Articles written by Tom Koecke

What is Helium

About me - Tom Koecke

With thirty years experience in consumer finance, having raised two daughters as a single father, and trying desperately to get through my second childhood, I bring two things to the table when I write: an overload of experience, and a sense of humor!

I also

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Society & Lifestyle > Economic Values Minimum wage: Is it fair?: 1 of 54
The concept of minimum wage is to protect unskilled employees from employers who might not otherwise pay that amount. It was established so that workers would be paid enough to have a chance to survive. The federal minimum wage is $5.85 per hour. Many states have minimum wage laws that require employers to pay more than the f... More..
Relationships & Family > Gay & Lesbian Issues Should gays and lesbians be allowed civil unions but not marriage?: 1 of 36
There is growing support for allowing gay men and lesbians to file quasi-marriage licenses distinguished as civil unions. Those who support the concept are those who would otherwise deny these people marriage licenses, except they are losing court cases. It lacks the integrity of equality because it is "separate but equal." D... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Bush Administration George W. Bush's legacy: 3 of 84
History has a way of being overly kind to the legacy of some Presidents, and overly cruel to others. For example, Woodrow Wilson's legacy, in my humble opinion, is lofted too highly. History regards the Treaty of Versailles as a positive accomplishment. I tend to agree with Keynes that it was fuse for World War II. History, i... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Atheism & Agnosticism Reasons not to believe in God: 8 of 188
Belief in God, or belief in no God, are both beliefs about God. Neither can be proved, and both rely on faith. I, myself, am agnostic. I do not understand God. However, by claiming lack of understanding about God, I also believe that I have a better understanding than those of Judea-Christianity and/or atheisitic faiths.I fin... More..
Sciences > Sciences (Other) Visualizing infinity: 1 of 23
"This is some kind of joke," I thought to myself as I approached the check-in counter at the Infinity Hotel because it seemed that was the only part of it that existed. If it weren't real, though, surely I would have seen disgruntled people leaving, but the seemingly endless line had just kept moving. I approached the man beh... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Economic News How bad is the world's economy in 2008?: 1 of 22
The world's economy is really the compilation of many economies. As such, there is no trade deficit or surplus because one country's deficit is offset by its trading partner's surplus. Trade, however, is still important to consider in that it represents depletion of resources from a country or region. Both the depletion and c... More..
Society & Lifestyle > African-American Issues Was Martin Luther King, Jr. or Malcolm X a better leader for civil rights for blacks?: 1 of 19
When we think of the injustices Dr. King suffered for the cause of equality, it does not compare with the injustices Malcom X endured simply because he was Black.Both Dr. King and Malcom X spent time in jail. Dr. King was jailed for organizing civil rights protests. He was fairly well known, which lent his face to injustices ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Economic News 2008 economic stimulus package: The hype and the truth: 1 of 18
On February 13, 2008, President Bush signed into law the $168 billion bi-partisan economic stimulus package sent to him by Congress. One part of the three-part package will give tax rebate checks ranging from $300 to $600 per taxpayer, plus $300 for each dependent child in the household. The rebates are limited to individuals... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory Should the electoral college be abolished?: 1 of 17
This is always a tough sell because of the sheer number of people who will vote that the electoral college should be eliminated. If the arguments encountered in this debate are typical arguments presented in other debates I have had on this topic, the arguments will include (1) the US was founded as a democracy, (2) the Elect... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Atheism & Agnosticism Atheists versus Agnostics: 1 of 15
In an article I wrote for the title "Can God be Disproved," I called Atheism a religion, and challenged any atheist to debate the topic based on scientific and mathematical possibility. A fellow Helium author took me up on the challenge recently, and it resulted in a friendly exchange of e-mails that ended with this conclusio... More..