How Do We Fix It?

By DaviesContentNews

How Do We Fix It? episodes

September 13, 2017 #120 From Political Disgust to Action: Eric Liu
So many of us are furious at President Trump, Congress, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, The Democrats or the news media-- name your poison.Two thirds of Americans say they are dissatisfied with how things are going in this country today, compared with fewer than three-in-ten who are satisfied. This is a dramatic change from the 1990's, when most people had a positive view of national conditions.This show is an empowering response to anger and disgust. Eric Liu, founder and CEO of Citizen University, says that you're more powerful than you think. We discuss the stories, strategies and ideas raised in his timely book, "You're More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen"The key to fighting back successfully is to have a strategy and know how to read and write power,” but most people have no understanding of power and how to use it. “I think the reality of American life, right now, is that so many people have neither the motivation nor the ability to read or write power,” Eric tells us. “They lapse into this “House of Cards” or dark conspiratorial vision that all politics are like "Scandal,” and out of that are born people like Donald Trump as President.”Eric's solutions:Learn how power is organized. Instead of spending your life online, join others who share a similar passion for change.Exercise your "we muscle.”Join a club or group and learn how to work with others on game-changing ways to improve the odds for a cause or a hobby that you care about.Vote. In his book, Eric Liu writes that voter turnout (in general) is rarely above 60 percent (at best).Keep it local. Eric argues that too much attention is given to power politics in Washington D.C. Often the best way to bring about change is in the neighborhood or city where you live. Schools and colleges should improve civics education, giving students a much clearer understanding of grassroots democracy.
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24 min
September 07, 2017 #119 A Conservative Cure for Climate Change: Bob Inglis
Climate scientists warn that Hurricanes Irma and Harvey are examples of extreme weather that will become much more common in the years to come. But Trump Administration officials ridicule any link between this month's devastating storms and global warming.Without a change of heart, most conservatives will continue to resist an overwhelming body of scientific evidence on climate change. Congress will fail to pass needed reforms.Enter former GOP Congressman Bob Inglis. He argues that while Republicans are part of the problem, they must be part of any solution. This small-government Christian conservative from South Carolina believes in a free-market answer to climate change. He supports a revenue-neutral carbon tax, combined with a cut in FICA - the fee paid by workers to pay for Social Security and Medicare."Until we hear the information from somebody we care about, it's hard for us to change our minds," says Inglis, who argues that respect rather than ridicule is the best way to win new converts. "If you get into the discussion and past the shouting we can find solutions," he tells "How Do We Fix It?"
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27 min
August 30, 2017 #118 After Harvey: Climate Change Insurance. Gernot Wagner
Is climate change to blame for Hurricane Harvey and the devastating floods around Houston? Even though we can't be certain about the cause of a single storm, Harvey's epic rainfall and surprisingly long duration remind us of the need for urgent action.

In this edition of our solutions podcast, economist Gernot Wagner, executive director of Harvard University's Solar Geoengineeering Research Program, makes the case for market-based climate insurance: A fix that even skeptical conservatives could love.

If there was a 10% chance of a tree falling on your house, you'd buy home insurance. Gernot says that's what the U.S. and every other nation must do to reduce global warming. His fix for the planet? Carbon pricing through a program of cap-and-trade that lets the market find the cheapest way to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Companies that exceed their emissions cap pay a penalty. Energy-efficient firms make money by selling their pollution allowances. Cap-and-trade can boost growth and jobs. California has designed its own system to reduce pollution as it makes a transition to a clean energy economy

The weather is already changing. The daily surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico this year is the warmest on record. When the sea warms, more water evaporates into the air, leading to greater rainfall.

How do we help the victims of the Houston flood? This link has some smart suggestions.

tags: environment, hurricanes, storms, Harvey, Houston, Gulf of Mexico, climate change, cap-and-trade, global warming, Environmental Defense Fund, EDF, EPA

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22 min
August 23, 2017 #117 Is Hiking a Cure for PTSD? Sean Gobin
Can vets walk off the devastating impacts of PTSD? Do long-distance hiking, biking and river paddling journeys offer far better treatment for the emotional and psychological damage of war than pills or therapy offered by the VA?

Sean Gobin is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served 12 years as an Infantry Rifleman and Armor Officer. He tells us his own personal story.
After returning home from several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Sean hiked the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail. In 2013, he founded Warrior Expeditions and now serves as the Chief Executive Officer.

Since 2013, Warrior Expeditions has provided veterans with everything they need to complete a three to six month-long outdoor expedition at no cost. Their journeys offer them the opportunity to decompress from military service and come to terms with wartime experiences.

Participants have reported significant improvements in physical, mental, and social well-being during and after their journeys.

Warrior Expeditions outfits veterans with some of the most highly rated equipment and clothing available from the outdoor retail industry. Participants get a monthly $300 stipend to purchase what they need. Community support is an important part of the program, with volunteers offering vets transportation, lodging, and food along the route.
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38 min
August 17, 2017 #116 The Case for Passion in Our Lives
Neil deGrasse Tyson became passionate about astrophysics when he was a teenager. Best-selling science journalist Mary Roach is well-known for her humor and curiosity as she explores the science of keeping human beings intact, sane and awake during the extreme circumstances of war.

This "Fix It" episode is about passion and is inspired by our many guests. They bring their wisdom, emotion and enthusiasm with them as they describe what turns them on about their work and expertise.

