Monthly Archives: September 2011

The good news:  The American Human Development Project, a social research organizationm, has published an analysis of recent Census Bureau data that shows that the gap between men’s and women’s wages is closing. The bad news:  It’s because men’s salaries … Continue reading →

The Washington Post reported the following: Chinese officials, their nation’s growth linked to exports to Europe and the United States, joined the criticism, arguing that the ongoing sense of crisis showed the shortcomings of western-style democracy and culture. “The issue … Continue reading →

A Baylor University survey found that people who strongly believe in an engaged God who “has a plan for me” were much more likely to agree that “the government does too much” and that “able-bodied people who are out of … Continue reading →

One of our two parties argues that Americans don’t want government services and, indeed, a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 56 percent of Americans said they wanted smaller government and fewer services. Yet, as Cornell professor Suzanne Mettler … Continue reading →

Treasury Secretary Geitner went to Europe last week to offer the Europeans “some advice on fixing Europe’s sovereign debt and banking problems” (according to the New York Times).  One specific admonition to the finance ministers was to pump money into … Continue reading →

The Associated Press has reported that Americans’ wealth declined this spring for the first time in a year, as stocks and home values fell. At the same time, corporations increased the size of their cash stockpiles. According to the Federal … Continue reading →

Various media have reported on a nationwide study that shows that tougher licensing laws for teenage drivers have reduced deadly accidents among 16- and 17-year-olds — but that it increased the fatal crash rate among 18-year-olds.  The “graduated driver license” … Continue reading →

Rightwing Republicans, the American Legion, and members of the U.S. military have killed a bipartisan measure to present flags at the funerals of federal workers killed in the line of duty.  (Note: Not killed by disease; not killed in accidents; … Continue reading →

Experts have done numerous analyses demonstrating how certain tax policies break the balance between encouraging growth (and “creating jobs”) and contributing to broader community and social objectives.  Steve Mufson of the Washington Post reports: “As a result of a pair … Continue reading →

The British government has released a 1,400-page, $20 million investigation report that found a pattern of “violent and cowardly assaults” by “a large number of soldiers” from a unit of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment in Iraq. Prime Minister David Cameron, … Continue reading →