Introduction to Course: Week of January 16 – 21, 2007

Last updated 1/12/07

Each week, you will have several different assignments to complete. This week you do not have any outside reading to do from your text but you do have an article to read on the internet as well as my short, introductory lecture. Both of your assignments this week are due by midnight on Sunday, January 21, 2007.

I. Most weeks I will post an introductory lecture. Please click on the link now and read my lecture. I am going to give you two sets of assignments this week (some weeks you will also have to go to Blackboard and answer a set of test mastery questions based on a chapter in your text. But not this week!).

II. Then scroll on down on this page and complete the internet assignment, which requires you to read this article on the Stateline.org website at http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=169145 . The article is entitled “Want to Buy the Brooklyn Bridge?” It illustrates some of the creative ways that states and local governments are handling their chronic shortages of money. After you read the article, I want you to email me at carolb@usca.edu – in the subject line of your email, write “Internet Assignment 1.” The assignment must be completed and emailed to me by midnight on Sunday, January 21 in order for you to receive credit. Your response should be equivalent to about one typed page and will be graded on quality of work, as well as spelling and grammar. Here are the questions you need to answer.

States and local governments often must look for creative approaches to financing since raising taxes is generally politically unacceptable.

1. Briefly describe the approaches taken by Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Indiana to their transportation problems, and evaluate each. Which one or ones did you think were the best? How would you handle these problems if you were a policymaker? Why do you think Governor Daniels had a hard time selling his proposals to the Indiana legislature? What are some of the arguments against involving the private sector?
2. Why have almost all of the states legalized some form of gambling? What kinds of gambling have been legalized in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Florida, and Mississippi? Why can’t states benefit from Indian gaming and what are states like California doing to address that? If Congress bans internet gambling, what impact will that have on states? Why do you think voters in several states rejected ballot measures to add or expand gambling? Do you think it is a good idea or bad idea for states to rely on gambling for revenue?
3. What other financial pressures do states face that are likely to empty their coffers?

III. Then come back and answer the following class discussion question. I am subscribing each of you to the email list at your USCA email address and you should get the notification from listserv. Every week, I will pose a question on our class discussion list. Sometimes you will be required to do some reading before you answer this. Your response should be sent to the entire class (apls471web@listserv.sc.edu) so be sure that you do not include anything there that you don’t want everyone to read! You can either type in the complete address or you can click on the link. Be sure to write the words “class discussion 1” in the subject line, so the rest of us will know this is not spam! Also, please do not send any attachments! And remember to sign your name (first name and last initial, or sign your entire name if you wish) and to keep a copy of your work!

For this first week, please do not post your response before Thursday, January 18, as some people may be adding the class during late registration, and I will have to add them to the discussion list. In any case, your response must be posted by Sunday, January 21 at midnight in order for you to receive credit!

This is our first week of classes, so let’s go ahead and introduce ourselves to each other! We are a virtual class, although some of you doubtless see each other on campus every day. But how well do you know your classmates? Click on the class discussion link and tell your classmates:

1. Your name

2. Your year in school

3. Where your home is (I don’t mean your local address, but where are you from?)

4. Your major

5. What you hope to do after you graduate from college

6. One fact about you that you think is interesting enough to share with the class.

7. Then pose one question concerning public financial management that you hope we can answer this semester (if someone else already posted your question, think of another one!)