I don't live in your state, but I know that this information can help you. The solution to your state's economic crisis is not difficult; you just have to know what the problem actually is, and the problem is the collapsing value of the dollar. It is imperative that every member of your legislature watch the documentary "Fiat Empire" for free online at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5232639329002339531

I guarantee that this will NOT be a waste of time. This documentary --- roughly one hour long --- clearly explains the heart of the economic crisis our country is in, and it also gives the solution: the states must adopt 'honest money' legislation. In January, a bill was introduced in Indiana to do this very thing, and you can read more about it at http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd431.htm

Please watch and carefully consider "Fiat Empire," and urge the legislature to pass an honest money bill to help restore prosperity to your state and its citizens. I highly recommend that you contact scholar Dr. Edwin Vieira (Ph.D., J.D. from Harvard) in Virginia --- who is featured in the documentary and who has been working on the 'honest money' issue --- and ask him to help your state adopt the honest money system.

Without returning to a Constitutional monetary system, any actions taken by your state government will only slow the bleeding, but they will not stop the impending economic disaster.

The question I have is: Are we prepared to tell someone they got laid off because we were educating quite a few kids partially with state money, who only came here to goof off, get away from parents, get drunk and party? I'm speaking of the students that simply go on probation after a year. There are SO many of them. I say pass on more of the costs to the students.

Home > Pinoy Abroad > Top Stories 01/02/2009 | 04:21 PM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us - Malacañang on Friday reassured families of Filipinos based in Israel and Palestine that the Philippine government has contingency plans in place in case the situation there worsens. Radio dzBB's Aileen Intia quoted Press Secretary and presidential spokesman Jesus Dureza as saying that the Foreign Affairs Department has mapped out plans for all eventualities. Dureza said the contingency plans are enough to ensure the safety of Filipinos if the situation warrants. As this developed, Filipino Muslim groups bared plans to hold a protest at the Israel embassy in Metro Manila on Monday to protest Israel's bombing of the Gaza area. The Muslims from Anak Mindanaw in Metro Manila earlier held a protest action at the Blue Mosque in Taguig City, and expect "hundreds" to attend Monday's protest action.

I am responding to your call for solutions for cost reduction and I would propose a few new strategies. I first would like to say that I am disheartened at the recent events in the faculty cuts, especially from critical programs that serve our state in Nursing and Education. As an analyst for the higher education industry I have realized significant savings for numerous for-profit and non-profit institutions, reducing their expenditures by realizing greater efficiencies in student management. One of the greatest opportunities for ASU exists in reducing the time-to-graduation metric that continues to increase. It is imperative to realize that student success is determinant on having a clear focus, especially in attending a University with the size and scope of ASU.

I have noticed several attempts to reduce this metric, with most recently the addition of a freshman dorm residency requirement. However, I must say that these efforts are trumped by the current confusion that is perpetuated by those assisting students prior to their entry into the University (see http://www.stanford.edu/group/bridgeproject/embargoed/embargoed_policybr...). A few years back I started working on a solution to create long-term solvency to this issue. For the last several years we have been testing this methodology in local Arizona high schools, with great levels of success. The program and its continual innovations stem from a root-cause analysis on the current underserved student population to determine the roadblocks they must overcome to realize a post-secondary education.

Our findings are significant. By preparing students with critical information we realize a significant reduction in the time-to-graduation. This in turn leads to faster transitions to the workforce. Why will this help ASU? By students entering higher wage occupations state revenue increases, in turn, reducing the likelihood of state budget cuts. Additionally, ASU will be able to realize greater levels of efficiencies within program management, as well as, transition additional program staff to meet demand driven occupations within the Arizona workforce. This will realign ASU with the state it serves and create a national model for best practices in state-funded higher education institutions.

I would welcome an opportunity to discuss this in greater detail, as well as additional immediate cost reduction strategies. Please feel free to contact me via email at sdurkee@ffabt.org.

I think it's a shame President Crow is receiving a pay increase and that he doesn't consider turning in down.

There have been layoffs at all 4 campuses, employees advised no raises or merit increases this year and department plans placed on hold due to the budget crunch and economic times.

How does he look himself in the mirror or for that matter how does he face Staff and Faculty around campus.

President Crow,
Sir, I have what I believe to be a simple plan to save money and jobs, as well as bring all campuses closer together.
I propose giving everyone a pay cut for a two year period during this financial crisis. The cut would be done in the following manner (all ASU employees making from $0 to $24,999 would be the only ones exempt from this pay reduction): Those making $25,000 to $59,999 would have a 5% reduction, those making $60,000 to $99,999 would have a 7.5% reduction and those making over $100,000 would have a 10% reduction. Sir, this does not include those ASU employees who will be retiring in the next few years. The hope is that this plan will be effective in saving money without sacrificing jobs.
I thank you for your time and consideration of my proposal,
Alexander D. Munoz