By Alec Ross, One Economy Corporation and Simon Rosenberg, NDN

We believe that America needs to put a laptop in every backpack of every child.  We need to commit to a date and grade certain: we suggest 2010 for every sixth grader.  These laptops need to be wirelessly connected to the Internet, and children need to be able to take them home.  Local school districts should choose how best to do this, but there needs to be federal funding and simple, federal standards.  Funds and strategies for how training our teachers to lead this transformation need to be part this commitment.  We believe it will cost at first $2 billion a year to provide every 6th grader a laptop, about what we spend in Iraq every week. Hardware costs continue to plummet each year, and the idea of a $200 laptop or classmate PC is coming ever closer to reality.  It is not a question of resources, but of vision and political will.  Libya has just announced a national commitment to give all its school children a laptop.  If Libya can do it, so can America.    Read more »

By Don Perata
California Senate President pro Temp

On April 9th I introduced legislation to place an advisory measure on the Feb. 5, 2008 primary ballot that would call on President Bush to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and immediately begin the safe and orderly withdrawal of all United States forces.  This is important because we need to make clear both to the President and the many candidates running to take his place that it is time to bring our troops home.  It’s high time the Bush Administration quit ignoring the overwhelming public opposition to this war. While similar measures have passed in scores of cities across the country, including San Francisco, California is the first state in the nation to pursue an advisory vote on Iraq . Read more »