Here’s a list of articles that I have been reading lately:
What Would Jesus Do?
blogs.the-american-interest.com
“As was widely reported by the media both in Britain and in this country, on October 15, 2011 Occupy London (the British imitator of the Occupy Wall Street movement) put up a protest camp in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral. With more than two hundred tents in place, the camp impeded the regular activities of the Cathedral …One of the clerics came into the camp to discuss with the protesters. He was confronted with a sign that said “What would Jesus do?”Does this question make any sense?”
Global Green Treaty Dead Through 2020
blogs.the-american-interest.com
“This is the week in which the parrot stopped pining for the fjords; the British Guardian newspaper has given up hope for a global climate treaty taking effect before 2020. The worthless and deceptive Kyoto Protocol will expire next year, and it will be replaced by… nothing.”
Why the Super Committee Failed
online.wsj.com
“In The Wall Street Journal, Jeb Hensarling writes that Democrats refused to accept anything less than $1 trillion in tax hikes and refused to offer meaningful reforms in health-care entitlements … Ultimately, the committee did not succeed because we could not bridge the gap between two dramatically competing visions of the role government should play in a free society, the proper purpose and design of the social safety net, and the fundamentals of job creation and economic growth.”
Thank You, Grover Norquist
online.wsj.com
“Democrats don’t believe they need to do more than tinker around the edges of the entitlement state while raising taxes on the rich. Republicans think the growth of government is unsustainable and can’t be financed no matter how much taxes are raised. Sounds like we need an election.”
TaxProf Blog: GE Filed 57,000-Page Tax Return
taxprof.typepad.com
“General Electric, one of the largest corporations in America, filed a whopping 57,000-page federal tax return earlier this year but didn’t pay taxes on $14 billion in profits. The return, which was filed electronically, would have been 19 feet high if printed out and stacked.”
Pepper Spray Before Profits at UC Davis? Privatize the Police
“Profits and losses would provide the discipline that government monopolies lack.”
cafehayek.com
Fascinating discussion concerning the problem of “confirmation bias”, which involves ignoring evidence which does not support an already formed theory…
Bachelor’s Degree Is Still Best Path to Middle-Class Earnings, Report Says
chronicle.com
The latest on this (somewhat controversial) topic from the Chronicle of Higher Education…
Obama’s Failing Iran Diplomacy
professional.wsj.com
“In The Wall Street Journal, Richard Grenell writes that President Bush got five Security Council resolutions passed on Iran. Obama has one to his credit.”
U. of C. creates platform for economists in public policy debates
www.chicagotribune.com “A new website is assembling what it calls “the world’s best economics department” in a bid to give prominent academic economists a louder and unfiltered voice in key public-policy debates …Survey results and a list of participants are posted at http://www.igmchicago.org/igm-economic-experts-panel.”
The Police Remove the Occupy Wall Street Tents
professional.wsj.com
“In The Wall Street Journal, Information Age columnist Gordon Crovitz notes that the law is clear: the First Amendment does not protect unlawful behavior that poses a threat to health and safety.”
The Hillary Moment
professional.wsj.com
“In The Wall Street Journal, Patrick Caddell and Douglas Schoen write that President Obama can’t win by running a constructive campaign, and he won’t be able to govern if he does win a second term. Hillary Clinton, they argue, is the better Democratic candidate.”
Dollars for Diplomas
blogs.wsj.com
“How much is a college degree worth? Less than many thing but usually more than it costs, economists say.”
Congress: Trading stock on inside information?
Informative 15 minute (“60 Minutes”) segment (originally broadcast on CBS on 11/13/2011) concerning how members of Congress “get away” with insider trading.
Only 80% of US teens on Social Media
www.vogelitlawblog.com
The following quote puts this in some perspective: “Since Pew recently reported that 65% of adults are using Social Media daily (up from 5% in 2005) the new Pew report that 80% of teens use Social Media certain means the age gap on Social Media is closing.”
College Does Pay Off, but It’s No Free Ride
online.wsj.com
“The swelling ranks of unemployed young college graduates are left with a diploma, stacks of student-loan bills and lingering questions about just how much that degree is worth.”