All Opinion
Why America loves its office cultureAs Labor Day marks the close of another vacation season, those who are gainfully employed in this shaky American economy, return聽to their cubicles and 'second family.' Office culture, so long derided for its conventions and constraint, has become a source of national nostalgia.
How the US can out-invest China in AfricaChina recently surpassed the US as Africa鈥檚 largest trading partner, but African countries are also聽growing wary of Chinese investment. This presents an opportunity for US businesses. To take advantage, US diplomats must become more effective advocates for the US private sector.
Global ViewpointBreakup of the eurozone would prompt global recessionIf the eurozone fragments, Europe also fails, spelling聽economic catastrophe for the US and much of the world.聽Only by understanding the enormity of these risks can Europe's leaders overcome internal tensions and converge on a potentially game-changing response to the crisis.
The conservative case against voter ID lawsThe best case against the recent spate of GOP-sponsored voter ID photo laws disenfranchising voters can be traced back to two of the most revered Republicans in recent history, President Ronald Reagan and Chief Justice Warren Burger, a Richard Nixon appointee to the Supreme Court.
4 ways to prevent natural disasters from becoming human tragedies The catastrophic impact of climate change 鈥� especially on the developing world 鈥� is not inevitable. Here are four cutting-edge tools to anticipate and minimize the damage from natural disasters.
How the GOP convention could help 鈥� and harm 鈥� Mitt RomneyThough news of hurricane Isaac hangs like a dark cloud over the delayed Republican National Convention, Mitt Romney still stands to benefit from the event in a couple key ways.
In shunning African refugees, Israel ignores Exodus' call not to 'oppress the stranger'More than 60,000 Africans mostly from Eritrea, Sudan, and South Sudan have come to Israel fleeing harsh dictatorships, oil conflicts, and genocide. Israel must stop聽the inhumane deportations and unjust detention of these migrants and instead聽implement a comprehensive refugee policy.
After Penn State scandal, Congress should make NCAA put students, education firstIn light of the scandal at Penn State, which reveals how big-time college sports often overwhelm the core values of higher education, Congress should closely examine whether the NCAA is running a not-for-profit enterprise or a聽commercial entertainment empire.
We're not colorblind. The only thing we're blind to is our unconscious biases.New studies show that referees call more penalties against players wearing black and judges issue harsher sentences to darker-skinned African-American women. If we can become more aware of our unconscious biases, we can use our logic thinking to override them.
After Todd Akin comments: Why women 鈥� and men 鈥� still need feminismMy students' Who Needs Feminism online campaign is reclaiming feminism as an umbrella for dialogue on issues that affect all of us. And it holds the potential to effect real change, especially in the face of Todd Akin's shockingly聽misinformed and misogynist statements.
How to arrest Julian Assange without violating international lawBritish authorities forcefully entering the Embassy of Ecuador in London where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has taken refuge would not only be illegal but also set a frightening precedent, putting embassies around the world at risk. Thankfully, Britain has other options.
Congress must reform immigration laws that send top STEM graduates to ChinaBecause of bureaucracy and delays, America is losing its top foreign-born job creators 鈥� particularly those in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) 鈥� to competitors abroad.聽In the global war for talent, the US has every advantage except one: its immigration laws.
Why Paul Ryan is no Ayn Rand on Social SecurityMitt Romney's running mate Paul Ryan deserves credit for trying to tackle the coming entitlement crisis. But whatever you can say about his plan for Social Security, you cannot ascribe it to Ayn Rand. Rand did not want to save Social Security; she wanted to end it.
Why peace has a foothold in the PhilippinesThe Philippines has been fighting a decades-long insurgency. But a cease-fire is holding and peace talks are advancing. What makes this possible is commitment from the top and the bottom: Leaders insist on moving ahead, and warring families want peace for their children.
Global ViewpointWill America kill the curiosity that sent the rover to Mars?The landing of the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity on Mars marks a historic triumph for NASA, space exploration, and American innovation. But the endangered state of curiosity-driven basic research endangers America鈥檚 capacity for future innovations.
Can Paul Ryan educate voters about Medicare reform?Paul Ryan and his Republican supporters see the presidential election as a chance to educate voters about Medicare reform. Some claim that campaigns are not for educating, but for winning. That's only partially true. Campaigns still have great teaching value.
My gloriously useless degrees in the humanitiesMany insist the US needs more engineers and scientists to revive the economy. The hard truth is no degree guarantees a secure trajectory anymore. While I may not remember all I absorbed studying the humanities, I learned to think for myself. That has been invaluable in the workplace.
Why Israel shrugs at retaliation after attack on IranThe threat of a simultaneous war with Iran's proxies 鈥� Hezbollah, Syria, and Gaza militants 鈥� is a key consideration for Israel as it weighs an attack on Iran. But Iran鈥檚 allies may not be as keen about going to war for the ayatollahs as Tehran would like, and the Israelis know it.
Why the world can't tolerate a preemptive Israeli attack on IranUnder the UN Charter, neither Israel nor the US would have a legal right to preemptively launch a military attack on Iran. Do we want a world in which leaders are free to launch military attacks on other countries simply on an assumption of hostile intent and military capacity?
Back to school 鈥� and new common standards?So far, 47 states have signed on to the 'common core state standards' launched by the National Governors Association in 2009. The standards ensure uniformity in what's taught in every classroom nationwide. But we need follow-through at the local level. Here's what you can do.
