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Heritage Foundation… Christmas With the Presidents, Lee Edwards
December 21, 2016 - Christmas is a time of celebration and coming together, of letting go of old—and not so old—hurts and looking forward to a new day and a new year. It is a time to remember the ancient proverb, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” And this year, it is a prime opportunity to give thanks for a “tree... read more

The Daily Signal… Remembering the Many Accomplishments of John Glenn, Jacob Jordan & Thomas Spoehr - December 09, 2016 - In his 95 years, Glenn held three distinguished careers as a military aviator, an astronaut, and a four-term U.S. senator, accomplishing more in one lifetime than many could ever dream. Glenn was born on July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he left college to enlist in the... read more

The Daily Signal… Ohio Lawmakers Put ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Ban on Governor’s Desk, Leah Jessen - December 07, 2016 - The Ohio Legislature has passed and sent to Gov. John Kasich’s desk a measure that would ban abortion after a baby’s heartbeat is detected, about six weeks following conception. Lawmakers passed the Unborn Heartbeat Protection Act on Tuesday as an amendment to a child abuse and neglect bill. If signed by Kasich, the legislation... read more

The Huffington Post… IMPACT... Feel The Sticker Shock Of Someone Who Lives In Poverty, Sarah Ruiz-Grossman - Editor Caution: Language... Imagine if instead of $4.88 per gallon, your milk suddenly cost $24.40. It hurts, right? Well, that’s how buying everyday necessities can feel for families in poverty. An ad campaign called Poverty Line Prices, launched last month by San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit Tipping Point Community... read more

The Daily Signal… The Continuing Relevance of the Constitution, Larry Arnn
November 28, 2016 - Public policy is often exciting and urgent. When a war begins or ends, when votes are counted in an election, or when a major bill is passed, everyone senses the magnitude of the event. Some struggles end and new struggles begin. Consequences carry far into the future. Compared to this, and especially given the way... read more

The Daily Signal… Thanksgiving: A Uniquely American Holiday, By Melanie Kirkpatrick
Just about every country has a national day, a holiday when citizens stop to honor their constitution, celebrate a monarch’s birthday, recall the day their nation was liberated from colonial rule, or otherwise pay tribute to their country’s origins. The United States isn’t unique in celebrating a day of independence. But Thanksgiving is something else. Only a few countries set aside a day... read more

The Heritage Foundation… Thanksgiving Through the Years, By Lee Edwards
November 23, 2016 - George Washington was first in war, first in peace, and in November 1789, the first president to proclaim a national day of thanksgiving, openly acknowledging God as the source of all “the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.” Among the “favors” were a Declaration of Independence... read more

Federal News Radio… Trump’s blueprint for feds, By Mike Causey
November 14, 2016 - If the mechanic gave your car an expensive overhaul and clean bill of health and it exploded the next day on the Beltway, would you take what’s left of it back to him to repair? If you paid big bucks for a poodle puppy that grew into an eight-foot long Komodo Dragon, would you patronize that pet shop again? If you go to the salon... read more

Streamlining 'Shadow Work', By Colleen Flaherty
Cornell looks for ways to cut time professors spend on administrative requirements, as opposed to teaching and research. November 8, 2016 - Bagging our own groceries, printing out boarding passes, pumping our own gas -- everyone's day involves some "shadow work," tasks that previously would have been performed by someone else paid to... read more

Why We Use Electoral College, Not Popular Vote, Jarrett Stepman
November 07, 2016 - The Electoral College remains in place over two centuries after the framers of the Constitution empowered it to select presidents. Though occasionally maligned, this system of electing a chief executive has been incredibly successful for the American people. Many modern voters might be surprised to learn that when... read more

Federal News Radio… You’re (almost) all winners. Literally! By Mike Causey
November 4, 2016 - I once worked at a place that had an employee of the month award. I forget what the prize was. Maybe because I never won it. But I digress … There were only about 25 people in the operation. The top managers, I assumed, were not eligible for the monthly award. I think the pool of potential winners was like 17 or 18 people. A couple of interesting... read more

