Unequal education
This program with Bill Moyers compares the everyday experiences of two New York City middle school students and contrasts political rhetoric with the reality of American schooling. A profile of the two students and their different schools points out...
Karl Marx and marxism
The impact of Marx on the 20th century was all-pervasive and worldwide, costing tens of millions of lives where Communism was imposed, resulting in brutal wars to contain or expand it, and vastly improving the lives of workers where fear of Communis...
Underage batboy: regulation of labor markets
Relating the story of a batboy who was prevented from working because of strict child labor laws, this segment inquires into the government’s role in regulating labor markets. NOTE: This program is part of the larger program, "Teaching Tools for M...
Smog: the sweet smell of success?
For most of a century, industrial and automotive smoke were equated with progress and prosperity. But the cost in human health has been devastatingly high, particularly in developing countries. In this program, Devra Davis, author of When Smoke Ran ...
Race on trial
Does the American justice system treat people differently based on their race? In this ABC News program, correspondent Michel Martin reports on the startlingly disparate outcomes of two almost-identical drug-related cases tried one after another in ...
Pork barrel spending: collective decision-making
The Alabama Peanut Festival and a $200-million bridge in Alaska illustrate the ability of special interests to influence government funding - sometimes for projects that benefit few people. NOTE: This program is part of the larger program, "Teaching...
School choice: education and the role of competition
Exploring the economics behind the controversial issue of school vouchers, this segment describes how more education options, both public and private, could help parents and students. NOTE: This program is part of the larger program, "Teaching Tools...
Eminent domain in New Rochelle: role of government and protection of property rights
Visiting a neighborhood in New Rochelle, New York, this segment addresses the controversial government practice of invoking eminent domain. Property rights and their uneven enforcement are discussed. NOTE: This program is part of the larger program,...
Is government too big?: size and growth of government
This segment analyzes the reasons behind high and numerous taxes, examining the social and political factors within government that cause it to expand and continually require revenue. NOTE: This program is part of the larger program, "Teaching Tools...
Testing the limits of possibility: massive dams and waterworks
When it comes to water management, many politicians and technocrats have felt that colossal problems are only solved by colossal projects: dams. But blind faith in concrete can often have devastating effects on communities and the environment. This ...