Economics, Etc. »

TIRED OF FILLING OUT TAX FORMS?

Michael Kurth April 16, 2015 Comments Off on TIRED OF FILLING OUT TAX FORMS?

Perhaps It’s Time For A Different Tax System Its April, spring is finally in the air, and millions of Americans are busy assembling documents and receipts in an effort to meet the April 15

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WHY U.S. ‘LIBERALS’ AREN’T LIBERAL

Michael Kurth April 2, 2015 Comments Off on WHY U.S. ‘LIBERALS’ AREN’T LIBERAL

Liberalism:  “The political doctrine that takes protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual to be the central problem of politics. Liberals typically believe that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed

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THE ENEMY WITHIN

Michael Kurth March 25, 2015 Comments Off on THE ENEMY WITHIN

This article is dedicated to my Muslim friends, former colleagues and students. The call has gone out for followers of ISIS living abroad to launch “lone wolf” terrorist attacks. This is certain to cast

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IS THE BIG BOOM FINALLY STARTING?

Michael Kurth March 5, 2015 Comments Off on IS THE BIG BOOM FINALLY STARTING?

I just took a look at the most recent sales tax report from the School Board and the numbers are pretty impressive. The chart below shows our sales tax revenues over the past 10

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THE ENEMY IN THE WAR ON TERROR

Michael Kurth February 19, 2015 Comments Off on THE ENEMY IN THE WAR ON TERROR

The current debate over how to label the enemy in our so-called “war on terror” reminded me of a column I wrote for Lagniappe one week after the 9/11 attack.  I asked the editor

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HOLLYWOOD AND POLITICS

Michael Kurth February 5, 2015 Comments Off on HOLLYWOOD AND POLITICS

The Academy Awards are just around the corner. Normally, I don’t pay much attention to the shenanigans of movie stars and celebrities. My youngest son, Billy, is the family movie guru; he is in

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2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Michael Kurth January 22, 2015 Comments Off on 2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

A number of notable events occurred last year, most of them not particularly good. Here is my recap of what I consider the most significant. The year began with the legalization of recreational marijuana

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The PLUMMETING PRICE OF OIL

Michael Kurth January 8, 2015 Comments Off on The PLUMMETING PRICE OF OIL

The week I wrote this column, several gas stations around town were selling gasoline for $2.39 a gallon. The reason for the lower price is that oil has fallen from $115 a barrel last

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Gifts You Won’t Find In Stores

Michael Kurth December 18, 2014 Comments Off on Gifts You Won’t Find In Stores

Each year, I write a column about Christmas gifts that are not found in any store, or even on any website. For example, Christmas came early this year for five million undocumented workers, when

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Republicans Capture The Senate

Michael Kurth December 5, 2014 Comments Off on Republicans Capture The Senate

According to the polls, the midterm elections were supposed to be real nail-biters, as Republicans tried to wrest control of the U.S. Senate from Harry Reid and the Democrats. Instead, Republicans swept to victory

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