Federal News Radio… Beware the flatulence police, By Mike Causey
October 31, 2016 - It is often said that as California goes, so goes the nation. When the biggest state gets a cold, the rest of us eventually sneeze. Thanks in large part to the influence of Hollywood and its sheer size, California is often a trendsetter for the 49 other states. When experts try to predict premium changes in the federal health program... read more

Heritage Foundation… Improving the Quantity and Quality of America’s Volunteerism, Brian Fikkert - Volunteerism dropped in 2015, continuing a decade-long trend in which the percentage of adults who volunteer has declined by a total of 3.9 percentage points. Regrettably, these recent declines are part of a century-long decrease in rates of volunteerism in America,[1] a trend rooted in fundamental issues that hinder not only the... read more

The Daily Signal… Lawmakers’ New Project Aims to Support Religious Institutions, Mark McKerrick - October 03, 2016 - A new project has been launched to show the need of religious institutions, which are in danger of losing influence in society as they face challenges to their existence today. “We need our faith-based institutions,” Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores, R-Texas, said at the launch of the America Without Faith... read more

The Daily Signal… Why Consumers May Be Feeling the Increasing Costs of Drugs More Today, by Melissa Quinn -- September 28, 2016 -- Consumers may be in for sticker shock when they head to pharmacy counters not only because of across-the-board increases in the prices of prescription drugs, but also because of increasing deductibles, a trend that has been occurring for several years. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill and health policy experts brought the debate over the... read more

Federal News Radio… Donald Trump, taxes & your job, By Mike Causey
October 6, 2016 -- What does the surprise revelation of GOP candidate Donald Trump’s 1995 tax returns mean to his campaign and, maybe, to you as a voter? Last week, somebody sent three pages of his old tax return to The New York Times. They show business losses of more than $800 million and raise the possibility that he didn’t (quit legally) pay taxes for a decade or more. So what, if anything... read more

The Daily Signal… Why Pharmaceutical Companies Like Mylan Charge So Much for Drugs, Melissa Quinn - September 23, 2016 - In the wake of news that pharmaceutical company Mylan quadrupled the price of its popular EpiPen anti-allergy device over a few years, lawmakers want to know why. But rising drug prices for consumers isn’t a problem specific to Mylan and its epinephrine auto-injector. Rather, research shows that generic drugs... read more

Federal News Radio… What is this thing called ‘government’? By Mike Causey
For most Americans, THE Government is probably the U.S. Postal Service, the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. OK, and sometimes the Pentagon. Maybe the FBI or CIA, depending on your level of paranoia. Or the Centers for Disease Control if you live in Zika mosquito territory. After that the definition of what is the... read more

Heritage Foundation… Teen Drug Use: Cultural Amnesia, Current Harm, Seth Leibsohn
When it comes to teen drug use, not only are we on the wrong track, but things are getting worse. This is not a mysterious happenstance. First, note two data points in the accompanying chart: The high-water mark of teen drug use in America was 1979; the low-water mark was 1992. However, since 1992, the share of 12th graders reporting... read more

Federal News Radio… Feds face STD threat, By Mike Causey
August 30, 2016 - In the federal government, nearly everything is referred to by initials. It is not only easier and quicker to use initials, but it also helps to confuse people outside the agency or government, which can be useful to people in the know. For example: In government you don’t fire or layoff people, you RIF them. RIF, of course, standing for reduction-in... read more

Start Talking… Know! Heroin is a threat in your community
8/10/2016 - Have you talked to your children about the dangers of this drug? If not, you may be thinking: Heroin is not going to cross my child’s path where we live. My child is terrified of needles; there is no way she’d try heroin. Heroin may attract some kids, but not mine. If you share similar thoughts, you’re not alone. But keep in mind, heroin has... read more

The Daily Signal… The Dirty Little Secret Pot Pushers Don’t Want You to Know About, Cully Stimson & Alexandra Seymour - August 04, 2016 - States have passed so-called “medical marijuana” laws under the theory that pot has medicinal benefits that can’t be produced by other, legal means. But what if there was a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug that gave you all the benefits of the active ingredients in marijuana, such as... read more

