Welcome to the "Federal Budget and Debt: So What?”
INTRODUCTION
We are excited to share our knowledge, insights and perspectives. We hope that you learn and participate because of the significant impacts the Federal Budget and growing debt have on all our lives. We hope this course not only expands your understanding but also empowers you to engage further, explore important concepts, and share your ideas.
Below you will find the following information, which you can access by clicking on the blue highlighted names:
(1) a Course description, including what the course is not 😊; (2) information on the Instructors ; (3) Course “Ground Rules including the OLLI code of behavior; (4) General Outline for our six-sessions course including times/dates; and (5) Hints for using this website.
For your information, previously this in-class course was presented in two sessions. For the OLLI winter 2021 term, it has been expanded to six sessions to (a) include two sessions that provide detailed information on Federal oversight and accountability, (b) better support learning with Zoom, and (c) provide more time to examine and discuss important topics identified by feedback from prior classes.
We hope that this website helps class members answer pre- and post-class questions beyond those we can effectively address during class. We also will use this website to share materials and provide additional references to explore. Finally, this website will remain a resource for class members throughout the winter term.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The federal budget is $5-plus trillion, our debt is $27.1 trillion ($82,000 per person and growing), and critical needs remain unmet. The US and North Carolina economy, infrastructure, safety, and much more rely on the federal budget. Shouldn’t we understand how it is constructed? How spending decisions are made and by whom? How the US and local economy are impacted? The potential changes and their impacts? How our tax dollars are used and who benefits? What the government does when the unexpected happens? What makes up the debt? How accountability helps identify the actual results and impacts after congressional legislation is implemented? These and other questions will be explored and discussed with class engagement and participation. What we don't know, we can't change. Would you write a check every day without knowing what you are buying? An informed populace and educated citizenry can drive positive change, so let’s learn together and see if we can "have our cake and eat it too."
Instructors
In addition to the OLLI Instructor portal, you may contact Ed at [email protected] and Dale at [email protected]. Also, Ed and Dale want to acknowledge the invaluable assistance and contributions to the course by our colleague Stephanie Shipman, a retired US GAO executive; and to the creation of this web site by Raymond Conroy.
Course Ground Rules
Please let us know if you have any questions. An informal synopsis of OLLI ground rules for its Zoom classes is listed below:
(1) Please keep your Zoom video on and mute your audio unless you are called on;
(2) Be respectful of all opinions (whether you agree with them or not);
(3) Leave the Zoom "room" discreetly as needed during class;
(4) Use the Zoom CHAT or RAISE YOUR HAND features to engage, ask questions, and offer comments. Typically, we will respond to questions and "raised hands" either before or after each break;
(5) Please express any concerns or needs and, as your “hosts”, we will try to address and resolve them; and
(7) Please do not interrupt and let others finish. Enjoy learning together and have fun!
(1) Please keep your Zoom video on and mute your audio unless you are called on;
(2) Be respectful of all opinions (whether you agree with them or not);
(3) Leave the Zoom "room" discreetly as needed during class;
(4) Use the Zoom CHAT or RAISE YOUR HAND features to engage, ask questions, and offer comments. Typically, we will respond to questions and "raised hands" either before or after each break;
(5) Please express any concerns or needs and, as your “hosts”, we will try to address and resolve them; and
(7) Please do not interrupt and let others finish. Enjoy learning together and have fun!
General Outline
We list the six sessions of this course below. Please note that all sessions are scheduled on Thursdays and will occur every two weeks, with the exception of the final two. The sessions last for 75 minutes; we plan to have at least two five-minute breaks during each session. While we have laid out the sessions by date and topic, we may adjust our pace somewhat depending on the actual time needed for presentation and class engagement. For example, the first session, "Federal Budget: 'Who' is Involved," may finish early and we may start the second session, "Federal Budget: When & How is it Created," on the same day. So bear with us and remain flexible, just like the Federal Budget :)
Session 1 : February 18, 2021 (Thursday) Federal Budget : "Who" is Involved
Session 2: March 4, 2021 (Thursday) Federal Budget : "When & How" is it Created
Session 3: March 18, 2021 (Thursday) Federal Budget: "What" is included & Start of "Federal Debt" Discussion
Session 4: April 1, 2021* (Thursday) Accountability: First Glance
Session 5: April 15, 2021* (Thursday) Accountability: Deeper Dive
Session 6: April 22, 2021 (Thursday) Federal Debt, Future Outlook & End-of-Course Quiz
* Session 4 is on April's Fool Day, which is no reflection on the topic :):) and Session 5 is on Tax Day, which seems appropriate for this course :) :)
Session 1 : February 18, 2021 (Thursday) Federal Budget : "Who" is Involved
Session 2: March 4, 2021 (Thursday) Federal Budget : "When & How" is it Created
Session 3: March 18, 2021 (Thursday) Federal Budget: "What" is included & Start of "Federal Debt" Discussion
Session 4: April 1, 2021* (Thursday) Accountability: First Glance
Session 5: April 15, 2021* (Thursday) Accountability: Deeper Dive
Session 6: April 22, 2021 (Thursday) Federal Debt, Future Outlook & End-of-Course Quiz
* Session 4 is on April's Fool Day, which is no reflection on the topic :):) and Session 5 is on Tax Day, which seems appropriate for this course :) :)
Hints for Using Website
We have organized the website to make navigating between locations as easy as possible:
(1) This home page contains general information about our course.
(2) There are three tabs at the top right of the screen, including a tab for this home page. The other two tabs are: (a) “Sessions,” which includes links to each session page and related course material presented via Zoom (that we will add after each session); and (b) “Extras,” which provides additional reference material and links related to the course topics and information presented.
You will see all three tabs on every page, which makes navigating within the Website easier. Finally, we welcome ALL SUGGESTIONS to improve both the content and structure of the website.
(1) This home page contains general information about our course.
(2) There are three tabs at the top right of the screen, including a tab for this home page. The other two tabs are: (a) “Sessions,” which includes links to each session page and related course material presented via Zoom (that we will add after each session); and (b) “Extras,” which provides additional reference material and links related to the course topics and information presented.
You will see all three tabs on every page, which makes navigating within the Website easier. Finally, we welcome ALL SUGGESTIONS to improve both the content and structure of the website.
Notes for webmaster: technical discussion not relevant to class attendees
The Weebly Theme is "Urban Dine" with modification for the presentation of Links, to use color Blue #0000FF..
The color for Blog Post Title was set to be Green rgb(80,141,36) = #5eb551, font Default, style Bold, size 32, weight ---
Header image is https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f2/58/32/f25832b4acfaa4b398b313d3f71d3290.jpg
This website was created in December 2020, by Raymond on behalf of [email protected]. Website managers are Ed Johnson and Dale Pahl.
The color for Blog Post Title was set to be Green rgb(80,141,36) = #5eb551, font Default, style Bold, size 32, weight ---
Header image is https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f2/58/32/f25832b4acfaa4b398b313d3f71d3290.jpg
This website was created in December 2020, by Raymond on behalf of [email protected]. Website managers are Ed Johnson and Dale Pahl.