Current Events   

You have heard the old saw: “Nothing is certain in life except death and taxes.” Talking about “death” for eight weeks would be rather morbid, but “taxes” are always a popular subject for discussion, or “cussin'." In this class, we’ll explore the origin of taxation and its development over the years, particularly emphasizing the forms utilized by the different levels of government in the United States. The objectives of taxes as well as the many varieties will get attention. Some varieties may be so well disguised we don't realize they are taxes. Also, the tax proposals of the various political candidates involved in the 2024 elections will be aired. No text is required but readings will be provided to inform and encourage class discussions.

Dr. Jeff Cashman and Dr. John Simmons are team teaching this course on medical ethics. They will start with an introduction to ethics and introductory cases. They will have sessions on the ethics of medical payment models and touch on topics within cultural differences in the practice of medicine. They will discuss the regulation of medical practice by outside authorities. There will be a session on the history of the opioid epidemic and ethical factors that played a role.  They will hold other discussions as time allows that can be prompted by historical medical cases and a discussion of doctor-patient relationships that have changed over the years.

Covid. A Threshold experience. Let’s examine how covid changed our lives and the world around us. This will be a conversation about beginning to put this time in our personal and global lives in perspective. Sabbatical? Quarantine? Creative resurgence? How will we catalog this period in our lives? Using archetypal themes and cycles of history we will reflect on the power of this life passage. Bring your ideas. The stories of your experience and your imagination. We will hold beginners' mind… a Once Upon Time… point of view. A little bit sociology, a little bit mythology and a little bit rock n roll.

Tour one of the hidden jewels of Spartanburg County — the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. Founded in 1849 and located on 160 acres, it serves visually and hearing-impaired students across the state. The school is home to the School for the Deaf, School for the Blind, Palmetto Academy, Applied Academic Center, historic Walker Hall and much more. Because there is so much to see, the tour will be divided into 3 Friday sessions, each lasting about 90 minutes. A portion of the registration fee will be donated to the SC School for the Deaf and Blind. 

Since the 1950s, vaccines have proven to be the most successful medical intervention available. Yet, disinformation and distrust have driven an exponential rise of “antivaxxers” and “vaccine-hesitant” people in the U.S. since 2000. Diseases controlled or eliminated in the country, like measles and pertussis, are coming back because of the low level of vaccines. Many states, including ours, have passed laws that may lack support for the vaccines. Yet the entire community's health depends on nearly everyone being vaccinated! We will learn about the science behind vaccination and controversies surrounding the procedure. You will become a far more informed 'consumer' out of the class!