Editorial

At the most recent Dearborn City Council meeting President Pro Tem Nancy Hubbard took an unconventional approach in offering condolences to the family of late former Topper restaurant owner Tony Koustas: She denigrated them. After waxing poetic about the stately oak paneling and celebrity pictures that adorned the popular restaurant’s walls during Mr. Koustas’s management, she gave a scathing commentary on the decor his son, Dan, chose when he began to manage the business. “He basically destroyed it,” she said in summation as … [Read more...] about CDTV is conduit to proceedings, not doctored production

By JANET NEILSON Michigan has an opportunity to become a leader in health insurance reform. State legislators know this and are pushing to see state-level reforms passed before Washington implements its national plan. They should be commended for taking the initiative and pushing for bottom-up solutions, but caution is advised lest unintended consequences of some proposals far outweigh any potential benefits. At 11 percent, the Great Lakes State’s uninsured rate is below the national average, and insurance premium prices compare … [Read more...] about Massachusetts should not be Michigan’s role model

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry Like Richard Nixon, Barack Obama wants to govern on the strength of a silent majority, although with a twist. Obama wants the majority that opposes or questions his policies to stay silent. Obama’s White House and its allies have unleashed a barrage of criticism and condescension at people daring to show up at town-hall meetings and ask their elected representatives pointed questions. “Fired up and ready to go!” apparently works only one way. If engaged citizens shower Obama with adoration at … [Read more...] about A not-so-silent majority

Last week GM introduced its new extended-range electric car, the Volt, an impressive response to demand for a more energy-efficient vehicle. If Volt lives up to GM’s promised 230 miles per gallon, it will indeed help to change the energy landscape of America. But what are the implications of such a shift? For illustrative purposes, let’s assume Mr. CP Minuteman purchases a $40,000 Volt just as it rolls off the assembly line in its first production year, 2010. His old “gas-guzzling” car (which featured a mere 30 miles per gallon, … [Read more...] about GM’s Volt: Will it save or shift energy?

By MICHAEL VAN BEEK Voices around the state and prominent education officials are calling for Michigan to lengthen its school year and increase the amount of time students spend in class. Unfortunately, this type of reform is misguided since there is no correlation between the amount of time students spend in school and their level of achievement. Michigan instead should focus on implementing reforms that have track records of improving student achievement. The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) gauges student … [Read more...] about Longer School Year Won’t Improve Student Achievement

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry By all accounts, Barack Obama’s father, the Kenyan student studying in America, was cocksure and impressed with his own talents. The arrogance gene must be dominant. Obama clearly has it. And that, more than any other factor, is driving his summertime swoon. Hubris made him reach for too much, too soon; brazenly overpromise about the effects of his program; overestimate his control of events; think the golden touch of his brilliant team could solve intractable problems; and believe his words … [Read more...] about Wanted: A modest Obama

When it comes to our high school graduates heading off to college, good may not be good enough. That seems to be the lesson on college preparedness we’re learning from the college entrance exam called the ACT and from studies by the nonprofit organization that administers it. What we’re finding out is that large numbers of high school graduates who enter college aren’t fully prepared to handle college-level work in English, social studies, algebra and biology. Here’s a telling figure from the National Center for Education … [Read more...] about Editorial: College a rude awakening for the unprepared

By MICHAEL VAN BEEK Voices around the state and prominent education officials are calling for Michigan to lengthen its school year and increase the amount of time students spend in class. Unfortunately, this type of reform is misguided since there is no correlation between the amount of time students spend in school and their level of achievement. Michigan instead should focus on implementing reforms that have track records of improving student achievement.           The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) gauges … [Read more...] about Longer School Year Won’t Improve Student Achievement

THE RICH LOWRY COLUMN By Rich Lowry   By all accounts, Barack Obama’s father, the Kenyan student studying in America, was cocksure and impressed with his own talents. The arrogance gene must be dominant. Obama clearly has it.      And that, more than any other factor, is driving his summertime swoon. Hubris made him reach for too much, too soon; brazenly overpromise about the effects of his program; overestimate his control of events; think the golden touch of his brilliant team could solve intractable problems; and … [Read more...] about Wanted: A modest Obama

When it comes to our high school graduates heading off to college, good may not be good enough.        That seems to be the lesson on college preparedness we’re learning from the college entrance exam called the ACT and from studies by the nonprofit organization that administers it. What we’re finding out is that large numbers of high school graduates who enter college aren’t fully prepared to handle college-level work in English, social studies, algebra and biology.        Here’s a telling figure from the National Center for … [Read more...] about Editorial: College a rude awakening for the unprepared