Opinion
- Opinion
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Is Google more powerful than some nations?
Today, Google is arguably one of the most influential nonstate actors in international affairs, operating in security domains long the purview of nation-states.
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The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass.: New front in terror war will be tough fight
After a dozen years of the war on terror, America has grown somewhat complacent toward the threat of Muslim fundamentalist terrorism here at home.
It’s clear that the war abroad and our security measures at home have rendered al-Qaida incapable of executing a large-scale strike against the United States comparable to the Twin Towers and Pentagon attacks of 2001 that left nearly 3,000 dead. Instead, al-Qaida has been relegated to failed, individual attempts such as “shoe bomber” Richard Reid and “underwear bomber” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. -
BY THE NUMBERS: U.S. just might learn Spain’s economic lessons
Rising debts amidst a slumping economy spur leaders to aggressively reduce budget deficits. For congressional Republicans, this is apparently their ideal economic policy. For Spain, it’s what they have lived through for the past two years and they are much worse off for it.
In November 2011 with an unemployment rate exceeding 20 percent and a government budget deficit above 8 percent of GDP, Mariano Rajoy became Spain’s prime minister with the promise to enact an “austerity” program to slash the deficit. Following through on that promise, Rajoy ushered through significant government spending cuts and tax increases and has successfully reduced the budget deficit in half in just two years. Unfortunately for the Spanish people, it has come at a heavy price. -
HEY HINK: Europe’s euthanasia enthusiasm is alarming
Have you heard of “The Groningen Protocol?” It may sound like a spy novel or suspense movie about shadowy conspiracies hatched in ivory towers by cadres of cynical utopian thinkers determined to co-opt society’s understanding of what it means to have a life worth living. Think “Soylent Green,” the science fiction movie where social planners faced with overpopulation and food shortages decide to alleviate the problem by encouraging senior citizens to embrace euthanasia. Their remains are then processed into nutritious green squares.
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Internet taxation: fair or foul?
As a general rule, whenever one hears members of Congress talking about “fairness,” you should hold on tight to your wallet. That’s certainly the case with the proposed “Marketplace Fairness Act,” which has been under consideration in the Senate. The bill is aimed at leveling the sales-tax playing field between Internet merchants and so-called brick-and-mortar retailers.
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Why do people stay scared after sudden tragedies?
After a tragedy such as the one last week in Boston, people have a heightened sense of risk.
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Don’t give terrorists any more victories
The finish line of a road race serves as the division between one world and another. Ahead of the finish line, there is structure and discipline, with attention paid to the runners as they cross over. Spectators are kept back, mainly to avoid interfering with the participants — and perhaps to keep them from being trampled.
Once they finish a race, runners are herded quickly through a chute to keep the proper order. Or else — courtesy of modern technology — their times are recorded by chips attached to their shoes. -
ENTERPRISING RABBI: Words, thoughts really do matter in today’s society
Often, people have visited the synagogue where I work and have tried to show their kindness by checking with me on the correct way to refer to someone of my religion. They say, “I have heard that it is offensive to call someone a ‘Jew,’ right? Aren’t we supposed to call you ‘Jewish’?”
Why on earth should “Jew” be an offensive thing to call a Jewish person? Well, at its heart, it is not an offensive thing to call a Jewish person. It is the noun form, where “Jewish” is the adjective. The reason that “Jew” has been considered offensive in the past has been the way in which it has been said. -
AGAINST THE GRAIN: Oklahomans commemorate 65th anniversary of Israel
The Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City recently presented an event to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. The event began with a gathering at the Immanuel Synagogue in the Midcity area where two Oklahoma City rabbis, Abby Jacobson and Viered Harris, spoke about the history of the state of Israel since its founding and the struggles it has gone through to maintain its existence.
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4 key items look like they will gain legislative OK
This is a big week in the Legislature. It is a key deadline week. By this Thursday another set of proposals will fail to advance past the deadline and will become dormant for this year.
Fortunately, many aggressive reform proposals are still alive. - More Opinion Headlines
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