With sky-high unemployment, Richmond, California, is not a place where traditional business models alone can dent poverty. The city has turned to co-ops in hopes that people who might be unemployable in the traditional economy gain access to both jobs and control over their own labor.
The state's program will be able to test the theories about whether cap-and-trade reduces pollution without destroying businesses. If it works, expect other states to quickly follow.
Enough with long lines at the DMV and other horrors of local government. It's time for cities to drag themselves into the 21st century. Here are the steps some are taking.