Political spectrum: In today’s politics, how do we even define left, right and center?
We hear often about the disappearing center in politics, polarization, and the inability and lack of desire to compromise. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.
Ilya Gutman
The three ‘musts’ for good education: personal responsibility, motivation, and discipline
If one doesn’t want to see real problems, proposed solutions will just make things worse.
America’s exceptionality is real — and is a reason for gratitude
While America is not perfect, and health benefits or new mothers’ protection may be better across the ocean, no country is better overall.
Debates, ads and media reports are illogical and unhelpful ways to assess candidates
It should be obvious that the best place to present policy positions and explain them is the candidate’s website. Formats should be matching for each candidate.
What to do about ISIS — a five-part plan
The first thing to do is to simplify the problem — by defining allies to help, foes to harm or destroy, and adversaries to partially satisfy but not strengthen.
Presidential candidates offer all kinds of ‘first’ possibilities
Ideally, it all should be irrelevant, and I wouldn’t be writing about this if not for a constant flow of Clinton’s supporters making a big deal out of her chance to become the first woman president.
Examining the arguments for the Iran deal
But before getting into them, let’s analyze the setup first. As with any negotiations, it matters a lot (to the point of being the deciding factor) who needs the deal more.
Iran should be made to abandon all nuclear activities
Why does Iran want nukes? It doesn’t need a nuclear bomb for security, but nuclear weapons give tremendous clout and influence — and practical impunity for anything.
What happens when government interferes with economics and the market
Government officials do not deal with their own money and, as a result, most of them do not care how money is spent.
Elections and race: 2014 indicates voters have changed more than you might think
Tim Scott is the first black Republican to win a South Carolina Senate seat since the Reconstruction. There and elsewhere, ideology trumped racial considerations.
Obama’s planned use of discretion on immigration enforcement looks cynical, political
In my mind, it makes sense that if a law cannot be applied consistently, it should not be on the books.
Using common sense, we can improve our democracy
How to guarantee high-quality candidates and increase the number of knowledgeable voters while providing confidence that their votes will truly count.
Michigan affirmative-action case: Sotomayor’s reasoning is not persuasive
Considering race in merit-based selections is unfair and unconstitutional, no matter how Justice Sonia Sotomayor tries to justify it.
A minimum-wage increase is unnecessary
The way to get out of poverty is to get an education and work hard, and it should be each individual’s responsibility, not the government’s.
Keep the integrity of Minnesota’s high-school diploma
If an assessment is misaligned with the standard, the reasonable solution would be to change the assessment — not to get rid of it.