COVID-19 has killed over 200,000 Americans while policies to stem the virus’ spread have caused enormous economic and societal harm. Any comparison must use a common metric, and economics uses dollars, even for human lives. No one can avoid placing a dollar value on saving lives; always choosing safety just places an infinite dollar value […]

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international campaign aimed at increasing awareness of this common disease, with the long-term goal of someday ending it entirely. Although deaths from breast cancer continue to decline, they’re falling at a slower rate than in previous years, and the number of cases we’re seeing is rising. […]

Over the last few election cycles, we’ve become accustomed to seeing the candidates for vice president square off in a debate. Perhaps this is acknowledging the greater responsibilities performed by modern-day vice presidents. I’ve always regretted that 60 years ago, vice presidential hopefuls Lyndon Johnson and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. didn’t debate. It would have […]

Baldwin County has united once again, standing alongside one another to lend a helping hand to fellow neighbors in the wake of disaster. As our county deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, we’re reminded of what Baldwin County is all about: serving our neighbors, no matter the circumstances, no matter the time, and doing […]

Congress was sent home by Speaker Pelosi last Friday without securing a deal with the White House or the Senate on the next COVID bill. While we were told we might get a 24-hours’ notice to return, our calendar doesn’t show us coming back to Washington until November 16. President Truman ran against the Republican […]

The United States has witnessed unprecedented economic disruption due to COVID-19. State and local governments closed thousands of “nonessential” businesses. Now, businesses have filed over 1,000 lawsuits against their insurance companies to collect for COVID losses. What should we make of this litigation? The businesses suing insurers include the NBA’s Houston Rockets, Minor League Baseball, […]

It is hard to believe autumn has arrived and the holiday season is right around the corner. As you know, with colder weather comes peak flu activity, and the world is still dealing with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Health officials are warning Americans to take certain precautions as these two viruses collide in hopes that […]

One of the hallmarks of our government is that every state is fairly represented in Congress. It doesn’t matter if you are from the big city or a rural area, our Constitution ensures that every American has the opportunity to elect someone to stand up for their community’s interests in the Capitol. However, one of […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused everyone to hit the pause button on life. During the stoppage and forced time away from routines, many people have come to appreciate the important things in life – family, friends and faith among others. Still, the loss of some routines and regular activities hurt worse than others, namely last […]

Near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, critics of President Donald Trump’s response to the novel virus claimed that he didn’t have a plan. They’ve derided him for not having a “national response” and have called for a nationwide lockdown and mask order. Critics pressed the president to use the power of the federal government […]

On the Friday night after Hurricane Sally passed, while many of us down here were still digging out and cleaning up and without electrical power, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. As an attorney, Justice Ginsburg was a leading advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. She was placed on the powerful U.S. […]

It has been since 1976 when Alabama voters last selected a Democrat for president. While Alabama continued to vote for Democrats at the local level, the state’s electors have sent their votes to the Republican nominee for the past 10 presidential election cycles. Since 2004, the Republican nominee has won by over 20 percentage points. […]

What would you do if you woke up tomorrow with millions of extra dollars in your bank account? At some point, most Alabamians have probably daydreamed of such a scenario. Perhaps you would buy a new house, a fancy car, or give it away to causes important to you. Here’s the catch, if you don’t […]

Imagine there’s a simple way to save your family money, help the environment and support the creation of American jobs in one simple step. It’s not science fiction. It’s the reality for motorists who have chosen to drive electric vehicles (EVs) instead of gasoline-powered cars and trucks and explains how EVs have emerged as the […]

Opinion polls consistently find that young Americans view socialism favorably. For example, in a recent Gallup poll, 49% of millennials and Gen Z’ers held a favorable view of socialism versus 32% of Baby Boomers. Does support for socialism indicate a need for more economic education in America’s high schools and colleges? As an economics professor, […]

Each September, National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized as we draw attention to the causes, warning signs, and treatment options for those affected by this tragedy. You may think to yourself that this annual campaign is certainly important, but how does it impact you? The truth is, we can all help to reduce and prevent […]

One aspect of living on Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast is the realization that the best-laid plan is no match for Mother Nature. The original plan was to gather on September 16 at the Gulf State Park Pier to celebrate the grand reopening of the 1,542-foot pier after a $2.4 million renovation. Although I’m a veteran […]

The aftermath of Hurricane Sally has left much of Southwest Alabama in bad shape. From the coasts of Mobile and Baldwin Counties to the northern parts of our district, winds and flooding have let many without essentials like power, water and shelter. Fortunately, help is on the way. As the forecast showed the storm approaching, […]

For a nation which loves sports as much as our land does, there are still a select few who have yet to grasp the concept – to the victor goes the spoils. Despite the temptation to provide participation trophies to all who wear a uniform as opposed to simply awarding those who win championships, there […]

Hillary Clinton … Barack Obama … John Kerry … Al Gore … Bill Clinton … Mike Dukakis … Walter Mondale. This rogue gallery of liberal Democrats was rejected by Alabamians by large margins when each of them sought the presidency, but interim U.S. Senator Doug Jones proudly voted for each of them when they appeared […]

Chick-fil-A makes delicious sandwiches without beef. But not on Sundays. Owned by Christians, the company also gives away millions of dollars each year to charitable organizations that help people who need assistance. Until recently, one of those was the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army, in its own words, “exists to meet human need wherever, whenever, […]

No one really knows how the game is played The art of the trade How the sausage gets made We just assume that it happens But no one else is in The room where it happens This description of 1790s American politics in the well-known musical Hamilton echoes a still-relevant sentiment–that regular Americans really don’t […]

The Houston Astros played at the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend for the first time since the revelation of Houston’s sign-stealing during their 2017 championship season. The biggest offseason story led to the firing of Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow and two other managers. Yet, according to a saying, “If you […]

I grew up in poverty. I know what it’s like to be without electricity and to move because the rent is past-due. I’ve lived the struggles, the poverty that limited opportunity brings. I was one of the students you hear about on TV who receive a free or reduced-price lunch. I saw my single mother […]