2011 was the second costliest year for weather events with 14 disasters resulting in more than $1 billion in damages. Although there were numerous fatalities, many lives were saved as a result of better forecasts that were fed by higher quality data from observing systems on orbit, in the air column and on the ground. The bottom line is that accurate weather data saves lives and protects property.
As new weather data models emerge, however, the issue of who pays for weather observations is becoming a growing topic of debate. Keep reading →
Not long after Sheila Bair was appointed to chair the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2006, senior officials at the FDIC sat down in a series of meetings to discuss what to do about a disturbing statistic.
There are a lot of ideas on how to address the looming crisis of trillion dollar annual deficits and a $14 trillion national debt. Congress has ideas and so does the President. All of the ideas involve choosing winners and losers, who will be taxed or receive tax breaks. Given the deep political and economic divisions in the country right now, a starting point for progress is voluntary measures.