http://www.heritage.org/static/rss/commentary.xmlCommentary - The Heritage Foundationen-US© Copyright 2012info@heritage.orgRSS Generator {D570317B-3CB4-4EF1-891F-3C75B911FE58}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/05/the-austerity-blame-gameKim R. Holmes, Ph.D.A new economic buzzword is on the loose. “Austerity” is meant to describe the spending cuts by governments in Europe. Such “austerity” is much reviled by newly elected French President Francois Hollande and by the radical parties elected in Greece. American liberals don’t like it either. Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson calls austerity a “dangerous, self-defeating intellectual fad.” The New York Times’ Paul Krugman claims austerity is to blame for Europe’s economic problems.Wed, 16 May 2012 01:00:00 -0400{745E3509-1CAC-4F4C-A326-98EAD4977A86}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/05/the-horror-behind-chen-great-escapeJennifer MarshallIt has all the makings of a spellbinding screenplay: A blind Chinese dissident, Chen Guangcheng, outwits a communist regime’s thugs to escape house arrest and seek sanctuary in the U.S. embassy in Beijing. Mon, 07 May 2012 15:24:00 -0400{8C446C88-1925-42B9-828C-FD3E1D73DDED}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/05/lawfare-chinese-styleKim R. Holmes, Ph.D.Many people think the best way to deal with China is to make it a stakeholder in the international system. The idea is that, if China were part of the system, it would play by the system’s accepted rules.Wed, 02 May 2012 01:00:00 -0400{2CAC00A2-AAA8-4FBF-8B7B-EF10F51D6A9B}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/05/seeking-the-welfare-of-the-cityRyan Messmore, D.Phil.Conservatives are often portrayed as selfish scrooges who only care about their own bottom lines. But when it comes to truly meeting people’s needs, they’re the leaders of the pack. Tue, 01 May 2012 01:00:00 -0400{EE31FF58-59E5-4A95-8BDB-5F5FD1C9A803}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/04/homemakers-in-an-age-of-feminist-mystiqueJennifer MarshallDemocratic strategist Hilary Rosen hit close to many American homes with her comment that Ann Romney, stay-at-home mother of five boys, "had never worked a day in her life."Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:00:00 -0400{7D6A0CE2-4629-4B1F-ABF5-4E51970105D2}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/04/earthly-sports-and-eternal-truths-at-easterJennifer MarshallThis year, March Madness ran right up to Holy Week in the Christian calendar. Millions of Americans who began the week watching NCAA basketball finals would head to church at the weekend to commemorate Good Friday and Easter.Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:00:00 -0400{9EB0C8FB-71A1-40AF-BDAA-2814EFFA01B4}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/04/stop-taxmageddon-before-it-hitsCurtis DubayIf you thought paying your taxes was painful this year, get ready for more heartache next year, when taxpayers could be on the hook for almost $500 billion in higher taxes.Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:00:00 -0400{7B2EE8CA-9C2E-4597-97B2-579E77F9B40D}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/04/americas-residence-in-asiaKim R. Holmes, Ph.D.Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:00:00 -0400{CC4925C7-A717-4788-94B1-F2097D72E747}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/04/obamas-green-policies-punish-the-poorJames RobertsThe environmental movement has flexed its lobbying might through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for decades. But never has it been more muscular than under the current administration.Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:00:00 -0400{C7EBFE5D-93C7-45C3-A6D2-D9340D85BF6D}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/03/ryans-budget-protects-defenseEdwin Feulner, Ph.D., William Kristol, Arthur Brooks, Ph.D.In an election year, it's all too easy for politicians to defer hard choices until after the polls have closed in November. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) has taken the more difficult road with his "Path to Prosperity" budget. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:00:00 -0400{39C1BE3C-F7DC-4BE8-A441-BF277BD1F83F}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/03/war-on-women-beware-the-liberal-blitzkriegJennifer MarshallAmerica is in the midst of a gravely serious debate about religious liberty. It was touched off by news that President Obama’s health care law will coerce religious groups to violate conscience by covering certain products and services in their health plans or face steep fines.Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:00:00 -0400{EE20CD8E-CBF0-419C-AF88-E226AF8BA41D}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/04/latin-americas-tale-of-two-countriesJames RobertsIt’s a well-kept secret, but Latin America boasts one of the world’s 10 freest economies. Chile ranks seventh globally — ahead of the 10th place United States, in fact — according to the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:00:00 -0400{1CCDF97D-8022-4C1E-98F8-F6053C4E140F}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2011/12/senates-gift-to-americans-see-you-were-out-of-hereAlison Acosta FraserAs the clock counts down toward Christmas, Congress still has major unfinished business to attend to. Not that we should be surprised. Emblematic of a resoundingly disappointing year, the last remaining issue to be resolved directly affects the pocketbooks of Americans.Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:00:00 -0400{60B75883-C96F-454D-A0AC-92F54D3A8592}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/03/the-failure-of-an-ideaKim R. Holmes, Ph.D.The United Nations Security Council passes a resolution noting “widespread and systematic attacks” on civilians and authorizing U.N. member states “to take all necessary measures … to protect” them. It invokes a little-known concept called the responsibility to protect (or R2P) as justification for the use of force to stop the slaughter of civilians.Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:00:00 -0400{D2059F59-BFDC-4FD2-97D9-198F67A59C66}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/03/us-mission-in-afghanistan-can-still-succeedLisa CurtisThe U.S. has experienced undeniable setbacks in Afghanistan over the last three weeks. While it is tempting to view these troubles as reason to cut and run, such a course would be irresponsible and lead to greater dangers for both the U.S. and Afghans.Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:00:00 -0400{A5531B3B-8AC6-4456-8DEF-83D1460FCB63}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/02/dont-penalize-good-samaritansJennifer MarshallA 15-year-old girl spray-painted the words on pale yellow aluminum siding perched oddly on a slab of concrete: “For sale! Fixer upper.” Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:00:00 -0400{6413E288-8C0E-4613-81A4-E126972143FF}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/03/tehrans-ticking-nuclear-time-bombPeter BrookesWith President Obama addressing AIPAC on Sunday and meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, now is the time for him to unveil a more hardline policy on Iran.Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500{35A11D0C-2DE7-4E5E-BA5F-B311727ADF21}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/03/russian-elections-putin-40-at-a-crossroadsAriel Cohen, Ph.D.Only two questions surround the upcoming presidential election in Russia: Will Vladimir Putin win in the first round or the second? And how big will the post-election protests be?Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500{ECF85982-3196-4D76-A0D5-F2F0853244D1}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/03/us-debt-and-china-derek-scissorsDerek Scissors, Ph.D.Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released an initial estimate of foreign holdings of U.S. securities, including Treasury bonds, as of June 30, 2011. This estimate serves as a correction of monthly figures Treasury publishes, known as the Major Foreign Holders series.Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500{65BD9AF6-504F-4BAF-BDCD-1709B9FB4D9D}http://www.heritage.org/sitecore/content/home/research/commentary/2012/03/why-arent-conservatives-in-congress-doing-more-to-stop-obamasHans von SpakovskyWhat exactly are conservative members of Congress doing to combat President Obama’s unconstitutional “non-recess” appointments to the National Labor Relations Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? Not much.Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500