The catalyst for a recent column by David Brooks was a speech delivered by his New York Times colleague Anand Giridharadas at the Aspen Action Forum. (Giridharadas writes the Letter from America column for the Global Edition of the Times) Giridharadas questioned the “Aspen Consensus” that the wealthy and powerful, the benefactors of the Aspen Institute, could be … Read More
In its policies toward Greece, the “Troika” — a new shorthand for the combined will of the European Commission, European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund — has actively and enthusiastically embraced Maggie Thatcher’s social and political philosophy, memorably captured in her chilling assertion, “There is no such thing as society.” That philosophy has found its … Read More
On May 8th at Nike’s headquarters, President Obama denounced opponents of the hotly contested Trans-Pacific Partnership as ill informed. “(C)ritics warn that parts of this deal would undermine American regulation….They’re making this stuff up. This is just not true. No trade agreement is going to force us to change our laws.” On May 18th the World … Read More
For much of our history, trade agreements were considered treaties. According to the Constitution they had to be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. The House does not participate in ratification of treaties (Article II, Section 2). By the late 19th century Congress realized it was far too cumbersome to require a Congressional vote … Read More
Welcome to the Archive of the American Voice 2004 Project. The bedrock of good government is an informed citizenry. American Voice 2004 was launched in mid 2004 to fill a need to go beyond 15 second soundbites and attack ads and one-sided perspectives. We aspired to fill the need for reasoned debate leading up to the … Read More
American Voice 2004 was a project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance launched during the presidential election campaign of 2004. Strong communities depend on an active and involved population. And that calls for easy access to credible and pertinent information. American Voice 2004 strove to provide such information on national policy and national issues. Ask Dr. … Read More
American Voice 2004 was a project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance launched during the presidential election campaign of 2004. Strong communities depend on an active and involved population. And that calls for easy access to credible and pertinent information. American Voice 2004 strove to provide such information on national policy and national issues. Ask Dr. … Read More
In a 2011 CNN/Tea Party Express Republican Debate moderator Wolf Blitzer famously asked prominent libertarian Representative Ron Paul a “hypothetical question” about the soon-to-be-operational Obamacare: What should be done when a 30-year old man decides not to buy health insurance and then requires significant medical intervention that he cannot afford? Paul predictably responded. He should “assume … Read More
American Voice 2004 was a project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance launched during the presidential election campaign of 2004. Strong communities depend on an active and involved population. And that calls for easy access to credible and pertinent information. American Voice 2004 strove to provide such information on national policy and national issues. Ask Dr. … Read More
