Sydney: It is obviously very difficult for U.S. corporations to compete with corporations in these countries. The main reason is that wages in China, India, and Mexico are so low compared to American ones. The obvious solution would be to cut wages, however this is not a good idea because it would put further financial pressure on American families and reduce the standard of living. Continue reading
Symposium 2012: Should students who finish high school early qualify for free college education?
RMC3: I certainly think there should be an incentive for kids who finish high school early. Obviously, if they finish early, they’ve got better than average grades, but what is the incentive for them? I think they should probably be put at the head of the line for scholarships and grants. Forget about awarding scholarships and grants on needs-based considerations. Scholarships and grants should be awarded based on aptitude, ability, and academic performance. Continue reading
Symposium 2012: Has political correctness gone too far?
Michigan: Yes it has gone way too far. Certain political groups want to make it impossible to talk, and possibly even think, about ideas that challenge the established order. How about all the new words and phrases we must use now to describe certain groups and people? Continue reading
Symposium 2012: Should schools incentivize students for good test scores?
Michigan: For the most part I don’t think that schools care. High schools only want to move students along and college is only a business. Our corporations and anyone looking to hire someone should offer the incentives. Higher pay for higher GPA. Maybe students would work harder is they knew that a 4.0 would get them $80,000 per year while a 3.0 is only worth $50,000. Continue reading
Symposium 2012: What role did the media play in the 2012 election?
Sydney: There can be no doubt that with each passing election the media plays a growing role and definitely is a factor that influences the result. During the Presidential campaign TV stations and newspapers were packed with commentary analyzing every step that each candidate made, and every word that they spoke. It would be impossible to believe that the media didn’t help sway voter opinion in Mitt Romney’s favor following the first debate, or that it turned opinion against him following his leaked speech to his supporters. Continue reading
Symposium 2012: What are the biggest social issues in America today?
Sydney: Given the state of the economy it would be hard to argue that unemployment is not the major social issue facing America today. High unemployment destroys families, leads to addiction and mental illness as well as homelessness and puts a huge strain on the welfare and health systems. Education is also a big social issue. Continue reading
Symposium 2012: 2016…Are you willing to make any predictions on the Democrat presidential nominee and Republican nominee?
Sydney: On the Democrat side Hillary Clinton is probably the standout candidate at the moment. She is vastly experienced in politics. Her stint as Secretary of State further bolstered her credentials in the important area of foreign relations and should serve her well if she does decide to run for the Presidency. Continue reading
Symposium 2012: More and more states and municipalities are facing bankruptcy. Is it up to the federal government and taxpayers to bail them out?
Sydney: This is a difficult question. The Federal Government can’t let the States and other municipalities to go broke but says it doesn’t have the money to bail them out. However, the Federal Reserve could buy municipal bonds to help the States. This would cost hundreds of billions of dollars but when you consider that the government gave trillions of dollars to the banks because they couldn’t be allowed to fail the money needed to save States and municipalities seems like a drop in the ocean. Continue reading
Symposium 2012: What are your thoughts on early voting and voting procedures in the U.S.? Is it time for reform?
RMC3: I’m not a big fan of early voting. Growing up, you voted on Election Day unless you voted absentee and then you had to have a really good excuse as to why you needed to vote absentee. I think the whole early voting scheme is just a convenient way to rig elections and stuff ballot boxes. Early voting needs to be eliminated, and there needs to be a stringent procedure for voting absentee. You need to prove you’re going to be out of town or whatever. Continue reading
Symposium 2012: What is your outlook for the economy? What do you perceive to be the biggest threat to the U.S. economy?
Sydney: The U.S economy obviously has a lot of room for improvement. If the government can get its act together and implement some fiscal reforms then it can definitely recover. The main problem is the country is still mired in debt. The debt ceiling and fiscal cliff debates have shown that both parties are unwilling or unable to compromise but the simple fact is that the government needs more money. Continue reading
Thinking Outside The Boxe 