We don’t know whether this “Arab Spring” of protests for freedom and democracy will spread further across the Middle East and northern Africa, or whether the tyrants of Tripoli, Tehran, Riyadh, and other capitals will snuff it out. We do know, however, that we should finally retire the notion of Arab “exceptionalism,” the idea that, …
Continue reading “Seeding Democracy: The Best Return on Foreign Aid”
The nation’s Social Security debate has a certain stale, mindless and ultimately destructive predictability to it. When syndicated columnist Robert J. Samuelson suggested this week that many of its benefits amount to “middle class welfare,” the program’s fervent supporters immediately sprung into action. The Center for Economic and Policy Research blasted Samuelson as “inaccurate” and …
Continue reading “Off Limits: Social Security Debate Shuts Down”
Not even the most ardent supporters of public employees can deny the numbers. A fifth of states’ general spending goes for salaries and benefits. So as states face another round of huge budget deficits, you can’t blame policymakers of either party for targeting state employees for at least some savings. But the argument by Republican …
Continue reading “Collective Bargaining: A Case for Preserving It”
President Obama is setting himself up to lose the public debate over spending and a possible government shutdown because he is not giving the American people a clear sense of what’s at stake for them. On this issue, his language is vague and uninspiring – although he has threatened to veto the GOP spending plan …
I suspect the 1995 movie “The American President” was popular not just because of Michael Douglas and Annette Bening but because it spoke to our longing for leadership, for a President who realizes, as President Shepherd does at the film’s climax, that he needs to confront tough issues head-on rather than play it safe. We …
Continue reading “Obama Budget Critics Are Missing the Mark on Strategy”
Prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority have not been rising. The central issues of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements and Palestinian refugees seem no closer to resolution, and turmoil in Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and elsewhere in the region further complicates efforts to reach long-term solutions to vexing challenges. Now, Hezbollah’s de facto takeover of …
Continue reading “Hezbollah’s seizure of power in Lebanon dooms peace talks and puts Israel at risk”
Americans know little about what’s in the federal budget, Bruce Bartlett reminded us late last week in a convincing piece that relied on the latest poll results. And while wanting to cut deficits and spending, the public largely opposes cuts to the particular domestic programs that dominate the budget. It’s a welcome reminder: All else …
Continue reading “Political Ignorance Threatens Deficit Reduction”