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Culture
gun88

1.4 Million Shot Dead Since 1933: The Staggering Stupidity of Gun Violence

The number of Americans killed each year by guns and assault weapons is overwhelming. I have written previously about the pall gun violence casts on Chicago. Did you know that more Americans have died by guns since 1933, 1.4 mi...
by Marvin King
12
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Tim Scott: A Senator for Conservatives and Nothing Else

The news that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will name Tim Scott as Jim DeMint’s replacement in the Senate should not come as a surprise. The GOP, while disdainful of the so-called identity politics played by the Democra...
by Marvin King
0
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Education
Group of young graduates standing together outdoors smiling

Is a $10,000 College Degree Possible?

Unnecessary political intervention is one sure way to diminish a university’s educational mission. Many governors are not aware of this though. While Texas Governor Rick Perry failed in his run for the presidency, he is succe...
by Marvin King
1
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Economy
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Redefining Welfare

A favorite whipping boy of Republicans and conservative ideologues is welfare. Among all discretionary spending programs, TANF, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, formerly known as AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Chil...
by Marvin King
0
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Culture
fri2

Poverty, Thanksgiving and Black Friday

On Black Friday, I finished reading Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity. It is a classic example of narrative nonfiction. It is so good that it won the 2012 National Book...
by Marvin King
0
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Ryan, Cantor, Boehner and the Failure of the 2012 Election

Why is political compromise so difficult? In an election year where Congress’s approval ratings are historically low, Americans still returned more than 90% of the incumbents who stood for reelection. This happens because of ...
by Marvin King
0
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mj678

Legalizing Marijuana: Will Colorado End the Drug War?

The recent legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington State is an important development for both political and policy reasons. In Washington, Initiative 502 passed with 55% of the vote. The measure “legalizes the pr...
by Marvin King
0
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mandate3

A Winner’s Mandate?

Many commentators ask if in an electorate as closely divided as America’s, is it possible that the winner will have a mandate? Pundits will say the winner is not receiving a clear and unmistakable message of what course Ameri...
by Marvin King
0
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Was Martin Luther King a Republican?

This seems to happen every election season. In an effort to attract the black vote, conservatives try to convince African American voters that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Republican. Here’s the truth. Martin Luther King, Se...
by Marvin King
25
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Education
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On Education: Barack Obama v. Mitt Romney

President Obama has instituted Race to the Top. This series of reforms allows states to submit to the Department of Education a series of reforms and apply for funds from a $4.35 billion pool dedicated to education reform. The ...
by Marvin King
4
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Are Pundits the Problem?

In a lecture last week, I explained to 200 college freshman about opinion leaders and the two-step flow of information. This is the process by which well-informed opinion leaders shape the political views of less informed Ameri...
by Marvin King
0
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Debating Obama: Why the Media Hyperventilates Over Every Misstep

Ever since last week’s poor debate performance, Democratic partisans have been in “agony,” nervous angry and despondent over Barack Obama’s chances. They believe that one bad night in Denver will ruin his chance at reel...
by Marvin King
0
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Economy
VA-sign

Obama vs. Romney in VA, OH, FL… and Swing-State Economies

The old adage that politics is local remains true in 2012. While most polls spout out national projections, as I wrote earlier, it is best to pay attention to state-level polling. In several states, Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, C...
by Marvin King
0
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Culture
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The 50th Anniversary of the Integration of the University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi commemorates the 50th anniversary of its integration this fall. Attorney General Eric Holder will provide the keynote address at the University’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Fall Con...
by Marvin King
0
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Economy
taxhike

Why the GOP Always Peddles Tax Cuts and Why It Doesn’t Work

On a surface level, tax cuts appeal to everyone. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate having a little extra money from their paycheck? In a world without fiscal consequences, it should be easy to win election after election wit...
by Marvin King
0
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