Recon is right on. For generations our society has preached that anyone who fails to obtain a college degree is a failure in life. How sad is this position for a number of reasons. First and foremost, self esteem comes from satisfactory completion of the job at hand. Many people are not gifted in the same way, and the route to happiness goes through successful completion of a task. Of almost equal importance is our society's need for skilled tradesmen. We have too many lawyers but not enough competent auto mechanics. We must celebrate a successful plumber with the same enthusiasm we give to a CPA. Honestly, a stopped up toilet is more serious for me than a stupid income tax return that not even the Internal Revenue Service...

Sorry, Sharkie. I have no fear of the envy of my friends. They know me and I know them. The kid Dr. Sowell refers to must be exceptional in many ways. The kid excells in an ethnic culture that ridicules education. They speak in a different language, live by different moral rules and blame others for their irresponsible behavior.

#15, there is a huge difference between the American internment of the Japanese during WW II and the holocaust of Jews by Germans. How you can consider the two events as similar is shocking.

Has anyone investigated the birth and education of American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al Awlaki that produced such hatred for America as demonstrated by Major Hasan? I suspect the ground that produced him is fertile for the production of more like him. The fear of incrimination of all Muslims should not restrict the search for the few “rotten apples.” An assist from those of the Muslim faith would be helpful.

Someday our great nation will recognize the sinister agenda of radical Islamists, making our national security less painful. The acceptance of national concerns by followers of the Muslim faith as these Japanese Americans demonstrated by their exemplary service during WWII will be welcomed.

This piece interestingly suggests forced support of another’s “right” is slavery. We must soon address the fact that the “rights” identified by the congress have already reached the point of impossible accommodation. Our currently identified “rights” include Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and Prescription drugs. Obama is determined to add to these the right to healthcare for all. Each year for many years economists have told us our unfunded entitlements already legislated will bankrupt our nation someday. Obama states his plan for universal health care will save us money rather than cost us. What an incredible addition to the Ponzi schemes already going in which the payments of those working are used to fund the promises of...

Dr. Sowell, you point out that many great conservative minds were liberal while being educated. That is a valid observation. The reason is that teachers are generally liberal and they teach that philosophy. Life’s experiences in the real world of business economics demonstrate over and over the fact that liberal views are flawed. Unfortunately, most teachers and college professors miss this vital education as they live in a world of tenure and lack of reward for real accomplishment. If our nation ever comes to a point of the majority of voters being judged in their jobs by union rules that reward longevity rather than accomplishment, we are lost.

Dr. Sowell, you’re exactly right! The “stimulus” together with the anti business rhetoric coming out of the Whitehouse almost every day are responsible for the declining employment. The exception? Government employment, both Federal and State, is exploding. The mixed signals coming out of Washington will stop only with the sweep of most incumbents out of office.

In a recent piece, black writer Leonard Pitts reported that Obama currently holds a favorable rating of 91% of blacks but less than 50% of whites. Apparently the CBC doesn’t follow the desires of the black community any better than the overall congress follows the desires of the total population. I would be shocked for the black community to ever intelligently determine under whose leadership they live best. They will always vote as a block for the Democratic party nominee, particularly if the candidate is black. Had the Republican party nominated Colin Powell as its nominee for president in 2008, the mental councilors would have had a field day treating the confused black population.

If Obama wishes to kill himself drinking and smoking, leave him alone. As to McCullough’s article, the discussion needs to be one of “entitlements.” To what is a citizen of the United States entitled? A free education? From potty training to a doctorate degree? Healthcare from birth through artificially supported life? Home ownership at what level? Retirement at 65 years of age? A yacht and of what size? In my opinion, a man is entitled to freedom to do whatever he wants as long as that action does not infringe upon the freedom of another. There should be no other entitlements.