Election 2016 Round Table Discussion: Foreign policy has steadily and dangerously regressed and eroded under the leadership of both President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. What has to occur concerning foreign policy to turn the tide in understanding the issues that America faces, whether in a Trump or Clinton administration?

Owatonna, MN Correspondent-If elected, Clinton will probably maintain the policies begun during the Obama administration and give us more of the same unsteady world leadership. She may surprise the world by veering off course from her script while Secretary of State, but the safe bet is she will not change dramatically from her leadership style on display since she was FLOTUS. Continue reading

Election 2016 Round Table Discussion: With the economy and jobs being two of the hottest interrelated issues of the 2016 campaign, what will be the solutions to bolstering a stagnant economy and returning Americans to work?

Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-The solutions to bolstering a stagnant economy and returning Americans to work lie in the reestablishment of a number of institutions and policy approaches that will strengthen the economy and return Americans to work.

With the number of businesses, companies, corporations and organizations leaving America in record numbers and corporate tax rates remaining at high levels, the demand for lower waged workers, and lower priced products and services have driven significant numbers of companies and jobs overseas. In addition, jobs have disappeared or have been significantly diminished to the point that entire industrialized sectors of the American economy have been driven out of existence. Continue reading

Election 2016 Round Table Discussion: With indiscretions concerning voter fraud and intimidation during past elections, and with electronic voting machines, computers and hackers ready, willing and able to rig elections, what if anything can and be done to stop voter fraud that will likely occur during the 2016 election cycle? US Seeks to Protect Voting System Against Cyberattacks yet we can’t stop voter fraud at polling stations in America? What’s wrong with this picture?

Gastonia, NC Correspondent-I question the validity of the assumption this question makes that voter fraud “likely will” occur.  Despite the Trump campaign’s fearmongering and spreading of doubt, actual evidence of voter fraud in the U.S. is harder to find than a vegan at a barbecue cookoff.  Most of the battleground states have Republican governors, and the entire process will be scrutinized at a level never before seen. Continue reading

Election 2016 Round Table Discussion: Should ALL voters be required to answer and pass the citizenship test before they pull the lever in the voting booth? Should voters be required to have some knowledge about civics, American history, politics, etc. before being able to vote?

Gastonia, NC Correspondent-I’m the guy who’s in favor of intelligence tests for prospective parents, so the idea of some sort of qualifying test for voters holds great allure for me. However, I’m fairly sure it would require a constitutional amendment to make it happen.  I am a native-born American citizen, and as such have the right to vote.  I’m a fairly smart fellow, but I know a lot of my fellow small-town residents who probably shouldn’t be allowed to bathe without supervision, much less help decide who will be the next leader of our country.  However, they have as much right as I do to vote. Continue reading

Election 2016 Round Table Discussion: Are there any realistic solutions to campaign finance reform?

Owatonna, MN Correspondent-It’s easy to say campaign finance reform has gotten so far out of control that nothing can be done. When money becomes the dominant force as to who wins elections, those without many feel their votes are wasted. But underdogs still win. Candidates with more charisma than cash sometimes carry the day, so money alone can’t guarantee election results. If that were true, we wouldn’t bother holding elections since we could just as easily award the victory to the candidate in each race with the biggest bank account. Continue reading

Thinking Outside the Boxe Announces its Election Day Champagne Summit

Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL, October 17, 2016— Thinking Outside the Boxe, an independent and nonpartisan think tank, is pleased to announce that it will hold its Election Day Champagne Summit series in Orlando, Florida on November 7-9, 2016.  Thinking Outside the Boxe’s Champagne Summit provides an opportunity for political strategists and commentators, business leaders, economists, and individuals interested in nonpartisan examination of current events to gather for three days of debate and roundtable discussions on economic conditions/outlook, geopolitical events, domestic politics, foreign policy, business conditions/outlook, societal issues, among other topics.  This Champagne Summit will focus on the U.S. election, relevant political topics, and the outlook for the administration of the 45th President of the United States.     Continue reading

Award-Winning Mystery Novelist Digger Cartwright’s Independence Day Speech

Orlando, FL July 4, 2016—The office of award-winning mystery novelist Digger Cartwright has released Mr. Cartwright’s Independence Day speech delivered at the Thinking Outside the Boxe Champagne Summit in Orlando.

The transcript of Mr. Cartwright’s speech follows:

Thank you all. Thank you for being here, and Happy Independence Day. It’s great to be here at Thinking Outside the Boxe’s Champagne Summit. Much has transpired since I attended the last event. We’ve had some very good discussions over the last day and a half, and I’m looking forward to more debate in the coming days. Continue reading