Gastonia, NC Correspondent-If you’ve seen the “Godfather” films, you got a taste of what Vegas and Atlantic City life was like when the Mafia owned a large part of the casino and other gaming business. While the rubes through the door didn’t get fleeced any more thoroughly than they do today, the behind-the-scenes goings-on were bloody, ruthless and heavy-handed. Continue reading
Annual Symposium
Symposium 2015: Is it time to end the current Social Security program for citizens under the age of 18?
Owatanna, MN Correspondent-According to the Social Security Administration website, “about 4.4 million children under 18 receive approximately $2.5 billion each month because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired, or deceased. Those dollars help to provide the necessities of life for family members and help to make it possible for those children to complete high school.” Continue reading
Symposium 2015: In light of recent terrorist attacks, should the federal government increase domestic surveillance? How far should a domestic surveillance program be allowed to go?
Owatanna, MN Correspondent-If the federal government expects domestic terrorist attacks in the future, then unfortunately, they should increase domestic surveillance. This is unfortunate because government is always too eager to place everyone in the “suspicious” category, presume guilt instead of innocence, and end up harassing or worse citizens whose behavior may not conform to arbitrary standards of proper conduct. Continue reading
Symposium 2015: Should the federal government increase progressive taxation or the federal minimum wage as a way to address income inequality?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-There’s a reason why Robin Hood is one of the most enduring characters in literature and film. We all love the idea of an outlier, a third party who swoops in to balance the scales, right the wrongs and (of course) rob from the rich to give to the poor. When I was a high school student in Texas, Gov. Mark White introduced a school funding plan that would take some funding from wealthy districts and give it to disadvantaged ones in the hopes of leveling the playing field for all. It was, of course, dubbed the “Robin Hood Plan.” Continue reading
Is American Society Over Medicating In General?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL, February 27, 2015
Asheville, NC Correspondent-In 1900, the three leading causes of death in America were pneumonia, tuberculosis, and gastrointestinal infection. Today, these diseases don’t even crack the top ten. The reason for this advancement? Perhaps the greatest invention in history: antibiotics. Many diseases which were once grave threats to life now pose no more than a mild inconvenience for healthy adults. Continue reading
2014 Symposium: How can we hold parents accountable for their children?
Myrtle Beach: This is a fully loaded question. Let me begin with saying I am not a parent so my opinion is formed based on what I see from friends, family, and the news; so take it with a grain of salt. There is undeniably a problem in our society with our youth. Where does the problem lie? It is so simple for parents to say “I can’t watch my kid 24-7”. While, this statement may be true, I think a “good” parent shouldn’t have to! Continue reading
2014 Symposium: Is political correctness infringing our freedom of religion (if you’re a Christian)?
Asheville: For all the derisive ways in which “political correctness” is discussed, at its core, it is about a simple concept: courtesy. We call others by the names they choose. It is no inconvenience to us, and it is a great service to them. We expand shared space to make room for the customs and traditions of others. Continue reading
2014 Symposium: Is it time to re-think a space program?
Raleigh: Since the times of Cold War when the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. have engaged into fierce military and non-military competition, the development of space programs was crucial for both of these countries. Consequently, both countries (and later some other countries) have devoted significant financial and human resources to developing space programs. For the United States, the Apollo landing has proved to be a crowning moment and since then, the country has allocated a lot of money for its space program. For example, federal budget granted to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) totaled 526.18 billion dollars in the period from 1958 to 2011. Most recently, NASA has requested 17.5 billion dollars from the federal budget for its 2015 program which will be largely devoted to major astrophysics and planetary exploration programs. Continue reading
2014 Symposium: Is it time to audit lottery monies used for state programs?
Asheville: On paper, lotteries sound like a dream come true for states struggling with budget problems. They raise considerable revenue, which can be used to fund education, health care, and other budget priorities. They are funded voluntarily by people who choose to gamble, which means they avoid the political pitfalls of increased taxation. They’re popular, they’re fun, and they’re easy. Nothing could go wrong. Continue reading
2014 Symposium: Should we re-negotiate student debt? If so, why? Does this create a moral hazard?
Raleigh: It is well-known that getting college education in the U.S.A. is an expensive endeavor. While most people strive to get college education because it opens many more doors for them in the future and potentially allows to earn more money compared to counterparts without college education, the very cost of college education is becoming prohibitive. According to the College Board, college cost for an in-state public college for the 2013–2014 academic year was about $22,826, while average yearly cost for a private college was about $44,750. Add to that the cost of living, and the sum can truly be too high to carry for vast majority of American families. Continue reading
Thinking Outside The Boxe 