IRC log started Thu May 19 19:57:52 2005
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pashdown	anyone here?
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pashdown	Hello
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pashdown	Hello
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pashdown	Hello bill
pashdown	Feel free to ask a question.
billlee	I don't really know how this work, so I will try to stumble along.  I've never "chatted" before.
pashdown	no problem, its pretty easy
pashdown	type a line, then hit enter to send it
billlee	My computer is quite slow, and I'm guessing I just wait until something shows up on the screen.  Is there anyone else on the line. I thought I would just observe for the moment.
pashdown	there are a few other people "idling" in here, they may or may not be present
Web202	Hi Pete! mcoren here (forgot to change name)...in several of the previous chats, you've mentioned that you will be focusing on small business support and development. Can you say more about what you have in mind in that direction? I work regularly with small businesses (mostly in SL) and would love to get a sense of where you'd like to go...
Web202	(Aha! It worked ;-)
pashdown	Sure.
pashdown	When I started my business, I had zero support from the government.  I even applied for a line-of-credit with a state agency dedicated to technology development and was turned down.
pashdown	I would want to see more support for individuals starting businesses, both in getting health care available to small businesses, and in tax-credit and grant incentives.
pashdown	Small businesses are better for communities in that they create jobs that stay here and keep the economy local.
pashdown	However, most of the small business support needs to come from the state.  I would look at revamping the SBA and also healthcare in general.
pashdown	On the federal level that is.
Web202	Absolutely...have you noticed any bright spots with SBA or any of the other fed. programs?
Web202	It has usually seemed to me that they have one hand tied behind their backs because they are underfunded in the regional offices...
pashdown	Admittedly, its been 12 years since I looked at the SBA, so I don't know if anything has changed.  I'm still waiting for what the President promised in allowing small businesses to pool healthcare costs.
Web202	(Hopefully not holding your breath...)
pashdown	The SBA was problematic for me in that they turned around so slowly and only financed 80%.  I think local involvement of other like-minded businesses would be good in the SBA, to decide what has promise and what does not.
pashdown	Much of what the feds do in business and education would be done better on the local level.
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Web202	Absolutely. Having watched since it was just Xm, Evergreen and ArosNet originally, are there specific things that you've discovered through Xmission that will help with this?
pashdown	My biggest problem over the past decade has been keeping up with healthcare costs, so I believe I have real perspective on business vs. healthcare.
Web202	Good point. Do you think that a viable solution will have to be made from scratch, or might there be something salvageable in current programs? (I've been w/o regular insurance for four years now because premiums exceeded my need so dramatically..
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pashdown	I'd like to see business insurance coops encouraged, then possibly merged from state-to-state in the long term.
pashdown	I don't think healthcare reform will happen overnight, but I think its one of the most pressing issues in the US.
pashdown	We need to take steps towards reform, no matter how small they might be.
Web202	Yes! Are there particular distinctions that you've noticed between your approach and O.H.'s? To me, it seems that he has been quiet about this in a business context.
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billlee	Has Hatch come out with any health care reform proposals or is he a big fan of the status quo?
pashdown	OH is convening a group to "study" the issue.
Web202	(I've only heard him talk in terms of senior care [important, and not the whole picture...])
pashdown	It would seem to me that plenty of groups and countries have already studied the issue.
Web202	;-)
pashdown	Its political will which is lacking.
Web202	Do you think that's just on his end, or is it from a larger constituency?
pashdown	No, I think it is DC in general.
pashdown	I haven't heard of any healthcare reform since the Clinton attempt, and that was 12 years ago?
Web202	That sounds about right. Are there any current incumbents that you've noticed working in your direction?
pashdown	I believe Kucinich has written some legislation, but I do not know how far it has gone.
pashdown	Probably not far, since it isn't covered by the news.
Web202	True. Are you thinking that this might be a cornerstone issue for you in the campaign?
billlee	I wonder whether OH was instrumental in helping Dole to bring H. Clinton down in her attempts to do something.  There would be a powerful friend.
pashdown	I believe Healthcare is probably the broadest issue in this campaign, in that it affects everyone, and it is coming on the radar screen of business more and more.
pashdown	I don't know how a Clinton partnership would look in Utah, Bill. ;-)  Although she has been seen with Newt Gingrich talking about modernizing healthcare administration, and that is certainly an issue I can get behind and lend ideas to.
Web202	Are other areas do you see as viable wedge issues in UT?
Web202	(Ignore the BAD editing...)
