Editorial

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry   Why complain about the financial crisis? By liberalism’s standards, it has been a swift sword of economic justice, working to equalize wealth more rapidly than any policy short of summary execution of the rich.   Why settle for raising tax rates on capital gains from 15 percent to 20 percent, when capital gains can be eliminated entirely? Why trifle with the tax treatment of compensation at hedge funds, when funds themselves can disappear into oblivion? Why increase the estate tax, … [Read more...] about A Blow for Income Equality

We fully understand that Michigan’s struggling economy is not providing an ideal time for an enormously expensive program to revamp our state’s rapidly deteriorating infrastructure.   But Michigan can’t afford not to do it.   Another of many negative reports was issued last week, this one by the American Society of Civil Engineers/Michigan. It was more of the same. The report gives D grades to the condition of the state’s public transit, storm water and drinking water systems, electric grids and dams. Aviation, energy, … [Read more...] about State’s infrastructure initiative is encouraging

By RUSS HARDING   Gov. Jennifer Granholm made the right policy call in announcing her decision to return wetland permitting to the federal government. The announcement was met with heavy applause as she delivered her State of the State address, but since that time there has been much criticism of the proposal from environmental groups and from members of both parties in the Legislature, including Sen. Patty Birkholz, R-Saugatuck Township, chair of the Senate Natural Resource and Environment Committee. Opponents claim that … [Read more...] about Governor makes right call on returning wetland permitting to feds

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry   The debate over the just-released Justice Department memorandums on interrogation techniques ended as soon as they were dubbed the “torture memos.”   Forevermore, they will be remembered as the legal lowlights of a “dark and painful chapter in our history,” as President Barack Obama put it.   Rightly considered, the memos should be a source of pride. They represent a nation of laws struggling to defend itself against a savage, lawless enemy while adhering to its legal … [Read more...] about The case for the ’torture memos’

As we approach graduation day, Lansing lawmakers should be doing their homework on how to get more of Michigan’s young people in caps and gowns. Prohibiting a child from throwing away his or her future at the tender age of 16 would help.   A bill in the Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, would raise the minimum age for a student to legally drop out from 16 to 18. The legislation has been introduced before but has failed to get the hearing the measure deserves. Yet it’s common knowledge that … [Read more...] about Keep students on graduation track

By JAMES M. HOHMAN   Michigan has been in trouble for a long while now. The state is going on 37 months at the top of the unemployment charts. But there's been no clear theory as to why we're in trouble. That's important because it tells us how we're going to fix the problems.   So it's disheartening to hear Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm state, "We've lost over 600,000 jobs as a result of the restructuring in the auto industry." In other words, it's all the auto industry. Michigan just needs to ride it out and we'll grow … [Read more...] about There’s more to Michigan than the auto industry

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry   President Barack Obama went to Mexico and, unlike many of his presidential predecessors, didn’t stay in a remote resort, but in the midst of Mexico City, the sprawling metropolis of 20 million.   The visit — Obama’s first stop in Latin America — and the locale — the capital where an American president hadn’t visited in 12 years — sent the signal that the United States is committed to a country that is a punching bag in American domestic politics, but an indispensable ally in a region … [Read more...] about Support Mexico

The outbreak of swine flu in Mexico is a serious matter, but it’s not a pandemic.   Not yet. It’s too early to make that determination.   What we know is that the number of confirmed cases is rising every day.   Many people are justifiably concerned about this virus. It’s a potential health threat and, if a lot of misinformation proliferates, it can cause panic.   Truly, the best protection we have against the spread of swine flu — or any other threat to our health and well-being — is a well-informed … [Read more...] about Don’t panic over the possibility of pandemic

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry   One would think Barack Obama would have learned something about the limits of his personal charm at the G-20 summit in London. Even with the hated George W. Bush back in Texas, the anarchists still rage in the streets, the French and Germans still hate “Anglo-Saxon-style” capitalism, and the nations of the world still won’t take dictation — on the need for a coordinated, global stimulus — from Washington.   But Obama’s faith that his fresh attitude — more flexible and thoughtful — … [Read more...] about The Moscow delusion

By DAVID L. LITTMANN   General Motors last month filed a report with the federal government indicating the company may go bankrupt. Some will argue GM needs more federal assistance, but the sad, hard truth is this: General Motors would be in healthier shape today had it filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 statutes in late 2008.   Rather than run through its final cash reserves and consume taxpayers’ money for an increasingly indefinite period, a serious restructuring under hard-nosed Chapter 11 proceedings … [Read more...] about GM bankruptcy: End of the road or new super highway?