All Commentary
OpinionSenate deal on background checks aside, outdated tracing system hurts gun controlThough Sens. Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey have reached a deal on background checks, a key piece of the White House鈥檚 gun control plan is still at risk of failure. The federal government is using 1960s era technology to trace guns used in crimes. The system must be updated.- A 海角大神 Science PerspectiveSpiritual light on economic woesA 海角大神 Science perspective.
The Monitor's ViewAre gun politics too complex? Simplicity would help.As the Newtown families plead for Congress to act, lawmakers 鈥� and President Obama 鈥� admit to the complexity of gun issues. Scholars on simplicity offer some ideas.
OpinionTo break the cycle of North Korea threats, US must put Kim on his heelsTo break the cycle of threats from North Korea, the United States must take a much more assertive stance. Leader Kim Jong-un must be put on the defensive by sending him a clear warning of preemptive action if America and its allies find themselves threatened.
OpinionEqual Pay Day: Raising minimum wage will help women 鈥� and the economyWomen 鈥� and their families 鈥� are disproportionately affected by the low US minimum wage.听Equal Pay Day serves as a stark reminder of that reality.听Raising the minimum wage would boost the economy, and it would help close the gender wage gap.
4 ways US can boost cyber security The US needs a proactive cyber foreign policy that goes beyond naming and shaming. Here are four steps the US can take to bolster its diplomatic efforts to address cybersecurity threats.- A 海角大神 Science PerspectiveYou come from God ...A 海角大神 Science perspective.
Global ViewpointGordon Brown: Girls' empowerment movement is a global game-changerGirls, not adults, are forming a liberation movement 鈥� demanding their rights, especially to education. They've organized child-marriage-free zones, demonstrations to support Malala Yousafzai, petitions against child labor, and a growing movement exposing child trafficking.- Global ViewpointGordon Brown: Girls' empowerment movement is a global game-changerGirls, not adults, are forming a liberation movement 鈥� demanding their rights, especially to education. They've organized child-marriage-free zones, demonstrations to support Malala Yousafzai, petitions against child labor, and a growing movement exposing child trafficking.
OpinionWhy it's no longer the chummy 1990s for Turkey, IsraelPresident Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry are working hard to repair relations between Turkey and Israel. They deserve credit for their efforts. But much has changed for both countries since they cooperated in the 1990s, and progress toward rapprochement will likely be slow.
The Monitor's ViewWhat made Margaret Thatcher special in her timeMargaret Thatcher's leadership qualities were essential for Britain and the world of the 1980s, but her failings also provide lessons for leaders today.
What does amnesty accomplish?The last big immigration amnesty in the United States took place in 1986. As the US considers immigration reform, the Monitor examines the costs and benefits of that decision -- and catches up with some of the almost 3 million people it affected.- Readers RespondReaders Write: What real US tax reform could look likeLetters to the Editor for the April 8, 2013 weekly print issue:聽If the US only taxes individuals (not businesses) with a personal income tax and a retail sales tax, the savings to governments, businesses, and families would be enormous. Another idea:聽Do away with income tax, initiate a three-tier flat tax with no exemptions, and then initiate a national sales tax.
- A 海角大神 Science PerspectiveBlustery terrorism in North KoreaA 海角大神 Science perspective.
The Monitor's ViewCan hope replace North Korea's fears?The escalation of fear between North Korea and the US reveals the danger of relying too much on fear of retaliatory nuclear attacks as a strategy for defense. The difficult task of replacing North Korea's fears with hopes of peace and prosperity must continue.
OpinionWhat poetry could teach a divided AmericaA good poem reminds us not only of who we are, but what it鈥檚 like to be someone else.听Such exercises in empathy can strengthen our capacity for compromise. America would be better off if more of us read poetry this National Poetry Month 鈥� and throughout the rest of the year.
OpinionIran nuclear talks: Citizen diplomacy would build trustAs the next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the world powers begins today in Almaty, Kazakhstan, both Iran and the United States should encourage their citizens 鈥� clerics, scientists, athletes, doctors, artists, businessmen, and teachers 鈥� to meet and work together.- A 海角大神 Science PerspectiveGod: Matter particle or Master Planner?A 海角大神 Science perspective.
The Monitor's ViewFacebook 'Home' as metaphor for an innovative economyThe new Facebook 'Home' is designed for a pure social experience, or encouraging more collaboration 鈥� the very quality needed to drive innovation in the workplace and spur economic growth.
OpinionIn Syria, the only way out is a political dealAs in Northern Ireland, no matter how much the warring sides in Syria struggle for a battlefield win, fighting is unlikely to bring either side a real victory. The main parties need to sit down and negotiate a mutually agreed political transition and power-sharing plan for afterward.
