All Opinion
Six points where Mitt Romney and his economic advisers are mostly wrong Mitt Romney鈥檚 economic plan is largely based on a whitepaper written by several 鈥渉eavyweight鈥� economists. The problem is, it's riddled with fundamental flaws. Here are six points where Mitt Romney and his economic advisers are mostly wrong about what ails the American economy and how to fix it.
Lack of US, Western intervention in Syria helps jihadistsHillary Clinton heads to Doha, Qatar next week to push for a shakeup in the Syrian opposition. The West must step up its game by providing advanced weapons to Syrian rebels. Fears of such weapons aiding jihadist fighters are overblown, even as Western hesitancy strengthens jihadists.
To fight Taliban, US must give Afghanistan schoolsPresident Obama and Mitt Romney both pledge to leave Afghanistan in 2014. But neither discussed the importance of establishing schools for the children of a war-torn nation where nearly half the population is under the age of 15.聽The Taliban are most scared of books, not bombs.
No mandate for either Mitt Romney or President ObamaMitt Romney and President Obama want a strong mandate from voters to support their governing approach. They won't get it. Given the enormity of America's challenges, it might not be such a bad thing if the winner of this election emerged with humility instead of hubris.
What if neither Mitt Romney nor President Obama wins on Nov. 6?What if we wake up on Wednesday, and find out that in several states the outcome is in doubt, and neither President Obama nor Mitt Romney is the clear winner? America could be heading for court battles that will make Florida in 2000 look like a tussle at the local PTA.
Living in a swing state like Ohio is good for your self-esteemI live in Ohio, the swing-state capital of the Midwest. Sure, people complain about the incessant political ads, the traffic when Mitt Romney and President Obama are moving around town, and the perpetual knocking on the door. But it's a small price to pay for all this attention.
Global ViewpointEurope must overcome the politics of fear around the debt crisisAs the former prime minister of Greece, my experience with the debt crisis confirms my belief that this is a political crisis more than a financial one. We have adopted a passive, almost defeatist attitude in Europe. We must break this cycle of fear and mistrust now.
The aftermath of superstorm Sandy and the land of opportunityPredictions abound: Will superstorm Sandy help or hurt President Obama look 'presidential'? The bigger question is what Washington can do to help the neediest Americans, when a hurricane blows through 鈥� and when it doesn't.
China isn't a threat to America. It's an opportunity.President Obama and Mitt Romney both say it鈥檚 time for the US to get tough with China. They have it wrong.聽China's rising middle class provides a ready consumer market for savvy American companies, while Chinese infrastructure projects increase demand for US construction goods.
I'm a young, Mormon woman from a swing state. Here's why I'm an undecided voter.My state of limbo has less to do with Mitt Romney's and President Obama's political platforms and more with the growing distance and animosity between their two parties. These two campaigns have spent millions on defamation rather than educating voters about the issues.
CommentaryThe economic impact of hurricane SandyGauging hurricane Sandy's ultimate impact on the US economy is far more complex than merely adding up insurance payouts and uninsured losses. Disasters can give the ailing construction sector a boost, and unleash smart reinvestment that improves stricken areas.
How to give cooperative businesses more clout in the world economyAgainst a backdrop of sluggish economic growth, rising wealth inequality, and high unemployment, cooperative businesses are telling an unexpected story of stability, growth, and value. They could do even more good if they received greater political and public support.
It's almost Nov. 6. Do you know what books Obama and Romney have been reading?John F. Kennedy, Harry S. Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson 鈥� many of America's presidents were avid readers, and that informed their decisions. It gave them critical perspective. Americans should be curious about the reading habits of President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Oil and globalization fuel Al Qaeda terror networkPresident Obama touts the killing of Osama bin Laden as a major blow to Al Qaeda leadership. Mitt Romney says the terrorist network remains a major threat. They're both right. Middle East oil and the forces of globalization continue to fuel Al Qaeda offshoots around the world.
US must clearly back Japan in islands dispute with ChinaAmerica rightly wants good relations with Japan and China. But sometimes one has to take sides, and the islands dispute between these two Asian powers is such a time. The US must avoid ambiguity and side more publicly with its democratic ally, Japan, and against bullying by China.
The rise of Evangelical environmentalists could reshape US electionsNeither Mitt Romney nor President Obama mentioned climate change in the presidential debates. Yet rising sea levels and rising frustration with the GOP鈥檚 failure to protect the environment mean that the evangelical vote is not necessarily a sure thing for Republicans.
In presidential debate, President Obama is no dove, and Mitt Romney is no hawkPresident Obama told Mitt Romney in last night's presidential debate: 'You say you would do the same things we did, but you would just say them louder.' Commentators draw sharp distinctions between the two men, but聽their foreign policy similarities are more striking than the differences.
Presidential debate: Romney and Obama bring it back homeThe final presidential debate between Mitt Romney and President Obama underscored that their most important foreign policy differences have less to do with events on distant shores than priorities at home.
Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney claim liberal media bias, but reporters just do their jobsMitt Romney and Paul Ryan have accused the media of having a 'liberal bias.' But reporters are just doing their jobs 鈥� putting a human face on beltway policy debates. That truth-telling comprises most journalists' fundamental mission 鈥� an ethic that grew out of Watergate and the civil rights era.
Japan, China, South Korea island disputes threaten global economyIsland disputes between Japan, China, and South Korea are threatening financial stability in East Asia, and with it, the global economy. The next US administration should push publicly and persistently for a solution.
