Read previous columns in this series by Michael H. Trotter:

• Can we shake off our limitations? (Tuesday, June 23, 2009)

• Education isn’t one-size-fits-all (Monday, June 22, 2009)

• Beefing up on career prep (Friday, June 19, 2009)

• College prep vs. work prep (Thursday, June 18, 2009)

• Early investment, big return (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)

• Can we afford universal health care? (Monday, May 4, 2009)

• Single-payer vs. insurance-based care (Wednesday, April 29, 2009)

• Give businesses a (tax) break (Monday, April 20, 2009)

• Working on the workforce (Thursday, April 9, 2009)

• How to fix Social Security (Friday, March 27, 2009)

• Why the rich should pay more taxes (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)

• A look at individual taxes (Monday, March 23, 2009)

• AIG and taxpayers’ money (Friday, March 20, 2009)

• We all are paying for antiquated system (Wednesday, March 12, 2009)

• Heed the warnings (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)

• Finding the balance (Thursday, February 26, 2009)

• How can we reduce military costs? (Monday, February 2, 2009)

• A second look at defense spending (Friday, January 9, 2009)

• Can the deficit be reduced? (Wednesday, January 7, 2009)

• Taxes not the easy way out (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)

• A close look at the challenges ahead (Monday, January 5, 2009)