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
What’s Wrong With the Latest Internet Sales Tax Bill
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, recently introduced legislation to allow state tax collectors to require out-of-state retailers to collect taxes for them, even if the retailer has no connection to their state. Called the Remote Transactions Parity Act (H.R. 2775), it has, like similar bills before it, troubling implications for Internet commerce and for principles of… -
news
Dreams Demolished: 10 Years After the Government Took Their Homes, All That’s Left Is an Empty Field
NEW LONDON, Conn.—All Susette Kelo wanted was to live with a view of the water. In 1997, Kelo achieved her dream with the purchase of a 900-square foot Victorian home located in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood of New London, Conn. The home enveloped her when she walked through the front door for the first time,… -
opinion
Federal Government: Abstinence, Monogamy ‘Most Reliable’ in Protecting Against STDs
The federal government is now calling abstinence and monogamy “the most reliable way to avoid transmission of STDs,” rather than just “a reliable way.” This change was made in the Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest version of its Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, released earlier this month. Beyond avoiding STDs, there are… -
news
Jindal on Highway Trust Fund: I Hope D.C. Will Remember ’10th Amendment’
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal tells The Daily Signal that any renewal of the Highway Trust Fund needs to come without any tax increases. “I don’t think they need to be raising taxes. The Democrats never saw a tax increase they didn’t want to increase. They want to use this as an excuse to grow government,”… -
news
Mark Meadows to Fight GOP House Leadership: ‘Sometimes You Have to Make Changes to the Coach’
A conservative House lawmaker angry at “a culture of punishment and fear” created by Speaker John Boehner and his leadership team has had enough. “For the last six months they have doled out small punishments in a variety of forms,” said Rep. Mark Meadows of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. “I personally have received those…. -
opinion
New Outbreak of MERS in Thailand
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus has spread to yet another Asian nation: Thailand. Malaysia and the Philippines were the first to report cases of MERS in early April, and China later confirmed one case. South Korea has experienced the largest outbreak of MERS. With the new MERS case in Thailand, there is growing… -
opinion
Why Professors Are Becoming Scared of Their Students
Professor Edward Schlosser (a pseudonym) recently wrote a provocatively titled piece: “I’m a liberal professor, and my liberal students terrify me.” The professor discusses identity politics and the culture of offense that has grown on college campuses. And if Northwestern University School of Communication professor Laura Kipnis and the aftermath of her Title IX investigation… -
opinion
African Growth and Opportunity Act and Generalized System of Preferences Renewal Delayed by Fast-Track Debate
After much delay, Congress has acted on two much anticipated trade preference programs: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). But, unfortunately, the preference bills have been caught up in the controversies surrounding President Obama’s trade agenda. At the last minute, House leaders attached language to the renewal… -
opinion
How the Declaration of Independence Differs From the Magna Carta
This month we celebrate the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, which secured rights for free Englishmen, and, more importantly, established what would later become the principle of the rule of law. In a Wall Street Journal piece to commemorate the anniversary, Daniel Hannan, a member of the European Parliament, argued the Magna Carta… -
news
The Joy of Being a Father: 23 Inspiring Quotes
This Sunday we celebrate the fathers that raised us. Here are some inspirational quotes from famous fathers on what they find to be the best part of their job. 1. “Having a daughter makes you see things in a different way. This is my only girl. So I don’t care what it takes to protect… -
news
Is EPA Helping Green Groups Raise Funds in Exchange for Favorable Research?
On first glance, this is a rather routine story in the environmental policy wars. A study published in the journal Nature Climate Change said researchers had found that if rules being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce carbon emissions were enacted, it would mean 3,500 fewer premature deaths per year. This was a… -
news
Sick of Political Pork, Two Former Hill Staffers Launched $10 Million BBQ Business
Back in early 2006, a Senate budget debate raged into the night. Around 1 a.m., Hill staffers Heath Hall and Brett Thompson found themselves facing a serious challenge: They could not stomach another night of delivery pizza. What was worse, they grumbled, they couldn’t think of a single spot offering decent barbecue in the entire… -
opinion
Why the Magna Carta Matters
It won’t be long before Americans all across the country are celebrating our great national birthday. And we won’t do so quietly. “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty,” John Adams, our second president, wrote of July 4. “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and… -
news
California Regulation Threatens to ‘Destroy’ Uber’s Business Model
Since its inception, Uber, the breakout ride-sharing app redefining traditional taxi service, has baffled government agencies grappling with ways to regulate one of Silicon Valley’s biggest startups. The latest battle occurred this week after the California Labor Commissioner’s Office decided that Barbara Berwick, a driver for Uber, should be defined as an employee of the… -
opinion
War on Women? Why These Two Women Leaders Think That’s ‘Absurd’
Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Independent Women’s Forum executive director Sabrina Schaeffer share their thoughts on the “war on women,” why they believe conservatives often have a tougher time engaging female voters and how they can go about changing that. -
news
7 Things Bernie Sanders is Saying on the Campaign Trail
Sen. Bernie Sanders is gaining significant support among Democrats, according to a new poll. The independent senator from Vermont describes himself as a “Democratic socialist,” and is seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2016. A Suffolk University poll shows Sanders trailing Hillary Clinton only by 10 points among likely Democratic primary voters in the early… -
opinion
‘Jurassic World’ Sexism Claims Don’t Stand Up to Scrutiny
“Jurassic World” just broke the all-time first-weekend box office record, but not all audience members were pleased. Before and after the film’s release, feminists attacked the movie as sexist. Although it is possible to interpret the film this way, “Jurassic World” portrays a complex, dynamic heroine who does not fit neatly into such a box…. -
opinion
Cartoon: The Government’s Coming After Your Junk Food
The Heritage Foundation's Daren Bakst wrote about the Food and Drug Administration's decision to act on trans fat food in a column earlier this week: The Food and Drug Administration released its de facto ban on artificial trans fat. In November 2013, the FDA published a tentative determination that partially hydrogenated oils, the primary dietary… -
news
Wondering Which Companies Champion Gay Marriage? There’s an App for That.
Wondering where the companies you buy from stand on the gay marriage case before the Supreme Court? Turns out there’s an app for that. It’s called 2nd Vote, and it is a free online app available on Google Play and Apple’s iTunes that allows consumers to have instantaneous access to a database that includes more… -
opinion
Why It Doesn’t Make Sense to Double Early Head Start’s Funding
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently called for the doubling of funding for Early Head Start—a community-based program that serves low-income families with pregnant women, infants and toddlers up to age 3. Unfortunately, Early Head Start has not proven successful in achieving its goals. Early-childhood educations programs, like Early Head Start and its equally…