Author: Citizen Rat

I teach courses in Economics and International Relations at Shawnee State University, a small public University in Southern Ohio. I also teach and train in Shotokan Karate.The opinions expressed on this blog are my own opinions and do not represent the views of my University or any other organization.

Conspiracy Theories and Academic Freedom: Part I.

I recently read about the case of Joy Karega, who was dismissed last fall from her tenure track position at Oberlin College for "intellectual dishonesty" in her Facebook posts (for a few more specifics on this case, see also here).  The initial objections to her Facebook posts stemmed from their allegedly anti-semitic character.  At least one of … Continue reading Conspiracy Theories and Academic Freedom: Part I. →

Reforming Economics Education

There is a good deal of discussion these days about what is wrong with how economics is taught at the University level. For some examples, see Lars Syll's blog , The Institute for New Economic Thinking, and this recent article in VOX about controversies surrounding Greg Mankiw's Principles of Economics course and text and alternatives to it at Harvard. I've now completed the … Continue reading Reforming Economics Education →

Why Centrist Democrats are Wrong

In a recent column, political commentator and centrist Democrat  Fareed Zakaria  argues that the current round of progressive policy proposals such as The Green New Deal  and Single Payer Health Care  are the wrong ideas for the Democratic Party. The right ideas, according to Zakaria, are the kinds of "wonky proposals" that centrists have advocated over the last … Continue reading Why Centrist Democrats are Wrong →

Who’s afraid of Socialism?

As a recent  article in the  The New Republic  notes, the word "socialism" has become virtually meaningless in American politics.  President Trump throws the word around as a scare tactic ,  Kamala Harris disavows it,  Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Octavio Cortes celebrate it, while others use it as a euphemism for National Health Insurance. It is not surprising … Continue reading Who’s afraid of Socialism? →

Democrats and Foreign Policy: Round 2

The recent    controversy    surrounding   Ilhan Omar   has  got me thinking more about both the Democrats and Republicans on foreign policy.  In reflecting on her comments, I am inclined to agree that her reference to "Benjamins" was at best, an unthinking resort to anti-Semitic tropes.  An     interesting article    in The Atlantic makes the argument that this kind of statement makes the sort of public discussion we need to have about Israel … Continue reading Democrats and Foreign Policy: Round 2 →

The Democrats’ Foreign Policy Problem

If one begins from the premise that the goal is to replace Donald Trump with a Progressive Democrat in 2020, there are  good reasons not to support Tulsi Gabbard in her Presidential bid. Then again, there are also  good reasons not to support Kamala Harris,   or for that matter, any of the erstwhile  centrist alternatives. My point … Continue reading The Democrats’ Foreign Policy Problem →