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Editor's Note
Tweet Share on Facebook February 23, 2010 Comment (4)Is Washington's problem: A. Too much spending? B. Not enough revenue? C. Both [Editor's Note, February 22]? The question is shaping up as a bright line in the increasingly urgent debate over what to do about the federal budget deficit. Not coincidentally, those choices will be key issues in the fall's high-stakes congressional elections. On Thursday, President Obama formed a bipartisan commission with two earnest chairmen to propose solutions, telling them that "everything is on the table." Republicans are leery of the approach because they want solutions from only the spending side. Where do you stand? Cuts? Taxes? Both? And what about the commission? Does it have a chance of succeeding? Give me your thoughts below or at editor@usnews.com, and we'll help stir the pot.
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What to Do About the Federal Budget Deficit
Tweet Share on Facebook February 22, 2010 Comment (6)Is Washington's problem: A. Too much spending? B. Not enough revenue? C. Both? The question is shaping up as a bright line in the increasingly urgent debate over what to do about the federal budget deficit. Not coincidentally, those choices will be key issues in the fall's high-stakes congressional elections. On Thursday, President Obama formed a bipartisan commission with two earnest chairmen to propose solutions, telling them that "everything is on the table." Republicans are leery of the approach because they want solutions from only the spending side. Where do you stand? Cuts? Taxes? Both? And what about the commission? Does it have a chance of succeeding? Give me your thoughts at editor@usnews.com, and we'll help stir the pot.
- Check out this month's best political cartoons.
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The Government and Job Creation
Tweet Share on Facebook February 16, 2010 Comment (5)There is only one word that matters in Washington these days: Jobs. Or, as they might say at the White House, "Jobs, jobs, jobs." And, as everyone knows, there aren't enough of them. In fact, there are more than 8 million fewer than when the recession began, which is causing economic and political havoc.
But what can the government do to create more? Right now, Congress is scrambling to put together legislation (even defying the massive snowstorm this week to work on it) that would give tax breaks to businesses that hire the unemployed. But will companies hire if they don't have customers? Are we better off with a Depression-era public works approach? I'd like to hear your thoughts on this crucial issue at editor@usnews.com.
- Check out this month's best political cartoons.
- Become a political insider: Subscribe to U.S. News Weekly, our digital magazine.
- See our slideshow: 10 Winners from Obama's Green Jobs Incentives.
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Does Living to 100 Appeal to You?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 12, 2010 Comment (2)Sometimes we write about subjects that just might make you want to turn the page. Or run screaming from the room. At least at first glance. Aging could possibly fit that description. But stick with us on this one. Between now and the middle of the century, the aging population of America will be one of the most important stories anywhere. From both a personal and a policy perspective, the rapidly growing number of people between 65 and 100 plus will affect the way you think about health, diet, exercise, education, and finances—to say nothing of the broader social impact on everything from Medicare spending to housing patterns.
Consider that a 60-year-old who is contemplating retirement today could well have 30 or more years of productive living ahead of him. What does that suggest about second careers, continuing education, and the need to keep yourself in shape? Making it to 100, and not just surviving but thriving, will no longer be the rare occurrence that merits feature stories in the local newspaper.
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Should President Obama Meet With the Republicans?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 9, 2010 Comment (6)When President Obama waded into a gathering of Republican members of Congress on live TV the other day, both sides tossed barbs and scored points. Everyone agreed it was good political theater. But maybe it was more than that. There was genuinely informed debate as both sides made a good-faith effort to explain their points of view. The encounter evoked "question time," the raucous but enlightening British tradition of the prime minister submitting to a grilling by Parliament. A lot of people from pundits to politicians said, "We ought to do that again." Should we? Do you think there's value in the president facing his political opponents—and, perhaps, members of his own party? How would you do it? Drop me a line at editor@usnews.com to share your thoughts.
- Check out this month's best political cartoons.
- Become a political insider: Subscribe to U.S. News Weekly, our digital magazine.
- See a slide show of political predictions for 2010.
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What Should Barack Obama Do in his Second Year?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 1, 2010 Comment (5)That was a long speech President Obama gave on Wednesday night. And crowded. In an effort to refocus his presidency, he touched on many domestic-policy proposals. Many. That's standard fare for a State of the Union—part rallying cry, part annual report. But Obama's had a high bar because his presidency is stalled. Can he get it restarted? And if so, how? One practical reality is that for all the ideas he espoused, he needs some concrete wins. What is the first thing he should try to do in his second year? On what issues do you think he can build a coalition that can pass a bill? Or do you agree with Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who rebutted: "The federal government is simply trying to do too much." Drop me a line at editor@usnews.com, and let's see what we come up with.
