News & Analysis
November 5th: A Choice We Should Not Have to Make
November 5th will be the third time that I don't have a choice based purely on policy. This year, I will again have to make a choice based on my ethics, because ethics must always take priority over policy. That is why I say this is a choice that we should not have to make. Ethics should be assumed.
Trump’s non-Reagan, Anti-immigration Agenda
Before you buy-in to Trump’s anti-immigration agenda, perhaps you might consider a few things.
"What would you have done differently from President Biden?"
Watching Vice President Harris struggle with what seems like an easy question is painful and I find myself wondering, "what am I missing?" It must be more complicated than it looks.
But, what would be wrong with this?
The Question of Inflation
There is a lot of disinformation swirling about the cause of inflation. One of the most perplexing aspects of this to me is that of all common targets for blame (government spending, supply chain problems, business monopolies), one, and in my view the most important one, is left out: Federal Reserve policy.
The Question of Tariffs
Tariffs are a big topic of discussion this election year with many conflicting assertions made about they work and who pays them. I did a little research to see if I could find the facts amongst the noise. Read on for what I learned.
Climate Change Is Not Waiting for the COVID-19 Vaccine
While the world waits for a vaccine to give us relief from the pandemic, global warming and the climatic consequences are accelerating. This rapid pace of change required that our research on the subject, first completed only in 2018, be fundamentally rewritten. Here is a brief summary of what we learned.
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The Peculiarity of Choosing a President in 2020
Harry Truman said that “there is nothing new in the world except the history that you do not know.” With that in mind, I am reluctant to suggest that the 2020 election will be different from any other. Nonetheless, at least three things will make the contest both unusual and a challenge to analyze in an unemotional, nonpartisan way.
Inspired By Grassroots Change
In a world clouded by COVID-19, polarized politics, and a dysfunctional federal government, it is easy to become discouraged. As is usually the case, however, there are still many intrepid Americans who believe that our institutions can be improved and that we as individuals can make a difference. One of those is Kevin Bowe.
Is It Right? National Debt as a Moral Issue
On April 7, in “This Bubble Too Shall Burst,” I shared my view, based on traditional economic thinking, that the mounting US debt is likely to become a serious economic problem for our children. What I didn’t do was address whether or not such borrowing is moral. Yes, I mean moral.
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Immigration and the 2020 Campaign
When the 2020 presidential debate begins, President Trump will renew his campaign against illegal immigration. When he does, both sides will obscure the real issues by retreating to their familiar, polarized themes. How might independent thinkers navigate this unproductive debate?
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It Is Time to Bring College Education into the Modern World
College education in America has become unaffordable for too many and a poor investment for many more. Candidate Biden is proposing to expand tuition subsidies and forgive some student debt. Is there a way to address the problem without more spending?
Do We Really Need a New Cold War?
In the wake of Covid-19, President Trump is ramping up his attacks on China. It looks like candidate Biden will not be outdone. Must China be an enemy? Or might we be displacing blame for our growing problems?
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Canada, Guns, and Reasonable Compromise
A heavily armed man recently killed 22 random Canadian citizens. Two of the guns were purchased in the US. While such violence is relatively rare in Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau responded with more than just “thoughts and prayers.”
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COVID-19 Stimulus and the Politics of Stock Buybacks
Opposition to companies buying back their stock has historically been a partisan issue. Both sides, however, agreed to prohibit companies that accepted stimulus money from doing so. How might independents think about this issue? The short answer is “it depends.” Here is why.
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If COVID-19 Has a Silver Lining, Perhaps This Is It
As the COVID-19 death toll rises, it is clear that several countries have handled the health crisis better than we have. Learning from our failure could be the silver lining of this crisis. But it won’t be easy.
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Richard Nixon, President Trump, and the Price of Oil
Richard Nixon famously said to David Frost, “Well, when the president does it…that means that it is not illegal.” President Trump recently engaged in negotiations to increase the price of oil. Price fixing in the US is illegal. Was there a better, and legal, policy response?
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