The Archive
Politicians get most of the headlines in the debates over national issues, but an equally heated -- some would say more important -- dialogue takes place among scholars and activists at various think tanks, academies and interest groups.
Should Lawmakers Raise Medicare Premiums For The Affluent? Arguing in the affirmative are American Enterprise Institute adjunct scholar H.E. Frech and University of California at Santa Barbara scholar Kenneth L. Danger, while Brookings Institution analysts Joe White is opposed. July 24, 1997
Did Congress Approve Tax Plans Favoring The Wealthy? -- Arguing in the affirmative is Iris J. Lav, associate director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, while J.D. Foster, executive director and chief economist for the Tax Foundation says the big winners are middle-class families. July 3, 1997
Should Congress Revoke Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status For China? -- Rep. Gerald Solomon argues to do otherwise is to appease China, while Progressive Policy Institute analsysts Robert A. Manning and Steven J. Nider says it would be misplaced. June 23, 1997
Should Flag Burning Be Banned? -- Congressman William Lipinksi (D-Ill.) says the flag is too important not to protect, while ACLU executive director Ira Glasser warns against compromising the First Amendment. June 10, 1997
Does The Budget Deal Address The Long-Term Entitlement Spending Crisis? -- John Tottie, senior economist with Citizens for a Sound Economy, says the budget deal only worsens entitlement spending, while Brookings Institution Visiting Fellow Joseph White argues that policy makers can't plan now for problems that are still 30 years off. May 13, 1997
Should Congress Restore Welfare Funds For Legal Immigrants? Absolutely yes, writes Frank Sharry of the National Immigration Forum, while John J. Miller of the Center for Equal Opportunity argues against the idea. April 24, 1997
Does The Fund-Raising Flap Warrant An Independent Prosecutor? Arguing in the affirmative is Viet D. Dinh, Associate Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, while Wake Forrest University Associate Professor of Politics Katy Harriger demurs.
How Useful Are National Educational Standards? Marc Tucker, president of the National Center on Education and the Economy says they are key to educational reform, while Reason Foundation analyst Lisa Snell wants to emphasize school competition instead.
Congressional Term Limits House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) says term limits are a betrayal of democracy, while Paul Jacob, executive director of U.S. Term Limits, say they are needed at the federal level to oust entrenched incumbents. Feb. 11, 1997
Is A Balanced Budget Amendment A Good Idea? Arguing in the affirmative is Heritage Foundation senior fellow Daniel Mitchell, while Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says it would cause more harm than good. Jan. 29, 1997
Reforming Social Security Peter Ferrara, general counsel and chief economist at Americans For Tax Reform, says workers should be able to opt out of the system and invest their retirement funds privately. Attorney Edith Fierst, a member of the Social Security Advisory Council, defends Social Security and argues against privatization. Jan. 15, 1997