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R.I.P. Farm Bill

Last fall I wrote a piece for The Cornell Policy Review examining the history of the US farm bill and identifying stakeholder conflicts that have rendered administration of the bill impossible. I suggested that the recurring five-year omnibus bills be separated to increase the level of consideration given to the two largest components: direct agriculture… Read more »

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The Countdown to the United States Federal Government Shutdown

AP photo Throughout most of United States’ history, fierce battles were waged over the direction of fiscal policy and management of the national budget. Many of these contests arose during periods when government was divided politically: most notably, the combinations of Reagan-O’Neill in the 1980s and Clinton-Gingrich in the 1990s. At times, this clash of… Read more »

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American Intervention in Syria: Good or Bad for the World?

Reuters / Jason Reed In last night’s primetime speech, President Barack Obama articulated to Americans and the world that the United States plans to shed its passive stance toward the Syrian conflict and launch airstrikes in defense of Syria’s civilians. On that same day, in a not-so-pleasant and desolate Syrian community, a civilian holdout ought… Read more »