Owatonna, MN Correspondent-The world is finally waking up to the fact that marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol and shouldn't be outlawed. Canada is the latest in the growing trend of countries and states who are legalizing pot for recreational use. Although Canada's decision to legalize sends a clear message to other nations that … Continue reading Canada recently legalized recreational marijuana. Will this increase the chances that recreational marijuana is legalized in the US?
Government
Is cutting taxes without cutting spending—as happened with the passage of the 2018 federal tax bill—a viable long-term economic strategy?
Owatonna, MN Correspondent-The feds passed another massive tax cut bill in 2018 that will push the annual deficits up toward the $1 trillion per year level yet again. We are the largest debtor nation in the history of the world and will probably never be challenged for that honor by any other country. The puzzling … Continue reading Is cutting taxes without cutting spending—as happened with the passage of the 2018 federal tax bill—a viable long-term economic strategy?
The Supreme Court recently upheld President Trump’s travel ban on people from primarily Muslim countries. Will this encourage Trump and future presidents to become more autocratic?
Owatonna, MN Correspondent-Until recent decades, the Supreme Court upholding an executive order (EO) issued by the President wouldn't be particularly noteworthy. Challenging EOs is a normal, healthy component of this country's system of checks and balances used to ensure none of the three branches of government acquires too much power. But now that politics has … Continue reading The Supreme Court recently upheld President Trump’s travel ban on people from primarily Muslim countries. Will this encourage Trump and future presidents to become more autocratic?
How has the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy and the resulting family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border affected both domestic politics and America’s international standing?
Tyler, Texas Correspondent I write policies for people who would rather not read them, so let me start with the part of this story that nobody in Washington wanted to read either. Zero tolerance was not a new law. It was a decision, announced by the Attorney General in April, to prosecute every adult who … Continue reading How has the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy and the resulting family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border affected both domestic politics and America’s international standing?
Did the historic Singapore summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un meaningfully advance denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, or was it largely symbolic?
Sheffield, Jamaica Correspondent I have spent a good part of my working life studying how small states negotiate with large ones, and the first lesson of that study is that the small state's objective is almost never the thing written on the agenda. The agenda says trade, or security, or in this case denuclearization. The … Continue reading Did the historic Singapore summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un meaningfully advance denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, or was it largely symbolic?
What are the strategic consequences of the United States withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)?
Clermont, Florida Correspondent I advise small professional firms for a living, and the most common mistake I see is a partner who tears up a contract because it is a bad contract without first asking what he intends to replace it with. The old agreement was flawed. Everyone agreed it was flawed. That is not … Continue reading What are the strategic consequences of the United States withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)?
How significant is China’s removal of presidential term limits for Xi Jinping, both for domestic governance and for the balance of power in Asia?
Sheffield, Jamaica Correspondent I want to begin with a correction to the way this question is being framed in the Western press, because the framing obscures what actually happened. The two-term limit that the National People's Congress removed on Sunday applied to the presidency, which in China's system is the least important of the three … Continue reading How significant is China’s removal of presidential term limits for Xi Jinping, both for domestic governance and for the balance of power in Asia?
Increasing the minimum wage has been the focus of improving economic opportunities for low paid workers. Is this the right approach or is a better solution reducing the cost of living?
Myrtle Beach, SC Correspondent-This is a tough one…Where one side of me says yes we need higher wages (I’ll refer you to my previous comments that employers need to pay decent wages because it’s the right thing to do); the other side of me thinks there is some room on the opposite end, the “bill” … Continue reading Increasing the minimum wage has been the focus of improving economic opportunities for low paid workers. Is this the right approach or is a better solution reducing the cost of living?
Recent sexual misconduct scandals involving members of the Congress have revealed that taxpayer dollars were used to settle sexual harassment lawsuits. Should those members of the Congress who used taxpayer funds to settle these lawsuits be forced to resign, pay the money back and potentially be prosecuted?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-The idea of members of Congress using taxpayer dollars to defend themselves from or settle sexual harassment claims makes my blood boil, but when I look at it a bit more closely I see there’s one avenue wherein the expense is justified. If it hasn’t already happened, I’m sure there will soon be … Continue reading Recent sexual misconduct scandals involving members of the Congress have revealed that taxpayer dollars were used to settle sexual harassment lawsuits. Should those members of the Congress who used taxpayer funds to settle these lawsuits be forced to resign, pay the money back and potentially be prosecuted?
President Trump has called on the Congress to send him a bill that fixes the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Should this involve amnesty, a path to citizenship, or some other solution to immigration?
Myrtle Beach, SC Correspondent-The ONLY thing it should include is a path to citizenship. There is absolutely no reason to offer amnesty. I don’t want to sound heartless, but it’s not fair to grant amnesty for the sheer fact that their parents brought them over illegally. It’s NOT difficult to become an American citizen. There … Continue reading President Trump has called on the Congress to send him a bill that fixes the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Should this involve amnesty, a path to citizenship, or some other solution to immigration?
