Course Evaluation

I would appreciate it if you would give me some honest feedback about our class this semester. What were your likes and dislikes? Provide any constructive criticism and/or suggestions.
You may respond to this blog using the anonymous option.

Also use the following link to complete a brief survey= Click here to take survey

Who should Obama nominate?

With John Paul Stevens announced retirement at the end of this Court term, who should President Obama appoint to take his place? Republicans have warned him that they might filibuster his nominee if he chooses someone too liberal. Below are links that provide information on some of his potential choices. Read over them and indicate which you think would be his best choice.

Diane Wood
Merrick Garland
Elana Kagan
Pamela Karlan
Kathleen Sullivan

This article reviews some of the potential candidates when Justice David Souter retired last year and was replaced by Sonia Sotomayor.

The Federal Deficit: What to do?

The federal budget has not been in surplus since the first years of this decade. With a recession and governmental stimulus packages and other entitlements, the deficit (and with it the debt) are rising. What should be done to bring the budget into balance? Or should we worry about a deficit during bad economic times?

If you were the budget "czar' what you do? Cut spending? If so, what spending would you cut? Raise taxes? What taxes would you raise? Or would you introduce new revenue streams?

What should be the role of government? What should it provide to its citizens?