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
The Problem of Crony Capitalism Today
The following is a speech given by Bill Walton to the Center for Constructive Alternatives at Hillsdale College on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015: I have spent most of my career on Wall Street and in business. I was CEO of a publicly traded NYSE private equity firm for about 14 years from 1997 to 2010. We were highly… -
opinion
How to Explain Terrorism in Belgium? Linguistic Division May Play a Role.
Belgium is a lovely country. Flanders, in the north, has some of the prettiest towns in Europe. Wallonia, to the south, has lush forests and picturesque valleys. This partition, alas, also comes with an ethno-linguistic segregation that has torn Belgium apart and may have even helped make it an epicenter of terrorism. Americans, take heed…. -
opinion
Sensible Policies Are Needed to Prevent Terrorist Travel
After the rage and mourning over the Paris terrorist attacks came fears of another Paris—in another city. Nowhere has the debate about how to keep terrorists “over there” from coming over here been waged more vigorously than in the United States. That comes as no surprise. Few doubt that America is on the ISIS hit list…. -
opinion
No, the Visa Waiver System Is Not the Problem
Despite the deep erudition of this newspaper’s readers—especially of this column—we suggest everyone take a deep breath over their concerns about the possibility of terrorism here aided and abetted by the visa waiver program. Everybody: In with the good air; out with the bad. Great! Now, the current worry is that Europeans who have traveled… -
opinion
5 Facts the Left Isn’t Trumpeting About Paris and Climate Change
Politicians and bureaucrats from nearly 200 nations are gathered in Paris for an international global warming agreement. In his opening statements, President Barack Obama claimed that “there is such a thing as being too late. And when it comes to climate change, that hour is almost upon us.” In the midst of such self-induced high-pressure… -
opinion
What the Tax Extenders Bill Should and Shouldn’t Include
The annual ritual is upon us. Congress is busy at work crafting a bill to extend the approximately 50 tax-reducing policies that expire each year, popularly known as the tax extenders. If reports about the impending package are accurate, the bill will fall short of achieving meaningful policy improvements. The tax extenders expired at the… -
news
Why a Catholic Priest Called Planned Parenthood After the Colorado Springs Shootings
A Catholic priest in Colorado Springs, Colo., says he is determined to show that the pro-life movement values all life—including the lives of those who work in abortion clinics. Father Bill Carmody is director of the Respect Life Office run by the Diocese of Colorado Springs. He has protested abortion outside the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado… -
news
Will British Airstrikes in Syria Make a Difference in the War Against ISIS?
PARIS—Within hours of a contentious vote Wednesday night in the House of Commons authorizing military action in Syria, four British Tornado warplanes took off from an airbase in Cyprus to hammer an Islamic State-controlled oil field in eastern Syria with laser-guided bombs. “By extending RAF [Royal Air Force] offensive operations into Syria, our aircraft are now… -
opinion
San Bernardino Shows We Need Appropriate Counterterror Policies
The terrible events in California once again show the need for proper counterterrorism policies in this era of heightened threat. There is still much to be investigated, and much to learn, so it is important that we avoid drawing conclusions too quickly, or use this event to push a political agenda (as President Barack Obama has… -
opinion
Another Useless EPA Regulation That’ll Cost Americans More Money
Last August, while Congress was out of session and most people were on vacation, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposal for a new rule that would drive up the cost of natural gas and hobble one of the great modern energy success stories. The rule assigns a non-market cost to methane emissions (the social… -
news
In Signal to Conservatives, Paul Ryan Taps Sen. Mike Lee for Opening Remarks
Sen. Mike Lee got the call to do the introduction honors today as House Speaker Paul Ryan gave his first major address since taking up the gavel. But the Utah Republican didn’t have much time to prep. Ryan’s office extended the offer the day before, The Daily Signal has learned. “It was kind of a last-minute thing,” a… -
opinion
What the New York Daily News Got Wrong About God, Reality
The New York Daily News’ cover in the aftermath of the tragic San Bernardino, Calif., shootings is being heralded as provocative and challenging. “God Isn’t Fixing This,” blares the cover, which features tweets from Republicans urging prayer after the shooting and then launches into a lecture: “As the latest batch of innocent Americans are left… -
opinion
Not So FAST: 3 Major Problems With the Highway Conference Agreement
Following a lengthy conference meant to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate highway bills, the conference committee released Tuesday its 5-year, $305-billion transportation bill: the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST). Fittingly, Congress is in overdrive for FAST and has already scheduled a vote in the House for today, a mere two days after it… -
news
Planned Parenthood Sues to Undo a State Ban on Webcam Abortions
A Planned Parenthood affiliate has filed a federal lawsuit to overturn two Idaho laws that ban a practice known as webcam abortion. In the suit filed Tuesday, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands claims that the bans are unconstitutional. Idaho approved two laws forbidding webcam abortions earlier this year, Reuters reported. In a webcam abortion, a woman takes… -
opinion
How Affirmative Action at Colleges Hurts Minority Students
On Dec. 9, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in a case involving the University of Texas at Austin’s use of racial preferences in admissions. Though the Court has long accepted the practice of state-run schools factoring race and ethnicity into their decisions about whether to admit students, the justices should consider one of… -
news
Could Syrian ‘Safe Zones’ Protect Civilians and Deter Refugee Flight? Experts Weigh In
Scarred by the Paris terrorist attacks, Republicans are straddling a sensitive line about how welcoming the United States should be to refugees fleeing war and violence in Syria and Iraq. After passing a bill that halts the admission of refugees to the U.S. from those two countries, some members of the Republican-led House argue that… -
opinion
We Must Remain Vigilant Through Responsible Refugee Policies
Refugees continue to flood out of Syria at a breathtaking pace. According to the United Nations, parts of Europe are now facing the worst migration crisis since World War II. President Barack Obama recently requested that Congress double the funding to house refugees here in the United States. However, given the threat that ISIS poses… -
opinion
The Government’s Rushed Drone Registry Will Be Ineffective and Unenforceable
For millions of American families, Christmas morning is a time for children to marvel at the magic of Santa, for families to come together around the spirit of giving, and for adults to admit they are not too old for toys. But if you are one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who receive… -
opinion
How Not to Make the Visa Waiver Program Better
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is currently under fire by some who view the program as a security liability. Heritage Foundation research shows that the VWP is a tremendous boon to U.S. security and while any program can and should be improved, doing away with the VWP would harm U.S. security. The VWP provides citizens… -
opinion
Traveling to the U.S.—“Within Hours”
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program that expedites travel between the U.S. and 38 countries. Policymakers such as Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) have attacked the VWP, with special attention to the expedited nature of the program. What the critics of the VWP fail to realize is that it…