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
Medicare Still Needs Reform — Soon
Despite the recent news that the Medicare Part A trust fund is projected to remain solvent for four more years than previously projected, it is important to understand that Medicare’s financial status still calls for immediate reforms. Some proponents of the Affordable Care Act say there’s no evidence the ACA’s $716 billion in payment cuts… -
news
This Is How Far $100 Gets You in Your State
How far does $100 get you? According to the Tax Foundation, which monitors tax policy at the federal, state, and local levels, that depends on where you live. In Tennessee, for example, $100 buys residents what would cost $110.25 in another state where prices are closer to the national average. “You can think of this… -
opinion
Mom Arrested for Cursing in a Grocery Store
Cursing while shopping for frozen pizzas could send you to jail in North Augusta, S.C. Danielle Wolf, a young mother, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after using profanity during a recent trip to her local Kroger. The incident began when Wolf was shopping for groceries with her husband and children. She became frustrated… -
news
George W. Bush Donates to ALS, His Wife Has a Better Idea
Post by George W. Bush. Video yourself dumping a bucket of ice on your head, challenge your friends and post it on social media, or donate $100 to help fund research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gerhig’s disease. “You have 24 hours.” This is the viral #StrikeOutALS message that’s dominating Facebook… -
opinion
7 Harmful Side Effects Pot Legalization Has Caused in Colorado
There is more bad news out of Colorado regarding the negative impact of marijuana legalization. As I reported a few weeks ago, some professors published a peer-reviewed article on the negative social costs to outright legalization. I noted that although overall traffic fatalities in Colorado have gone down since 2007, they went up by 100… -
news
‘We Know Our Needs Better Than D.C.’: States Drive to Control Highway Dollars
Pennsylvania’s large transportation system is getting old. Nearly 6,000 of the state’s bridges were deemed structurally deficient in 2008. Its 40,000 miles of state-maintained highway — making it No. 5 in the nation — shows critical signs of wear. Truck traffic on 1,754 miles of interstate highways is more than double the national average. Last… -
opinion
Why Do Democrats Win With War on Women Talk?
“Democrats lie,” explains former California Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina. “It’s propaganda. It’s shameless, baseless propaganda.” Watch the full interview: -
news
An Interactive Timeline of the Fallout in Ferguson
On Saturday, Aug. 9, in a suburb of St. Louis, a police officer shot and killed Michael Brown. The death of the unarmed teenager sparked riots in Ferguson, reignited old controversies and exposed tensions in the community and around the country. Now, as police and protesters clash in Ferguson, President Obama has ordered Attorney General Eric Holder… -
news
Most Americans Disapprove of Media’s Coverage of Ferguson
Most Americans say that things would be different in Ferguson, Mo., if the racial roles had been reversed. According to a Rasmussen Poll released today, many believe the media’s coverage of the incident would differ if a black police officer had shot a white teenager. A majority, 54 percent, agree the media would have reported the… -
opinion
Government to Farmers: Host Same-Sex Wedding or Pay a $13,000 Fine
Should the government be able to coerce a family farm into hosting a same-sex wedding? In a free society, the answer is no. Family farms should be free to operate in accordance with the beliefs and values of their owners. Government shouldn’t be able to fine citizens for acting in the market according to their… -
opinion
Nuclear Weapons: What Is the NDP Missing?
The bipartisan National Defense Panel (NDP) provided a well-articulated argument for the types of forces the U.S. needs to meet its national security demands. However, the panel comes up short when it comes to making a case for U.S. nuclear weapons. Granted, the panel’s task wasn’t to articulate what the U.S. strategic posture should be…. -
opinion
Japan in a Virtuous Cycle to Nowhere
Preliminary data from Japan show a 6.8 percent drop in quarterly gross domestic product. Although a drop in consumption was expected after Tokyo raised the consumption tax rate from 5 percent to 8 percent in April, the decrease is more than experts had expected. And while the government of Japan sees increasing the consumption tax… -
opinion
Why the White House Is Now Trying to Be Besties with Big Business
Ready for a backroom deal brokered by the White House? White House officials met Monday with business leaders and interest groups to talk about executive actions President Obama should consider on immigration, per press reports. Instead of working to secure the southern border, the White House appears to be looking to obtain allies for its… -
opinion
Q&A: Is It Legal to Use the National Guard in Ferguson?
The decision by Gov. Jay Nixon, D-Mo., to deploy the National Guard to the troubled community of Ferguson has raised a lot of questions about these citizen soldier units. After serving with distinction numerous times in both Iraq and Afghanistan, units of the National Guard are well thought of as military fighting men. Can they… -
opinion
Want a Happy Marriage? Avoid These Three Behaviors
Whether you live happily ever after could have more to do with what happens before you say “I do” than people may realize What men and women do in their single lives makes a difference in their marriages down the road, according to a study released Tuesday by the National Marriage Project. Those with more… -
news
How Did Your Police Department End Up With an MRAP?
For years, the federal government has been providing surplus military equipment to local law enforcement through the 1033 Program. Since its inception in 1997, the program has delivered $5.1 billion in weapons, Humvees, 30-ton Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and even helicopters and drones to cities and towns across the country. The pace of the military equipment dispersal… -
opinion
The Way Forward in Iraq
In the last few days, the administration has made tentative steps to address the crisis in Iraq. After threatening not to release his hold on the office of Iraqi prime minister last week. Nouri al-Maliki avoided a major political crisis by relinquishing power. Further, with U.S. air support, Iraqi officials report “Kurdish and Iraqi forces were… -
opinion
This Chart Proves It Doesn’t Have to Cost $245,000 to Raise a Child
The average cost of raising a child is over $245,000 – and that doesn’t cover college costs. That number comes from a report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It includes money spent on a child’s education, housing and food. But while $245,000 is the number dominating headlines (including – OK, OK —… -
opinion
Texas District Attorney Gins Up Charges Against Rick Perry
As a character noted in Tom Wolfe’s “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” a prosecutor could convince a grand jury to indict anything, even a ham sandwich. And while Texas Gov. Rick Perry isn’t a ham sandwich, he might as well be. Last Friday, a Texas grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Perry that even… -
opinion
Arresting Your Cash: Heritage Panel Discusses Civil Forfeiture Reform
On July 29, reformers challenging the abuses of civil forfeiture laws gathered at The Heritage Foundation to discuss the pitfalls of forfeiture and the possibilities for reform. Keynoting the event was Representative Tim Walberg (R–MI), who introduced a civil forfeiture reform bill days before. Joining the congressman were acclaimed author and columnist Radley Balko and…