We all became aware of Mayor Bloomberg’s war on obesity this May, when he proposed a ban for New York City on sugary drinks larger than 16 oz. This was an extreme response to the ongoing obesity epidemic that plagues our nation, and worst of all, our children. Although the soda ban was overly paternalistic, … Continue reading
Latest Entries
For Egypt’s Mohammed Morsi, Pragmatics Outweigh Ideology
It’s a familiar story in democracies – a politician runs for office and is elected on a particular platform. Soon after taking office the realities of leadership force him to reign in his promises and govern more pragmatically. The story, it seems, translates into Arabic. AN IDEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND Egypt’s President, Mohammed Morsi, ran and was … Continue reading
Fact-Based Opinions: The User’s Manual
The game of politics. Some wish they could win it; everyone wishes they could understand it. Naturally, the game involves playing. (It is a game, after all.) So, it comes as no surprise when, during this political season, “Fact Checkers” pop up left and right. We laypeople need the plain truth, not the politicized version … Continue reading
Time for a tough call on Syria
President Obama has waffled for too long on Syria. It didn’t want to intervene but it was hesitant to do nothing. The middle ground it chose is bad for Syrians, bad for the region, and bad for American foreign policy. Obama has prioritized good politics above good policy long enough in Syria – he needs … Continue reading
Overtaxing: The FCC’s Broadband Tax
In April, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filed a request for comments on a proposal that would effectively place a tax on broadband Internet service. This move has largely flown under the radar, but fortunately, people have begun to take notice. Obviously, a tax on broadband Internet service would have a large impact across the country, … Continue reading
With No Power Comes No Responsibility: The EPA Oversteps Again
On August 21, 2012, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). CSAPR is an attempt to implement the “good neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act that requires “upwind States” to prevent “sources within their borders from emitting … ‘amounts’ of pollution that travel across state lines” … Continue reading
CFTC / Economy / Fiscal policy / Regulation
The Dodd-Frank Act’s Effect on: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an independent agency, is charged with helping to regulate futures markets. The CFTC Chairman, Gary Gensler, stated that, “the Wall Street reform bill (Dodd-Frank) will – for the first time – bring comprehensive regulation to the swaps market place. Swap dealers will be subject to robust oversight.” The Dodd-Frank … Continue reading
Smoke and Guns: Pulling the Parent Trigger
What are Parent Trigger Laws? The Parent Trigger movement has caused quite a stir in the education world ever since the first enactment in California. It is now in full effect in six other states including Texas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia, with a pilot program in Columbus, Ohio as well. Furthermore, it … Continue reading
America / Economy / Fiscal policy / Gov. Officials / National Security / Politics / U.S. Domestic Policy
The Sequester
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2i8KZtQRTI&feature=g-upl
That crazy bill our politicians refuse to address. Featuring economic policy experts Joe Minarik and Doug Holtz-Eakin. A video by Peter G. Peterson Foundation Interns Ben Gitis of American Action Forum and Kathryn Tinker of Committee for Economic Development.
Demonizing Multinationals: How President Obama Avoids a Policy Discussion and Prevents America From Moving Forward
In demonizing Bain for outsourcing, President Obama is implicitly criticizing the act of outsourcing itself without the facts to back himself up. Of the 598 American companies on Forbes world’s largest firms list, only 15 percent publically report their foreign employment numbers. While President Obama’s blind attacks on this legal right are clearly groundless, the … Continue reading
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