Alan Markow

After 30 years as a corporate communications executive, Alan Markow retired in 2004 and started his own company, AM Communications. While he handles a few clients for PR purposes, he has focused most of his time on free-lance writing, emphasizing issues about seniors. He spends his winters working part-time for a ski resort in North Lake Tahoe and skiing as often as he can.

Author's Posts

The U.S. needs a math and science revolution to compete in the global economy

By: Alan Markow

Sat, Mar 6th 2010

For the past few months, many of my colleagues have been college students from Southern Hemisphere countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and Australia. They are here on temporary visas working in the ski industry during their summer breaks. And they are smart, industrious kids.

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State sale of public buildings may have unintended consequences for California

By: Alan Markow

Wed, Mar 3rd 2010

Is California making a great financial move, or is it short-selling in a panic trying to solve its budget crisis? That’s the question that state-watchers should be asking about the so-called Golden State Portfolio now be

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Furloughs will not solve California budget crisis

By: Alan Markow

Sun, Feb 28th 2010

The question of whether it’s better to share the pain of state budget reductions through furloughs or go cold turkey with layoffs will soon be in the hands of California’s highest courts. But for the lives of hundreds of thousands of state workers, it’s more than just a legal matter. Some California employees have seen their salaries decreased by as much as 15 percent because of fur

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California Assembly swears to clean up the state's foul language

By: Alan Markow

Sat, Feb 27th 2010

Thank God (can I say that?) the legislature is on it when it comes to the big issues. No cussing week is finally a reality in California. About time, dammit. Too many potty-mouth Californians are probably at the heart of our serious problems: the budget crisis, poor educational results throughout the state, massive traffic jams. If only that driver hadn’t cursed be

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Solar energy faces economic and environmental challenges in California

By: Alan Markow

Thu, Feb 25th 2010

Ever since humans first understood the power that flowed from the sun, they have wanted to harness it for their own purposes. It all seemed so simple – capture the sunlight, use it to warm our homes and power our communities. The fact that solar power barely makes a dent in today’s mix of power grid sources is a testament to the difficulty of turning the concept into reality.

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Abel Maldonado could nix Santa Barbara offshore drilling proposal

By: Alan Markow

Thu, Feb 18th 2010

The 1969 oil spill off of Santa Barbara that killed nearly 4,000 birds and ruined some of the state’s finest beaches is about to take one more victim: the offshore drilling proposal by the Plains Exploration and Production Company (also known as PXP).

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Figuring out a way to pay for CalPERS

By: Alan Markow

Sun, Feb 14th 2010

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 life. In California, that world isn’t a fantasy. It’s the normal life of retirees who worked under the CalPERS pension and benefits system that protects most state workers. It’s a great system that – to some – r

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Medicare works better than private health insurance

By: Alan Markow

Thu, Feb 11th 2010

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 signed into law by Lyndon Baines Johnson. My personal story about Medicare was anecdotal in nature, and many of the responses were also based on personal experiences. So I thought it would be a good

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

By: Alan Markow

Sun, Feb 7th 2010

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 if our premiums had gone up again. We were on a group policy under my small company (2-3 employees max), and our rates were practically the same as individual coverage. Health insurance was a major budget item for us.

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