Doug's Diggings: School salaries raise plenty of comments | Hudson Star-Observer | Hudson, Wisconsin

Doug's Diggings: School salaries raise plenty of comments | Hudson Star-Observer | Hudson, Wisconsin: "Lord knows, all these administrators are hard workers and probably deserve more money. The problem is, the same could be said for all of us. The difference is that during the past couple of years, the vast majority of us are getting one of the following: no pay increases, pay decreases, pink slips, reduced benefits (401k contributions and health care) and plenty of anxiety about whether or not we’ll have a job in three months."

"Second, this all seemed a bit odd when compared to the timing of the recent school board election. The vote came after the election, but before the new board was seated. I’m sure there are a dozen reasons why it had to happen that way. But the school board should think a little bit about public perception — it doesn’t pass the smell test for most people.

Third, many people are unhappy that many district employees who are much lower on the totem pole have been relieved of their duties and driver’s education was eliminated because of cost factors. Again, maybe all justifiable moves, but it seems to point to a complete lack of perception or empathy from the people sitting on the top.

Fourth, people seem to get tired of this idea that salaries have to be comparable to similar districts, or neighboring districts. It’s a never-ending ladder. Once Hudson raises its salaries, District ABC uses the Hudson model to get higher salaries — when District ABC raises salaries, then Hudson must raise salaries again to be 'competitive.' I understand, of course, that we have to be in the ball park, but I think many people believe that the argument is overused."

Is Aid a Matter of Justice? | Marian L. Tupy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Is Aid a Matter of Justice? | Marian L. Tupy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Africa is poor not because of Western consumption and stinginess, but because it produces too little. Most economists agree that Africa's low productivity is, in large part, a result of bad policies, such as restrictions on private enterprise, bad institutions, and inadequate rule of law. Unfortunately, far from stimulating growth and reducing poverty over the last 60 years, aid has served as a disincentive to economic and institutional reforms.

Governments that depend on income taxes are generally more accountable to their citizens and more responsive to their citizens' desire to advance economically than governments that do not. In Africa, the constant flow of aid has stunted democratic and private sector development.

Moreover, foreign aid that was not wasted on white elephant projects was often stolen by African politicians and bureaucrats. Corruption insulated the elite from the negative consequences of its own actions. When the ordinary people rebelled, as the Ethiopians did after the rigged 2005 election, they were suppressed by their own troops, who were partly financed by foreign aid. According to Paul Collier of Oxford University, between 1960 and 1999, aid financed up to 40% of Africa's military spending."

Invention Awards: A Box That Keeps Plants Hydrated in the Desert | Popular Science

Invention Awards: A Box That Keeps Plants Hydrated in the Desert | Popular Science: "In 2006 Hoff took 25 Waterboxxes to Morocco’s Sahara desert, and after a year, 88 percent of the trees he treated had green leaves, while 90 percent of those watered weekly (the traditional local method) died under the scorching sun. He is conducting more experiments with 20,000 Waterboxxes in difficult terrains in places like Pakistan and Ecuador this year."

FOXNews.com - Fuzzy Math: Tax Cut Doesn't Add Up for Some

FOXNews.com - Fuzzy Math: Tax Cut Doesn't Add Up for Some: "It's an example of how the early provisions of the health care law can create winners and losers among groups lawmakers intended to help -- people with health problems, families with young adult children and small businesses. Because of the law's complexity, not everyone in a broadly similar situation will benefit."