Who knew that telling people they have rights would be so controversial? In his nationally televised address Wednesday night, Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) reminded Americans that “our rights come from nature and God, not from government.” MSNBC’s Chris Matthews went apoplectic. “It’s clear that Paul Ryan was talking to people who think about rights as […]
The Financial Times reports that “U.S. farmers are heading for their most profitable year on record despite the worst drought in half a century as high grain prices and payouts from a federal crop insurance program compensate for a smaller harvest.” Higher profits are great—when they come from real market demand. But farmers’ profits are […]
There is a common misconception that China “owns” the U.S by holding the majority of U.S. federal debt. Contrary to this belief, as a region, Asia owns only 20 percent of U.S. federal debt, with China holding less than 10 percent ($1.3 trillion) and Japan owning approximately 6 percent ($882 billion). American citizens and now, […]
In an election year dominated by worries about jobs and the economy, it’s easy to forget that the president’s major constitutional concern is supposed to be handling foreign policy. But over the next four years, we can count on events overseas that will demand a response. How did previous nominees lay out their foreign policy […]
An example of government waste and bad planning—the exorbitantly expensive Gallup Organization contract with the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)—is finally coming under a long-overdue review. At a time when language service after language service of Voice of America, this country’s primary public diplomacy tool, is under threat of being shut down for lack of […]
The federal government finalized new automobile efficiency rules today for cars and light trucks for model years 2017–2025. The rules require an average fuel economy of 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) in 2025. Proponents of the rule advertise the more stringent mpg standard as a win for producers, consumers, and environmentalists. The fact is that […]
Alabama is considering requesting a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education to relieve the state of some of the burdensome requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). But the waivers represent a troubling pact with Washington: To get relief from federal mandates, Alabama must agree to more federal intervention. It’s a bad deal. Alabama […]
Fire continues on August 27 after the August 25 explosion at the Amuay refinery. (Photo: EFE) Early on August 25, a gas leak in a storage facility at Venezuela’s largest refinery led to a deadly explosion that so far has claimed 41 lives and injured at least 80 others. The horrific accident took place in […]
As Tropical Storm Isaac is upgraded to Hurricane Isaac, the national media’s focus is on comparing the potential impact of Hurricane Isaac to Hurricane Katrina. Given that Hurricane Isaac appears headed to New Orleans and may hit land exactly seven years after Hurricane Katrina did, this focus is natural. With this focus comes the inevitable […]
The looming unsustainability of the big three entitlement spending programs—Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security—is not inevitable, but in order to avoid the catastrophic effects of consuming every bit of tax revenue in just one generation, reform is a necessity. Take a look at Medicare, the largest portion of the projected entitlement expense by the year […]
