Many factors come into play in determining one’s health status. But if the subject is limited to individuals doing all they can to take care of themselves, a key ingredient is that person’s education level.

An example from a Governing.com column: Florida Medicaid recipients are eligible for financial credits for completing tasks as simple as keeping a doctor’s appointment or getting a flu shot. The credits that were redeemed, however, paled in comparison to the first-year administrative costs of the program. The trade-off appears simple. See the doctor and earn credits for many common health care pharmacy items. But the connection is not registering with the intended recipients.

The author writes:

Genes and bad luck aside, the higher up the educational ladder, the healthier and longer life a person is likely to live. High school dropouts, the statistics show, are not likely to live to a ripe old age. Just getting a high school degree decreases the probability of being in poor health by 35 percent; a bachelor’s degree decreases the chances by 55 percent. "Education," explained Robert Kaestner of the University of Illinois at Chicago, "makes it easier for people to obtain and process information about the causes and consequences of health."

What does it all mean? Early childhood education (with family status and home environment a major part of the mix) is critical, not just for eventual workforce abilities and compensation levels — but long-term health prospects. No, we’re not placing this task at the hands of teachers. It’s parents and other caregivers who play that most important role. Our job is to help them in a responsible way, and it’s their duty to do everything they can to benefit their loved ones.

Ben Smith of Politico blogged today about Joe Biden’s remarks in Ohio regarding coal plants in America. That is, that there shouldn’t be any. This seems to back up what he said last year during the primaries, according to Smith’s blog:

"I don’t think there’s much of a role for clean coal in energy independence, but I do think there’s a significant role for clean coal in the bigger picture of climate change," (Biden said) last year. "Clean-coal technology is not the route to go in the United States, because we have other, cleaner alternatives," he said, but added that America should push for a "fundamental change in technology" to clean up China’s plants.

Meanwhile, as if on cue, the McCain campaign countered today by issuing a press release insisting their candidate will protect coal-based jobs in the U.S. via a new coalition:

The coalition will help spread the message about the importance of clean coal technology and the advantages of tapping the country’s vast coal reserves. As part of John McCain’s "all of the above" energy plan, the Lexington Project, clean coal will be a strong component of the drive to energy independence. In addition to providing domestic energy, the coal industry is a key part of the economy in several states.

This is topical for me as I was in Crawfordsville just last week interviewing the manager of Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power – the city’s public utility company – for an upcoming member spotlight in BizVoice. He stressed to me the importance of clean coal as a future energy source in Indiana. He explained that our best minds need to be working on this in the future for the good of both the state and the nation. It’s also worth noting that the Indiana Chamber has a longstanding position that clean coal needs to be part of the energy mix in our state.

Obviously, this is just one of many issues voters will base their support on this election season and just a minor point/counterpoint in the grander scheme of the 2008 electoral dance. However, it seems the two tickets have drastically different opinions on these matters — or at least different rhetoric.

Are you looking to save money at the pump and reduce carbon emissions? Who isn’t. Gasoline prices and going green have to be two of the most popular topics for 2008.

EcoDriving USA combines both. Sponsored by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, with early support from governors Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Bill Ritter of Colorado, the web site and interactive tools offer advice for saving money and reducing environmental impact.

The tips — proper tire inflation, as little stop-and-go driving as possible, etc. — will help boost fuel mileage by as much as 15%, according to the web site. If everyone followed EcoDriving practices, the estimated reducation in CO2 emissions would equal 450 billion miles traveled each year.

We’ve seen the stories with similar pieces of advice. The web site, however, includes a video guide, "EcoCalculator" for determining individual and state impacts, as well as additional information. Check it out. The gas and green subjects are certain to remain top of mind, especially when that credit card bill comes with the purchases at the pump.