Cleveland Plain Dealer… 10 tips for college freshmen from Northeast Ohio college professionals, By Karen Farkas - August 12, 2016 - CLEVELAND, Ohio - In the next few weeks thousands of wide-eyed college freshmen will arrive on campus eager to begin the next stage of their lives. They will ditch curfews, parental supervision and the opinions of high school classmates. While social activities beckon, college officials said they need... read more

AgNewsCenter.com… A Threat to Farm and Ranch Taxpayers (and Other Small Businesses), by Neil E. Harl - In a shocking development, tucked away in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, passed by Congress and signed by the President, there is a provision affecting farmers, ranchers and other small businesses in a highly significant way. It signals the end of a 34 year-old tax law that has been depended upon by thousands of taxpayers. It was a... read more

Inside Higher Education… Do Colleges Need to Be Need Blind? By Rick Seltzer
Some maintain that they can drop the policy and preserve access, but those who have gone need blind have seen gains in student diversity. July 21, 2016 - Ceasing need-blind admissions is a politically tenuous move for colleges and universities -- need-blind policies, associated with meritocracy and equal opportunity, cut to the heart... read more

Federal News Radio… Is there life after the next election? By Mike Causey
July 22, 2016 -- Despite previous warnings about a government meltdown if you-know-who wins the November election, Uncle Sam keeps on keeping on regardless of who’s in the White House and which political party controls the House and Senate. You-know-who’s identity depends on your politics and perception, not necessarily on your psychic powers or past track record in picking winners... read more

Heritage Foundation… Big Debt, Little Study: What Taxpayers Should Know About College Students’ Time Use, By Lindsey Burke, Jamie Bryan Hall and Mary Clare Reim - College students understandably bemoan the costs of higher education. During the 2015–2016 school year, annual costs[1] at four-year public universities reached $19,548 for in-state students and $34,031 for out-of-state students. Annual costs at private... read more

Cleveland.com… RNC 2016 - Score another victory for Cleveland: John R. Kasich
July 22, 2016 - With another championship performance, Cleveland shone brightly in the national spotlight – yet again – as it hosted the Republican National Convention earlier this week. While many expected trouble and violence, it didn't happen. Despite protests, most people expressed their grievances peacefully. When you consider the fact that... read more

Being a fed: When no news really is good news, By Mike Causey
July 19, 2016 - According to the American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, the proverbial phrase may have first been uttered by King James I of England, who, in 1616, is believed to have said, “No news is better than evil news.” It figures that he was in government. For 21st century American civil servants, the no-new-is-good-news outlook on life is for real... read more

Dog days are great, if you’re a dog, By Mike Causey
July 15, 2016 - When is the last time the boss told you to take the next two months off, with full pay and full benefits? Before you answer that, answer this semi-trick question: Which place has the most government-approved days off? Fiji, Monaco, Argentina, Colombia, District of Columbia, Thailand, Iceland, Malaysia, Slovakia? When... read more

Federal News Radio… After the All Star game, all hell breaks loose, By Tom Temin
July 11, 2016 -- Federal managers need to brace for a few weeks of nuttiness. Like listening to mommy and daddy scream at one another, career people will find it hard to tune out the coming noise. Before that we have the fun of this week’s All Star break. Tuesday evening Major League Baseball will indulge in its annual orgy of nostalgia and self-worship. It’s a great spectacle... read more

Federal New Radio… House GOP prepares famous shoot-foot shot, again, By Mike Causey
July 12, 2016 - A government shutdown in the fall of 2016. Really? Another shutdown? Where did that come from? Haven’t we (they) learned? Congressional Republicans (aided and abetted by some naughty-but-politically-clever Democrats) may be heading the nation toward another government shutdown. If it happens — big IF — it... read more

The Federalist… I’m Shocked, Shocked To Find Liberal Bias At This Major Journalism Conference, By Kelsey Harkness - July 5, 2016 - In June, I had the honor of attending one of the top journalism conferences in the country, if not the world. For three days, I rubbed shoulders with reporters from places such as The New York Times, USA Today, and ProPublica. Call me naïve, but I expected to learn about fairness, integrity, and... read more

