http://www.joshfranco.com Communication | Human Development | Education | Political Participation | Civic Entrepreneurship | Public Service Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:34:49 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a 5-4 majority of the United States Supreme Court overruled Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce (decided 6-3 in 1990) and thus eliminated the "basis for allowing the Government to limit corporate independent expenditures." Moreover, the 5-4 majority justifies their overruling of Austin by ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2010/02/07/but-it-can-certainly-influence-the-thinking-of-those-who-ca/ President Obama's question time before the House Republicans days ago displayed the high energy, keen intellectual, strike with truth approach that garnered the President his seat in the Oval Office. After listening to his speech, watching him take questions, answer them with unwavering logic and commanding presence, I am fired up ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2010/01/30/presidents-question-time/ A half-century ago, the leaders of California made a commitment to the future. That commitment was based on the belief in a free public higher education; that commitment was named the Master Plan for Higher Education. The Master Plan created the three-tiered system for public higher education. It formed the California ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2010/01/24/but-by-the-choice-of-those-before-us/ Happy New Year! 2009 was a life changing year. I started the year working in our state Capitol and now end the year working in our nation's Capitol. Drove up from Bellflower to Merced, and from there to Yosemite National Park with Mayra in my new Saturn. I traveled to Santa Barbara ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2009/12/31/happy-new-year-4/ Merry Christmas! I am home home with my family. It's great to be here with them! This is my first time in Los Angeles since August. Around 4 months being away from the place I grew up is a long time, nearly too long. I have been eating pozole, tamales ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2009/12/26/merry-christmas-3/ Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I am traveling to Baltimore to spend Thanksgiving with fellow UC Merced Bobcats Efferman and JoJo! Woo hoo! I will miss the family fest this year; my first Thanksgiving out of California. http://www.joshfranco.com/2009/11/26/happy-thanksgiving-3/ I just finished talking to my dad and my parents are on the brink of losing everything they have worked for their entire lives because the system is designed to force failure before you can be helped. I am listening to White Rabbits' "Percussion Gun" on my iPhone. Just got a Google ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2009/09/10/f-the-staus-quo/ [caption id="attachment_518" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Beware: Train Wreck Ahead"][/caption] On Wednesday, July 29th, Governor FAIL signed Executive Order S-15-09 that claims: "the Commission on the 21st Century Economy (Commission), and the Commission has made excellent progress in its review of the existing tax structure and has identified reforms to make California's tax structure ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2009/07/29/train-wreck-ahead/ I am furious. I think I am beyond furious by a recent article in the Merced Sun-Star reporting that 23 UC San Diego professors suggested we shut down UC Merced. The people of the Central Valley worked long and hard to advance the argument over several decades on why the region ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2009/07/10/uc-merced-here-now-forever/ California is in shambles because of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He wants to blame the legislature, the Democrats, the Republicans and everyone else for the collapse of our state and the destruction of our future. Every day that goes by, we see inaction, we see deadlock, we see our Golden State and its ... http://www.joshfranco.com/2009/07/06/governor-fail/