EP 54 THE FUTURE OF PUERTO RICO
https://congressionaldish.com/
For generations the mainland U.S. has heaped insults and injury upon the people of Puerto Rico. It’s a history that few understand but has stripped the island of its resources and economic prosperity, while leaving its political status in question. Jen Briney, creator of the ‘Congressional Dish’ podcast, took at trip there recently to better understand the issues as Congress considers various pieces of legislation regarding the island and its relationship to our nation. We will also gain her insights on how Congress is now dealing with this issue and the many legislative responsibilities awaiting a slow to respond House and Senate.
As a bonus, we have included an interview with Nelson Denis, author of ‘The War Against All Puerto Ricans’ which has provided an eye-opening account on the many abuses heaped upon the island by mainland U.S. His writings are some of the most controversial you will find about a history little known by Americans on and off the island. It’s a vital backdrop to understanding the economic plight of the island today.
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Many states are facing their greatest budget battles since the Great Recession. Illinois wins the prize for the biggest basket case economically, but there are a slew of other states teetering on the brink of fiscal collapse and lowered bond ratings. Some 33 states report lower revenues than initially projected which is the highest number of states to come up short since the Great Recession blew a huge hole in state budgets in 2010. Many cities, including Connecticut’s capital, Hartford, are considering bankruptcy. No one covers this beat like Steve Malanga, of the Manhattan Institute. He is often writing about this topic in their City Journal and the Wall Street Journal.
Want a tax break Corporation X or Y? Well, what have you done for the American economy lately to justify it? That’s the thinking of Chris Macke, an investment strategist for over twenty-five years with major corporations in this country. He’s starting Solutionomics, a non-partisan platform dedicated to persuading Congress of more innovative solutions for creating a more dynamic American economy. If you want to hear something fresh on the subject, listen to our podcast with him.
Ron Paul rose out of obscurity as a Texas Congressman to be embraced politically by a diverse coalition, including young and old. He also ran for President three times, twice as a Republican and once as a Libertarian. Now, out of elective politics, he has established an Institute for Peace and Prosperity. That organization is designed to advance an agenda that includes less military adventurism abroad and more fiscal responsibility and reform at home. He also wants to keep his concerns about civil liberties and government overreach in public view. He selected his former Congressional aide, Daniel McAdams, to be executive director of this Institute. He joins us on this episode. http://ronpaulinstitute.org/
So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time….
If we all want love, why is there such much conflict in our most intimate relationships? How do we choose who we mate with–and how do we lose them?
The authors of a book on the subject tell you how to stop hidden anger from spoiling your relationships, career and happiness.
There’s a non-partisan reform coalition called ‘Common Good’ that offers Americans a new way to look at law and government. They have some creative ideas about restoring common sense to all three branches of government. Their key principle is simple, but powerful. People, not rules, should prevail when assessing the effectiveness of laws and regulations. So, practicallly speaking, how do you unlock people within bureaucracies to substitute reason for inflexible rules? And how do you focus more on results than process? Many changes will be required in torder to accomplish their objectives. Philip K. Howard, the founder of the organization, has enlisted people like Bill Bradley, a Democrat, and Republicans like Alan Simpson, to advocate for changes. We’ll let you in on their thinking on this episode of our podcast.