While we ought to learn from our own experiences, it is even better to learn from other people's experiences, saving ourselves the painful costs of the lessons. In the case of the dominant educational fads of our times, many have been tried out before in other...
On Aug. 12, CNN aired a "breaking" news conference to update viewers on a matter it considered of global importance: the medical condition of Jason Priestley -- a washed-up, 32-year-old former TV idol who sustained moderate injuries during a Kentucky auto race over...
One of the objections by the educational establishment to state-mandated tests for students is that this forces the teachers to teach directly the material that is going to be tested, instead of letting the students "discover" what they need to know through their own...
Florida's school year has already started early, so that its students will have more preparation before the state-mandated tests that will be administered to them later in the school year. Meanwhile, there is much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth because so...
Exposing the real nature of its assault, the OECD has also condemned lower tax rates and tax shelters that exist within industrialized countries -- such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Luxembourg, Sweden, Hungary,...
The president returns to Washington this week after a month on vacation in Texas and three months seemingly on vacation from America's foreign policy. Since June, President Bush has been telling everyone who asks that he has made no decision on Iraq. Making that kind...
The diplomatic storm that blew across the Taiwan Strait last month is over now, but it is only a matter of time until the heavy weather returns. Sooner or later, Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, will again say something that suggests Taiwan ought to be regarded as...
United Airlines, to stave off bankruptcy, wants $1.8 billion dollars in federal loan guarantees. With the exception of Southwest Airlines, all major airlines now lose money, with United -- one of the highest-cost airlines -- incurring losses of nearly a million...
Benjamin Franklin warned, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." But that's what the Bush administration and Congress have asked of Americans -- to give up essential liberty for safety that's...
In the old-time comic strip "Li'l Abner," one of the characters revealed that a new stranger in town had spent many years in reform school. Another character replied, "Well, he must be reformed by now." Unfortunately, the same gullibility about words occurs far too...
Whenever I head out for an early evening walk by the neighborhood lake with my husband and toddler, we follow the same routine. Put on our shoes. Take a trip to the Blue's Clues potty. And finally: Spray. We don't give a second thought to applying a small amount of...
Tax burdens imposed by the world's welfare states -- especially those imposed on the wealthiest, most successful entrepreneurs and shareholders -- have increased with every passing year. No wonder "Atlas is Shrugging." By accessing tax havens (or any other manner of...
"The imminence of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the huge dangers it involves, the rejection of a viable inspection system, and the demonstrated hostility of Saddam Hussein combine to produce an imperative for pre-emptive action," Vice President Cheney...
[Previously], I wrote: "Those on the moral code of altruism have to view all businessmen as guilty, guilty by nature, since their life's work is to seek selfish gain. The current legislative frenzy is just the latest manifestation of the altruist premise: the attempt...
Parents should pay close attention to what courses students are expected to take at colleges and universities. Used to be, parents had to warn their college-bound sons and daughters not to let frat parties and football games interfere with their studies. Now they have...
Q: In the past year I've gone on a few dates and befriended a few women, but I always find they have poor self-esteem. I hope this is not saying something more about me, in that I only seem to attract such women. However, it just seems that there are so many insecure...
Q: Dr. Hurd, I believe -- as you write in your articles -- that the U.S. carries moral superiority over many (perhaps all) of the nations [Iran, Iraq, etc.] you list in your article, and I believe it has the right to defend itself. However, the world would probably be...
The test of a good system is not whether failures occur but whether they are remedied with speed and certainty. Despite the hysteria generated by media and politicians, the U.S. securities-trading system has clearly met that test. Since a series of corporate...
Art Modell, owner of the NFL Baltimore Ravens, observed during one of his struggles to get local taxpayers to build him a stadium that "The pride and presence of a professional football team is far more important than 30 libraries, and I say that with all due respect...
In 2001 the National Science Foundation surveyed 1,500 people nationwide and found that 77% believed that "increased carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere will, if unchecked, lead to global warming ..." Yet half of those polled believed that...
You can't go changing regimes just because you don't like them! So claims a caller on a talk radio show, regarding whether or not President Bush should ever topple Saddam Hussein. This claim is wrong. It's based on numerous faulty premises, such as: Faulty Premise #...
From time to time, I like to write a column about a subject that is near and dear to my heart: customer service. Sometimes I use these columns as a forum to recognize companies who do an outstanding job of providing customer service. Sadly, I so rarely have positive...
There was a painful irony in an upbeat newspaper story about a man of modest income who was able to continue living in San Mateo County, California, only because he could rent a government-subsidized apartment for $850 a month. Without the subsidy, the rent would...
In what may be the best signal yet that the stock market has hit bottom and is on its way back up, this week I am going to write about bonds. Regular readers know that I am not fond of bonds as long-term investments. History has convinced me that they return far less...
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