It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the bewildering array of economic data, statistics, charts, and graphs floating around. Often, we economists can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s hard to figure out what is truly significant and what is … Read more>

I was in Washington last week, meaning I was able to observe, on-site and up close, the reaction to President Obama’s remarkable switch in leadership in Afghanistan from the bizarre General Stanley McChrystal to the excellent General David Petraeus. The … Read more>

If you read the financial press or listen to what politicians say, you have probably heard many times how important it is for the Chinese renminbi (yuan) to strengthen against the dollar. Indeed, it sometimes sounds as though a weaker … Read more>

The just-completed Colombian presidential election took place in two stages. The first round took place on May 30. There were multiple candidates. Since nobody received an outright majority, the top two vote-getters (Juan Manuel Santos at 47 percent and Antanas … Read more>

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Center for Vision & Values presented a seminar in April, 2010, on the development and influence of Progressivism, focusing especially on the Radical Progressivism of Obama and his friends. The root of the term progressive is, … Read more>

The Progressive Movement at the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century in the United States confronted a political and social environment that was quite different from the time of the American Founders. In 1790 there … Read more>

Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day. Do you recall the old saying attributed to Otto Von Bismarck: “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made”? As fathers were lauded on Sunday, I suspect that most patriarchs were … Read more>

Since the Rev. Jeremiah Wright incident during the last presidential campaign, there has been low-level grousing by many Christians regarding Obama’s religious convictions. He has claimed to be a Christian, but there is little traditional evidence of a consistent Christian … Read more>

Editor’s Note: This article was first published by The Center for Vision & Values on June 18, 2009. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” … Read more>

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Calling for a balanced budget amendment has been a staple campaign issue for conservative Republicans for years. Undeniably, our nation is beset by fearful fiscal woes. However, a balanced budget amendment isn’t the answer.… Read more>

This week veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas announced her sudden “retirement.” The source was an insight shared by Thomas outside the White House during a Jewish-American Heritage Month celebration. … Read more>

“The Death and Life of the Great American School System” By Diane Ravitch | Basic Books (March 2, 2010) | 283 pp. | List Price: $26.95

In her latest book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: … Read more>

John Lennon of The Beatles wrote the surprisingly and relatively conservative song “Revolution” in 1968. Compared with the Rolling Stones’ 1968 “Street Fighting Man” written by Mick Jagger, Lennon’s lyrics are tame and earned him the scorn of the New … Read more>

I agree with President Obama that we need more labor unions. However, I disagree with his approach.
Full disclosure: I have been a dues-payer to both the United Auto Workers and the National Education Association unions. My sympathies are heavily … Read more>

As a psychology professor I teach students who plan to be practitioners of social science. They have been moved with compassion by the problems so many people face, such as being in a painful marriage or having a child with … Read more>