According to Inside Higher Ed, the National Association for College Admission Counseling has launched a panel asking colleges to consider dropping SAT and ACT results as admission guidelines:

The panel, in a report to be formally released this week (PDF file), calls on all colleges to consider more systematically whether they really need testing to admit their students. If there is not clear evidence of the need for testing, the commission urges the colleges to drop the requirement and it expresses the view that there are likely more colleges and universities that could make such a change …

Colleges that have conducted in-depth analyses of the value of standardized tests have frequently ended up questioning the tests’ use. For example, the University of California recently studied whether SAT subject tests helped admissions decisions and found — generally — that they do not. Hamilton College, prior to abandoning an SAT requirement in 2006, conducted a five-year experiment being SAT-optional. During that time, the 40 percent of students who didn’t submit SAT scores performed slightly better at Hamilton — a highly competitive liberal arts college — than did those who did submit scores. And in a finding consistent with studies at other colleges, Hamilton found that when it went test-optional, it received more applications from students at the top of their high school classes and many more applications from minority students.

Pretty interesting stuff.

Hat tip to Reason Magazine’s blog.

The financial world is in turmoil, the economy is fragile, and the future is unknown. These national issues will come home to Indiana as the legislators work on the next biennium budget for the coming session. In a recent article, Purdue economist and professor, Larry DeBoer, asked the question: "Is Indiana’s Budget Ready for Recession?"            

While Wall Street shockwaves ripple through the economy, Indiana budget-makers are in a particularly precarious spot. House Enrolled Act 1001-2008 puts a host of new obligations (demands and challenges) on the state. Under the reform legislation, the state assumes the full expense of school general fund operating levies and must pay for county welfare programs for the first time in this budget. These are big dollar expenses that have steadily increased by significant amounts. The plan was for the additional one cent sales tax increase to cover these newly assumed obligations. But sales tax revenues are of course closely tied to the state of the economy. If it goes south, so does the ability of the state to pay the bills or increase education funding.

Indeed, Dr. DeBoer points out how quickly state reserve balances can dwindle. Projections already have us $140 million short going into 2009. Fortunately, those projections also show us recovering, anticipating a $1.3 billion balance by the end of fiscal year 2009. However, that recovery is entirely dependent on a stable economy. In perspective, the state has pulled itself back into a position to better deal with tough times if the economy does get uglier. This makes last resorts, like expanding taxes, less likely. But to echo the concluding sentiments of Prof. DeBoer’s article, let’s just hope the budget-makers simply don’t have to face a recession.

That’s right, Election Day is just 17 days away from today.  I know, you have just grabbed your calendar and it tells you that it is only September 19 and that it is 46 days until November 4.  Well, you are right, but, so am I. 

We no longer live in an election world where the first Tuesday in November that follows a Monday is Election Day.  Now, Tuesday, November 4 is simply the last day we can call “Election Day.”  So what is 17 days from now? It happens to be October 6, which is the first day that a voter can vote via absentee ballot. This is the first of many Election Days. 

With the ability to vote absentee ballot, at a vote center, satellite voting, at the county clerk’s office or at a traditional polling place on Election Day, voters have a much longer period of time to vote than just 12 hours on one day. This is having a greater impact each election with the outcome of the election. Any campaign that does not recognize Election Day is just 17 days away is taking a giant risk with the their Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts.

My suggestion for voters: Take advantage of your options by voting early and avoid what will be long lines in many polling locations on November 4. The Indiana Prosperity Project has details regarding early voting procedures.

The National Conference of State Legislatures’ blog has a post explaining how some folks, who may lack free speech privileges in their countries, are using Facebook as a way to broadcast their political messages:

This ‘Facebook political movement’ has also taken off in Egypt. One blogger, Sandmonkey, talks about how new media are being used to promote political activism. The LA Times wrote an op-ed on how the Egyptian government has threatened to shut down Facebook, after it was credited for helping to mobilize protests against food prices earlier this year. Moroccans used YouTube to capture protesters clashing with security forces, because sights like this would not be shown on state-run TV. Activists in Lebanon used text messaging to organize an anti-Syria rally.

And as I’ve posted before, Congress has gotten in on the social media action via Twitter. In fact, Indiana’s gubernatorial candidates — Governor Mitch Daniels and challenger Jill Long Thompson — currently have their own feeds (as best I can tell, these are official campaign feeds and not just orchestrated by fans).