Intelligent Design or Divine Design
Topic: Science and Religion
The critique of intelligent design has been that it is "bad" for science. It is even worse for religion. It posits and anthropomorphic view of God when faith requires only that we accept what we cannot understand. Intelligent design and related ideologies suggest that we must somehow direct scientific observation by some article of faith. In other words, we must rationally interpret reality in light of our religious faith. This weakens faith as the means to accept what we cannot rationally understand. Many will have tragic experiences that have no discernible reason why they occurred. A good person with dependent family members suffers with an incurable disease; a young orphan on the coast of the Indian Ocean has lost both parents and all other family members. We cannot understand how a just and loving God could have directed these event. Rather we simply affirm our faith and state that we cannot know or understand the Will of God.
So why should science be any different. We use experiments and observations to develop theories but at some point rationality will reach its limit. There is no need to impose a faith based alternative to the theory of evolution. We simply assume that we cannot understand why it occurs and instead assume it reflects a divine "intent" that we cannot understand. To argue otherwise cheapens the role of faith in our lives.

Evaluation of EPI's study by Richard Rothstein
Topic: Education reform
Class and Schools by Richard Rothstein proposes preschool programs by highly qualified early childhood teachers to equalize opportunity for children from low income/minority backgrounds. Such proposals have an element of fiscal fantasy given the difficulty with supporting K-12 public education. Also he points out the importance of character/behavioral education to assist the children in improving their educational and employment outcomes. I would suggest that we drop the exaggerated qualifications for preschool educators and train and supervise aides from low income areas. While their academic qualifications may be lower, their capacity to provide moral and behavioral training should be superior given the fact that they share the same background as the children. Suc aides would travel around to the day care programs and also allow stay at home parents to bring children to such programs. This would be lower cost because the custodial care remains with the day care provider rather than being assumed by the public school program. One tragic aspect to NCLB is the disqualification of such aides for public education and also the elimination of positions in response to cost pressures. There is no way such service can be feasibly offered by higher paid certified teachers.

Assessment in education
I would propose a testing schedule with a pretest 1-2 days during the first 2 weeks of the school year and a post test 1-2 days during the last month of school. The test would focus on the grade level curriculum for students. A lower level test may be devised for students who have been tested below grade level in the prior year. The objective items would be scored within a two weeks and shared with the school and the teachers. Schools would be strongly encouraged(required) to share the results with parents along with a description of what is to be done to improve the student’s skills through the year. At the end of the school year, a second test would be done and scored. The pre and post test differences would be calculated and averaged for class, school, and district. They would be published as evidence of the effectiveness of the programs in improving student scores over the school year. We could expect reaction to be similar to the current AYP but all shareholders could focus directly on the quality of instruction without the distraction of student background. I believe it would clearly establish this administration in the national educational arena and provide an alternative to the federal approach. The diagnostic prescriptive applications would encourage local schools and staff to view testing as a support.

Social security credit for child rearing
Topic: Social security reform
In following the controversy about social security privatization, I would like further insights and research about the effects of leaving the labor force temporarily for child rearing. An EPI guide on social security noted that women tend to have lower lifetime earnings resulting in a lower average benefit[Guide, p. 20]. This is due to both lower earnings and fewer years of employment because of time out of the labor force. Generally, I am interested in research concerning benefit levels and years of employment. Specifically one could assess the impact of such absences(males or females)on the average benefits of retirees. The SSA offers benefit survey data from the SSA for 84 and 92. However, the surveys are dated and there is limited methodological definition for the data. Are there other data sources such as those used in the Guide that would give a more detailed picture. The benefit levels based on employment will be difficult to assess since many of those with limited work history will apply under the spouse's earnings. It would be desirable to develop a proposal to credit up to 10 years of extrapolated earnings for time taken from the labor force for child rearing.