Mortgage defaults have increased for more than a year and will get worse before they get better. Americans cannot see a problem without feeling we must solve it. That is true with subprime mortgages and other foreclosures. There are recurring…
What is government’s role in public safety?
The question of how to deal with dangerous goods or services is a knotty one. Two recent incidents illustrate this complexity. The first is the well-publicized pet deaths caused by adulterated gluten imported from China by pet-food manufacturers. Tainted Chinese…
Dollar’s slide affects more than tourists
Reporters faced with recurring news sometimes resort to clichés. Oppressive heat wave? Show a kid frying an egg on the pavement. If the value of the dollar falls relative to the euro, describe what admission to the Eiffel Tower or…
Poverty trumps safe travel in poor nations
Work and travel often are markedly more dangerous in poor countries than in rich ones. Visible pollution often is far worse. Are such differences a result of cultural differences that place a lower value on human life or the environment?…