Inside Higher Education… Why Academics Were Ignored, By David Matthews
July 7, 2016 - Just over a week before Britain's referendum on European Union membership, Paul Whiteley, a professor in the University of Essex’s department of government, was scheduled to take part in a BBC Norwich debate alongside three other academics to fact-check statements made by politicians from both campaigns, to remain... read more

Federal News Radio… The fed-retirees, the politicians and the public, By Mike Causey
June 29, 2016 - Back in the day, when so many people were protesting police “brutality,” there was a popular bumper sticker that went something like this: “Next time you get mugged, call a hippie! Much the same could be said today about the way a large portion of the public feels about the government. And bureaucrats. And misunderstand, or take for granted... read more

Heritage Foundation… Common Core Does Not Prepare Students for College, Mary Clare Reim - June 14, 2016 - A recently released report confirms what Common Core critics have suspected all along: Common Core State Standards do not adequately prepare students for college-level work. The ACT report finds many concerning shortcomings in the Common Core State Standards, which have been adopted by most states. Notably, the... read more

Federal News Radio… Thank you for your service, now please go away, By Mike Causey
June 20, 2016 - For decades, Uncle Sam gave military veterans a break by giving them extra points when they were applying/testing for certain federal jobs. The so-called Veterans Preference law also gave vets extra job security when their agencies were slimming down via a RIF (reduction in force). VP is important because Uncle Sam is one of the... read more

Federal News Radio… You posted a picture of your what on Facebook? By Mike Causey
May 31, 2016 - Years ago in my first full-time job, our company got its own copying machines. One for each floor. It was like Gutenberg’s printing press on steroids. We were in awe. I’m pretty sure they were Xerox machines. At least, that’s what we called them. Anyhow, we were thrilled that such newfangled equipment was available to the likes of us... read more

The Death of Common Sense, by Lori Borgman
March 15, 1998 - Three yards of black fabric enshroud my computer terminal. I am mourning the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense. His obituary reads as follows: Common Sense, aka C.S., lived a long life, but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was, his birth records... read more

Federal News Radio… Congress vs. the IRS vs. you, By Mike Causey
May 24, 2016 -- When two countries go to war, the citizen-taxpayers supply both the funds and the bodies to pursue it. The residents of Lower Slobovi fund their military’s just and valiant efforts. The taxpayers of Upper Mandiville support their brave, and equally just, warriors. The narrative in wars is nearly always the same. The other guy started it. And the winner writes the official history. In the case... read more

Federal News Radio… Memorial Day: A time to remember, By Mike Causey
May 30, 2016 - It’s important to remember that Memorial Day is not a “fun” holiday. While it is OK to have fun, we should also recall that is a date to honor those who have served, and died, for their country. Our country. Despite its somber nature, many people, like me, have some happy memories of Memorial Days past. Many years ago I served — on... read more

The Daily Signal… Students, Parents Ask Court for Permission to Halt Implementation of Obama’s Bathroom Mandate, by Kelsey Harkness -- May 25, 2016 -- A group of parents and students in Palatine, Illinois, who are suing the federal government over the Obama administration’s transgender bathroom policy asked a federal court on Wednesday to grant the school permission to ignore the new mandate. “Children are not guinea pigs,” a memorandum filed with the motion for a preliminary injunction states, “and they should... read more

Older & Wiser, From a CNO reader
1. I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out of the way much faster now. 2. Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers. 3. You know that tingly little feeling you get when you really like someone? That's common sense leaving your body. 4. I didn't make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row. I decided to change calling... read more

Federal News Radio… Airport security: What’s not to like? By Mike Causey
May 19, 2016 -- Federal workers are probably some of the most frequent fliers in America. Scientists going to conferences, air marshals who fly a lot, inspectors, congressional staffers, diplomats. At any given time, 67 percent of the State Department’s Foreign Service officers are overseas, and two-thirds spend most of their careers outside the U.S. While most Americans think of diplomats... read more