Web202	(I really speak can English ;-) )
pashdown	I support the end of No Child Left Behind in Utah because I believe the state should have the final say in how schools use money, but I don't think it should end without some compromise to still get that federal money out here.
pashdown	I've talked to individuals involved in education, and they've told me that money is very critical, especially when it comes to minority education.
Web202	Yes, especially when in SLC we have one of the most successful elementary schools in the state sharing a property boundary with one of the most challenged. The $ factor definitely seems to weigh in...
pashdown	I think the Department of Education should not micromanage the states school systems.  They should help allot cash appropriately and laud individual programs that show results.
pashdown	They should assist and not dictate.
Web202	Yup! What's your view on standardized testing?
Web202	(PS - Anyone please feel free to butt in and change directions...don't want to monopolize valuable time here...)
pashdown	I think parents and schools can make the best decisions about children.  I don't know enough about the problems with standardized testing to come to a conclusion on that.
pashdown	I think its bad for teachers to be forced into "teaching for the test".
Web202	Yes. With CRTs going on this week, I've noticed that it effectively eliminated 2 weeks of class time from my son's curriculum.
pashdown	Yes, and what has happened with good nutrition and physical education in schools?  Certainly, there is some level remaining, but it would appear to have been reduced compared to what I got when I was in elementary education.
Web202	BK bought them with a side of fries!
Web202	What is your take on the role of charter schools in all of this?
pashdown	Of the charter schools I've seen in Utah, it seems they are doing a great job.  I'm a big fan of parental involvement, but I think that too much can be problematic, in that school administrators should make decisions on curriculum.
pashdown	As I've stated on the website, school districts and the DoE should look to successful programs and understand from them what works.
pashdown	I think there must be exemplary schools in America that are worth studying and copying.
Web202	Hmmm...sounds like we may have had similar experiences... I've heard others express concern that in some cases, they are a way to dilute the public school system. I agree that with you on modelling the excellent ones.
Web202	Do you think that there is a realistic chance to increase the per-student funding to address this given UT's unique demographics?
pashdown	I'm also appalled at some of the corporate sponsorship in schools.  I don't know if you've seen the "count the M&M's" curriculum for 1st graders.
Web202	No! My son raised a riot when his school's marketing class started selling soda to the kids as a fund raiser. What is this horrid M&M thing?
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pashdown	Re: funding.  I don't know.  I think there needs to be tax reform balancing out the low with the high.  I don't understand taxing people below the poverty level to only return the funds in federal programs.
Web202	AAaaaH! He just told me he has a count the M&M book at home from years ago!
pashdown	Yes, pretty bad.
Web202	Ugh. I'm going to be ill.
Web202	Frankly, I don't understand why they don't push at least some high-margin healthier items. The kids at SLAA have shown that those can sell better than junk food.
Web202	(Not that M&M/Mars should be selling anything there...)
pashdown	Kids can concentrate better when they eat healthy too.
pashdown	With diabetes and obesity verging on epidemic levels, its really bothersome that the federal government is doing so little to encourage healthy eating in public schools.
pashdown	Junk food should be taxed like cigarettes with the proceeds going towards healthy diets in schools.
Web202	Yes. I've been looking for info from some of the successful schools mentioned in Supersize Me.
Web202	Good idea!
Web202	On a slightly different note, do you have any need for volunteers coming up?
pashdown	Not immediate.  Most of what I have been doing lately is getting advice from Democratic stalwarts.  Most of the volunteer work will be needed in 2006.  What I need right now is building the statewide network, so if you have any contacts in rural Utah, please put them in touch with me.
Web202	Got it! How did the state Dem. convention go?
pashdown	Unless you have any other questions, I'm going to close the chat for the night.
pashdown	You or anyone else, that is.
Web202	Sounds great! Thanks for your time tonight!
pashdown	The state convention went really well.  I met a lot of good people.
pashdown	Sorry, I missed that question. ;-)
Web202	:-)
pashdown	Good talking to you Mark.  Bill you too.
billlee	Quite an interesting line of conversation.  I need to take off, so I hope no one minds if I slip a momentary change of subject in. With the event season coming on, do you have a 'get out there schedule" planned?
pashdown	Just the beginnings.  I'd like to be part of the Freedom Festival parade in Provo on the 4th.  Logan also has an event on the 1st that I want to go to, and there is a film festival in Bicknell later in the month.  I have yet to find a decent calendar of Utah events, so if you find one online, please email it to me.
billlee	Good night.  Great to see this working.
pashdown	I'm going cross-country to Minnesota the second and third weeks of June, but then I'll be back after that.
pashdown	Good night Bill, good night Mark.
Web202	Good night!
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IRC log ended Thu May 19 21:07:50 2005

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