Latest Entries
Important Implications of the Aging Population in the U.S. Workforce
Medicare / Social Insurance Programs / Social Security

Important Implications of the Aging Population in the U.S. Workforce

The recent debates on retirement policy are anything but productive. The main points revolve around the rising debt and health care costs, as well as increasing the retirement age. While these concerns are important, retirement policy in the United States (and in the world) needs another look. More and more people are living to the … Continue reading

Cruz Control: Long Senate Speeches and How a Non-Filibuster Can Still Wield Power
Affordable Care Act / Healthcare / Politics / U.S. Senate

Cruz Control: Long Senate Speeches and How a Non-Filibuster Can Still Wield Power

While Senator Ted Cruz’s September 24 speech condemning the Affordable Care Act was not technically a filibuster, the length of time he spent talking without yielding the floor is notable in the history of speeches delivered in the Senate. Filibusters are intended to delay or prevent voting on a piece of legislation. A senator may … Continue reading

Improving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
CFPB / Regulation

Improving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

It has been more than two years since the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a Dodd-Frank requirement intended to regulate financial services and to protect Americans from another financial crisis. Despite start-up challenges, lawsuits questioning its legitimacy, accusations that it is too powerful, and the controversial recess appointment of Director Richard Cordray, … Continue reading

The Ripple Effects of Obama’s Disastrous Syria Policy
Foreign Policy / Middle East

The Ripple Effects of Obama’s Disastrous Syria Policy

Nearly everyone, regardless of personal political beliefs, will agree that President Obama’s stance(s) on Syria has been perplexing.  Syria’s conflict began back in March 2011 as a popular uprising during the Arab Spring.  As the conflict transformed into a civil war, rumblings grew for international intervention.  On August 20, 2012, Obama stated that his red … Continue reading

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease: A Great Threat to Our National Budget
Healthcare

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease: A Great Threat to Our National Budget

Since the last election, the national budget has been a sore spot between Republicans and Democrats. Government programs such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are leading the debates on reducing the national budget. With all the on-going arguments, our politicians seem to be oblivious of a greater threat to the budget. People with Alzheimer’s … Continue reading

“Bad Romance”: Shale Gas Boom and the Emergence of Strange Alliances
Energy / Environment

“Bad Romance”: Shale Gas Boom and the Emergence of Strange Alliances

Shale gas discoveries has proliferated in the United States as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, a relatively new technology, has allowed an efficient way to extract shale gas, producing a cheaper and cleaner source of energy than coal.  The shale gas boom happening in the United States which has resulted in an economy-boosting decrease in gas prices … Continue reading