The Sequester that Saved the Economy

http://www.forbes.com/sites/briandomitrovic/2013/03/05/the-sequester-that-saved-the-economy/ Due 18 March 2013. What is the author's point as to why this sequester will save the economy? In his opinion, does Keynesian economics work?? What will work to stabilize the economy?

Rick Scott Agrees To Expand Medicaid Program in Florida

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/rick-scott-medicaid_n_2728187.html,,,,,,Due 25 Feb 2013. Separate politics from economics...... What will this program do for the people of Florida? Will it improve our human condition or break the bank? You're paying for it---what do you think?? Is it worth the opportunity cost??

CBO Paints Rosier Economic Picture for 2013

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/02/05/cbo-paints-rosier-economic-picture-for-2013. Due 11 February 2013. Discuss 2 positive and 2 negative predictions regarding the economy in 2013.

9 Facts That Prove Joe Stiglitz Is Right About Climate Change Hurting The Economy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/joe-stiglitz-climate-change-economy_n_2432744.html Due 22 Jan 2013. What do these projected costs mean to you and your family??

FICA's Bite: Wages Subject to Social Security Tax to Increase in 2013

http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/compensation/Articles/Pages/FICA-Social-Security-Tax-2013.aspx DUE 22 January 2013. Should social security taxes have stayed at 4% or raised up to 6.2%??? Should wealthier Americans have the right to collect social security when they retire??

Robots and Robber Barons

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/opinion/krugman-robots-and-robber-barons.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1& Due 17 Dec 2012. What argument is Krugman making when he speaks of the old "capital vs. labor" argument? What does he says about the wage gap of college students? And what about the robber barons??? Are they back??

Michigan GOP approves right to work amid union protests

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-michigan-right-to-work-20121207,0,6331751.story. Due 10 Dec 2012....(3rd article). What are the pros and cons of "right to work"? Which do you believe is the better policy?

Unemployment rate falls to 7.7% as job growth weathers Hurricane Sandy

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-economy-jobs-20121206,0,4378298.story. Due 10 Dec 2012...(2nd article). What does the author cite as reasons for the low unemployment rate? Is this good or bad??

Fiscal cliff offers hint at billions more in defense cuts on top of 10-year, $500B reduction

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/182135801.html?refer=y Due 10 Dec 2012. Which parts of these proposals do you favor? Why?

Asking Alex Berezow: Why has science become so political? Read more: Asking Alex Berezow: Why has science become so political?

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conscience-realist/2012/sep/24/alex-berezow-politics-modern-science/ Due 3 December 2012. What do you think? Remember to keep an economics perspective.....

Greece and the EU: Battle for the (third) bailout

http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2012/11/greece-and-eu Due 19 November 2012. What problems in Greece have led to a bailout by the EU? Why is the EU's anger increasing? What solutions do you propose?

The Devil They Know

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2012/11/asia-and-obama-victory Due 19 November 2012. Why is Asia glad that Obama won reelection? Why did Pakistan want a Romney victory?

Krugman Tells Obama: Don't Make A Deal

http://www.businessinsider.com/krugman-on-the-fiscal-cliff-2012-11. Due 13 November 2012. What will happen if we "fall off" the fiscal cliff?? Why does Krugman take the position that a "deal" is bad for America? How do you think this situation should be handled? (Use economic knowledge in your answers)

U.S. fiscal cliff risks dragging global economy into darkness

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/07/business/opinion-dadush-obama-economy/ Due 13 November 2012. What is the fiscal cliff? What issues to be eliminated (if we default) are of greatest concern to you? (be sure to do the second article for this week as well)

Economy That Boosted Obama Looks Nothing Like 2008’s

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-11-06/obama-re-elected-with-economy-nothing-like-2008-s Due 13 November 2012. According to the article, what are the differences between the economy of 2008 and 2012? How are forecasters (such as the Fed) viewing the future economy in the US?

Florida, The Richest Prize of All

http://www.economist.com/node/21562969 .....Due 5 Nov 2012. What makes Florida such a "rich prize" in the electoral college? What specific demographics in Florida are changing the way Floridians vote?

Spanish Unemployment Rate Hits New Peak

http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/26/news/economy/spain-unemployment-rate/  Due 29 Oct 2012.   What is to blame for this extreme unemployment rate?   Should the European Union be responsible for the problems faced in Spain (or its other members)?

Lies, Damned Lies and the 7.8 Unemployment Rate

http://www.businessinsider.com/john-williams-on-lies-damned-lies-and-the-78-unemployment-rate-2012-10   Due 15 October 2012. Comment on the author's interpretation of the unemployment rate. Make sure you also comment on the second blog post.

The Truth About Jobs

http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/unemployment/   Due 15 Oct 2012. Why does Paul Krugman state that we should be cautious even after the new unemployment numbers of 7.8 came out? Why should we be optimistic?

Drizzle and Drought

http://www.economist.com/node/21563304 Due 1 October 2012.  This article describes basic supply and demand concepts.  Discuss the back-end costs and benefits of the olive oil industry.