I just got back from the Domains19 conference and some thanks and perhaps observations are in order. It was a very interesting, stimulating, and useful conference. Frankly, I've come to expect nothing less from the ReclaimHosting crew: Jim, Tim, Lauren, Meredith, Judith, and Justin(?, we didn't meet yet, I think). It's a human level conference … Continue reading Domains19 Reflection, Well Really More of A Thanks.
Political Economy
Big Ag, Big Food, and the Commons -revisited
Today I'm reprising a talk I did last year with Professor Elizabeth Robison's Sociology class. We'll be discussing a brief history of agriculture and food production in the U.S. Key points are how the capital requirements, political dynamics, and technology developments have combined to make food production anything but the success story free market advocates … Continue reading Big Ag, Big Food, and the Commons -revisited
An Economics of Polarization
This post is a response to yesterday's discussion in Davidson Now’s pop-up MOOC, “Engagement in a Time of Polarization”. The key provocation for the discussion was Chris Gilliard's great essay Power, Polarization, and Tech. The video of the hangout discussion is embedded at the end of this post for you. In his discussion of … Continue reading An Economics of Polarization
Open Ed, Trump, Brexit
The #Trexit Conversation I'll be leading a panel discussion at OER17 called Open Education in a time of Trump and Brexit. Joining me in the panel live at the conference will be Maha Bali (@bali_maha), Lorna Campbell (@LornaMCampbell), and Martin Weller (@mweller). While we four could easily carry on a lively discussion for 80 minutes … Continue reading Open Ed, Trump, Brexit
Who’s Zoomin’ Who?
How do you know that? Why do you think that? How does that make any sense? I was a highly opinionated child with a lot of crazy ideas. But my Dad was patient. He never told me "that's crazy" or "that's wrong". Instead he usually greeted my pronouncements with some variation of those three … Continue reading Who’s Zoomin’ Who?
Brexit, Trumpworld, and the Future of Open Ed: A Topic for OER17?
The deadline is looming in a few days for next April's OER17 conference in London. I'm not even sure yet if I can make to the conference yet but the events of the past week seem to me compelling to us. I'm thinking of proposing a panel discussion to discuss Open Education in a time of … Continue reading Brexit, Trumpworld, and the Future of Open Ed: A Topic for OER17?
Doing the Write Thing
The past 4 weeks have been unsettling. As above, so below. At my school where I've spent 8 years heavily engaged in governance, planning, and accreditation work I've come under a severe personal and "political" attack that has put the open learning project I've led at risk. I didn't see that coming. Yet, three weeks ago I … Continue reading Doing the Write Thing
So Who Pays For the Government and How?
I've always found putting things in historical perspective and looking at the long-term trend of things usually illuminates a lot of policy discussions. It's easier to see "what's really happening" if you look at the long-term trend. Taxes, tax rates, and the government budget are often hot topics of policy debate. So is the future … Continue reading So Who Pays For the Government and How?
Busting the Medicare Myths – Presentation
I gave a presentation today to the Michigan Intergenerational Network at Madonna University on the economic prospects of Medicare (U.S.). Thanks to the Madonna Univ. Gerontology Department for support and assistance. For a downloadable and viewable copy of the presentation, see: https://jimluke.com/course-resources/presentations/busting-myths-about-medicare/.
Is “Right to Work” About Freedom?
It's Rick Snyder's incredible flip-flop here in Michigan on so-called "Right to Work" legislation and his claims that it's about "freedom" that brings me back to blogging. Lately I've been getting increased questions about what "Right to Work" really means. So, let me try to cut through the Orwellian rhetoric and explain. So called "Right … Continue reading Is “Right to Work” About Freedom?
EconProph 