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Peace plan for Ukraine could kickstart new world order

National Columnists

A 28-point peace plan to square away the war in Ukraine recently leaked, prompting meltdowns by those who have been fed the fantasy that Ukraine could beat Russia on the battlefield. The unofficial formula for Trump tackling any foreign policy question is almost always the following: Stay the course in favor of weapons sales to enrich the U.S. military-industrial complex, but only until a potential for personal profit emerges. So when Russian sovereign wealth fund chief (and Putin’s special presidential envoy) Kirill Dmitriev appeared on the scene amid peace negotiations, it was ...

Let’s fix our broken health care system

National Columnists

We just went through the longest government shutdown in history over contention regarding renewal of temporarily enacted government subsidies to Obamacare premiums. This battle is not over. Eight Democrats threw in the towel and agreed to postpone the issue and cooperate with Republicans to get a continuing resolution passed to fund our government and get back to business. But the subsidies still need to be dealt with, so rest assured that more rancor and division lie ahead. What troubles me is our refusal, or inability, as a nation to deal with issues of policy in the most ...

When crime burns up narrative

National Columnists

If the races were reversed, Bethany MaGee would be as well-known as George Floyd. MaGee, 26, was recently riding on the L train in Chicago. As she was sitting there, police believe Lawrence Reed, 50, came up behind her and dumped gasoline on her. Despite her attempt to flee, Reed set her on fire. She rolled on the ground in a vain attempt to put out the flames. When the train arrived at the station, she left the car while still being burned alive. Two Good Samaritans came to her aid, putting out the fire. She survived but suffered severe burns. She faces a long and daunting ...

We need to know who is coming to America

National Columnists

Following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington the day before Thanksgiving, President Trump announced he wants to “permanently pause migration” at least until he is satisfied that those from Afghanistan and other unstable countries have had their backgrounds thoroughly investigated. The president also wants to revoke the legal status of many of them and expel those who don’t measure up to his standard, which is “loving America.” Vetting is usually a detailed process for those seeking entry to the U.S., especially when they are from countries associated ...

Jobs give affordability to young people

National Columnists

Polls show that the age group of Americans most worried about “affordability” are the 20- and 30-somethings. That’s young millennials and Gen Z. Why are they so financially stressed out? One reason things seem so unaffordable to young people is that too many aren’t working hard — they are hardly working. The latest Labor Department data indicate that fewer and fewer males between the ages 16 and 24 are in the labor force. It used to be that more than 70% had a job; now less than 60% do. Labor force participation for men even into their 30s is at or near an all-time low. ...

American industrial policy is just bad economics

National Columnists

American industry has been getting a lot of hands-on direction from Democrats and Republicans for quite some time now. Every few years, someone looks at the underwhelming results of this economic maneuvering and insists that real “industrial policy” has never been tried. The truth is that the Left’s call for a “mission-oriented” state and the right’s yearning for a nationalist industrial revival may sound different, but they share the same conceit: that their own intentions can finally succeed where decades of intervention have failed. The latest person to revive this ...