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
Thinking Outside the Boxe Releases Transcript of Q&A Session from 12th Annual Symposium
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL and Washington, D.C. January 29, 2016—Thinking Outside the Boxe has released the transcripts of the question and answer session from its 12th Annual Symposium held in Orlando from December 26-31, 2015. Participants in the annual symposium question and answer session included Thinking Outside the Boxe’s correspondents from Gastonia, North Carolina, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Owatanna, Minnesota, Sheffield, Jamaica and Prescott Valley, Arizona. Digger Cartwright, award-winning mystery novelist, also participated in the question and answer session. Continue reading
Do the benefits of GPS trackers, phone GPS, insurance vehicle plug-ins, etc. outweigh the invasion of privacy?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL January 7, 2016
Owatonna, MN Correspondent-Data collection via GPS, cell phones, website tracking, etc. is intrinsically neutral. However, the collected data can be used for good and bad purposes, so the onus is on the data collector to use that data prudently. It’s also imperative for the individual to be aware of what data they are voluntarily sharing and know the possible consequences of that data being used against them. Continue reading
With the prevalence of online shopping what incentive is there to retain brick and mortar retail locations?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL December 25, 2015
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-The prevalence of online shopping has put a dent in the incentive to retain a brick and mortar presence in regular shopping locales. Actual retail locations that are not associated with major giants such as Walmart, Sears, Macy’s, Kohl’s, J. C. Penney, Nordstrom’s and others, face fewer sales, business decline, and possible closings, but there are remedies and incentives to retain brick and mortar stores in spite of increases in internet transactions. Continue reading
Does the holiday shopping frenzy do more harm than good? Are there unintended economic consequences such as health problems, missed work, lower work productivity, etc.?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL December 17, 2015
Owatonna, MN-As a card-carrying Libertarian, I fully support voluntary redistribution of wealth via financial transactions between two willing parties. Therefore, I have no intrinsic problem with the holiday shopping frenzy that takes place roughly between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Continue reading
Statistics on inner-city violence are staggering. Should groups such as “Black Lives Matter” add more emphasis on reducing inner-city violence, rather than protesting and rioting?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL December 2, 2015
Owatonna, MN-In the wake of the recent epidemic of high profile killings of black young men by white police officers, Black Lives Matters has risen to the top of the soapbox as one of the most influential citizen groups to advocate for solving the problem of white on black violence. They organize protests that get the public’s attention in the media, especially when a peaceful protest devolves into a riot. But is Black Lives Matters railing at the wrong injustice? I think so. Continue reading
In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, is it time to refocus our immigration debate to those coming from countries with known terrorist ties?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL November 25, 2015
Sheffield, Jamaica Correspondent-“Why do bad things happen to good people?” In light of the recent attack in Paris by terrorists, that question comes to the fore. Simply put, bad things happen to good people because of ‘unexpected occurrences.’ This attack could have been made in any other country, with the same devastating effect. Regardless of the location, 130 lives were claimed (according to Sky News), leaving relatives and friends behind to suffer. Since unforeseen occurrences befall us all, it’s our Government’s responsibility to refocus immigration debates to ensure an event, such as the attack in Paris, never re-surfaces. Continue reading
Would greater censorship of social media and the internet be effective in combating terrorism?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL December 7, 2015
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-Combatting terrorism involves many strategies, particularly since the insidious and rapid advances of terrorism over the last year. With the recent San Bernardino attacks, it is obvious that the persons involved in the massacre were active in a number of social media and internet interactions. Continue reading
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