Heritage Foundation… Research Review: Universal Preschool May Do More Harm than Good, By Lindsey Burke and Salim Furth, Ph.D. - A growing body of empirical evidence suggests that universal preschool programs fail to improve a range of outcomes for participants. New studies of large-scale preschool programs in Quebec and Tennessee show that vastly expanding access to free or subsidized preschool may worsen behavioral and emotional outcomes. In... read more

The Daily Signal… Why George W. Bush Let a Soldier’s Mom Yell at Him, Dana Perino
April 21, 2015 - News of America’s military men and women [who] were wounded and killed in Iraq and Afghanistan almost overwhelmed me on some days. I may have sounded strong when I was talking to the press, but sometimes I had to push my feelings way down in order to get any words out of my mouth to make statements and answer... read more

The Daily Signal… Mixed News in April Jobs Report, James Sherk
May 06, 2016 - The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ April jobs report contained mixed economic news. The agency reported wages grew healthily, overall unemployment did not rise, and long-term unemployment fell slightly in April. At the same time, job growth slowed and labor force participation dropped. The labor market is not contracting, but it is not growing as quickly as some analysts had believed either... read more

The Daily Signal… NIH Spends Millions on Hopped-Up Honeybees and Sexy Goldfish, Then Asks for Zika Funding, Philip Wegmann - May 10, 2016 - What do honeybees on cocaine, drunken songbirds, and sexy goldfish have in common? Each was the subject of extensive, taxpayer-funded research and each features prominently in Sen. Jeff Flake’s most recent expose on government waste. The Arizona Republican’s oversight report—”Twenty Questions: Government Studies That Will Leave You Scratching Your... read more

The Daily Signal… ‘Thank You for Your Service’: How One Organization Is Looking Out for Military Kids, by Melissa Quinn -- May 01, 2016 -- Every Saturday, Jihee Ewart’s three sons, Logan, Scott, and Ryan fight for a spot in front of the computer in their Leesburg, Va., home, where they patch through a connection on Skype. Half a world away on a military base in Jordan, Greg Ewart, the boys’ father, waits on the other end. Saturdays are Greg Ewart’s day off, and if the father of three has access to a computer, he connects with his family on video calls. Greg Ewart... read more

Thoughts by 'Ducky' From a CNO Reader
I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it. So I said 'Implants?' She hit me. How come we choose from just two people to run for president and over fifty for Miss America? Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you're in bed with a relative. Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants. I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose fitting clothing. If I HAD... read more

The Daily Signal… IRS Admits Tax Code Is Too Complex to Enforce, Brian Drockton & Romina Boccia - April 29, 2016 - In an ideal world the federal government would collect all of the taxes that it was owed—and then spend only what it intended to. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple. The tax gap and improper payments serve as reminders that the federal government is not very good at administering complex programs. Instead, every year we have a “tax gap,” which is the difference between what the government believes it is owed... read more

The Daily Signal… Debunking the Wage Gap: We Are Not Victims, by Penny Young Nance
April 25, 2016 -- We have so many opportunities in the workforce, yet women are often still told that we’ve got to run ourselves ragged and forego balance in order to break through the glass ceiling. Why? Part of the reason work-life balance is difficult to achieve is because our society places so much weight on the financial success of one’s career. For women, this has been particularly difficult because of the claim that we are underpaid compared... read more

Federal News Radio… No buyout? Move to Buyoutland, Canada, By Mike Causey
May 6, 2016 - Want to hang out with movie and TV stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell and other A-listers? Or at least remain as close to them as you are now? If so, consider moving to Canada. They — and many other celebs — have threatened to leave the U.S. of A., forever if Republican-heir apparent Donald Trump becomes president. Or join... read more

Woman… A Mother’s Day Tribute, From Poetic Expressions
When God created woman he was working late on the 6th day… An angel came by and said: “Why spend so much time on that one?” And the Lord answered: “Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her? She must be washable, but not made of plastic, have more than 200 moving parts which all must be replaceable and she must function on all kinds of food... read more

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