John A. Parnell, Ph.D.
I understand why progressives feel disdain for the recent election. While President-elect Trump has some progressive tendencies, he’s a far cry from President Obama or Secretary Clinton. But what frustrates me the most is the complete lack of understanding of anyone or anything in disagreement to the progressive agenda. This frustration can be seen clearly […]
Read MoreThere’s a reason why Marxism in practice is often called creeping socialism. It’s built one entitlement—or entitlement enhancement—at a time. Once in place, entitlements are difficult to undo because reformers must survive a siege of charges that they are taking something away from someone. The “something” can be food on the table, unemployment benefits, social […]
Read MoreOn Monday I addressed a group of business leaders in Mexico City. We covered a lot, including global trade. I wasn’t surprised that Trump, NAFTA, and the wall were hot topics in the Q&A. Essentially, I was asked to explain the Trump-trade phenomenon by Mexican managers who have benefitted over the years from the growth […]
Read MoreToday we will decide who will be our next president. The winner will have a lot to do with immigration, trade, and the Supreme Court. Don’t get me wrong, this is a huge election. But I’d like to point out some very important issues that will remain on the table no matter who wins. This […]
Read MoreThere’s a lot of confusion about taxes in this and every election cycle. Here’s what you should keep in mind as you dissect the plans proposed by the two major presidential candidates. Before we start, taxes are essential to an economy. Even a limited constitutional government requires revenue to operate. A lower tax rate is […]
Read MoreIssues related to economics and business were front and center during the first presidential debate. There is a lot I could discuss, but Lester Holt’s opening question is enough for this post: There are two economic realities in America today. There’s been a record six straight years of job growth, and new census numbers show […]
Read MoreI recently reread Paul Krugman’s bestseller, Conscience of a Liberal. My respect for Krugman has waned over the years, but I still try to give him the benefit of the doubt when I can. There are some decent economists on the left, but most of them just can’t put the pieces of the puzzle in […]
Read MorePolls get far too much attention in the press, especially several months before an election. Nonetheless, the misnomers about the polling process never cease to amaze me. I’ve addressed polling in the past, but I’m going to update my comments in this post. Who you ask, what you ask, how you ask, and how you […]
Read MoreMy last few blogs have addressed the free/fair trade debate. This one focuses on government subsidies. The argument on subsidies goes like this: It’s not fair that US companies have to compete with firms that are subsidized in some way by other governments. In countries like China, many firms are partially- or wholly-owned by the […]
Read MoreI’ve decided to post at least one more blog on the free/fair trade debate, this one on government regulations. Free trade opponents in the US typically argue that Mexico, China, Viet Nam, and other less-developed trade partners do not have a similar regulatory infrastructure. Because “they don’t care about the environment or treating people fairly,” […]
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