All Opinion
In quest for jobs, Fed chair Bernanke's money spigot hurts economy in long runUS unemployment fell to 7.8 percent (a possible boon to President Obama, whose economic leadership Mitt Romney criticizes). But job growth remains slow. Fed Chair Bernanke's quantitative easing policies aim to boost the economy, but they will more likely spur inflation and capital flight.
CommentaryAfter the presidential debate: How to close the voting gap among low-income peopleAfter last night's presidential debate, voter turnout is top of mind for the Mitt Romney and President Obama campaigns. But their concerns fail to address our democracy's聽fundamental challenge: how to increase voter registration among low-income citizens and communities of color.
Obama played bad defense against an articulate, high-scoring RomneyPresident Obama's weary cadence throughout the presidential debate last night was a sad contrast with Mitt Romney鈥檚 sunny intensity and articulate flow of figures and 'facts.' His聽many good lines appealed to undecided voters or responded to negative impressions.
Media shouldn't dismiss value of Romney, Obama presidential debatePresidential debates 鈥� like tonight's between Mitt Romney and President Obama 鈥� are educational. The voters know it, and the statistics show it. But somebody forgot to tell our news organizations, which continue to dismiss the real importance of the debates.
What Romney and Obama can learn from Jim Lehrer in tonight's presidential debateJim Lehrer will moderate tonight's presidential debate with the same thoughtful tone he instilled in me as a young journalist. With Washington gridlocked, our next president will need that same spirit of inquiry and dialogue.听Mitt Romney and President Obama should start by taking a cue from Jim.
Global ViewpointGordon Brown: Lack of global education fuels security threatsIf countries don't close the global gap in access to education, unrest will grow 鈥� not because young people are anti-American, but because they have lost hope.听We must persuade governments and publics that educating a child in a poor country is a worthwhile investment.听
Supreme Court case tests US leadership in human rightsToday the Supreme Court will assess whether US courts can hear lawsuits that pertain to events outside the country. If the justices eventually decide 'no,' an important avenue for redress will be closed to foreign victims of human-rights abuses 鈥� and America鈥檚 beacon will shine less brightly.
Beware Russia's hand in elections in Georgia, Ukraine, LithuaniaA top priority of Russian President Vladimir Putin is the reintegration of former Soviet republics 鈥� based on tighter economic links and culminating in a political and security pact centered around Russia. Meddling in Eastern European elections is one way to fulfill Putin's regional ambition.
Note to tweeting #Romney, #Obama campaigns and #journalists: ChillBelieving that faster is better, journalists and political figures feel constant pressure to express themselves at the speed of a tweet. The resulting commentary is long on reflex and short on reflection, and harms public discourse. There's an answer: Slow down.
A shift away from zero tolerance will improve school disciplineZero tolerance for bad behavior is common in American schools, but this policy has often proved ineffective, even harmful to students and schools. The tide is turning. A method that relies on communication between students, teachers, and others improves accountability and school safety.
What Netanyahu's meddling in US election means for Obama, Romney, and diplomacyIsrael's Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the United Nations General Assembly today, where he is expected to reiterate his demands that President Obama set 'red lines' for Iran. It appears Netanyahu is meddling in US presidential elections, fueling rifts with Obama to favor Mitt Romney.
For Obama, reality meets idealism in ties with Muslim worldJust as he did in his groundbreaking speech in Cairo in 2009, President Obama this week articulated the need for 'mutual interest and mutual respect' between Muslims and Americans. His idealism, though, has run into reality. He must adjust if he wins a second term.
Yemen needs a US reset, not a retreatLast week's violent anti-US protests underscore the need for greater US engagement in Yemen.听The country's economic, political, and security future hinges on alleviating humanitarian needs, addressing their root causes, and fostering an inclusive political transition.
Romney needs Hispanics more than they need himRomney doesn鈥檛 grasp that playfully wishing he were Mexican-American is offensive to many Hispanics. His view of the Hispanic electorate seems simplistic and out of touch with the Latino experience.听Hispanics do not vote based on ethnicity; we vote on policy.
A sure-fire place to cut the US defense budgetThe US Department of Defense has said that the air-defense program known as MEADS will never be operational. Yet Defense Secretary Leon Panetta insists that Congress reinsert $400 million in the defense budget for the program. Amazingly, Congress is falling for his line.
Could Myanmar (Burma) have Southeast Asia's first 'green president'?President Thein Sein still has a long way to go in assuring citizens, investors, and international donors that the country is on the right track, but with the right development assistance, Myanmar has the chance to succeed in sustainable development where many of its neighbors have failed.
UN can't leave Haiti until rule of law is establishedAny exit strategy for the UN presence in Haiti has to be built on the country doubling the size of its police, ending impunity in its courts, and forging the rule of law as a foundation for economic growth and political stability.
Americans must engage more 鈥� not less 鈥� with Muslims in the Middle EastThe forces unleashed by the Arab awakening are in a sorting-out period in which the most extreme voices are getting the most media play. But they are not the majority. Rather than condemn the region or the Muslim faith, Americans should champion the voices of reason amidst the mayhem.听
CommentaryBy fearing rise of Al Qaeda in Syria, US ignores greater threat: inactionFocusing on Al Qaeda鈥檚 potential for exploiting the Syrian conflict distracts from the rapidly mounting costs of US inaction. If the US continues to sit on the sidelines as the human toll rises, it could face a decidedly anti-American government in Damascus, jihadists in power or not.
Why a liberal arts education is the best job preparationIf ever there was a time to emphasize a classic liberal arts education 鈥� more than distributing information or training for specific jobs 鈥� this is it. Students today can easily find information. The challenge is making sense of the whole, finding connections, dealing with complexity.
