The Confederate Flag has become, somewhat surprisingly, the focal point of the Charleston, SC shooting tragedy. Though I agree the flag should be removed from public buildings and from any representation on state flags, I am concerned by how it has happened. History is a weapon in the culture war and things will only progress […]

Well, the Supreme Court has done it again.  By a vote of 6-3, including in the majority Chief Justice John Roberts, the court in the case of King v. Burwell, upheld the Obama administration’s reading of the Obamacare law that dealt with state exchanges.  You may remember, that this had been the subject of a […]

This is Part Two of my long blog concerning Pope Francis’s global climate change (and generally environmental and poverty focused) encyclical Laudato Si, issued last Thursday.  I am a little to sorry to say this part will be at least as long as the first, but look at this way:  You could read the full […]

Inside Out is an anomaly. Think of all the qualities that comprise your typical animated film and here, and not for the first time, Pixar ignores most of them. Not only does it strain convention by taking place inside the main character’s head, but Inside Out also has a dearth of singing, slapstick, and cultural references. […]

The Greek drama may finally be ending as soon as Monday, as end it must at some point.  Greece will exit the Euro, and the question is what will happen?  I don’t claim any special insight into what that will be, but there are a few points about this we should consider. First, Greece’s problem […]

I am going to make an argument here that we have now as a society encountered—for perhaps the first time in history—an “ontological crisis.”  What do I mean?  I mean a crisis about reality.  Now I don’t believe this crisis is particularly influential for most ordinary people, nor for most subjects of investigation.  A philosopher […]

Pope Francis issued his long-awaited encyclical today, entitled, Ladato Si or “Praise to You [O Lord].”  The 183 page document is concerned with the environment and more specifically with global climate change.  I am in the process of making my way through it, but have a few initial comments get things going.  First, the Pope […]

Over 55 historians recently signed a letter expressing their dissent to the new Framework established by the College Board for AP US History courses all across the country.  Over 460,000 students took the AP US History exam in 2014.  Each summer, hundreds of AP US History teachers and college professors meet together to grade these […]

Andrew MCarthy has an interesting post in the National Review Online, in which he says opponents of the TPA (Trade Promotion Authority), which gives the president the authority to ask for an “up-or-down” vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the real legislation, are off base for their opposition.  His argument is technically true.  What is […]

One of the joys of teaching economics is pointing out the foolishness of poor economic choices.  It is precisely by showing the linkage between cause and effect  and demonstrating unintended consequences that helps students understand “the economic way of thinking.”  As a monetary economist, there is perhaps no better visual aid than passing around an […]