Final Project

This Final Project is in the form of a two to three page letter to a US senator who represents a "Red State."   The underlying view is that the US can be described as having "two economies," a more-developed "Blue State" economy and a less-developed "Red State" economy.  Your letter is to suggest 4 to 6 economic policies that can be adopted in the US to promote economic development of "Red States."  A "Red State" senator thus both represents his or her constituents and advances national economic policies.  If you are not familiar with the term "Red State," you might want to read this Wikipedia article. Links to an external site.

To get started, read the short article from the Brookings Institution, America has Two Economies (Links to an external site.).

Next, read these two opinion essays that apply the underlying economics of the Brookings report to political issues.  

Red and Blue Voters Live in Different Economies (file) Download Red and Blue Voters Live in Different Economies (file)

(Or essay at the New York Times website (Links to an external site.))

America's Red State Death Trip (file) Download America's Red State Death Trip (file)

(Or essay at the New York Times website) (Links to an external site.)

Then in a letter of two or three pages, suggest four to six national economic  policies to strengthen "Red State" economies and explain how you would "sell" your proposals to voters and/or the politicians who represent them.    Address your letter to a specific "Red State"  US senator.   (Here is the complete listing of Senators Links to an external site..)   To emphasize the focus, suggest economic policy interventions, avoiding other political matters or views.  

NOTE:  The "soft deadline" for the assignment is January 24 and the "hard deadline" is January 27.