New research about distracted driving by teenagers provides some sobering news most parents probably won’t want to admit. First, they — yes, parents — are the No. 1 cellphone distraction for teen drivers. Second, most parents make lousy role models when it comes to ignoring distractions while driving. The first finding is the most important and easiest to fix. Moms and dads, don’t call your kids when you know they are driving. Unfortunately, a study presented last week to the American Psychological Association showed … [Read more...] about Stop distracting your teens at wheel
Editorial
State Legislature continues to trample referendum rights
For the fourth time in just the past couple of years, the Legislature has essentially vetoed the right of Michigan citizens — a right clearly spelled out in the state Constitution — to initiate or oppose legislation via ballot proposals. It’s a brazen assault on the democratic process and a slap to Michigan voters. It’s got to stop. • On Wednesday the state Senate voted 23-10, almost entirely along party lines, to maintain the state’s power to allow wolf hunts; the bill was designed to quash two voter petitions to put the … [Read more...] about State Legislature continues to trample referendum rights
Free Rick Perry
It tells you much about the laughable indictment of Texas Gov. Rick Perry that it has made him a figure of bipartisan sympathy. Perry was indicted for the offense of vetoing an appropriations bill. Not vetoing an appropriations bill in exchange for a bribe. Not vetoing an appropriations bill as a favor to a donor. Not vetoing an appropriations bill in excess of his lawful authority. But simply vetoing an appropriations bill. That Perry could, in theory, face more than 100 years in prison stemming from this veto is so … [Read more...] about Free Rick Perry
Hillary tees off on the president
Let’s take a little trip down memory lane, which in this day of high tech and low retention means anything that happened more than five minutes ago. Still let’s hearken waaaay back to 2008 and that primary campaign ad for Hillary Clinton, the one that started, “It’s 3:00 in the morning at the White House” and then went on to ask who would answer when the phone rings and some crisis comes a-callin’. The idea was that Hillary had the necessary experience to deal with the matter, while neophyte Barack Obama did not. We all know … [Read more...] about Hillary tees off on the president
Supreme Court ends ‘dues skim’ nationwide
The U.S. Supreme Court recently put an end to the stealth unionization of home-based caregivers in Illinois and several other states, a scheme similar to the one that the Mackinac Center helped end here in Michigan but not before the SEIU skimmed $34 million in “dues” from our state’s most vulnerable residents. By MICHAEL J. REITZ (Editor’s note: A version of the following commentary originally appeared in The American Spectator on July 1.) On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled that thousands of home-based caregivers in … [Read more...] about Supreme Court ends ‘dues skim’ nationwide
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Unwanted fugitives living next door
Guest Editorial In Canada, the saying goes, the Mounties always get their man. Here in the United States, the authorities too often can’t be bothered. More than a million criminal suspects — from traffic violators to alleged robbers, rapists and even murderers — are actually unwanted by law enforcement. All they need to do to escape trial and punishment is cross a state line or, in some cases, a county line, a USA Today investigation found. In little-known law enforcement databases, some suspects are designated as … [Read more...] about Unwanted fugitives living next door
Inversion aversion
Maybe it’s time to get really tough, my fellow Americans. Without a doubt, someone needs to be creative in coming up with ways to punish those corporations that are bailing on the United States of America — a place where they made their fortunes — and renouncing their citizen responsibility to pay the going tax rate at home. The tactic is known as “inversion.” American corporations, such as Chiquita Bananas or the medical-device giant Medtronics, merge with or buy into a company in some country with a much lower corporate tax … [Read more...] about Inversion aversion
The Callow President
“Stop just hatin’ all the time.” If you haven’t been following the news, you might not know whether this bon mot was uttered by a character on the ABC Family show “Pretty Little Liars” or by the president of the United States. Of course, it was the leader of the free world at a recent Kansas City, Mo., rally, imploring congressional Republicans to start cooperating with him. The line struck a characteristically — and tellingly — juvenile and plaintive note. How many books and articles have been written by conservatives … [Read more...] about The Callow President