In the United States we praise people who have started their own companies, would you be willing to take out a loan to start a business yourself?
What are some trade secret types of ideas you enjoy?
For example the Microsoft Windows operating system is a closed system. Would computer technology had advanced quicker and farhter if Microsoft hadn’t zealously protected it’s computer code?
I like Kentucky Fried Chicken, do you think it is fair that Col. Snaders has protected the secret recipe many years after his death (the company owns the trade secret)?
What are some “trade’secrets” that fascinate you? Products or services you like?
3- Third discussion.
Question 1: Do you believe most of the products sold in America are safe?
Question 2: People sometimes take products and use them inappropriately to make funny videos for Youtube. Do you think the manufacturer should be liable if someone is misusing a product to make a funny video? Why or why not?
4- Fourth discussion.
If I argued the US should relax Bankruptcy Laws and allow students to default on their student loans (with the understanding that the vast majority of loans are backed by the US government – which means the federal government would pay off the banks that gave you your student loan), do you think it would help or hurt the economy?
5- Fifth discussion.
In the United States we praise people who have started their own companies, would you be willing to take out a loan to start a business yourself? Do you ever want to own your own business?
6- sixth discussion.
Generally speaking the most prevalent form of business is a sole proprietorship. You decide to start a business and just run the business using your personal checking account and credit cards. The problem with this is…if you get sued (someone starts a lawsuit against your business) and you lose. You can lose all your money, savings, possessions and even your house (if you own it). So the best way to start a business is to form a company and register it with the State of Minnesota (or whatever stat you live in). What do you think the best type of business entity is? Or, which would YOU use?
7- discussion number 7
One of the best ways to start a business is to buy a franchise (but franchises are expensive). What would be your ideal business to own?
8- discussion number 8
Consumer Protection
Do you think the products you buy are generally safe for their intended use?
Why or Why Not?
9- discussion number 9
Protecting the Environment
In the United States we have a lot of public land such as National Parks and Government lands. The State of Alaska has large amounts of untouched land that is still in reserve.
Do you think we should preserve the untouched land in Alaska for future generations?
Why or why not?
10- discussion number 10
Our global population keeps moving upwards and upwards. Real estate will become a much more scarce commodity in the future. Do you think you will ever buy and own a house or other real estate?
Why or why not?
11- discussion number 11
We have a lot of choices for products and services to buy and there a quite a few companies willing to sell us things in America. When I think of competition (and fair competition) I like to think of the advertisements aired during the commercials of the Super Bowl, the Olympics or any other big television event. The companies that advertise in these time periods are paying a LOT of money for the time period and for making the ad itself. We usually see ads from very profitable companies. In the real world the day to day search for customers leads some companies to make extravagant claims that are simply untrue (in which case there competitors usually turn them into the FCC for unfair trade practices) or some advertisements are just inadvertently funny.
Do you think most people should just “know” that some things are funny and not meant to be true in an advertisement —- or should companies always try to stick to the facts?
12- discussion number 12
After the United States went through the beginning of the Great Depression (starting with the stock market crash of 1929) the government passed laws that basically said if you are courting an investor you have to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Which means, if you are selling stock in a company to investors you have to tell the investors everything about the company (the good and the bad). In the early 2000’s we had a bunch of companies lie to the public about their income and expenses and the Sarbannes-Oxley law was passed. In some ways I sometimes thing that the Sarbannes-Oxley act forces companies that are publicly traded (on Wall Street) to prepare all their financial statements so they are easy enough for a high schooler (someone in about 10thgrade) to read and understand. This takes a ton of work to write an annual statement in such a way as to be totally understood by someone so young (and costs a lot of money).
How important is investing in the stock market to you?
Are there any companies you think will be great investments for the long term?
13- discussion number 13
Sometimes people in Minnesota are generalized as being “Minnesota Nice” and other times Minnesota people have been called “Passive Aggressive” but when you think of law (and life in general) you have to stick up for yourself. Do you know what I mean?
I like this quote a LOT:
“The law helps those who help themselves, generally aids the vigilant, but rarely the sleeping, and never the acquiescent.”
– Chief Justice Prentis, Supreme Court of Virginia (1930)
What do you think the quote above means to you? By now, you should have realized that all my discussion questions have been (more or less) introspective and designed to get you to think about things.
14- discussion number 14
Does the United States have a Duty to — Police the World?
Does the United States have a Duty to — Provide money for foreign relief to other countries?
Answer preview In the United States we praise people who have started their own companies, would you be willing to take out a loan to start a business yourself?
APA
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