18/AR2008041802325.html

Is teacher pay the answer? Is this particular experiment a productive part of the project to change the status of the teaching profession?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/nyregion/07charter.html?hp

Optional reading:

Framing the debate around the cognitive abilities that will be required in the coming generations:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/02/opinion/02brooks.html?ref=opinion

The "we're screwed" perspective:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/opinion/22herbert.html?ref=opinion

What a conservative is thinking about education reform:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/opinion/15brooks.html?ref=opinion

Energy Security and Climate Change

Please read the following three articles (one PDF attached and two linked to websites). At the very bottom, a further article is listed, but it is purely optional.

Arguing that we already possess the technology and know-how to solve the carbon and climate problem for the next 50 years:

S. Pacala, et al, "Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with Current Technologies," Science

[Attached PDF]

Arguing why progressives should shift the emphasis from regulation to investment in their political and policy approach:

Peter Teague and Jeff Navin, "Global Warming in an Age of Energy Anxiety," The American Prospect

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=global_warming_in_an_age_of_energy_anxiety

Arguing that tradable emissions permits are a popular, but inferior way, to tackle global warming:

"Doffing the Cap," The Economist

http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9337630

Optional article:

Asking: Will we rewire the world with clean energy -- or descend into political chaos, social disruption, and climate hell? And will Washington get with the program?

Ross Gelbspan, "Two Paths for the Planet," The American Prospect

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=two_paths_for_the_planet

Healthcare

Definitely read the following articles:

A comparison of the democrat's plans:

http://www.slate.com/id/2178896/

A positive view of McCain's healthcare plan:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/10/news/economy/tully_healthcare.fortune/

A critique of McCains healthcare plan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/opinion/04krugman.html

A non-election healthcare overview that supports a single payer system:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18802

Optional reading:

The positions of the Democratic presidential candidates: attached

Dartmouth Atlas of Healthcare which looks at variations in healthcare costs across the US:

http://www.dartmouthatlas.org/atlases/2008_Atlas_Exec_Summ.pdf

A look at state led universal healthcare: attached

Looking forward to meeting you all on Saturday!

May 13 email update

In case you missed it, here's the email update that we sent out recently.
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Dear Scholars,

We're excited to have you participate in The Progressive Generation conference on Saturday May, 24 at Cambridge. The response so far has been terrific. We're predicting that there will be about 35 engaged, committed, and progressive scholars in attendance. A really remarkable group.

Additionally, we've lined up some incredible speakers for the event. Shaunna Thomas, the program director for Young People For, will be speaking with us about the ways that we can pursue progressive change once we're back in the states. She will be joined by Matthew Taylor, who was appointed by Tony Blair to head the Number 10 Downing Street Policy Unit for a number of years and who has worked to craft the progressive agenda in Britain at the Institute for Public Policy Research. Additionally, and probably most exciting for those who are following the current presidential race, we're going to have Cassandra Butts flying over from the states to be with us. She is a leading voice at the Center for American Progress and one of Barack Obama's top domestic policy advisors. We are privileged to have thought leaders of such a high caliber coming to speak with us.

The schedule for the day:
- Noon: Conference begins at the Ramsden room at St. Catherine's College. Introductory speeches. [This means that Oxford people will probably want to catch the 8:05 am National Express bus.]
- 1 to 4 pm: Breakout discussions on substantive issues. Lunch.
- 4 to 6:30: Talks from speakers. Question and answer sessions.
- 7:30: Dinner at nearby Indian restaurant
- 9 pm: Head to The Slug and Lettuce, a local pub.

Please read the below carefully and let us know your responses by Friday, May 16 at the latest:
1. One of main aims of the conference is to give scholars the chance to have substantive discussions on important issues that will face our generation. We've chosen three topics: education reform, energy security, and healthcare. We'll be looking at each topic mainly, though not exclusively, from a U.S. perspective. Each attendee will take part in discussions on two of the three issues. Please email us your preferences in order of desired group participation (for example: 1 - healthcare, 2 - education reform, 3 - energy security). We will do our best to honor your preferred groups.

In the days before the conference we will be sending out some brief readings so that everyone is on the same page. Please let us know if you are interested in being a co-facilitator for one of these discussions or if you have any recommendations of great articles.

2. We can offer financial aid for travel to the conference on a case by case basis. If it is a financial burden for you to reach the conference please write an email to theprogressivegeneration@gmail.com explaining your situation and the desired amount of financial support.

3. We have booked several college rooms for the night of the 24th and have amassed a list of Cambridge attendees that are willing to offer a place on their floor. If you want to spend the night on the 24th please let us know and we will arrange accommodation for you. In general, rooms will be about 20 pounds. Floors are free.

All the best,
Kate, Tyler, and Rob

Still accepting applications for conference - but act fast!

The progressive leadership conference in Cambridge is less than three weeks away (May 24)! We've already heard back from lots of smart, talented, progressive Americans who are thrilled to meet likeminded young people, to share their passions for positive change, and to learn from each other.

If you want to be a part of this exciting day, but you haven't yet registered with us, we're still accepting attendees. But act fast, because we only have a limited number of spaces left!