Why do governments use cash accounting and not accrual? Are there any governments that DO use the accrual method? I'm interested in the history, legality, challenges, anything. Any location, any government.
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posted by FuManchu
on Mar 28, 2010 -
7 answers
What just happened on C-Span? There was some health care related vote. What exactly did that vote decide?
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posted by stuart_s
on Mar 21, 2010 -
10 answers
I'm looking for examples of U.S. federal agencies effectively using social media. I'm particularly interested in those that
do not have critical, consistent need to use social media (as CDC, USAID or FEMA do). State or Canadian provincial agencies would be of interest, too, but here also I'm looking for non-critical need.
Thanks!
posted by jgirl
on Mar 10, 2010 -
12 answers
What are the best arguments (links to articles/sites appreciated) that government regulation and tax code distortions are not the primary causes of the American healthcare crisis? Why wouldn't a more free-market approach (i.e. remove the obstacles to far more vigorous competition between insurers for individual premiums) be the solution? If
adverse selection is a reason, how is that any worse for health care than for other insurance markets (e.g. life insurance)?
posted by shivohum
on Mar 1, 2010 -
16 answers
Where can I find video or analysis of the
Cyber Shockwave joint exercise held today in Washington, D.C? An article in
The Atlantic mentioned it would be filmed, and I'm just nerdy enough to watch it...
posted by Gussio
on Feb 16, 2010 -
1 answer
I'm a current 1L in a mid-level law school about to interview for an externship at the nearby city's Government Relations office. I need to do a little preparing.
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posted by cyphill
on Feb 15, 2010 -
6 answers
What are some good articles on the impact the American socialist movement had on U.S. law and policy making?
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posted by iconjack
on Feb 14, 2010 -
2 answers
Looking for insights, guidance, and advice on the 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business application process - particularly around paying for sample "narrative kits".
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posted by pants
on Feb 10, 2010 -
2 answers
The story of how Corporations became legal people using the 14th amendment is pretty famous. But that's a US phenomenon. How did it work out in other countries? Are corporations legal people in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, Australia etc?
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posted by moorooka
on Jan 22, 2010 -
11 answers
I'm looking for a list of foreign governments receiving aid (military and developmental) under the auspices of the GWOT (global war on terror). BUT, not aid related to either Afghanistan or Iraq. For example, since 2001, how much has the US provided places like Colombia, the Philippines and Indonesia to fight terrorism? The more official and exhaustive the source (GAO, CRS) the better. Thank you for your time!
posted by B-squared
on Jan 4, 2010 -
2 answers
What are the best well-written and scholarly (read: thoughtful and well-researched, not partisan or propagandistic) books or reports on which US government programs are managed effectively and which poorly, and why?
posted by shivohum
on Dec 3, 2009 -
7 answers
What are some good campaign trail biographies? I'm looking for any interesting read, whether in book form or a series of articles, that follows a candidate for a period of time up to their election, preferably ones where the writer actually accompanied the candidate as they went through the process of running. I'm not only looking for presidential candidates, but any government post at all (senate, congress, local government etc). I know Hunter Thompson is a good place to start, but what else?
posted by minicloud
on Nov 25, 2009 -
12 answers
Is there a simple way, on the Web, to research how each member in both the House of Representatives and Senate voted on a bill? Specifically, I am looking for how Nancy Bean (Illinois) voted on the recent Health Care Bill. Thanks in advance.
posted by Mckoan1
on Nov 14, 2009 -
5 answers
How does one get a job as a residential property appraiser for a county or local government?
posted by st starseed
on Nov 1, 2009 -
3 answers
I served on grand jury duty and received a check today for the standard $40 a day. However, I had told the court previously that my job did not dock my pay, so I should not receive a check for my service. Should I cash it?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 2, 2009 -
32 answers
What happens when a baby is born in jail in New Jersey? What departments/agencies are automatically involved? We are looking to get legal guardianship of a sister's soon-to-be-born child while she is in jail and need to know what agencies we should be dealing with beforehand.
posted by infostud
on Sep 29, 2009 -
8 answers
A group of men from the US Government, a van and some dirty/emaciated kids? Where did I read about this supposedly true story?
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posted by ellighi
on Aug 5, 2009 -
2 answers
I'm a complete N00b when it comes to writing to my government/MLA. Recent events have made me want to voice my concern w/ the government's actions and encourage my MLA to stand up and voice his disapproval. How do I learn what is proper to include in a letter and what isn't? How do I not come off as a crazy ranter and appear as a concerned constituent? Tips? Examples?
posted by beautifulcheese
on Aug 2, 2009 -
6 answers
Could folks smarter than me elucidate for me the whole current U.S. administration's "Czar" fetish? I'm looking for precedent or other historic rationale on the use of the term "czar" in U.S. politics. Could anybody more in the know help out?
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posted by cavalier
on Jul 15, 2009 -
14 answers
How do I start my own church in California? If L. Ron Hubbard can have a church, why can't I? I have tried searching for "how to start a church" on google and askmefi, but no luck. I think there's something about filing a 501c non-profit form, but there are a lot of forms for similar things (non-profit raffle? commercial coventurer?? what the crap?).
