Editorials
The Hidden Utility of Ron Paul’s Balanced-Budget Plan: View
American voters are adept at sending mixed messages to elected officials. None are as confusing as the signals from the heartland over how to fix the federal budget.
France’s Socialists Are Getting Realistic on Europe Economic Crisis: View
In a vote that may have serious consequences for Europe’s economic crisis, the French Socialist Party showed laudable level-headedness this week in selecting the moderate Francois Hollande as its presidential candidate for next year’s election.
President Obama Should Steer Clear of Cheap Shots at Wall Street: View
The Washington Post reports that President Barack Obama has decided to make anti-Wall-Street rhetoric a “central tenet” of his re-election strategy. This is a terrible idea, and we urge the president to reconsider.
China’s Currency Distracts From U.S.’s Policy Failings: View
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says that on “Day One” in office he would declare China a currency manipulator. So it’s safe to assume that were he president, he would sign the bill that passed the Democratic- controlled Senate last week to impose sanctions on China if it doesn’t free the yuan to appreciate against the dollar.
For Alternative Energy, Storage Makes All the Difference: View
Arguments for solar and wind power are so enticing (endless availability, no pollution and so on) that it’s easy to see why the idea of transitioning the world economy to alternative energy over the next 40 years keeps gaining favor.
Europe’s Last Stand Needs Overwhelming Firepower: View
Europe is heading for what could be the last stand in its two-year-old sovereign debt crisis. By the time the Group of 20 nations holds its summit in Cannes, France, on Nov. 3-4, the European Union aims to have a rescue plan sound enough to ensure the financial troubles of struggling governments don’t bring down the banking system.
Cain Needs to Give Voters the 411 on His 9-9-9 Tax Plan: View
“The 9-9-9 plan that I have proposed is simple, transparent, efficient, fair and neutral.” That’s Herman Cain defending his tax overhaul plan at the Oct. 11 Bloomberg-Washington Post Republican presidential candidates’ debate in New Hampshire.
Ukraine Needs to Do More Than Just Set Free Tymoshenko: View
Ukraine’s leader took a step in the right direction Thursday by announcing that he supports scrapping the Soviet-era law that led to a seven-year prison sentence for his chief political rival, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Rajaratnam Sentence Sends the Right Message to Wall Street: View
Raj Rajaratnam, the Galleon Group LLC hedge fund executive who fought his insider-trading prosecution at every stage, today ended up with an 11-year prison sentence and an order to forfeit $53.8 million. Some are decrying the punishment as too lenient, but it is both appropriate and exemplary.
Infrastructure Bank Plus Repatriation Holiday Equals Jobs
Call us optimists, but it’s possible that the Senate’s decision Tuesday to block President Barack Obama’s jobs bill was a blessing in disguise.
Security Will Suffer Unless Pentagon Health Care Gets Cuts: View
An editorial on Monday identified specific weapons programs that could be targeted for cuts as the Pentagon faces growing pressure to help curb the federal deficit. There is, however, a huge area of potential Defense Department savings that doesn’t involve equipment and war- fighting capabilities: bringing under control the galloping -- and unsustainable -- cost of providing well-deserved benefits to those who serve our country.
Taiwan Jet Deal Aids Ally Without Provoking Rival China: View
The 100th anniversary marking the fall of China’s last imperial dynasty upped tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with Chinese President Hu Jintao calling for “reunification through peaceful means” and his Taiwanese counterpart, Ma Ying-jeou, responding that he was just fine with the status quo.