Economic Impact of New Minimum Wage Law
California is giving fast food workers a boost. A new $20 minimum wage went into effect for California fast food workers in April 2024. According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, the new bill also establishes a Fast Food Council which “is empowered both to make future increases to the minimum wage and to...Continue reading→
The Problem of Decreasing Global Fertility
“Overpopulation is now the dominant problem in all our personal national, and international planning.” Those foreboding words were written in 1968 by Paul Ehrlich, former professor of Population Studies at Stanford University. His book, The Population Bomb, sparked international fear about overpopulation. Almost 60 years later, a new problem has captured the attention of many...Continue reading→
The Importance of Vitamin D
The vitamin industry is big and growing. Last year alone, the ‘vitamin & supplement manufacturing industry’ took in $40.9 billion, a 2.2% increase from 2022. The NIH estimates that about one-third of all US adults take multivitamins and about one-quarter of children and adolescents do too. Rays of Hope? While the efficacy of multivitamin is...Continue reading→
Reversing the Loneliness Trend
The U.S. Government is concerned about loneliness – so much so that the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, released a warning last year. “Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health,” he said. Alone Time The increase in loneliness is linked to several...Continue reading→
The Future of Your Taxes
As the election heats up, so does the debate about tax policy. At the center of much of the tax conversation is former president Trump’s tax bill from 2017. The bill capped top taxable rate at 37%, increased the standard deduction (the portion of your income not taxed), doubled the Child Tax Credit to $2000,...Continue reading→
Reviving Church Attendance
Church attendance among Americans has declined in most religious groups, according to a new Gallup Poll. This continues a decades-long slide begun at the turn of the 21st century. Church Attendance According to the poll, Mormons have held mostly steady, declining only 1%, while Catholics had one of the steepest drops of weekly or nearly...Continue reading→
Social Security, Reform, & the Catholic Church
“Social Security needs reform.” Maybe you’ve heard that one before. Reforming the social welfare state has been a talking point for more than forty years. Right now, there’s inertia on both sides of the aisle, and the political parties would rather punt than solve the problem. However, doing nothing is unsustainable, so it’s important to...Continue reading→
Should Americans Have A 32-Hour Work Week?
Should Americans be working less? Sen. Bernie Sanders thinks so. Earlier this year, Sanders (I-VT) introduced legislation calling for a 32-hour work week with “with no loss of pay,” according to a press release from his office. The Senator argued many Americans are working “longer hours for lower wages than they were decades ago.” A...Continue reading→
Are We Happier Without Religion?
Currently, about 29% of American adults identify as “nones” – people who describe themselves as either atheist, agnostic, or as having no religious affiliation. Nearly a third of our adult population has no active relationship with God in any form. And further, one out of every three nones says that they have never even experienced...Continue reading→
Understanding Cuba
In March, Cubans broke out in protests recently amidst growing political and economic unrest. These protests marked the second time in three years the citizens have taken a stand against the government. Context The protests were sparked by food shortages and long power outages. The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, insinuated that the United States...Continue reading→
Are We Heading for Another Economic China Shock?
In April of this year, Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, visited China on an economic tour to head off another ‘China Shock.’ China Shock 2.0 In prepared remarks, Ms. Yellen outlined U.S. and China’s improving relations. “It is undeniable that the U.S.-China relationship is on stronger footing today than this time last year.” The...Continue reading→
We Showed Up for Jesus!
The 10th National Eucharistic Congress, held from July 17-21, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana, was nothing short of a spiritual revival for Catholics from all walks of life. Over 50,000 Catholics gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center, united in one mission: to show up for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. The...Continue reading→
Catechesis
Pope Leo Reminds Us that Sacred Scripture Lives Within the Church - Ashley Noronha joined John Morales on Morning Air to reflect… ...Entertainment
Pope Leo XIV Invites the Faithful to Let Christmas Music Become an Encounter with Christ - As Christmas draws near, Pope Leo XIV is inviting the… ...
