Left/Right Discussion about the Draft
In his regular antiwar.com column, David Henderson, a professor of economics at the Naval Postgraduate School, expresses hope that a left/right antiwar movement could eventually emerge in this country....
View ArticleWhat is Social Progress?
Very interesting post by Daniel Little, discussing the meaning of social progress. UnderstandingSociety: Social progressWhat is involved in "making society better"? What do we have in mind when we...
View ArticleThe Vienna Declaration
The Vienna Declaration is a scientific statement stressing that conventional illicit drug policies have failed to achieve their intended objectives and that evidence-based public health approaches are...
View ArticleCancer, Infant Mortality and Birth Sex-Ratio in Fallujah, Iraq 2005–2009
I found this interesting study about the long term impact of the "Battle of Fallujah" on the health of the residents:Chris Busby,Malak Hamdan, and Entesar Ariabi, Cancer, Infant Mortality and Birth...
View ArticleThe Political Landscape in Indiana is Bleak
Last week, I received a call from someone at Organizing for America (Obama's political machine), asking me if they could count on my support for the Democratic candidates in the Senate and House races...
View ArticleThe Dishonor of Militarism
An excellent article I came across at the Future of Freedom Foundation.The Dishonor of Militarism by Sheldon Richman.It's not only Beck and Palin, Obama is no better. See A Speech for Endless War by...
View ArticleDevils and the Deep Blue Sea
This interesting post by Jeff Huber is yet another warning that something's rotten in the state of US. So sad it makes me want to laugh, or maybe so bizarre it makes me want to cry. Either way, the...
View ArticleReligious Leaders Condemn Growing Islamophobia
Some good news that the US has not yet completely succumbed to mass hysteria: Religious Leaders Condemn Growing Islamophobia by Jim Lobe.But where are the political "leaders" of this country? Half are...
View ArticleAmerican Decline?
I'm not sure whether this is a pessimistic or optimistic prediction about the not too distant future of America, but it makes sense to me: One and a Half Cheers for American Decline by Tom Engelhardt
View ArticleThe Army of God?
Deeply troubling investigation by Kelly Vlahos. Read it here: Doctor Chaplain and the Army of God. How long before this Christian Army decides to overthrow a civilian government that doesn't suit it? I...
View ArticleResearchers find a 'liberal gene'
Not sure what to think of this, but certainly advances in scientific knowledge are bound to continue to surprise us. Here's one more piece of data to consider in the age-old debate between nature and...
View ArticleAnother North Korean Provocation? Think Again.
Must read if you're wondering what the heck is going on in Korea. It's actually pretty simple, but don't count on the mainstream media to report it that way.Korean Conundrum: Is There a Way Out? by...
View ArticleBradley Manning is a hero
In our perverted world, cold-blooded killers are hailed as brave heroes, but decent and selfless people like Bradley Manning and Julian Assange, who have performed an incredible service to humanity,...
View ArticleTerrorist by Association
Great article about the nonviolent solidarity activists who were recently targeted by the FBI. Well worth reading. Make sure to watch the 3 minute video interview with one of the targeted...
View ArticleBudgeting and the Slutsky Matrix
I've been trying with not much success over the last few years to come up with a workable budget for my family. I should find my lack of success surprising. After all, I'm an economist. I teach about...
View ArticleA Tale of Two Presidents
This article was published in slightly edited form in the March issue of the Indiana Peace and Justice Journal In early February 2011, George W. Bush was forced to cancel a planned visit to Switzerland...
View ArticleThe Voucher Trojan Horse
This article was published in the May issue of the Indianapolis PEace and Justice Journal. The ads are slick. “Aim higher”, we’re told. “Give every child a chance.” “Pay teachers based on their...
View ArticleThere would be no opportunity cost?
I've been reading Rod Hill & Tony Myatt's very well done "The Economics Anti-Textbook: A Critical Thinker's Guide to Microeconomics." It is meant as an antidote to a lot of the misleading...
View ArticleLegalizing and Taxing Commerce in Marijuana
On Thursday July 28th, I testified at the Indiana State House in front of a panel of legislators considering revisions to the marijuana laws. It was an interesting experience. The complete text of my...
View ArticleCasualties of war and sunk costs
I came across this article in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Very interesting research. The authors find that reminding people of American soldiers’ death and injuries tends to firm up...
View ArticleWhen Chomsky wept
Just a link to a terrific article about one one the world's foremost intellectuals, "great soul," and someone worthy of being called a hero. When Chomsky wept
View ArticleCampus Parking Privatization
The Indiana Business Journal and the Chronicle for Higher Education reported some time ago that Indiana University's trustees are seriously considering privatizing campus parking. More recently, it was...
View ArticleWhy I am not a Progressive
The following article What Should Be Progressive or Humanitarian Response to Suspected Chemical Attack in Syria? quotes Joe Stork, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North...
View ArticleReasonable Doubt
Many arguments have been advanced as to why the U.S. should not rush to bomb Syria. One apparently compelling argument raises the issue of “reasonable doubt” as in the following article: Syria: why...
View ArticleIU’s Banded Tuition: a Bad Idea
Effective Fall 2016, Indiana University is set to begin a policy for charging tuition referred to as Banded Tuition. Interested readers can find the details here. In a nutshell, part-time students...
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