In Russia, fearing the power of punk Dictators take themselves very seriously and thus are acutely conscious that one of the most potent weapons against them is ridicule.
US gun policy unfazed by Aurora massacre WASHINGTON If you're among those who believe that the latest gun massacre will stimulate a national movement toward sanity in the handling of firearms you had better forget it. It isn't going to happen.
Enslaved by taxes? Not necessarily One of the best tax-avoidance tactics in the late Roman Empire was to sell yourself into slavery. You didnt really have to work as somebodys slave, of course it was more like rock star Hotblack Desiato being dead for a year for tax reasons..
Obama hands Clinton convention spotlight Nearly 12 years after he left office, Bill Clinton remains one of our most popular and compelling politicians. Many believe, probably correctly, that if the Constitution had allowed he could have won a third term as president in 2000, despite the s..
Is it un-American to be a Christian? The current hate campaign being waged by homosexual activists against fast food chain Chick-fil-A, because of the firm's Christian values, may well turn out to be a bridge too far. The effort may prove to be a setback for homosexual activism.
Europes immigration challenge LONDON Europe faces an immigration predicament. Mainstream politicians, held hostage by xenophobic parties, adopt anti-immigrant rhetoric to win over fearful publics, while the foreign-born are increasingly marginalized in schools, cities, and a..
California needs state tax court If you and the Internal Revenue Service disagree about your federal tax bill, the path of resolution is clear several layers of bureaucratic appeal and, if that process doesn't do it, a trip to tax court.
Mix drought with politics and we all suffer WASHINGTON Driving across the Midwest a few days ago, I was heartsick to see what the worst drought in half a century has done to once-gorgeous corn fields. In county after county, crops are withered, stunted and pathetic.
Megabanker says break up megabanks When Sanford Weill speaks, people listen. And what Sandy Weill, once arguably the nation's most powerful banker, is saying is that the biggest banks should be broken up.
Racism, purity and innocence of children Years ago a teenaged boy burned down our family restaurant and upstairs home in Massachusetts because he said he hated "Chinks." Several years went by when the young man, now in his 20s, was encouraged by his priest to come to my father and confess..
Optimal class size for wholesome education As a homeroom teacher of high-school freshmen, I complain about the lack of control my students display in their attitudes from the first day they enter my class.
Romney's alternate universe Mitt Romney seemed to be operating from some alternate universe this past week when he told the Veterans of Foreign Wars that President Barack Obama is seeking "an arbitrary, across-the board budget reduction that would saddle the military with a t..
Is there common ground on gun violence? Is there any common ground on gun violence? Last week's tragedy in Aurora, Colo., where a gunman killed a dozen moviegoers and injured many more, has renewed the debate over gun control in the United States. Cynics say the debate never goes anywher..
Berlusconis return: curse of the undead Abraham Lincoln was right: You can fool all the people some of the time, and you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Unfortunately, his dictum is irrelevant to modern Italian politics. In a ..
Washington news, sanitized for officials' comfort Sadly, the decline and fall of the Washington press corps continues in ways we never imagined could happen. A new form of news deception has gone viral. It has spread from the White House press corps to the campaign trail, Capitol Hill and your fav..
Korea at crossroads: back to Confucianism or further Westernization Korean culture has typically been characterized as a unique hybrid of traditional Confucian values coupled with a modern, pragmatic and dynamic approach to the economy.
Iran's navy eyes Atlantic presence Last September, Iran's top naval commander warned in a speech that his country planned to send military ships near U.S. sea borders. "Like the arrogant powers that are present near our marine borders," Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said, "We will al..
