January | 2012 | AEIdeas

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Green Energy Policies Harm the Poor

Mark J. Perry | January 31, 2012, 2:55 pm

From an editorial in the Washington Examiner “When ‘Being Green’ Means Subsidies for Rich, Harm for the Poor” by Iain Murray and David Bier of the Competitive Enterprise Institute: “Consider the Obama administration’s subsidies for electric vehicles. To start with, … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Terrorism

Al Qaeda in Iran—the evidence

Marc Thiessen | January 31, 2012, 12:36 pm

More evidence is emerging of the cooperation between Iran and al Qaeda. Last June, the Obama Treasury Department named six al Qaeda facilitators operating in Iran under a “secret deal” between al Qaeda and the Iranian regime. Then, in December, … read more >

Economics

5 scariest debt and unemployment charts from the new CBO report

James Pethokoukis | January 31, 2012, 11:27 am

The Congressional Budget Office has released its updated 10-year budget and economic forecast. Actually, the CBO offers two forecasts. It has a baseline forecast, which assumes current law stays in place. It also has an “alternative” forecast which assumes current … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

Obama ‘exposes’ a covert action program

Marc Thiessen | January 31, 2012, 11:00 am

During an online question and answer session on Monday, President Obama “exposed” a covert action program when, for the first time, he acknowledged the existence of the CIA’s drone campaign against al Qaeda. The drone program is, of course, an … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

Expanding the American Kosher Deli

Sadanand Dhume | January 31, 2012, 10:04 am

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between India and Israel. The event was a watershed for both countries. For Israel—which also established ties with China the same year—it symbolized a decisive end to widespread … read more >

Economics, Taxes and Spending

The big hole in Newt’s flat tax plan

James Pethokoukis | January 31, 2012, 9:39 am

My pal Art Laffer heaps gobs of praise on Newt Gingrich’s tax plan (an optional 15 percent flat tax for individuals, 12.5 percent for businesses, no investment taxes) today in the WSJ. He notes that each of the main components … read more >

Carpe Diem

Univ. of North Dakota Responds to Oil Boom

Mark J. Perry | January 31, 2012, 3:22 am

Grand Forks Herald — “The University of North Dakota (UND) is stepping on the gas to meet the needs of the state’s oil boom. The new Department of Petroleum Engineering at UND has enrolled 40 students in its bachelor’s degree program, and … read more >

Carpe Diem

Bringing Manufacturing Jobs Back to the U.S.

Mark J. Perry | January 30, 2012, 7:27 pm

Tonight’s “Rock Center” show on NBC at 10 p.m. ET will have a segment on the rebound in American manufacturing, featuring Lincolnton Furniture, a six-generation American furniture company, which has recently started making furniture in North Carolina again after previously … read more >

Economics

Credit ratings: Where ‘least wrong’ is the best we can hope for

Daniel Hanson | January 30, 2012, 4:43 pm

U.S. regulators think they can do better than the major credit ratings agencies. As part of the Dodd-Frank Act, U.S. regulators are no longer allowed to use ratings from independent companies to judge the appropriateness of bank capital levels. Under … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion

Yes, Intrade actually is that useful!

James Pethokoukis | January 30, 2012, 4:13 pm

Jonah questions the usefulness of Intrade, doubting whether the “wisdom of crowds” actually generates much predictive value when it comes to political prognostication. Don’t betting markets just follow the consensus, which generally follows the poll? Well, a 2010 study looked … read more >

The Uses of Scandal
One of the greatest uses of scandal is to vividly demonstrate what new laws are needed and to create the political conditions to get them enacted. […]
Lean In… to Government?
Sheryl Sandberg's runaway best-selling book Lean In has managed to offend both the Left and the Right. Sandberg touts female hard-headedness, yet also calls for an elaborate government- and employer-supplied support system for women. […]
Are American Voters Racist?
Racial prejudice plays a very small role in American politics, but a highly disciplined sense of self-interest on the part of one group may play a very large role in the way the federal government functions. […]
The Perpetual Passion for Paper
Paper is becoming less important in some respects, but its strengths — prestige, utility, permanence, and security — are more essential than ever. […]