Syria’s embattled Bashar al-Assad regime has pulled no punches in its ruthless repression of Syria’s long-suffering people. With the exception of Muammar Qadhafi’s Libyan regime, no other Arab government has spilled so much blood to maintain itself in power against peaceful demonstrators that have flooded the streets in protest during this “Arab Spring.” Since the protests began two months ago, more than 750 demonstrators have been killed. Assad deployed tanks to confront demonstrators, and this week his army bombarded Syria’s third largest city, Homs, with tank shells.
A chart created by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has been circulating among liberal bloggers such as Ezra Klein, James Fallows, and Andrew Sullivan. The chart, seen to the right, purports to show that the next decade’s deficits are entirely the result of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, wars, bailouts, recession, and stimulus. Their methodology fails statistics 101. Imagine a basketball team that loses 100-98. It would make no sense to cherry pick one single basket by their opponent and blame it for 100 percent of the …
With the current debate over ending oil producers’ subsidies the question arises as to what subsidies do the producers actually get. It is a surprisingly complicated question. Wind producers also get subsidies that take complex forms—investment tax credits, production tax credits, mandates, property tax exemptions, etc. But the major federal subsidy for wind producers is the option to take a 30 percent investment tax credit or to receive a 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour production tax credit. “2.2 cents” doesn’t seem like much, but, depending on the time of year, it …
Sunday, May 15, is the 2011 United Nations International Day of Families. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the wide-ranging role that the family plays in the well-being of our society. One important first step would be for the U.N. to recognize the benefits associated with family centered on a married mother and father. Historically, the U.N. has not been a stalwart champion of the traditional family; too often it undermines parents and promotes radical social policies for children and young adults. The U.N. and its various entities could …
The invaluable Alaskan oil pipeline isn’t doing well these days. A remedy to help fix this precious resource is available but overzealous environmentalists and over-regulatory politicians are standing in the way. The ever-decreasing amount of oil flowing through the pipeline is disrupting its effective operation — and threatening its very existence. This problem could easily be solved by opening up more domestic drilling in Alaska. This would allow more oil to flow through the pipeline, maintain the correct temperature (which falls to dangerous levels with insufficient supply). But access to …
It’s easy to take shots at oil companies, especially when gas prices are rising over $4 per gallon. Playing the role of David against an enormous corporate Goliath is a great way to score political points, so it’s no wonder that President Barack Obama and liberals in Congress have issued a clarion call for the end to oil subsidies as a way of wreaking revenge against those they say are responsible for the high cost of energy. The truth, though, isn’t as simple as the good-versus evil fable the left …
Columnist Cal Thomas writes today about his site visits this week in the D.C. area with longtime advocate for grassroots community initiatives Bob Woodson: I spent last Tuesday riding around Washington and Waldorf, Md., visiting housing projects Woodson’s organization supports and studying his success. I met former drug addicts, dealers, prostitutes and pimps—all of whom testify to having been through failed government programs—who now say they are clean, sober and off the streets. Thomas also visited initiatives launched by Pastor Shirley Holloway, “a no-nonsense, black woman who heads Kingdom Village …
Join us on right now for our “Lunch with Heritage” online chat. We will be joined by the Director of Heritage’s Center for Policy Innovation, Dr. Stuart Butler. Dr. Butler played a large part in drafting “Saving the American Dream: The Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity“. The plan puts forth ideas on how to reform major entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and reforms health care. By reforming these programs and reining in spending, the plan balances the budget in 10 years. Dr. Butler …
You have to love this story. Apparently, WikiLeaks is plagued by … you guessed it, leaks! Confronted with the fact that some of its volunteers and employees are talking to outsiders about WikiLeaks and about some of the materials it has collected but hasn’t yet published, WikiLeaks is now demanding that everyone sign a confidentiality agreement and promise to keep everything about WikiLeaks secret unless authorized to release the information. The agreement says that anyone who violates its terms will be subject to a penalty of $20 million (we kid …
Want a fast way to blow some taxpayer dollars? Buy a ticket on President Barack Obama’s high-speed spending trains. High-speed rail is one of the president’s pie-in-the-sky green energy dreams, which would do little to relieve Americans who are suffering the effects of high gasoline prices. The president reaffirmed his commitment to high-speed rail in grand fashion this week with the announcement of $2.02 billion in funding for 22 projects in 15 states. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the cash will “[bring] President Obama’s vision of American high-speed rail one step …
