Government & Politics
Tactical coverage of politics, usually from inside the Beltway.
- The Uses of Scandal John Steele Gordon 05/21/2013
- One of the greatest uses of scandal is to vividly demonstrate what new laws are needed and to create the political conditions to get them enacted.
- Are American Voters Racist? Kenneth Gould 05/17/2013
- Racial prejudice plays a very small role in American politics, but a highly disciplined sense of self-interest on the part of one group may play a very large role in the way the federal government functions.
- Nudging Conservatives to Harness Behavioral Science Rich Thau and Celeste Gregory 05/03/2013
- While liberals are deploying behavioral science with stunning results, conservatives have failed to follow up on their success three decades ago with the psychology of ‘broken windows.’ Here are several policy initiatives with which to begin.
- Still Waiting for Superman: The School Leaders We Need Frederick M. Hess and Kerri Briggs 04/26/2013
- It might seem like the primary ingredient for school improvement hinges on superhero principals, but a more promising approach starts by recognizing that there are two halves to the leadership challenge.
- When Saving Is a Problem Not a Virtue Blake Hurst 04/18/2013
- The Obama administration’s proposed limits on ‘reasonable’ retirement savings would penalize success and patience in favor of the nebulous concept of fairness.
- Margaret Thatcher Showed the World What a Woman Can Do Christina Hoff Sommers 04/17/2013
- Even after her death, critics revile Britain’s brilliant, trail-blazing leader and liberator as ‘unfeminine.’ Yet she reveled in her femininity throughout her career, charming men and women alike.
- Why Expanding Social Security Is a Bad Idea Andrew G. Biggs 04/16/2013
- A New America Foundation proposal would cost 3.7 percent of GDP and crowd out the private saving that drives our economy.
- The Penalties of Our Tax Code Sita Nataraj Slavov 04/12/2013
- Our tax system’s unnecessary complexity creates unfairness and uncertainty. With a few reforms, it could be more growth-friendly, simple, and fair.
- Confusing Cause and Effect in the Fiscal Policy Debate Steve Conover 04/10/2013
- Our debate should not be about income redistribution or debt reduction but rather about how to achieve broadly shared growth — because when we achieve that, history shows that the deficit and the middle class will benefit.
- Cuba Sees an Opening Mauricio Claver-Carone 04/02/2013
- The State Department is reportedly considering dropping Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Doing so would hand Havana a major – and unmerited – diplomatic victory.