The reported results of math, reading and science tests may be a reflection on the performance of a country's educational system for the average student, but I very much doubt that it has any meaningful relationship to innovation, technological or scientific breakthroughs. Let's face it, the "average" student -- pretty much anywhere -- makes little or no practical use of advanced math, reading or science. Innovation and breakthroughs are made by those at the very top of the talent distribution. I suspect that the US does far better in this area -- and I suspect that the US also "cherry-picks" a substantial number of the best minds from other countries.

What's so bad about income inequality? A free economy is naturally going to generate such inequality. We can't all be LeBron James, or Tom Cruise, or Bill Gates. A free economy generates more income and wealth for everyone. If you look at the article you cite, it shows that the inflation-adjusted after-tax income of every group increased between 1979 and 2006: Up 11% for the bottom quintile; Up 18% for the second quintile; Up 21% for the middle quintile Up 32% for the fourth quintile; Up 87% for the top quintile. So there was solid, meaningful economic progress across the board. The title of the article should be "Americans enjoy across-the-board income growth," rather than "Income gaps hit record levels." This data also gives...

Sure. That's why right-wiing judges overturn bans on free speech, which the left seeks to impose and leftist judges would allow. That's why Fox News presents opposing viewpoints, while MSNBC and most MSM outlets are uniformly leftist, perhaps with the occasional ever-so-right-of-center "opposing" viewpoint from the likes of David Brooks.

Measured by the GDP deflator, average annual inflation since 1935 is 3.5%. From 1900 to 2009, it is 2.9%; from 1980 to 2009, it is also 2.9%; from 1990 to 2009, it is 2.2%. Deflation is very damaging because there is a discontinuity of nominal interest rates at 0%. The Fed's proper target is for modest inflation in the 2-3% range. They've been doing a pretty good job. The big increase in prices is simply a result of compounding.

This is not appeasement because the US was supporting Iraq in its war with post-revolutionary Iran, a significantly greater threat. Punishing Iraq would have risked Iran winning that war, which would have had far worse consequences. Again, President Reagan showed wisdom and restraint. FYI, I think that it remains disputed whether the Stark was attacked on the order of Saddam Hussein or another high Iraqi official.

So the Republicans are to blame because they acted like statist Democrats? There's something to this argument, but the conclusion isn't that the Democrats are right. The obvious conclusion is that the Democrats are wrong, and the Republicans are wrong, too, when they go along with the Democrats' ideas or compromise with the Democrats' wrong-headed notions. At least some of the Republicans have the right ideas, and the tea party movement has made it clear to the "moderate" Republicans -- i.e. those who go along with the Democrats' foolishness -- that they better get it right.

We are heading toward a level of federal debt not seen since 1950. Here is the debt at the end of each administration, as a percentage of GDP (from the President's 2011 Budget): Year % Change President 1944 88.3% 1952 61.6% -26.7% Truman 1960 45.6% -16.0% Eisenhower 1968 33.3% -12.3% Kennedy/Johnson 1976 27.5% -5.8% Nixon/Ford 1980 26.1% -1.4% Carter 1988 41.0% +14.9% Reagan 1992 48.1% +7.1% Bush 41 2000 34.7% -13.4% Clinton 2008 40.2% +5.5% Bush 43 2015 72.9% +31.7% Obama (projected) We should also understand a couple of caveats, as the full credit/blame for these changes cannot necessarily be laid on the President. (1) Most of the increase...

Don't forget Nikki Haley in SC.

Thanks, from Arizona!

Per CNN's House exit polls: 40% support the tea party and voted +75% Republican (86-11) 25% are neutral toward the tea party and voted +2% Republican (49-47) 31% oppose the tea party and voted +74% Democrat (86-12) Overall, therefore, it looks like the tea party helped conservatives/Republicans and did not alienate moderates/independents.