On October 31, 2006, the United States scored a diplomatic victory when North Korea agreed to reenter nuclear disarmament talks after weeks of tension following North Korea’s October 9th nuclear test. The United States has taken a leadership role in dealing with North Korea, just as it has done in virtually every international crisis in [...]
Monthly Archives: October 2006
On the increasing number of deaths in Iraq:
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Recent news reports say that the number of American troops killed in Iraq during the month of October 2006 was the highest total in a year, since October 2005. According to opinion polls, most Americans now oppose the way the Bush administration is handling the war and are urging the withdrawal of U.S. troops. As [...]
On economic sanctions versus military force:
Monday, October 23, 2006
Despite warnings from the UN Security Council, Iran is continuing its program of uranium enrichment. In response, the United States and its allies, France and Great Britain, have written a proposal for sanctions to be imposed on Iran as punishment for ignoring the Security Council’s order to stop the enrichment program. To be effective, the [...]
On the dangers of public apathy:
Thursday, October 19, 2006
“If once [the people] become inattentive to the public affairs,
you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors,
shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general
nature, in spite of individual exceptions.”
On the slow-moving nature of Congress:
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Americans have a tendency to hurry. We rush to work and back and we are always trying to get more done in less time. It is not surprising, therefore, that we are often frustrated with the slow pace at which Congress addresses the issues that are important to us. Thomas Jefferson offered an explanation for [...]
On the disadvantages of Congress:
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
In 1820, Thomas Jefferson wrote to Thomas Ritchie:
“If there be anything amiss therefore, in the present state of our affairs . . . I ascribe it to the inattention of Congress to its duties, to their unwise dissipation & waste of the public contributions. They seemed, some little while ago to be at a loss [...]
On public approval:
Monday, October 16, 2006
According to a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, President Bush’s approval rating currently stands at 39%. The frequency of polls gauging the popularity of politicians indicates just how crucial it is for leaders to be liked and respected if they are to be effective. In many cases, having the backing of the people can [...]
On unemployment:
Thursday, October 12, 2006
In times of economic downturn like those we have seen all too often in recent years, one can only assume that Thomas Jefferson was wrong when he said:
“Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling never fails of employment in it.” (To Peter Carr, June 22, 1792)
Clearly, Jefferson [...]
On getting involved in international affairs:
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Different politicians have different styles of governing. Although it is an overgeneralization, the popular perception is that Republicans are more interested in foreign affairs, while Democrats devote most of their energies to domestic programs. As the November elections get closer and we are exposed to campaign advertising on a daily basis, these political preferences are [...]
On representation in the American government:
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Even in our system of democratic government, we often lament that our elected officials are not truly representative of the socioeconomic status, the character, or the real-life concerns of the people at large. We complain about Washington “insiders”—people so accustomed to being in positions of influence that they have lost touch with the ordinary people [...]