In The News

Obama Will Give Free Trade a Rough Ride

Tony Parkinson July 1, 2008
Columnist Tony Parkinson argues that Barack Obama’s hostility towards free trade signals a loss of confidence in US trading partners that threatens, in turn, to cause those partners to lose confidence in the United States. The international community is eager to see an end to George Bush’s unilateralist attitude towards national security. Obama’s unilateralist attitude towards trade, however,...

Big Issues for the Next President

David Wessel June 30, 2008
The US electorate holds high expectations for the next president – and most center on improving the economy. Yet most voters tend to overlook the multitude of connections that make up the economy, failing to realize how their choices on purchases or activities contribute to daily life and the societies where we live. The US president can provide great leadership by demonstrating such connections...

On the Campaign Trail

June 24, 2008
Whatever the result of November’s election, most observers expect the next US president to be more science-friendly than George W. Bush. Both Barack Obama and John McCain are expected to repeal Bush’s curbs on stem-cell research and step up the fight against climate change. Of course, the two men differ on some details of science-related issues. The most important test of the candidates is not a...

Stung by Soaring Transport Costs, Factories Bring Jobs Home Again

June 18, 2008
Rising energy costs are putting the brakes to rapid globalization – and in some cases even reversing gears. Manufacturers are rethinking any plans to open new factories in low-wage nations, and some even ponder returning factories to the US and Mexico from China, reports Timothy Aeppel for the Wall Street Journal. Transportation costs are now equal to a 9 percent tariff on US imports, notes one...

Picking Judges: A Lasting Presidential Legacy

Linda Chavez May 30, 2008
Among all the powers that a president is given, the choice to nominate federal judges is critical. Voters should scrutinize candidates’ criteria for choosing judges: Barack Obama seeks judges who can make decisions grounded on fairness while John McCain values judges who understand the bounds of judicial power. In choosing a president, voters need to consider what types of judges will be...

Voters See Very Different Healthcare Plans From Obama, Clinton & McCain

Michelle Andrews May 29, 2008
Democrats traditionally have placed greater emphasis on health care as a political issue than Republicans did – and criticize the government as the number of uninsured Americans continues to climb. However, when forced to pay, patients pursue the most affordable programs and voters may well follow suit. Plans from the Democratic presidential candidates propose expanding coverage, while...

Keep America Open to Trade

Carlos M. Gutierrez May 28, 2008
Like other countries, the US confronts rising energy, housing and food prices – but limiting immigration or reducing trade will not alleviate such economic problems. The US secretary of commerce and the governor of California urge that the US continue open policies on trade and immigration. In an opinion essay for the Wall Street Journal, Carlos Gutierrez and Arnold Schwarzenegger, both...