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Exploring Spices, We Bring the World to Our Tables

April 15, 2014
Spice is an ancient trading item and descriptions of one Seattle dealer suggest that the business did not change much over the past century. But Americans now embrace spicy dishes, watching competing cooking shows on television, exploring recipes and ordering spices online, and experimenting at...

The Washington Post: Jewish or Democratic?

July 23, 2018
The Israeli parliament's approval of a legislation on the nation's identiy is sparking controversy “over the foundations of democracy in the country and what it means to be Israeli, with critics saying it will deny equal rights to non-Jewish citizens.” Proposed by members of the ruling...

Encouraging ASEAN

December 15, 2005
Three primary issues emerged this week in Kuala Lumpur: First, ASEAN confronted member state Myanmar over its human rights violations, marking what may be the first such criticism levied against a member. In the past ASEAN has overlooked and defended Myanmar’s junta even as human rights...

The Atlantic: Would-Be Coalition of Christian Traditionalists

March 28, 2017
Supporters of secularism criticize government leaders who prioritize personal religious beliefs over government policies. In 2014, Steve Bannon, now chief strategist in the White House, urged cross-border religious partnerships in opposing Islamic extremism. Religious traditionalists also join...

Bloomberg: Nafta’s China Clause

October 10, 2018
After much fanfare about scrapping the North America Free Trade Agreement, US President Donald Trump reached a new deal with neighbors called the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. A new clause stipulates that if members of the North American pact reach a trade deal with a non-market economy then they...

On Carbon, Tax and Don’t Spend

April 1, 2008
The idea of a tax on carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming, is gaining attention worldwide, but there’s little agreement on the best design. Monica Prasad, sociology professor at Northwestern University, notes that for the past two decades, the countries of Scandinavia have...

A US Attack of Iran Will Break NATO in Pieces

April 18, 2006
Even a world superpower can use a few allies. European nations, long stalwart friends of the US, express alarm that the Bush administration could consider attacking Iran without extensive diplomacy, consultation with allies, and reasoned responses such as revision of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation...

Amid the Mortgage Defaults, America's Day of Reckoning

August 22, 2007
As President George W. Bush’s tax cut for the rich did not help to stimulate a lagging economy during the 2001 recession, the Fed sought to lift by a drastic interest rate cut. Unfortunately, this only made matters worse as more Americans went into large debt. In recent years, lured by "...
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