Articles written by Jasper Wolf

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About me - Jasper Wolf

I'm a fortysomething software developer with degrees in biology, psychology, and economics. I live in OC California with my wife and daughter.

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Politics, News & Issues > Soldiers & Veterans Should the draft be reinstated?: 3 of 39

A military draft should not be reinstated because our all-volunteer force levels are sufficient, and provide a reasonable limit on how far we can extend ourselves militarily. A military draft is necessary only if the demand for soldiers outstrips the all-volunteer supply. There are obvious signs of supply shortfalls, but the...
Computers & Technology > Internet Software & Utils How to make the most of iGoogle features: 1 of 7

One of the great ambitions of the information age is for individuals to use computers to extend their minds. The PC is an evolving tool for keeping and organizing information. The internet is an evolving tool for sending, receiving, searching, and sharing this information. Tools to help us use this information in an efficien...
Politics, News & Issues > War & Peace Should the US pull out its troops regardless of whether Iraq is ready to defend its people?: 18 of 101

Remember the Pottery Barn rule invoked by former Secretary of State Colin Powell: You break it, you bought it. Iraq is broken, and regardless of what has led to this point, it would be irresponsible for the US to pull out until Iraq can defend its people. Just as we can point to extensive pre-invasion analyses to ask why the...
Politics, News & Issues > Pulitzer Center Should the US consider Ethiopia an ally despite its poor human rights record?: 8 of 37

It is important for the US to have allies in all regions of the world in order to maintain global influence. The US considers Ethiopia an ally primarily because of its strategic location in eastern Africa, and its cooperation in the "war on terror". Bordered by hostile Islamic states - Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia - and close...
Politics, News & Issues > Baseball News & Opinion Should Major League Baseball develop a salary-cap system?: 3 of 10

No profession should be subject to a salary cap. A salary cap would produce a controlled market (as opposed to a free market) for baseball players, unfairly suppressing their wages. Salary cap proponents say that players make too much money for playing a game. But baseball is a lucrative business, and good players are valuab...
Politics, News & Issues > Homeland Security Should the US spend taxpayer money to reduce conventional arms caches worldwide?: 2 of 5

The US should spend taxpayer money to reduce conventional arms worldwide, but only as a single participant in an international program aimed at reducing terrorism and promoting peace. A program to buy and destroy conventional arms would have several potential benefits. It would provide a viable option to cash-poor, weapons-r...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Why are people so judgmental?: 20 of 36

At both societal and individual levels, people become more judgmental when they feel threatened by competing moral philosophies. People become threatened when they contrast themselves with others rather than focusing on their shared values, their shared humanity. Generally speaking, people would not want to live in a lawless...
Politics, News & Issues > Political Issues Should stem cell research be federally funded?: 9 of 16

Stem cell research should be federally funded, and it is. Most types of stem cell research currently qualify for federal funds, the only exception being human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines created after August 9, 2001. If this exception is lifted, the government's funding agencies can determine how much, if any, funds are...
Politics, News & Issues > Constitutional & Contract Law Has political correctness undermined free speech in the US?: 13 of 22

Political Correctness is nothing more than an attempt to use minimally offensive language or behavior when referring to charged topics such as race, culture, or political views. Political Correctness does not undermine free speech; rather, it creates a more civil and tolerant environment for public discourse by reducing infl...
Politics, News & Issues > US Immigration Undocumented and illegal immigrants should have a roadmap to US citizenship: 44 of 47

As my family waited in a long security line to visit the Statue of Liberty, I heard murmurs behind me. A lady and her two children were cutting forward in line. Finally, they finessed their move ahead of me and my family. Annoyed, I asked, "Are you cutting in front of us?" She said no. I looked back, and a lady said, she's b...