Alan Markow

Professional writer and communicator 40+ years. Senior corporate communications exec in high tech, telecom, banking, and chemicals. Navy journalist during Vietnam era. IVN blogger since inception. Political views range from liberal to libertarian.

Figuring out a way to pay for CalPERS

In a perfect world, we’d all be covered by health insurance plans that cost little or nothing, provide excellent coverage with low or no co-pays and are guaranteed for

By Alan Markow

/ February 14, 2010

Medicare works better than private health insurance

My recent article promoting Medicare as a solution to the crisis in health insurance costs and availability started a lively discussion about the pros and cons of the 44-year-old program

By Alan Markow

/ February 11, 2010

Medicare works better than private health insurance

Medicare: if it works for seniors, it can work for all of America

A couple of years ago, before my wife and I had turned 65 and become eligible for Medicare, we looked upon mail from our health insurance provider with dread wondering

By Alan Markow

/ February 7, 2010

Medicare: if it works for seniors, it can work for all of America

Seniors offer wisdom on education and long-term budget goals

In a blog posted February 2 at The Educated Guess, journalist John Fensterwald of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation posits that baby boomers need to be convinced that spending money

By Alan Markow

/ February 4, 2010

Seniors offer wisdom on education and long-term budget goals

Winter wonderland showing promise for drought relief

Driving around Lake Tahoe communities you see snow piled up everywhere. Ten, twenty foot high mountains of snow that have been pushed off of streets, parking lots and driveways. Snow

By Alan Markow

/ January 31, 2010

Winter wonderland showing promise for drought relief

Bumps remain for California's housing market

Sacramento real estate appears to be ready for a recovery, and a return to more positive days, according an article in the Sacramento Bee. The article notes that area prices

By Alan Markow

/ January 28, 2010

Bumps remain for California's housing market

SCOTUS to out of control spenders: keep it up

Is there anyone is the United States who believes we need more money funneled into the political process? Apparently there are at least five justices of the Supreme Court who

By Alan Markow

/ January 23, 2010

SCOTUS to out of control spenders: keep it up

Early melt means less cool water for California

The Sierras are in the midst of a series of major storms expected to add significant depth to the winter snowpack. And in case you think that’s just ho-hum

By Alan Markow

/ January 21, 2010

Early melt means less cool water for California

Everyday is Earth Day for Sierra ski businesses

Corporate America embraces Earth Day for its symbolism, but California’s ski industry takes its role in the protection of our planet far more seriously. Why? Because bumps along the

By Alan Markow

/ January 14, 2010

Everyday is Earth Day for Sierra ski businesses

The Outsourcing of Our Health

A few days ago, a friend from San Diego called to invite me for a visit - a visit to her dentist. Bubbling over with enthusiasm, she told me I

By Alan Markow

/ May 28, 2009

A Veteran's Perspective on Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2009 - It's on days like this that I recall my experiences in the military and question the current direction of U.S. service. I spent

By Alan Markow

/ May 25, 2009

Now What Do We Do?

Now that the smoke has cleared and thepublic has spoken against all of the ballot measures that would require anychanges in taxing policies, the question before California remains: how do

By Alan Markow

/ May 20, 2009