Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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opinion
‘Communism for Kids’ Turns Deadly Ideology Into a Fairy Tale
In order to make the deadliest ideology of the 20th century palatable to young Americans, “Communism for Kids” is coming to a bookstore near you. This newly released book from MIT Press “proposes a different kind of communism, one that is true to its ideals and free from authoritarianism.” The death toll from communist regimes… -
opinion
The Importance of Expanding US-India Naval Cooperation
While much of the focus for U.S. naval diplomacy remains centered on the Asia-Pacific, Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean region is a growing concern, given the large amount of trade that passes through the area. The U.S. can counter growing challenges in the Indian Ocean by expanding and regularizing cooperation with India, the predominant… -
opinion
How to Improve Airline Travel: Cut Out Washington Meddling
While grumbling about inconveniences at U.S. airports is a national pastime among travelers, the criticism has been especially shrill this year. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is not pleased with the state of U.S. airports, calling them “obsolete” and even “third world.” Although these claims are hyperbolic (American airports move far… -
opinion
This May Be Venezuela’s Tiananmen Square Moment
Venezuela is no stranger to protests, but the recent uprisings have rocked the country and stirred questions about the nation’s future. This past week, the “mother of all protests” has seen upward of 2 million Venezuelans take to the streets demanding an end to the notoriously corrupt Maduro regime. Beginning on what would be the 207th… -
news
Professor Paints Picture of Trump’s Decapitated Head, Puts It on Display at College
A professor at an Alaska university has put a painting featuring President Donald Trump’s decapitated head on display at the college art gallery. Thomas Chung, assistant professor of painting at the University of Alaska Anchorage, painted a portrait of Captain America actor Chris Evans standing naked and holding up Trump’s severed head, KTUU reported. Two large birds, apparently eagles,… -
opinion
US Falling Behind on Trade, While Japan and EU Thrive
European Union and Japanese leaders recently met in Brussels to further negotiations for a free trade agreement. As the EU and Japan work together to boost their economic, political, and security ties, sentiments in the United States seem to be turning away from free trade in favor of protectionism. President Donald Trump has fueled anti-trade… -
opinion
This Easy Fix Will Create New Flexibility for American Workers
So-called “comp time” is commonplace for government workers, but not so much among low-income workers in the private sector. The reason? The government prohibits it. By law, all salaried employees who make less than $23,660 per year are subject to overtime rules. This means employers must pay them time-and-a-half for any hours beyond 40 hours… -
opinion
UC Berkeley Rewards Liberal Violence by Not Allowing Coulter Speech
Apparently the lesson University of California, Berkeley learned from the violent protests surrounding writer Milo Yiannopoulos’ speech earlier this year was … you shouldn’t let controversial figures give speeches. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that commentator Ann Coulter’s upcoming speech had been canceled “for security concerns.” “UC Berkeley officials say they were ‘unable to find… -
news
Watchdog Sues for Records on Tax Dollars Funding ‘Soros Infantry’
Judicial Watch is suing to obtain government records regarding almost $5 million in U.S. tax dollars flowing to the “Soros infantry” that is disrupting Macedonia’s political system. “The Trump State Department and USAID should … disclose the details of the Obama-Soros spigot,” @TomFitton says. What’s more, the government watchdog group says it wants to know… -
opinion
Trump’s Disappointing Flip-Flop on the Export-Import Bank
President Donald Trump has apparently changed his mind about eliminating the crony Export-Import Bank, opting to “reform” the swamp rather than drain it. As bad as this flip-flop is, his excuses for doing so are downright pitiful. As a candidate in August 2015, Trump categorized the bank as “feather bedding,” adding, “I don’t like it…. -
news
Anti-Trump Democrat Falls Short in Georgia Election. Here’s What Comes Next.
Two candidates, Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff, will compete in a runoff election in June after failing to garner 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s special election in Georgia’s 6th District. The contenders in Tuesday’s jungle primary included 11 Republicans, five Democrats, and two independents. Voters will head back to the polls on June… -
opinion
How Political Correctness Holds African-Americans Back
As a group, black Americans have made the greatest gains—over some of the highest hurdles and in a very short span of time—of any racial group in mankind’s history. What’s the evidence? If one totaled up the earnings of black Americans and considered us as a separate nation with our own gross domestic product, we… -
news
Scott Walker Deals Another Blow to Big Labor in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation that prevents local governments from requiring contractors to hire union labor for publicly funded construction projects. Walker signed the legislation, which passed along party lines in February, at a local distributor of construction materials in De Pere, Wisconsin, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The governor and Wisconsin Republicans… -
opinion
New Data Show That Ignorance of US Tax Policy Fuels Leftward Sentiments
With federal Tax Day now here, taxes have been on many people’s minds and have featured in a few recent public opinion studies. A study released by Gallup this week found that Americans are more likely to say the income taxes they pay are fair, after a long downward trend since 2003. Pew Research Center… -
news
Eliminating DC’s Handgun Ban Had No Effect On Homicides, Report Says
Eliminating the District of Columbia’s comprehensive handgun ban had almost no effect on homicides committed with or without such firearms in the nation’s capital, according to an analysis by The Daily Caller News Foundation’s Investigative Group. Nearly 80 percent of all D.C. homicide victims from 2000 through 2007 were killed with a gun, city and… -
opinion
Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?
When Americans file their taxes, it's natural to wonder, "Where do my tax dollars go? What do they fund? And what don't they fund?" According to the latest Congressional Budget Office report on the distribution of federal taxes, Washington collects about $20,000 from the average household. Yet the 2016 deficit was a whopping $587 billion…. -
news
Conservative Says Trump’s Export-Import Bank Nominations Could Bring in Era of Reforms
Following President Donald Trump’s decision to nominate two former congressmen to key posts with the Export-Import Bank, conservatives are looking now to a new era of reforms that may take place within the agency with new leadership. But while some are hoping to see changes take place within the 84-year-old agency, there are concerns that… -
opinion
We Hear You: ‘I Also Had My Signature Forged by SEIU’
Editor's note: Kevin Mooney's reports on evidence of fraud in the unionization of home caregivers in Minnesota struck a nerve. Neither the union affiliate in question, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, nor the national SEIU organization has responded to The Daily Signal's requests for comment over the past six weeks. Here's some of what you had to… -
opinion
Want to Communicate Well? Talk Like Jesus
In light of Holy Week and Easter, let’s talk about Jesus. It’s been more than a decade since the popular “What Would Jesus Do” (WWJD) bracelets made their way onto the wrists of every youth group kid across America, but in an age of political division, the advancement of a secular society, and attacks on… -
opinion
The Possible Upsides of Korea Crisis
Not only is the current showdown with North Korea unlikely to lead to a military conflict, it is likely that all the countries involved will walk away believing they have achieved something for their side. In fact, it could be the perfect storm of crisis diplomacy that’s a win-win for everybody—for now. Pyongyang gets the…