Obstetrician-gynocologist Rose Gowen, born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, speaks about her mission to get her small city with a large obesity problem to exercise more and eat better food. "Pretty much all of my father's side of our family has diabetes," she says.

Emily Esfahani Smith's passion for learning from strangers prompted her to write the book "The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. She talks about the roots of her discoveries.

Author, investment expert and asset manager Karen Firestone has spent her professional life studying financial risk. She explains why risk "applies to other aspects of life beyond investing."
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23 min
August 09, 2017 #115 Refugees Are Just Like You: Ahmed Badr
Far too often refugees are thought of as "the other"-- a mass of people who are victims of war, persecution or natural disasters. President Trump has added to the problem, making negative, harsh comments about immigrants.This episode with 19 year-old Iraqi-American refugee Ahmed Badr, looks at how to fix the way we view refugees and migrants. We look at their personal stories and what they bring to enrich the lives of the communities where they now live.Through writing about his own life, Ahmed, now a student at Wesleyan University, realized that his blog helped others see him in a more personal light. Today, he is empowering others to do the same. His art and poetry site, Narratio, is a growing platform where young people from around the world use creative expression to share their unique experiences. Ahmed is also the host of "Together", a soon-to-be released podcast about refugees and migrants."I've learned other people tell their story versus just telling my own," says Ahmed. "A global citizen is someone who is willing to entertain the other side, no matter how much the other side hurts us to listen to or witness."Ahmed was 7 when his family's home in Baghdad was bombed during the violent aftermath of the invasion of Iraq. The family was uninjured and moved to Syria. In 2008, they came as refugees to the U.S. through a resettlement program run by IOM -- the U.N. migration agency.
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29 min
August 03, 2017 #114 Grunt: The Science of Humans at War - Mary Roach
When do fashion designers make the difference between comfort and misery for active soldiers? Why does the military need a radically different kind of crash test dummy? What role could maggots play in healing open wounds?

These questions and more are answered by best-selling science journalist, Mary Roach, author of "Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War."

In this audio tour of duty we go beyond war's battlefields, bombs and bands of brothers to hear why scientists, doctors, researchers and designers do vital work tackling the armed force's most persistent adversaries: heat, disease, exhaustion and noise.

The heroes Mary Roach writes about do their work quietly behind-the-scenes, improving the odds that troops who go to war come back alive.

Mary has been called "America's funniest science writer" by the Washington Post. In the words of a British reviewer, she "has specialized in tackling the uncomfortable, and at the heart of every book is her desire to explore the places from which we recoil."
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31 min
July 26, 2017 #113 America's Male Unemployment Crisis: Ed Glaeser
Here's a paradox. While the U.S. unemployment rate is near a 16-year low, the percentage of all American adults in the workforce remains stuck at well below pre-recession levels.Men are much more likely than women to drop out of work. In the 1960's 95% of adult men between 25 and 54 were employed. Today, after 7 years of an improving job market, only 80% are in the workforce.People who don't look for a job are not counted in the official unemployment statistics compiled by the Labor Department. Harvard University Professor Edward Glaeser says "there's a war on work." Taxation, housing, regulatory and social policies aimed at improving the lives of low income Americans, he says, often remove incentives for people to get a job. We based our episode on the findings and solutions suggested in Ed's article for City Journal-- "The War on Work and How to End It."
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29 min
July 19, 2017 #13 Fix It Shorts: Why Fixing Health Care Is So Hard
"It's back to square one" says the Wall Street Journal after the collapse of Republican proposals to repeal and replace The Affordable Care Act. President Trump says his plan is to "let Obamacare fail." This episode looks at how any reform of America's healthcare system - whether by Republicans or Democrats - is so difficult. Whether it's controlling costs, rationing care or extending coverage to all, there are no easy answers. Today, the future of healthcare is uncertain and coverage for many millions of people hangs in the balance.Our guest, Megan McArdle, a columnist at Bloomberg View explains why The Affordable Care Act is flawed and that many consumers have misconceptions about the true costs of health insurance. "What people are doing is they're gaming the system," she says about those who have moved in and out of healthcare marketplaces. When an illness or medical emergency strikes, many people without employer-based health coverage are "signing up for a few months, using a ton of services and then dropping it again."Jim and Richard debate the future of healthcare from different perspectives. While Jim argues for a more free-market approach, Richard says the only way that a system of universal coverage can work is if everyone has to sign up for coverage, however unpopular that may be. "The penalties for not having insurance should be greater than they were under the Obama Administration," he says.Megan McArdle is the author of "The Upside of Down: Why Failing Well Is The Key To Success."
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15 min
July 12, 2017 #12 Fix It Shorts: The Case for Going Outdoors
Going outdoors and taking on new challenges makes you healthier, happier and smarter. Spending time in nature away from cities and suburbs can also bring spiritual and emotional benefits. Co-host Jim Meigs tells us why he's a big outdoor guy, who loves to hike, bike and head for the hills. In this episode we look at ways to add adventure to your life and embrace the excitement of leaving your comfort zone. Kio Stark, author of "When Strangers Meet: How People You Don't Know Can Transform You," explains why meeting people you don't know can have genuine emotional benefits. Even brief chance encounters, she says, can make a difference to how you view the world. We also discuss cycling in cities with Nicole Gelinas of The Manhattan Institute. She tells us about ways to improve urban safety for bikers, pedestrians and motorists.
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12 min

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We report on the people projects and ideas of Braver Angels, the largest volunteer-led grassroots movement to bridge partisan divides. Braver Angels brings people together from right, left and center,…