I posted this to represent how we can be engage locally in causes that are abroad, yet still affect a person personally; has cultural signifigance.

This is an article about how Governor Duval Patrick "released a budget that removes the sales tax exemption for soda and candy" in an effort to helm stem the tide of preventable chronic illness as well as address the growing obesity epidemic. The expected revenue would provide funds to physical activity to children to tackle childhood obesity.

http://www.tbf.org/news-and-events/news/2013/january/governor-plan-to-eliminate-tax-exemption-on-soda-and-candy?News=1

This is a link to a story about an incentive/evaluation program via a computer program, the the Boston School Committee is using to try to gain some control over conduct and how suggestions are received by people in communities relative to school performance. The program awards particpants for their input/suggestions about how to better design standards to improve school performance. Users receive tokens for thier input and can spend them on "value services" they support, i.e., safety, etc. The interface has been changed recently to require users to imput demographic information, which has lessened the number of users, but the designer has said allowed for more quality data. There is no certaintly whether this tool will control the "vitriol" that occurs at the School Committee meetings, "but it's a start"!