It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the bewildering array of economic data, statistics, charts, and graphs floating around. Often, we economists can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s hard to figure out what is truly significant and what is … Continue reading
I was in Washington last week, meaning I was able to observe, on-site and up close, the reaction to President Obama’s remarkable switch in leadership in Afghanistan from the bizarre General Stanley McChrystal to the excellent General David Petraeus. The … Continue reading
If you read the financial press or listen to what politicians say, you have probably heard many times how important it is for the Chinese renminbi (yuan) to strengthen against the dollar. Indeed, it sometimes sounds as though a weaker … Continue reading
The just-completed Colombian presidential election took place in two stages. The first round took place on May 30. There were multiple candidates. Since nobody received an outright majority, the top two vote-getters (Juan Manuel Santos at 47 percent and Antanas … Continue reading
I. Introduction The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Melville Fuller and later by Chief Justice Edward D. White, played an important role in shaping American public policy during the Progressive Era (1890-1930) by rendering decisions that had two general … Continue reading
The Progressive Movement of the first two decades of the twentieth century was deeply intertwined with religion, especially Christianity. Without its religious impulses and inspiration and the substantial contribution of Christians, Progressivism may never have developed or had the impact … Continue reading
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Center for Vision & Values presented a seminar in April, 2010, on the development and influence of Progressivism, focusing especially on the Radical Progressivism of Obama and his friends. The root of the term progressive is, of … Continue reading
The “right of citizens peaceably to assemble and deliberate upon the public and individual welfare,” a late nineteenth-century critic of the expanding regulatory power of the state asserted, is “recognized by the Massachusetts Bill of Rights, and guaranteed in the … Continue reading
[A note on usage: I have capitalized the word “Progressive” every time it is used as an adjective that refers to the political philosophy of progressivism, even when the adjective doesn’t refer to a formal “Progressive” party, to distinguish it … Continue reading
The Progressive Movement at the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century in the United States confronted a political and social environment that was quite different from the time of the American Founders. In 1790 there … Continue reading
On Sunday, March 21 a historic vote in the U.S. House of Representatives had assured that most of the substance of “ObamaCare” would become law. During a short interview on Fox News directly after the vote, an elated Rev. Al … Continue reading
Since the Rev. Jeremiah Wright incident during the last presidential campaign, there has been low-level grousing by many Christians regarding Obama’s religious convictions. He has claimed to be a Christian, but there is little traditional evidence of a consistent Christian … Continue reading
Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day. Do you recall the old saying attributed to Otto Von Bismarck: “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made”? As fathers were lauded on Sunday, I suspect that most patriarchs were … Continue reading
Editor’s Note: This article was first published by The Center for Vision & Values on June 18, 2009. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” (Psalm … Continue reading
]]> Continue reading
Calling for a balanced budget amendment has been a staple campaign issue for conservative Republicans for years. Undeniably, our nation is beset by fearful fiscal woes. However, a balanced budget amendment isn’t the answer. Let me emphasize that I endorse … Continue reading
This week veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas announced her sudden “retirement.” The source was an insight shared by Thomas outside the White House during a Jewish-American Heritage Month celebration.
“The Death and Life of the Great American School System” By Diane Ravitch | Basic Books (March 2, 2010) | 283 pp. | List Price: $26.95 In her latest book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing … Continue reading
John Lennon of The Beatles wrote the surprisingly and relatively conservative song “Revolution” in 1968. Compared with the Rolling Stones’ 1968 “Street Fighting Man” written by Mick Jagger, Lennon’s lyrics are tame and earned him the scorn of the New … Continue reading
I agree with President Obama that we need more labor unions. However, I disagree with his approach. Full disclosure: I have been a dues-payer to both the United Auto Workers and the National Education Association unions. My sympathies are heavily … Continue reading
