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
How Washington Has Hurt Native Americans
If the idea behind U.S. policy in the early 20th century was either to help Indians or to help white settlers, the easiest way of accomplishing this would’ve been to grant a simple title to the land to either group and let each do what they wanted. But, “had the land been given directly to… -
opinion
Congress Has Good Reason to Move Forward with Norway 123 Agreement
A thirty-year commercial nuclear trade agreement with Norway is up for review by the Senate. Norway generates 96 percent of its electricity from hydropower and has no plans to build nuclear power plants. Why, then, is such an agreement important? Commonly called a “123 Agreement” for its location in the Atomic Energy Act, this agreement… -
opinion
Planned Parenthood Wants to Use California Bill to Silence Opposition
At Planned Parenthood’s behest, the California Assembly has passed AB 1671 on to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. AB 1671 amends a state anti-eavesdropping law to add criminal penalties for disclosing the confidential communications of a health care provider. The bill is designed to silence “undercover journalists” who might have reason to suspect foul play within… -
opinion
Grand Theft Health Insurance
Recently, the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association has been aggressively lobbying Congress to ignore the Obama administration’s illegal diversion of tax dollars into the pockets of—you guessed it—health insurers. At issue is funding for the “transitional reinsurance” program in section 1341 of the Affordable Care Act. In that section, Congress instructed the Department… -
news
Rep. Andy Harris in Chairman Race to Restore Conservative Vision of RSC
The race to become the next chairman of the Republican Study Committee expanded Wednesday morning as Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., announced he will challenge a fellow conservative, Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., for the helm of the largest GOP caucus in Congress. Harris, a physician and the only Republican among Maryland’s congressional delegation, told The Daily… -
opinion
Theodore Roosevelt and the Pursuit of American Greatness
Today marks the 115th anniversary of the swearing-in of Theodore Roosevelt, who would turn out to be our first progressive president. Roosevelt was thrust suddenly into that high office after the assassination of President William McKinley on Sept. 14, 1901. On that somber September day, it was not yet clear what shape TR’s political trajectory… -
news
Why This Female Veteran Is Against Women in the Draft
Although the United States has not issued a draft since the Vietnam War in 1973, Congress is in the final negotiating stages for a measure that could require women over the age of 18 to register for the draft. While some members say requiring women to register in the Selective Service is another step toward… -
news
Congress Must Act Now to Avert Foreign Control of Internet, Conservatives Say
Members of Congress need to be held individually responsible if they allow President Barack Obama to hand the internet over to international control next month, over 100 conservative leaders say. “On October 1, 2016, President Barack Obama will hand to Iran, China, Russia, and others control of perhaps America’s single greatest strategic asset—the World Wide… -
opinion
Heritage’s Agricultural Risk Report: Setting the Record Straight
The Heritage Foundation has released an in-depth and unique report that analyzes the question of whether agricultural producers and ranchers need government intervention in order to manage risk. Many agricultural special interests are already attacking the report, showing a surprising level of vitriol. This is a shame given that the report is designed in large… -
opinion
How Georgia Could Boost American Interests
My small country of Georgia lies at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. It also lies at the intersection of many of America’s most vital interests in this increasingly important region. Georgia is connected by geography to the Black Sea and to the West’s NATO allies that border it. Georgia shares another important border with… -
opinion
15 Facts About US Poverty the Government Hides
On Tuesday, the Census Bureau released its annual poverty report declaring that 43.1 million Americans lived in poverty in 2015. We should be concerned about any American living in real material hardship, but much of what the Census reports about poverty is misleading. Here are 15 facts about poverty in America that may surprise you. … -
news
Enterprise Resists Pressure to Steer Away From Legislative Reform Group
Attacks on the rental-car giant Enterprise over social media demonstrate how liberal pressure groups, labeling opponents as “climate change deniers,” coordinate efforts to bully companies to agree with them or face condemnation orchestrated by the groups. In the name of preventing global warming, labor and affiliated groups planted a negative story about Enterprise in a liberal,… -
news
Obama White House Eyes Hacking Threat as Rationale to ‘Protect’ Elections
The federal government is mulling a decision to protect state election systems on par with national defense and the power grid, citing recent hacking efforts. But state officials and other critics worry this move, under the guise of thwarting cyberterrorists, would be a back-door means of nationalizing local election functions. Neither the Constitution nor Congress… -
opinion
Taxpayers Deserve Better From US Army Corps of Engineers
Behind virtually every U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project is one or several lawmakers who try to use the agency to deliver unnecessary and wasteful projects back home. S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA), currently being considered by the Senate, is a prime example. The bill contains a nearly $0.5 billion… -
opinion
What the Media, Academics Get Wrong When They Blame Crime Rate on Poverty, Discrimination
Some are puzzled by the dishonesty, lack of character, and sheer stupidity of many people in the media. But seeing as most of them are college graduates, they don’t bear the full blame. They are taught by dishonest and irresponsible academics. Let’s look at it. “A Clash of Police Policies,” a column written by Thomas… -
opinion
The Most Dangerous Period in Washington Could Be About to Happen
The lame-duck session is the most dangerous period in the nation’s capital that you’ve never heard of. There are nearly two months in between Election Day in November and the swearing-in of the newly elected Congress in January. This period is known as the lame-duck session, because many of the voting members won’t be returning… -
opinion
When ‘Liberty’ Forces 18 Girls Into a Single-Stall Shower Room
In recent years, a common refrain accompanying nearly every demand for newly invented “rights” has been: “It doesn’t affect you, so you can’t be against it.” This claim—whether false or true, subjective or objective—has been played as the ultimate trump card. If you could not point to a direct, immediate, and significant intrusion on your… -
opinion
The Astonishing Amount of Taxpayer-Financed Loans That Have Gone to Failed Businesses
Small businesses are America’s backbone. They employ more than half of America’s workforce, and for every large business (more than 500 employees), there are 1,500 small ones. Most small business owners—those who risked their own money to start their business—would be shocked to hear that the government’s Small Business Administration has written off $17.5 billion… -
opinion
On 9/11 Anniversary, Remembering a Red, White, and Blue Nation Is Possible
Fifteen years ago, in the wake of the terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, I wrote about the tidal wave of patriotism that swept across America. There was an overnight surge in military enlistments by teens and young adults often dismissed as spoiled and self-absorbed…. -
news
Oregon Bakers’ Legal Battle Continues, as Same-Sex Couple Speaks Out
Aaron and Melissa Klein, the Oregon bakers who refused to make a cake for the wedding of two women, filed new documents Thursday with the Oregon Court of Appeals in response to the same-sex couple’s arguments that the Kleins had no legal right to refuse them service. “We are hopeful that these judges will understand that…