Teaching America's Youth to Play by the Rules
Consequences play a crucial role in deterring crime.
Focus Point – Clearing Up Fuzzy Math
A decade ago, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics backed something called "fuzzy math." Its purpose was for kids to understand what they were doing, rather than to get the right answer. Now, though, they've changed their mind: they're for accuracy. They've even recommended — gasp — memorizing math tables.
Focus Point – Technology Saves the Environment
Guess who's doing more for the quality of the environment, the EPA or modern technology?
Focus Point – The Feminized Military
If you wonder how the experiment of the unisex military is going, check out "A Kinder, Gentler Military," by Stephanie Gutman.
Market Gyrations Would Have Little Effect on Personal Social Security Accounts
"Volatile" is a mild adjective to apply to the stock market lately. The Dow is way up; the Dow is way down. The NASDAQ is way down; the NASDAQ is way up. So does that throw cold water on the idea of letting people put part of their Social Security payroll tax into personal retirement accounts to be invested?
Focus Point – Doing Bi-Lingual Ed Correctly
Bi-lingual education is an acknowledged failure. But for those who refuse to give up on it, I have a model for them to turn to.
Clearing the Air About the Bush Environmental Record
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush's environmental record as Texas governor has come under heightened scrutiny for two reasons. First, his record could indicate the types of policies he would pursue as president. Second, his likely opponent, Vice President Al Gore, is closely associated with environmental causes. Gore wrote a book warning of an impending environmental crisis, was chosen as President Clinton's running mate in 1992 largely to garner the environmental vote and is often touted as an environmental leader by groups pressing "green" issues.
Should the Fed Raise Margin Requirements?
On March 21, the Federal Reserve raised both the federal funds rate (the interest rate banks charge each other on loans) and the discount rate (the interest rate the Fed charges banks) by another 25 basis points (1/4th of 1 percent). In the wake of this latest increase, growing numbers of economists and politicians are starting to question the Fed's action. They are asking why farmers, small businesses and home buyers must be punished when the Fed's principal target appears to be the stock market. They are urging the Fed to raise margin requirements (the maximum percent of an investment that can be made with funds investors borrow from their brokers) instead of raising interest rates.
Focus Point – Two Tax Notes
Two tax notes, in case you missed them. Six years after the republicans took over the house, the tax bite continues to rise. In its annual report, Americans for tax reform tells us tax freedom day comes later again; the average American now works until may 3rd to pay his taxes, and only after that begins working for himself. Since 1992, the year Bill Clinton was elected, the date has moved from April 20th. So despite the rollicking prosperity of the '90s, you're still paying more taxes. Tax cut anybody?
Gore Does Disservice to Gun Victims
Vice President Gore, the Democrat's presumptive presidential nominee unveiled his most recent attack on crime: guns should be banned from churches.
Focus Point – Why Local is Better
A remarkably candid report from the United Nations development program has admitted what many people have known for a long time: that poverty is often the result of bad central government. And good local government is the best way to fight poverty.
NCPA: Texas Environment Improves More Under Bush Than in Other States
Despite criticism from some environmental groups, Texas has made more improvement in its environment under Gov. George W. Bush than most other states.
Focus Point – Medicaid Waste
A new report from the General Accounting Office shows how money meant for Medicaid gets wasted by incompetence and what almost smacks of fraud.
Focus Point – Canadians Get it Right
Since I've remarked more than once about the awful straits the Canadian Socialized Health Care System has found itself in, I feel I ought to report a bit of good news.
Focus Point – Gas Price Follies
Conservatives are demanding the government cut the gasoline tax. Liberals say we can't afford to cut the tax because Washington needs the money, and besides, the only way to cure Americans of their evil addiction to cars is to raise gas prices, not lower them.
Short Circuiting the Government Regulator
Ronald Reagan used to say that "government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
NCPA's Goodman To Discuss Bush's Health Plan On C-SPAN's "Washington Journal"
John C. Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA SM) will appear on C-SPAN's Washington Journal program on Tuesday, April 18, to discuss Bush's recently unveiled health proposals.
Focus Point – Paying Taxes
Ahh, tax day! Our government makes paying taxes so complicated more than half of us simply give up and pay someone else to figure them out.
Focus Point – Turning Off Electric Cars
One of the most ill-advised, scientifically dubious, politically driven environmental moves of recent years may be headed for the ash bin of history. California may be backing down on its early-'90s initiative to require sales of battery-powered electric cars in the state. California has a mandate requiring that the equivalent of 10 percent of cars and light trucks sold in the state, as of 2003 emit no pollution. That would total 22,000 battery-powered vehicles each year.
Focus Point – Child Labor
It's the classic liberal reaction: the United States should do good by attacking child labor in other countries, where child labor is often the difference between a family's eating and starving.
Focus Point – Saving Social Security
I have good news and bad news. The good news: the nation's economy grew at an unbelievable 7.3 percent in the last quarter of '99. The bad news: the boom has pushed Social Security's bankruptcy date back three years, to 2037.
A Successful Educational Melting Pot
The Dover Elementary School in Richardson, Texas, a Dallas suburb, presents its teachers with a different type of challenge from most schools. For almost half of Dover's 450 students, English is not the first language. That's not so unusual any longer in many parts of the United States. What is unusual is that they speak 27 different first languages.
Focus Point – MSA Success Stories
Great news! Medical savings accounts are finally flourishing!
Focus Point – No Good Deed
There's a saying that no good deed goes unpunished. Florida Governor Jeb Bush has found it's true.