Michael Lissack • Improve the schools. Make it cool to attend school. Make it fun. Insist that kids who can't read, can't graduate. Students should each be required to compile a bulging portfolio of certificates of com- petence or achievement. There is no reason why driving, swim- ming, first-aid, word-processing, cooking, tax law, telephone and presentation skills, and any other practical life-skills should not be certificated and collected during this period of life. • Encourage the best and brightest to stay or others to come by creat- ing a livable environment with opportunity for advancement. • Attempt to create a large flow of funds to impoverished areas for community economic development. A national investment bank, with the power to raise funds through government-guaranteed and tax-exempt bond issues, could channel funds from public pensions and from the growing socially responsible investment movement. It could serve as a lender of first resort to companies willing to locate or expand in areas of urgent national need. Funds could be used for housing and for small business development, with preference given to locally owned companies, women, racial-ethnic minorities, non- profits, and worker owned businesses. With adequate financing and with technical assistance, these companies could prosper and pro- vide needed jobs and retail outlets in impoverished communities.
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