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posted by runcibleshaw
on Jul 6, 2009 -
22 answers
Revenue Quebec Filter: I mailed my taxes to Revenue Quebec somewhere around the 3rd or 4th of May. That's slightly late, but it's OK because they owe
me money. I even sent it express post so it wouldn't get lost. Two months later, I've received no cheque, no direct deposit, no notice of assessment--nothing.
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posted by Decimask
on Jul 5, 2009 -
12 answers
California: anyone know what government entity reimburses the elderly for home care? Is it local, state, or federal program? Or perhaps a charity??
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posted by jbenben
on Jul 2, 2009 -
8 answers
Can a former US President serve in a powerful capacity in a subsequent administration? They clearly wouldn't be able to serve as VP, but could they hold some other high office such as Secretary of State? If not, do those of you living in the US regard this as a desirable or undesirable attribute of your political system?
posted by Lolie
on Jun 27, 2009 -
18 answers
So, I saw Howard Dean on the Colbert Report last night. Please help me with some specific action steps regarding health care and the future of the USA.
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posted by zeek321
on Jun 25, 2009 -
10 answers
[Iran_Minutiae_Filter] I heard a few days ago that Former President Rafsanjani was going up to Qum to see if the Assembly of Experts had the votes to remove Ayatollah Khamanei from the position of Supreme Leader. How long would something like that take to happen? Would it have happened already if they had the votes?
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posted by AlbatrossJones
on Jun 18, 2009 -
2 answers
Who were these "celebrated authors" James Madison was referring to in The Federalist Paper No. 14?
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posted by Myles
on Jun 15, 2009 -
8 answers
What country or countries have the longest continuously functioning government? Please specify the type/form of government, such as US/ democratic republic.
posted by woman
on May 31, 2009 -
14 answers
At a conference, I heard a knowledgeable person say that "Katrina forever changed the way that the Federal government and the states interact with each other". I had not heard such a thought before. What did he mean, and is it true?
posted by megatherium
on May 24, 2009 -
9 answers
Can someone help me find older version of the United States census? I'd like to compare and review the questions they are asking this time around versus the questions of years past. I know I can download a sample census for 2010. I'd like to download a pdf of the older ones as well.
Thank you.
posted by Jackie_Treehorn
on May 19, 2009 -
6 answers
I'm looking for recommendations on readings about what is the purpose of government - preferably from all areas of the spectrum: reactionary, conservative, libertarian, socialist, communist, liberal, radical. Ideally I'm looking for the fundamental/foundational documents for each doctrine as opposed to filtered, watered down versions. Thanks!
posted by Leezie
on May 10, 2009 -
13 answers
« J'en ai besoin d'améliorer mon français, » or: "I need to improve my French." I'm looking for advice from anyone who has worked on improving or regaining their n
th language.
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posted by Decimask
on May 10, 2009 -
16 answers
Generating XML documents help? I work with the county health department, and have been asked to come up with a way to create, store and manipulate metadata for various datasets we store internally on a network drive. Basically I think the simplest thing to do is to create an xml file stored in the same directory with any dataset. Preferably I can do this with infopath 2003 or free software, and using the
Dublin Core standard for metadata. I've seen the 5 year old answers on Dublin Core Metadata from
this Ask, but I need to let my coworkers create the data first, and that mostly covers storage/database solutions. Looking through various DC list archives hasn't been helpful.
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posted by gryftir
on Apr 28, 2009 -
15 answers
Please help me identify online collaboration tools that might be appropriate for a national (USA) organization of (mostly) state agency staff.
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posted by mmahaffie
on Apr 19, 2009 -
2 answers
Tips for a newbie delegate to a political convention? I agreed to act not only as a Democrat delegate but as a vice-chair for my precinct. Our county organizing convention is coming up this weekend. I've read a tiny bit about what to expect on the agenda (but not a lot), but am more worried about just seeming out of place. I'm young, don't have a lot of political experience, and also had to change my affiliation from unaffiliated to do this. Part of me says that in a state where Democrats are a minority no one will be judging me for wanting to serve, but what can you tell me (or links can you give me...) to better prepare me? I'm looking for both what I should know about how it'll run and the more nuanced aspects of interaction/networking/flow.
posted by anonymous
on Apr 15, 2009 -
5 answers
I'm looking for philosophical treatises that touch on the subjects of taxes, wealth, income and the like for a blog post I'm thinking about writing. Specifically, I'm looking for philosophical musings on the government's right (or lack thereof) to collect taxes and the right (or lack thereof) of an individual to do whatever he wants with his earnings. It would be more helpful if you could point to a specific chapter/section/passage, rather than saying "try reading Marx."
posted by ekroh
on Apr 13, 2009 -
11 answers
In the last 50 years of either British or American history, has there ever been a case in which the government has forcibly relocated a large percentage of the town's children for health, safety, or quality of life purposes?
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posted by np312
on Apr 6, 2009 -
22 answers
