All The Monitor's View
America's big drought: Time to rethink water conservationMuch of the Lower 48 is in a bad drought, the worst since 1956. Yet each drought also brings new ideas for adapting to nature's vagaries. What ideas are worth considering now?
Syria on the brink of liberty?So many nations 鈥� notably Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia 鈥� claim interests in Syria. It's easy to forget what still drives the civil war there: the seed of freedom planted even before the Arab Spring.
As bank scandals add up, a need for a culture of integrity in banksThe HSBC scandal comes soon after reckless or deceitful behavior at Barclays and JPMorgan. The pattern lies in a bank culture that doesn't emphasize character enough. A survey of the industry shows why.
Out of disasters in Russia and China, a bloom of compassionRussian volunteers rushed to the city of Krymsk after its July 7 flood, just as Chinese gave generously after a 2008 earthquake. Heartfelt, organized charity isn't easy for authoritarian regimes to tolerate.
Barclays Libor scandal: Is truth an easy casualty in the digital age?Barclays bank was caught manipulating global interest rates, known as Libor, in an act of deception over the bank's financial soundness. Preventing such dishonesty needs more than regulation.
Essence of Penn State report on Sandusky scandal: Protect children's innocenceThe Penn State report is more than a plan to reform a college football program or a university that failed to prevent sexual abuse of minors by Jerry Sandusky. Any institution dealing with kids will find the report useful in protecting children as innocent beings.
Gunboat diplomacy on a rebound?Russia deploys warships off Syria. China sends threatening vessels to its neighbors over island disputes. The world can't afford a return to 19th-century naval intimidation.
Feeling poor? Wealthy? Here's a reason why.More studies probe gaps between people, especially in income. This trend only reinforces a self-image based on stereotypes and relative comparisons. Isn't identity anchored first in the absolutes of life?
In Libya elections, lessons for Arab SpringThe Libya elections were a step forward for a bedraggled Arab Spring. They revive the region's cry for democracy and may set a model in how to accommodate Islam with individual rights.
'Stand your ground' loses groundAs defendant George Zimmerman tries to raise a $1 million bond in the case of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a new study suggests that 鈥榮tand your ground鈥� laws aren鈥檛 a deterrent to crime and increase homicides.
Baseball proudly wears its greenIn pro baseball, which holds its all-star game Tuesday, more than the playing fields are green. Teams are rigorously looking for ways to cut energy use and become better overall environmental stewards.
The Internet needs its own 鈥榙eclaration of independence鈥�A new 鈥楧eclaration of Internet Freedom鈥� should spark a much-needed discussion about online rights and privacy.
What kind of PRI will rule Mexico?Mexican voters have done what was once unthinkable, returning the notoriously corrupt PRI to the presidency after tossing it out in 2000. But Mexico is a different place today.
In health-care decision, Roberts rules of order reignBesides his key vote in upholding most of Obamacare, Chief Justice John Roberts also pointed to a need for civility, humility, and limits in the use of power.
A taxing decision on health care mandate by the Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court ruling on the health care law and its mandate assumes that a 'tax' for not buying insurance is simply an incentive. It isn't much of an incentive if it penalizes those who rely on nonmedical means of healing.
Syria intervention of the right sortWhen Syria downed a Turkish jet last Friday, who came out in support of Turkey? That club of democracies called NATO. The Syrians' cry for freedom demands a strong response by nations already free.
Supreme Court ruling on life sentences for young criminalsThe Supreme Court ruling against mandating life-without-parole sentences for young criminals assumes that children are more capable of reform than adults. This premise is based on shaky views of character development.
Supreme Court ruling on Arizona law must lead to 'civil discourse' on illegal immigrationThe Supreme Court ruling on Arizona law SB 1070 will let states help enforce federal immigration law through police checks on immigration status. This should create more federal-state cooperation in battling illegal immigration, especially in states hit hardest by such massive lawlessness.
Obama and Romney must link economy, immigrationLast week, Obama and Romney gave dueling speeches on the economy. This week, it was immigration. The two topics are very much related. The candidates should focus on that.
After Supreme Court ruling, FCC must give clear indecency standardsA Supreme Court ruling on FCC indecency rules for broadcast TV calls for less vague standards but seems to back the public interest in safeguarding children from vulgarities and nudity on public airwaves. Now the FCC must provide clarity for such rules.
