When European countries were ruled by kings, the monarchs often called one another by the name of their country. For example, “Russia” might meet with “England,” in a session involving only the two rulers. Kings were the same as their countries because they alone were sovereigns. The people were their “subjects,” not “citizens.” That practice […]
President Trump asserts he has an “absolute right to pardon himself.” No president has ever pardoned himself, though the right of the president to issue pardons for federal crimes is found in the Constitution. The Constitution is a broad statement of principles about the federal government and the separation of powers among the three branches […]
Americans are beginning to pay more for what we buy, the result of high tariffs levied under a policy meant to protect jobs by making foreign goods more expensive. Even without this policy, unemployment is historically low. The U.S. already enjoys a favorable balance in services and receives hundreds of billions of dollars in investment […]
Government is too complicated. People dislike government that is remote, bureaucratic and burdensome. Some conservatives believe we live under “the administrative state,” many regulations are written by anonymous agency staff. Is government under the control of bureaucrats who cannot be held politically accountable and probably have a liberal agenda? An easier and more obvious explanation […]
I support the Second Amendment. Despite what you may hear, almost everyone does. That’s because it is part of the Constitution, and it would be hard to find any American who does not support the Constitution. It contains seven original articles and 27 amendments, and virtually every American supports all still in effect – including […]
When leading conservatives and liberals agree on what’s wrong in the country, it’s worth paying attention. The American Enterprise Institute, which produces conservative policy proposals, and the Center for American Progress, which plays the same role for liberals, announce they “disagree vigorously” on policy, but have agreed on a jointly published report on American society. […]
When you’re called “the Oracle of Omaha,” ranked as one of the wealthiest people in the world, and speak with a kind of folksy directness, people listen. That’s Warren Buffett, the head of Berkshire Hathaway, the huge investment company that seems to operate as a personal extension of the man. Last week, the firm held […]
You leave your home, get in your car and drive off to shop, go to the bank and say hello to a friend. As usual, in the rear view mirror, you see a car following you. It’s not the same car every day, but one’s always there. The vehicle never comes close, and the driver […]
In a 1930s comic strip, Popeye the Sailor argued heatedly with Bluto, his enormous nemesis. “Let’s you and him fight,” Wimpy urged Popeye. That’s the first known use of the phrase. Like Wimpy, the national media goads opposing sides into a fight, because a good dispute attracts viewers or readers. Of course, bitter divisiveness exists […]
Last week, the U.S. got news of an impending national disaster, a situation that could have “serious negative consequences for the budget and the nation.” The warning came from the Congressional Budget Office, a rare, nonpartisan federal agency. Almost nobody paid attention. The threat comes from ever-increasing deficits and an exploding national debt. It is […]
