By - The Washington Times
During the early 20th century, every week of the year approximately 10 schoolhouses in the country were partially or totally destroyed by fire. In one blaze alone, 178 children died. No one suggested stationing a fireman at each school. They designed better fire-protection systems and built fire-hose cabinets for each floor, as well as improved fire escapes. Published April 12, 2013
By - The Washington Times
The media are now telecasting stories about how North Korea has moved "two midrange Musudan ballistic missiles to a test site on its east coast last week" ("U.S., Seoul brace for 'multiple' North Korea missile launches," Web, Wednesday). Somehow they seem to think that the extra 100 miles or so will bring more American targets into range of alleged North Korean warheads that could be affixed to the midrange missiles. But most leaders in Washington still think we are safe from a nuclear attack from North Korea as long as Pyongyang does not have nuclear warheads or intercontinental ballistic missiles. Published April 12, 2013
By - The Washington Times
I am the grandson of immigrants who came to this country legally even though at the time they were not eligible for citizenship. They provided their descendants with good examples of the success that productive work can bring. Hopefully, the same can be said of current illegal immigrants seeking citizenship. Published April 12, 2013
By - The Washington Times
California lawmakers are considering taxing youth groups, such as the Boy Scouts of America, that do not accept homosexual, transgender or atheist members ("California bill would take away tax benefits for Boy Scouts," Web, Wednesday). Ironically, they are showing bigotry against faith groups. Published April 11, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Like other Democratic politicians, Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida Democrat, says he supports the right to keep and bear arms yet he supports the current gun-control proposals that in fact limit the exercise of that right. Published April 11, 2013
By - The Washington Times
The media have gone to great pains to deny that they're Obama cheerleaders. Why then haven't they asked one important question regarding President Obama's sequestration cuts? How is it possible that so many programs could be cut under sequestration when only $85 billion a minuscule 1 percent to 2 percent has actually been cut from a $3.6 trillion budget? Published April 11, 2013
By - The Washington Times
When President Obama ordered 100 special operations forces to Kenya to advise and assist African troops in hunting down that evil rogue warlord Joseph Kony in 2011, I wondered if it was constitutionally appropriate. We have bad guys here in the United States. Was America just being a "nice guy"? Well, the mission must not have been successful, because now the United States is offering a $5 million bounty for that despicable person ("U.S. pauses Kony search in Central African Republic," Web, April 3). That amount is no small potatoes in this age of furloughs and sequestration. Published April 11, 2013
By
Small businesses expect direct decisions and actions from Congress this year. We expect Congress to carry out the people’s business in an orderly fashion. On the surface, this seems peripheral to business, and that specific bills or budgets should be the order of the day; however, those bills that come up to Congress and seem to be socially weighted dramatically affect small businesses. Published April 10, 2013
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As Secretary of State John F. Kerry prepares to travel to Korea next week, the United States can use White House back channels to talk to Kim Jong-un — but all efforts to pressure Mr. Kim into better behavior will fail if the United States caves and grants formal talks (“‘Reckless’ Kim Jong-un won’t be tolerated; Kerry strikes back at North Korean threats,” Web, Tuesday). Published April 10, 2013
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A 5 percent pay cut for President Obama is but a mere drop in the bucket and no solution to our nation’s distress (“Obama sequesters own salary, plans to give back 5 percent of pay,” Web, April 3). A cut of at least 25 percent would be more appropriate. Published April 10, 2013
By - The Washington Times
As a fellow New Jersey native, I thoroughly enjoyed Rich Valdes' honest and unvarnished observation of the current gun control debate ("The A-list on Americanism: Gun reform or people reform?" Web, Wednesday). Published April 9, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Well, finally: For the first time in four years, I'm proud of my president. For the first time in four years, he didn't blame President George W. Bush, those "clinging to their guns and their religion," the Tea Party or the myriad of other "miscreants" for the miserable March job figures and the half-million more Americans who left the workforce in despair. President Obama, I'm proud to say, owned up and completely accepted responsibility. He blamed the disastrous results on sequestration which, of course, was his very own idea. Published April 9, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Victor Davis Hanson is spot on in "After Obama" (Commentary, Monday). Every morning I wake up another day older and $40 deeper in debt. The same is true of the other 85 million U.S. taxpayers. Published April 9, 2013
By - The Washington Times
The once-brilliant American workforce is permanently scarring itself out of work. Recent headlines suggest 90 million Americans are either out of a job or have given up looking for work altogether. This dismal figure is approximately 28.7 percent of the current U.S. population of 313,900,000. Published April 9, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Time magazine reported recently that the estimated tax gap — the amount of money the Internal Revenue Service fails to collect due to misfiling or tax cheaters — is an estimated $600 billion. The fact that this money goes uncollected ultimately increases the tax rates and the amount of money honest taxpayers must fork over. Published April 8, 2013
By - The Washington Times
The National Geographic Museum is currently displaying the loot of the pirate ship Whydah, which sank in 1717. The ship's pirate captain was Samuel Bellamy, ancestor of Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). Published April 8, 2013
By - The Washington Times
China has announced double-digit increases in military spending for 2013, prompting a new round of commentary in Washington concerning the intent behind China's robust military modernization and Beijing's ultimate ambitions ("Red Alert: China's defense spending increases while U.S. cuts back," Web, March 5). The increase also comes amid an intensifying strategic rivalry between the United States and China in Asia, and concerns about the secrecy surrounding the Chinese defense budget. Published April 8, 2013
By - The Washington Times
As the Maryland House of Delegates takes its final vote on a gun control bill and sends the measure to the state Senate for approval, I am reminded of the last words written on this topic by my late husband, Ron Smith, a radio talk show host, Emmy Award winner and Baltimore Sun columnist. Published April 5, 2013
By - The Washington Times
As a Navy veteran and chairman of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I have serious concerns about the proposed decrease in our national defense system and military response capabilities ("U.S. joins South Korea in show of force with B-2 bomber," Web, March 28). Published April 5, 2013
By - The Washington Times
It's time for D.C. Fire Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe to either resign or be removed from office ("D.C. Council grills fire chief on recent failed responses," Web, March 28). It is apparent Chief Ellerbe doesn't have what it takes to manage a fire department in the nation's capital, and people are at risk. Published April 5, 2013
Illustration by Walt Handelsman of Newsday
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