Now that Puerto Rico might break our 53-year streak of a 50-state Union, who should bear the torch as the proverbial 52nd state? I suggest the Mariana Islands. Most of you are asking, “But James, where is that?” This is an island chain in the Pacific currently made up of two political entities you may … Continue reading
In the first part of this series on the history of the national debt, we looked at what factors caused the national debt to grow or shrink in the short-term. This week, we will take a step back and focus on how successive presidential administrations have affected the national debt over time. As we discovered … Continue reading
Our elections may be over, but our growing national debt remains. It is also approaching unprecedented levels—last year, it exceeded 100% of GDP for only the fourth time in history. The other three times were during World War II, when we were fighting a war on all seven continents. Yet the economy is recovering from … Continue reading
Few people lack an opinion on “what” the NASA should be doing. But even fewer have tried to answer the overarching question of “why” we would want to invest considerable resources in exploring our extraterrestrial neighborhood. Yet a comprehensive answer may be the key to reviving the struggling space program. This week, the George C. … Continue reading
Historians rightfully get a bit leery when they hear politicians talk about history. All too often, history becomes a convenient rhetorical device for promoting a political agenda. Both parties maintain an arsenal of historical narratives which they enjoy reciting to the public. Here are some common fallacies… Notion of Progress: “We are enlightened and our … Continue reading
China has an eye to increasing its investments in the Pacific, and a new development plan on the island of Yap in Micronesia (see map below) has been turning heads in the region. Kaselehlie Press, a Micronesian newspaper, has reported that the plan calls for 8 to 10 hotel complexes and 8 to 15 golf … Continue reading
Last Sunday, the private aerospace company SpaceX launched the first commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This launch, carried out by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket, is part of a $1.6 billion contract signed with NASA in 2006 to carry out at least 12 such missions. The unmanned launch carried needed supplies … Continue reading
The future of the Eurozone appears to hinge on Southern Europe at the moment. But eight states, almost all of them in Eastern Europe, may also play a role in the future of the currency bloc in the coming years. Under the terms of their entry to the EU, these states have agreed to adopt … Continue reading
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