Kurt Mitman
Recent articles
Kurt Mitman | ‘Thank God’ for the NRA
If the legislation had passed the debate on gun control and gun violence would have been over. The momentum that had built up since Newtown would have diminished.
Kurt Mitman | The only thing to fear
The right way to honor the victims of this tragedy is by simply continuing to live our lives as normal.
Kurt Mitman | The cheating equilibrium
As a TA, I’ve seen many ways students cheat the system.
Kurt Mitman | Internalize this
Fundamentally, should the government be funding research at Penn or in general? The private sector is great at applied research — it is easily monetizable. Basic research? Not so much.
Kurt Mitman | ’Til Constitution do us part
This issue goes beyond the question of straight and gay marriage currently before the court.
Kurt Mitman | A wasted opportunity
Obama should have used his visit to Israel to put forth a comprehensive proposal for peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Kurt Mitman | Spring forward, fall flat
Economist William Shughart II estimated that daylight savings costs the United States approximately $1.7 billion a year. He arrived at that figure by calculating the opportunity cost of our time and the total amount of time it takes to adjust all of our clocks twice a year.
Kurt Mitman | Spend away
There is little evidence that disparity in spending has a big impact on outcomes. Research into the effect has found a modest positive link between disparity in spending and vote outcome. However, one of the confounding problems is that popular and well-organized candidates are probably more likely to win.
Kurt Mitman | There won't be blood
The lifetime ban on males that have had any sexual contact with another male (MSM) since 1977 seemed a little extreme to me.
Kurt Mitman | Guess who should come to dinner
Since high school, college and graduate school graduation rates are lower for minorities than for whites in the United States, by the time you get to the top, there will be a much larger disparity in representation than in the population in general.
Kurt Mitman | Pro reforma
If the Supreme Court upholds the Appellate Court’s ruling, it will restrict executive power and create a legal mess at the NLRB and most likely at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, whose director, Richard Corday, was also appointed during a pro forma session. The Supreme Court should, however, uphold the lower court’s decision.
Kurt Mitman | Abort Roe v. Wade
Medical evidence seems to suggest that after about nine weeks, the probability of miscarriage drops significantly. This is the logical point to draw the line where human intervention is allowed.
Kurt Mitman | Watch them die
Maybe if we were forced to confront that punishment, we actually could live in the most civilized country in the world.
Kurt Mitman | Holster the Hysteria
Certainly, it is troubling to read of robberies occurring one after the other. But the proximity of the two shouldn’t be cause for concern.
Kurt Mitman | It’s time we tax God and altruists
If we want to get our fiscal house in order — and help avert the fiscal cliff — we should eliminate the deductions and start treating churches like the corporations they are.
Kurt Mitman | When a full ride isn’t enough
Penn could do more to help its neediest students. As inequality continues to rise, Penn should lead the way to help equalize opportunities for students across all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Kurt Mitman | Love me some Bubba!
When I attended Hillary Clinton’s campaign rally at the Palestra in April 2008, I had no trouble getting a seat. What a difference four years can make.
Kurt Mitman | The case for Mitt
By standing for nothing, Mitt Romney will get things done.
Kurt Mitman | Double down on tuition
Penn provides an incredible education and should be charging more.
Kurt Mitman | It’s not that hard to call
I often think about the one grandparent I have left — my 89-year-old grandmother in Indiana. Every time I call her she asks when I’m coming to visit. And I can always hear the disappointment in her voice when I say, “When I can find a weekend that I have free.”
